THE TIES THAT BIND - PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI

        THE TIES THAT BIND - PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI

Chidavaenzi' s novel The Ties That Bind is a novel predicated on the notion of hope.  Hope is a central theme that is the overall element that constitutes his narrative. The book explores the devastating  consequences of simple mistakes that can have a permanent dent on one's life such as the effect of a one night stands. The character Lincoln an aspiring lawyer in what seems to be a happy engagement shatters his entire future by engaging in a  sexual encounter with a HIV positive prostitute. That one encounter changes his life and sends him on a spiral downfall to an abyss of lost dreams and hopelessness. Lincoln a hopeful young lawyer seems to be destined for self destruction as he drags himself into further despair by drinking, sexual immorality and violence.

Chiedza an HIV positive woman also bedeviled by the virus in a prison of her own mind. HIV constantly acts as a barrier between her and happiness. Despite her interests in Lincoln the virus in her blood stream acts as a constant reminder of her curse. Lincoln and Chiedza by coming clean to each other about their HIV statuses are able to hold hands and build a future from the remains of their hopes that HIV had destroyed. The birth of their HIV negative child is a remainder to them of the possibilities that lie ahead in a world were stigma ravages the mind and robs them of hope. 

The revelation towards the end of the novel whereby one discovers that it was Jackie's sister that infected Lincoln with the virus serves to prove that the world is a web. That the solution to defeat the virus begins with  everyone, not just people in a certain class in society.