Penguin Random House
The Theory of Flight, by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu
The Theory of Flight, by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu
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What a wonderfully strange and beautiful novel!
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I am surprised at how much I loved this book! I don’t tend to like books that have narratives that are abstract but this one actually had me fully invested.
What I find funny is that I read the last chapters a few hours ago and I am still very confused about Genie’s death. It’s the strangest thing but even though I don’t 100% get the book as far as plot, action, narrative is concerned…I get it on a deeper, visceral level. My body and my being understand this book.
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There is something special about the way that Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu writes…I don’t know quite how to articulate it expect to say that she writes with a keen understanding of the complexity of existence. This book is intelligent, abstract while still being concrete.
It’s a book about dreams and destiny. It’s about nation, history, family and the impact of a life. It’s about choices and the impact those choices have on individuals, families and communities. The multi-perspective approach also lend itself well to exploring so many characters.
This book is both familiar and yet also beyond full comprehension. This is one of those books that will be just as good the second time around - which coming from me is saying something because I don’t generally reread books.
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I highly recommend this book if you’re into experimental fiction or fiction whose value lies beyond the plot. I’m interested to see what this author does in the future…
This is absolutely my favourite book in 2019. I first heard about it at the 2018 South African Book Fair when I heard the author on a panel about magical realism explain that she didn't see her work as magical, because what happens is true. I think that a lot of African fiction gets labeled as magical realism instead of being taken seriously and seen for what they are: wonderful ways of exploring old ideas. The Theory of Flight will fill you with hope and leave you with a wonderful taste at the back of your mouth - and a hunger for her next book, which is coming out soon.
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