نظرية الطيران

by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, سراج سراج (Translator)

حين ترقد إيموجين زولا نيوني في غيبوبة بالمستشفى بعد مرض طويل، تحاول عائلتها وأصدقاؤها التعايش مع موتها الوشيك. لدى جيني من المواهب ما يتجاوز عتبة الزمان والمكان، وهذه هي حكايتها. وهي أيضًا حكاية أجدادها – بينز تيكيتي، الذي جعله حب السفر والترحال يغير اسمه وينتهي به الحال بخوض المحيط الهندي على قدميه.
ترسم هذه القصة، بأرق اللمسات وبطبقة من جمال سحريّ واقعي، حياةَ بعض الأسر ومصيرَ بقعة من بقاع الأرض وعقودًا من تاريخها – من الاحتلال الاستعماري إلى النضال من أجل الحرية، إلى الدمار الذي أحدثه السوجا، وفيروس الإيدز، و(الرجل ذاته!). وبطريقة أمينة دومًا، غامضة أحيانًا وسحرية أحيانًا أخرى، لا يركز ""نظرية الطيران"" على الخسائر والإخفاقات في تاريخ أمة من الأمم، وإنما يركز على الانتصارات الشخصية وسبب أهميتها.

Genres: Fiction, Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Africa, African Literature, Historical

328 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2018

About the author

Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu is a writer, filmmaker and academic who holds a PhD from Stanford University, as well as master’s degrees in African Studies and Film. She has published research on Saartjie Baartman and she wrote, directed and edited the award-winning short film Graffiti. Born in Zimbabwe, she currently lives and works in Johannesburg. The Theory of Flight is her first novel.

Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

‘On the third of September, not so long ago, something truly wondrous happened on the Beauford Farm and Estate. At the moment of her death, Imogen Zula Nyoni – Genie – was seen to fly away on a giant pair of silver wings ...’

Genie, believed to have hatched from a golden egg, spends her childhood playing amongst sunflowers as her country is getting back on its feet after a civil war. That alone sounds like an interesting story. But this book is made up of many stories. There is a story of a man with wanderlust, of a man who shot down a plane, of a mother who dreamed of going to Nashville and becoming a singer, of a woman who wanted to raise her children top gave character.

"He understood that in the grander scheme of things he was but a speck...a tiny speck …and that was enough. There was freedom, beauty even, in that kind of knowledge."

The book contains beautiful passages and quotes. It is almost lyrical. Pair that with some magical realism and this should be an absolute winner. But it had to win me over. I struggled a little with this book. I found parts to be slow and there were a lot of characters - hence the listing of them at the beginning of the book, describing who they are and those who are their relation. The book goes all over the place in terms of time and place, and at times, was frustrated with having to go back to the character list.

I found my stride with this book around the 50-60 percent mark. This was a hard one to rate. It was slow and at times a struggle, but also beautifully written with beautiful passages. The characters are all unique and have their individual stories to tell and we also see them interacting with other characters in the book. This is an incredibly unique book. I enjoyed the magical realism and was won over by the writing and imagery.

This is one that I am glad I stuck with and read as I have never read a book quite like this one before.

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Books and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Nothando · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply blown away by the sheer magic of this book. A beautiful and magical story, beautifully and exquisitely told. Siphiwe Ndlovu is a gifted story teller...this book made me laugh, made me think, broke my heart and ultimately allowed me to believe in the significance of life, in the magic of living of a life of significance no matter what life throws at you. Loved it!

[No Name · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I'm coming into this review section and raining on the happy parade. I didn't like this book, and I don't like the mythical realism (that's what people seem to be calling it?) either.

Some context: I didn't choose this book. I got assigned it as my english set-reader for 2022, my final year. Right off the bat, I was already having to face my own english set-book prejudices. It seems the ieb, or english teachers in general, seem to enjoy finding books with a "deeper meaning" written by South African authors and deciding that this book is for everyone. Spoiler alert, it's not. The books are often badly written, the hidden meaning so hidden the book needs page-by-page analysis to understand it, or just have a half expressed plot line. Every english set-book i've read has bent to the will of this prejudice, and 'The Theory of Flight' is no exception.

Upon opening the book, my warning bells were already going off since there was a character list. The only other book I've read that had one was subsequently a terrible english set-reader from years past. The significance of a character list immediately tells the reader that things are about to get messy, and to be honest, while the character list is an excellent crutch, it shouldn't have to be there . 'The Theory of Flights' writing style of constantly changing perspectives, jumping timeline, and plot line of inter-connecting character stories made the entire book extremely confusing. I heavily relied on the character list and still got many of the character backstories confused, misremembering details told earlier on that had been brushed over.

I made slow progress reading this book. I felt obligated to finish it because I knew I'd be going over it at school, and honestly, that's the only reason I finished it. I didn't feel any particular attachment to the characters or story. It wasn't thrilling or gripping, and I'd often have to take reading breaks to stay motivated. In my opinion, I think the book lacked direction. It felt like someone telling me about a person's life, and that's about it. It didn't feel like there was a start or an end or a climax, nothing. I didn't have a plot to follow and I feel like I've come away from this book with nothing to grasp and if I had to explain to someone what happened in this book, I'm not sure I could clearly do it.
Furthermore, the writing style made character conceptualization in my head difficult, and I often felt like there wasn't enough emphasis placed on physical descriptions of characters. I struggled to understand what these people would realistically look like and how they lived their lives, creating a further disconnect from the people I was reading about. This was worsened by how the book just dived right in, and I felt like I was pinwheeling through empty space from the start. Where was this book even taking place?? From the Authors place of birth and reference to Vic Falls, I assume Zimbabwe? In the larger scheme of things, it doesn't really matter, but the book always specifically named foreign locations and countries but could never give a clear-cut name for where it started. This sense of disorientation was worsened by the vague terms of 'The Organisation' and 'The Man Himself', which was repeated throughout the book.

While I'm sure this book holds a lot of deeper meanings and truths in life, it went over my head. I'm sure my ignorance will be shown to me on a golden platter after laboriously breaking down this book into a sum of its parts in an english classroom, but it shouldn't have to be this way. I've spoken to other classmates, and the consensus I've realized is that not many others understand what's going on either or what this book is trying to achieve. You can only begin to find enjoyment in a book when you actually understand the plot. It feels like a waste of my time to read this whole book and be at a loss to the meaning behind it.

Also, I fail to understand the need to break 'The Theory of Flight' down into sections, and further into two separate books in one. Book one was from mostly Genie's perspective and was book two meant to be (spoiler ahead) from the POV of those in her life after her death? (Spoiler over).
In any case, it felt unnecessary and a waste of space. The timeline had already jumped around so much so that it wouldn't have made any difference without the sections because they proved pointless.

Now, while I've been yammering on about negatives, the positive was that this book was beautifully written. The author provided a whimsical telling of many people's lives and definitely captured the "mythical" part of the mytical realism genre. The characters were all unique, and the story differed from the majority of those written following African protagonists. While the authors' way with words could be very poetic at times, they were unfortunately also long-winded. Yes, i'm breaking my short-lived positivity to say that the book went on for too long. I feel like it could have been told in about 150 pages.

In any case, I've finished this book and am walking away with a head that feels stuffed with cotton. I'll probably return to this extensive and admittedly indepth review to re-assess what I've claimed after the breakdown of the book I am to receive. I have no clue how an english teacher is going to set a test on this (filling out a family tree, perhaps? I don't understand how else) and I'm dreading the day I'll have to turn this book into a deep essay. Wish me luck.

**EDIT** I have to say, after re-reading this book a couple of times, I realized the subtler details of this book had, in fact, gone straight over my head as I'd predicted. My qualms mainly lie with the person who prescribed this book to a bunch of teenagers, as it is a more mature read that requires in-depth thought to be fully realised. When I eventually understood everything, I realised that the plot was actually kind of genius. The linking of back stories, characters, and events was evidently well thought out and insanely planned. I also realized that the reason I struggled to connect with the book was because I lacked context. This book IS set in Zimbabwe and follows a lot of what occurred following their civil war. When I presented the book to an actual Zimbabwean who was in Zimbabwe during the civil war, she strongly connected with the book and its message. She said that Ndlovu had perfectly captured what it was to live there during this time period and she adored the story. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I apologize for hating so strongly. Whilst I stand by most of my points, I also realize this book has a lot more to it than I originally picked up on. The writing style is beautiful and poetic, and I think it's a pretty unique book (in a good way!!). So read it if you want, don't let my comment dissuade you! Just know it's a bit hit or miss, and it might take some brainpower.

[Sarah Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staggeringly magnificent. A masterpiece.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

How am I meant to write essays on this book

[Penny Haw · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite rituals is to plot my writing as I walk my dogs on the mountain above Sandy Bay each morning. It’s particularly pleasurable when the writing involves a book, which, like a purring cat curled on my lap, suddenly – and on its own terms – occupies a place in my life.

Today, I was so caught up in my reverie about Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu’s debut novel, The Theory of Flight that it was only when Molly the Labrador Allsorts nudged my hand multiple times that I realised I’d passed our designated watering spot without offering my mutts a drink. Unpardonable! Creatures of habit, my dogs are.

So what exactly was I thinking?

Literary agents typically ask authors to provide ‘comps’ when they’re preparing to pitch manuscripts to publishers. ‘Comps’ are examples of competitive or comparative titles that give publishers an idea of how the author perceives herself and her work in relation to what is successful on the market. For example, an author might describe her manuscript as, “When Stephen King’s Misery meets Zoë Heller’s Notes on a Scandal”. (Watch this space.)

What, I wondered, would appropriate comps for The Theory of Flight be? Famished Road by Ben Okri? Sarah Winman’s, A Year of Marvellous Ways? The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern? Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward?

Certainly, like the aforementioned, The Theory of Flight could be classified as magical realism, but it’s so much more besides. In fact, if you forced me to label it, I’d create a new category for The Theory of Flight; that is, revolutionary mysticism. Why? Because of its mutinous charm.

The Theory of Flight is set in an unnamed African country and follows the life story of Imogen Zula Nyoni (Genie), her grandparents, parents, friends and some associates. The characters are as commanding as they are abundant. You might, like I did, wonder if the list of names (in order of appearance) at front of the book is forewarning that you could confuse the characters. But Ndlovu’s characterisation and writing are so definitive that I didn’t need to refer to the list once.

Genie is believed to have hatched from a golden egg towards the end of a violent civil war, in which her father, Golide played an important role. Her early childhood is spent on Beauford Farm and Estate with, among others, her mother, Elizabeth, who is something of a Dolly Parton impersonator and Genie’s friend, Marcus.

Their playground includes a field of sunflowers and an abandoned Morris Mini Minor. Ndlovu’s descriptions of the field and Genie and Marcus’s games are read-and-read-again lyrical and affecting, setting the tempo for the pages that follow. The girl’s life changes dramatically when Marcus leaves and the ‘sojas’ arrive looking for Golide.

The Theory of Flight deals with issues of colonialism and land, character and charisma, African versus Western culture, war and peace, greed and forgiveness, and friendship, family and love. It’s shrewd, funny and sad. The plot moves fast, carried by the interesting characters and beautiful use of language, which communicates several very grave subjects with simplicity and gentle cynicism with more powerful consequences than any finger-wagging telling of it could have.

Ndlovu is a gifted storyteller and writer, and The Theory of Flight is a literary gem, which took me on a magical (revolutionary mystical) journey far away from the mountain track and my trusty hounds. And, while we’re on the subject of magic, what about the cover? Go ahead; judge this book by its cover. You won’t be wrong.

I hope you get/give a copy of The Theory of Flight for Christmas.

[Mish Middelmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Siphiwe Ndlovu does brilliantly is to use the mythical-magical realism style to enable her to take on topics and challenges that are just too big to do in a completely linear manner. The Theory of Flight manages to both tell a wonderful personal story across several generations, and to hold all the horror of first the colonisation of Rhodesia, then its independence struggle and then the awful truth that its liberators become the new oppressors - while all threaded through all of this is the horror of the harm that some men have done to women.

I came away from the book breathless with the scope and scale of the awful things human beings do to each other, some of which are also done in an apparently genteel manner, or at least with an attitude of "I am doing the right thing," and some of which more or less spring themselves upon the world, like HIV/AIDS.

Within this big picture, Ndlovu stands up for character over charm, the wonder of lifecycles of death and rebirth (like the sunflowers), and the extraordinary extent of resilience in human beings and other living things. She stands for our power of choice in how we respond no matter how awful our circumstances.

There are also lots of fascinating cameo stories within the main story, for example Bhekithemba, the journalist who sets out to support equality, democracy and inclusion but gets awfully co-opted by the new regime.

And she uses the grand scope of the magical mythical realism to tell us (almost in throwaway asides) lots of important truths all along the way, for example that one can have as much of a relationship with an absence or a loss as one can with a presence. And what is is like being othered for being gay, or being an albino, or born of mixed race, or a street person.

And in the end we are confronted with many theories of flight: that it is all about the will to believe, or that ideas can inspire manifestation, or that great things are simply never going to happen because somebody will break you down out of jealousy or avarice.

2023 note:
My reviews of the subsequent volumes are here:
* Volume 2, The History of Man;
* Volume 3, The Quality of Mercy;

[Mary Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book during the enchanting prologue. THE THEORY OF FLIGHT begins with one well-meaning soul, a man filled with wanderlust. Every character is then tied together by circumstance. This is a booklover's book. It's absolute magic and emotionally charging. We are all connected to a beginning. Happy to place THE THEORY OF FLIGHT on my 2020 Favorites' shelf. Highly recommend. It's one of those stories that sticks to the soul.

[Pebi_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is how they learned their most valuable lesson about death - that after it there is life again, that things that perish will rise again, that after every ending there is another beginning"

Ever just sit and wonder about the life story of the people around you. What happened for them to be where they are today. What event in their lives good or bad steered their journeys to cross paths with yours?

The author thought this through. She weaved meticulously a story bringing each character to life. Often times extra characters are just a cameo on a page to drive the story but here each one of the characters had a rich back story. And each with an impact.

If you read my initial post on the book you'd have seen that this was Genie's story. A young free spirited girl whose journey teaches you to live in the moment and with no regrets.

Reading the last chapters of the book felt so poetic how the author maneuvered us through the cycle of Genies life. How every story made sense and every decision made impacted their lives.

I loved the historical elements of the book. The knowledge of how your lineage came to be and how so many paths crossed to lead to the current setting. In as much as it follows the history it also touches on HIV and the footprint it leaves in our lives.

There is this part in the book referring to how dead bodies were perfectly cataloged according to the year of death and the person responsible was asked how they pulled it off and their response was that they looked at the pockets. That bodies from the 80's had coins and those in the 90's didn't. I found that to be an interesting piece of information relating to the unnamed African country this story is based in.

I don't know why this book made me want to return to Yvonne Vera's The stone virgins. I owe that book a re-read. Anyway there is a feeling about this book that I can't quiet locate. A fulfillment of sorts.

[Andy – And The Plot Thickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of any one person does not happen in isolation. Indeed, everyone is made up of a collection of stories, the stories of those who have come before them, and the stories of those they encounter throughout life. "The Theory of Flight" tells of how Imogen "Genie" Nyoni flew away on a pair of silver wings the moment she died.

But how did that happen? Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu traces Genie's genealogy, how decisions made by her grandparents, parents and friends led to the confluence of what became her life.

With elements of magic realism and characters that dig their way into your heart, this debut is both uplifting and stunningly moving.

"The Theory of Flight" is a story about conviction, about belief in the beauty and magic life can bring, even in its most tragic moments.

[Maria Sherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

الكاتب : سيببواي جلوريا
ترجمة : سراج سراج
صفح ٣٢٨
عصير الكتب
أدب افريقي دراما عائلي اجتماعي
في مزرعة بوفورد في أفريقيا تدور الأحداث حول جيني حياتها وموتها والأشخاص ساكنوا المزرعة بوجود حياتهم الاجتماعية والسياسية والدينية
الرواية تناقش العنصرية بين البيض والسمر
تناقش الحروب الأهلية والعالمية
تناقش الامراض وخاصة مرض الايدز كان منتشرا في افريقيا
تناقش الحياه الاسرية والاجتماعية وترك الآباء لأبنائهم
تناقش الفساد في السياسة وسلطة الدولة
باختصار فهي تلقي الضوء على الحياة في أفريقيا من ١٩٦٥ وتلقى الضوء على اختراع الطائرة فهي تحكي عن فرد فرد في مزرعة بوفورد وعلاقتهم ببعض وبجيني
في الترجمة جاءت سهلة برغم من كثرة الأشخاص والاسماء وصعوبة نطق الاسماء لكنها رواية مؤثرة
بعض الاقتباسات في الصور ❤📚

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of rare imagination and style – from Africa

Rare imagination and style were the criteria for the South African Sunday Times Barry Ronge award for fiction in 2019. Ndlovu’s book won the prize hands down. For me, it started with the cover – which promised both beauty and pain; travel transcending time, mind, body and soul, plus a sense of intellectual elegance and eloquence. In hindsight, having now read the book, perhaps I over-interpreted the cover– nonetheless, it seems that all of the promises made there, were fulfilled.

From the cover to the cast of Characters that opens the book – lead by ‘Imogen ‘Genie’ Zula Nyoni: around whose life and death the events of this story take place’ - I warmed increasingly to this work. And it is invaluable to be able to refer back to a ‘who’s who’ in a novel of such richly woven intensity.

Following the Characters is the Prologue which lightly introduces the reader to what is to befall some of these intriguing players. Like Baines Tikiti who ‘in a bid to quench his wanderlust, walked into the Indian Ocean’, and ‘how Elizabeth Nyoni sealed her fate with the turn of her ankle’. In it, Ndlovu also reveals that what happens to Genie is not in a vacuum, but ‘the result of a culmination of genealogies, histories, teleologies, epistemologies and epidemiologies – of ways of living, remembering, seeing, knowing and dying.’ So now I am completely hooked.

The body of the book is divided into two ‘books’ and many parts with chapters focusing on the journey and development of each of the individual characters. Set somewhere in Africa, it begins with ‘Genesis’ and the exotic story of Genie’s grandparents, specifically Baines who had fallen in love with a contraption that could fly through the sky. It closes with a majestic herd of elephants raising dust in the early morning savannah sunlight – and overhead an aeroplanes silver wings flashing in the golden sky. What happens in between is a wealth of words and images. It’s informed in part by Ndlovu’s own childhood memories of playing in a field of sunflowers, and by her deep affinity for history. But also, as she put it in an interview, ‘by a group of characters who became my friends and wanted me to tell their stories.’ In terms of style, as someone who though Zimbabwean by birth, has lived in many countries and read widely, she cites the lyricism of writers like Yvonne Vera and Alice Walker as having been inspiring. A recurring line in the text is ‘there are eyes that are not for beauty to see.’ Make of that what you will, but what is interesting to know is that this during the time of writing Theory of Flight, Ndlovu was also working on a PhD dissertation on the theme of Travel and Belonging. More interesting still is that she has finished a second book, picking up on some of the characters here and is already working on a third. I for one, can’t wait.

Nancy Richards

Woman Zone Cape Town received a copy of this book to review, on behalf of Breakaway Reviewers.

[2TReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book.

This is a story that is multi-generational, multi-charactered, and multi-relational with prose that weaves an interconnecting magic that clearly invites the gaze and mind to engage.

With a compound-cum-village into a community that is the root and focal point for the evolution, convergence, and maturation of the author's vision, our characters grow, change, experience loss, find new footing, but always with a connection to the land from which they came.

There is a certain level of skill needed to build an interconnected cast of characters around a single focal point without the prose becoming bloated and dragging the reading pace down, Ndlovu brilliantly weaves her characters into every level as the web gets bigger and all you want to do is to keep reading.

This is a cast of characters that I want in my head where I can have them become an even more cemented part of my mind. It was impossible to not love these MCs.

Ndlovu puts such gentle and poetic strength in building, breaking, and mending her characters and their relationships that as I read, it was much too easy to become engrossed and linked to each of them and all they touched.

Whilst also rounding out a setting where societal behaviours and norms are familiar: jealousy, misogyny, toxic traits, support and love; the state tries and mostly succeeds in silencing dissidents and rebels, familial dysfunction is apparent and ignored, interactions are both meaningful and shallow, they heal and they hurt.

[Sam Hanekom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genie’s beginning was golden. From a golden egg came this daughter of a brilliant aeronautical engineer and revolutionary, and a Dolly Parton-inspired woman full of life and vibrant colour. While the country around her boiled in unease during war and independence, Genie’s childhood was painted with a different shade – with beauty, laughter and adventures with Marcus Masuku. Yet the politics of the land came crashing in, tinting everything in crimson blood. Forced to flee her home, surrounded by death and aware of the absence of her parents, Genie had to start over at the tender age of 10. Yet Marcus’ family took her in, and surrounded by the adoring family, relative domesticity was hers until the age of 18.

Full review at https://girlreviewsbook.blogspot.com/...

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, it was perfection. A must read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impresionante lectura,párrafos que destilan belleza,personajes difíciles de olvidar y una historia llena de magia.Una feliz casualidad encontrar este libro.

[Philisiwe Twijnstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

We belong beyond the clouds …. I tell you…What did I just finish reading? The writing is sublime, simple and mystic. The theory of flight gushes with absolute beauty and sheer magic. The page has a list of characters, I thought boy, you don’t put a cast of characters like that and don’t give them their stories, their own objectives, their own pitfalls and their own misfortunes and chance to love and be loved. And that is what the author has done. The characters connect, their lives intertwine. The theory of flight has a tincture of mystical-magical realism and a historical epic tale of a farm.
Something happens in a Beauford Farm and Estate, Genie has shown the beauty of this farm, when she was a kid playing in a field of sunflowers with putting her feet in the soil. (What an image.) Each character connects and their lives unfolds how they connect to Genie.

The man in berets, those that attacked the farm, the survivors, who were part of the street dwellers ended up purchasing the land in the farm when they heard about a body that was found by the war veterans and turns out it was Genie. At the age of 18 Genie lived a precious life, she met Vida (Artist) a street dweller, he was caught intervening in a fight between David and Goliath (the leader of the survivors)Vida collected metal to make art sculptors. When Genie visited Dr Prisca, after finding out she was HIV positive, on the window she saw that she had to save Vida.
The Masukus , a well off family had a son Marcus. He grew up with Genie, they played together in the sunflower field.) , Golide believed that he could built an aeroplane , he believed his people could fly (That did not sit well with The man himself, he ordered the attack at the farm) This is why Dr Dingaan Masuku is guilty because he told The man himself about what Golide had planned to do. A story of magic, a story of sadness, a story of love… One thing I appreciated was how it never sermonized the subject of HIV was handled with sheer and sparks of lightness. Yet you feel eating Genie’s body until she goes back to the sunflowers.

[Susie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

(thank you to the publisher for my copy of this book!)

Can everyone please stop everything and pick up this book right now? The Theory of Flight is the kind of book you'll want to sink into. It's absolutely mesmerizing and I can't believe more people aren't talking about it.

I was sucked in from the first page, though I had no idea what I was in for. I hadn't read any descriptions of the book and I had no idea what the plot was or anything about the story. If you start to read and find yourself confused, just keep reading. You'll be introduced to a lot of people in the first chapter and you'll wonder how you're going to keep them all straight. You'll be fine; just keep reading. And word to the wise- don't put the book down for a couple days. I did this once and then realized I had to go back several pages to fully jump back into the story. Just let yourself sink in and keep reading.

I'm not even quite sure how to explain the plot of this book to you and I have no idea what to compare it to. It's part whimsical, part atmospheric, part story of love, part story of family and friendship, part political commentary, and probably so much more.

The story is centered on Genie, but you'll get to know many other characters. At times you'll wonder how they're all connected... But Ndlovu does an incredible job at tying everything together. It's likely you'll have some remaining questions when you're done reading, which would make this a really good book club book. I almost wanted to re-start the entire book immediately after finishing.

This certainly isn't my usual type of read, but I think that's in part because this book is so different than anything already out there. Ndlovu is a beautiful storyteller and I can't wait to read more from her.

[Nolo Ntombela · Rating 3 out of 5]

No, just no! In my attempt to read more Southern African books I was drawn to The Theory of Flight by its beautiful cover. I started reading it and was honestly captivated by the first few pages, then I realized that I was battling to remember ALL the characters. My goodness, sooooo many names and relations to keep up with. I literally drafted a family tree just to navigate my way through the first 100 pages.

As I was approaching the ending of the book Siphiwe decided to introduce new information about a character that I truly felt, could have been bundled up in the information overload of the first half of the book. I was frustrated. Here I am trying to find out where the protagonist is, meanwhile Siphiwe is thinking "oh I may have forgotten to tell you something about Dr Masuku's mother". No, just no!

The story is layered. Multiple storylines with multiple themes. They do eventually all come together but by the time they do, I was more relieved than excited.

Southern African Author's - please write books that broaden our imaginations. We have heard the story of HIV/AIDS so many times. We have heard the story of civil wars and civil unrest so many times. We have heard the story of racism and white supremacy so many times. I am bored and I know I'm not the only one. Excite me.

[Luckie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an emotional whirlwind. The author slowly but surely builds a historical picture that takes readers on a journey through generations.

The story switches perspectives between multiple characters, but the main character, Genie, is radiant and alluring, just as the author describes her. She was magnetic.

I liked the small glimpse into Zimbabwean history that I got. I was confused, at first, because I have no frame of reference for the conflicts in Zimbabwe during the eighties, so I did a quick search and got myself up to speed, and things quickly started making sense. I appreciate a book that pushes me to research a culture or point in time that I might not have known about before.

If I have to point out downsides, I would say that sometimes the timeline is a bit jumpy, going back and forth, and I had a bit of a struggle figuring out what decade I was in and which character I was with. There is, however, a helpful character guide at the front of the book.

To top it all off, this book has other book recommendations at the back. Like, hello? Can we normalise having book recs at the end of every book, please?

[Lolly K Dandeneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐮𝐦: 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬- 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠.

This story is about Imogene “Genie” Zula Nyoni, her life, her death and all the people caught beside each other in the web of her fate. There is magic, love, envy, betrayal, violence and the greatest catalyst, wanderlust. It is true that Genie hatched from a golden egg, but magical beginnings do not guarantee perfect, happy lives. Does everything begin with Genie’s ancestors, or is that like asking what came first, the chicken or the egg? Are each of our stories one never-ending saga, chained together and dumped into the ocean, vaster than us all, an ocean that Genie’s grandfather Baines Tikiti walked into? Genie is bound to dreams, myths, hope and tragedy with a grandfather in the ocean and a father who dreams of the sky. A golden father, Livingstone Stanley Tikiti better known as “Golide” Gunmede who shoots a plan down during the war. His own father Baines had the good fortune of an education, thanks to a gentleman farmer Mr. Charmers, and with this education a world of possibilities and opportunities were birthed. He became a traveling salesman and a charming, slick one at that. This is how he falls in love with Prudence Ngoma, who will be mother to his son. A restless man, with South Africa in his eyes, Prudence makes her way to visit him only to discover a man in love with his new obsession, planes. He plans to set up a home and life for his little family, and when it’s time he realizes it can never be, rejected Prudence returns to her birth place, Beauford Farm and Estate but not before their son, Stanley, is mesmerized by the magic of flight. Prudence learns a lesson of her own, and it’s all about character. With this knowledge and experience Prudence raises Stanley to become a man that people gravitate toward. During the war, Stanley falls in love with Elizabeth, a Dolly Parton look alike country western singer. Elizabeth is sure her future is waiting for her in Nashville. The only plan truly in the process of hatching is a child.

Genie comes of age on Beauford Farm and Estate, once the lush, verdant village of Guqhuka before it became a settler farm. A land that violence isn’t quite finished with. For now, Genie runs around with her best friend Marcus Malcom Masuku unconcerned, as children are, with the recent war and its atrocities. Between them always is vast happiness and a thirst for adventure that guides them to leave the compound, despite what wickedness may lay beyond. Discovering a field of sunflowers, it becomes their secret place and warms their hearts almost as much as listening to the stories Genie’s mother Elizabeth tells her during bath time. Marcus’s own secret, falling asleep beneath their window ‘lulled by the warm vanilla scents and their soothing voices’, far from the cold, harsh grandparents. One day on their excursions they discover an abandoned car, a precursor to other changes hurtling their way, and with a glorious return that makes Genie’s heart sore comes a loss when Marcus is taken away by his parents. He never wanted to let go of Genie, not even if it isn’t safe to remain on Beauford Farm and Estate.

Golide’s return enriches the lives of the people on Beauford Farm and Estate, who soon believe they too are capable of flight through his vision. This vision, born with the hope he, his wife Elizabeth and daughter Genie will fly away to a better place, is the only hope they have for safety. The people soon become followers and take part in the dream but it is this very vision that endangers them all. Goldie is wanted by the sojas, but Genie knows he and her mother flew away sadly leaving her behind. Genie’s grown friend Jestina witnesses evil first hand and together the two run away before Genie is adopted by the Masuku family, a dream come true for Marcus but not everyone is welcoming. His jealous sister Krystle doesn’t want any princess, unfortunate or not, usurping her position. Her little girl heart demands to be the only princess in their family. A mean selfishness that will later haunt her. Eunice, the grandmother, can’t stand the very ideal either, her son isn’t political, and she questions why he is taking in the daughter of a family who ‘dabbled in politics.” This is the divide of before and after, we watch Genie come of age and the evolution of her love for Marcus, what can be and what never will. At heart it is about love in all it’s variations but too it is about the atrocities of civil war, of betrayal. It is about the wrongs we commit to save ourselves and sometimes the evil we commit with no rhyme nor reason. More, the novel tests the assumptions we make about others, in how Gina really feels about being a part of the family, in how she protects what she left behind, the horrors- the true horrors she doesn’t share. Her decisions rock the family but the heart will have what the heart wants.

Rich, magical, historical, this is a novel you have to immerse yourself in undisturbed, as there are many tales forking in separate directions that later fit together. HIV, colonialism in South Africa, class, war, flight, hope, vision, sojas, Jesus of the streets and how one woman carries within her magic. Many times Genie is saved, but in the end she too is a savior, even as she is in a coma. It is a hell of a debut novel and I barely summarized it, yes read it!!!!

Publication Date: January 12, 2021

Catalyst Press

[Tondi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a deep appreciation for the approach taken by Ndlovu in 'The Theory of Flight', this book takes on the ambitious feat of telling the stories of many characters - many Genie throughout several decades, with the backdrop of an evolving country. There are elements of historical fiction, romance, magical realism, war novel, and much more tackled by this book. Which is where I felt it lost me, Ndlovu knows how to write beautifully, however the construction of the book could have been more cohesive in my opinion. Tragedy permeates this book, however it was so prolonged by the end I felt rather apathetic.

3.5/5 Stars

[Menna · Rating 3 out of 5]

في البداية لم أتبين المغزى وراء الرواية، كانت أفكاري مبعثرة بينما أقرأ، لكن تدريجيًا تبدأ بالتأثر بشخصية إيموجين الفتاة المشرقة الصلبة التي حاولت -قدر قوتها- ان تتغلب على مرض لم تخطأ فيصيبها، ��كنه القدر، توضح الرواية أكثر من أي شيء -بالنسبة لي- التأثير الذي يحدثه قرار أحدنا في حياة الناس من حولنا، وكيف للطموح، الأمل، أو حتى الحب أن يغدو السبب في هلاك المرء، وربما خلوده للأبد في ذكرياتنا وكيف أن الثورة قد تنشأ بطرق أخرى غير التكلم بصوت عالي، كيف يمكن لحلم أن يكون -بحد ذاته- ثورة!.

[Jessie (Zombie_likes_cake) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a few days now I am trying to figure out how to write a review for this book, do it justice. I actually really enjoyed my time but now talking about themes and plot seems difficult for me. Is that maybe because despite my enjoyment this book was a bit confusing? Maybe, I mean you start with a 2 page long list of characters, and I had to flip back to this glossary all the time to keep people straight. It is a lot but it also creates this macrocosmic vibe when it then gradually moves in to dissect and inspect these people, their situations and most of all their country, the always unnamed but obvious Zimbabwe.

This novel also does a thing that I normally hate but felt like it really worked here: all the characters will end up being connected in some form, a few pivotal events will come up again and again with new revelations when seen from a different angle. Sometimes it's a lot to keep track of. The reason why I think all of this still works is the writing and the style it is presented in. This was my second Zimbabwean book within a few weeks and in the first one ("Drinking from Graveyard Wells" by Yvette Lisa Ndlovu) I learnt about the tradition of nganos, a traditional form of storytelling. While I am clearly speaking from a limited experience I think "The Theory of Flight" had similarly these vibes someone telling you this sprawling tale. You could also describe this as a family saga, historical fiction if you will, but I feel like it's important to stress this tone of someone telling their story (but don't expect an actual narrator character), that's why we jump around so much, that's why there is this purpose to these character arcs, this sometimes predestined feeling to their life paths. They are less like true people and more here to tell us about this country and its people. And I am not sure I would always love that approach, but I loved how Ndlovu did it here.

Colonialism, independence, the aids crisis are 3 key elements, with all their nasty underbellies. But the voice here is often light and at times even a bit satirical. And most of all a tiny bit magical. Yes, we have a few very mild magical realism aspects. Again, the folktale/ Ngano tradition coming through, giving the whole story this slightly removed vibe without ever losing its touch with reality which I think helped me fall for it. I would truly say, read the first 10 pages. If you like that you should be golden, if not this might not be the book for you.

I end where I started, this book is hard to sum up for me. But it was so worth my time. Seriously, both my Zimbabwe books were so fantastic, combined with my Nigerian reads from earlier this year I am finally getting to the great African literature that I knew is out there. A lot of the reads I did for my #readaroundtheworldchallenge specifically for Africa did not land with me like I wanted them to but it seems like I'm starting to get a hang for how to find the books that I will love. This being one of them.

[Erin Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt somewhat similar to my experience reading The Return of Faraz Ali - there’s a nonlinear story with multiple characters that feels melodramatic and overwrought at times. There’s family drama. There’s a political context hinted at but not delved into too deeply.

Like The Return of Faraz Ali, I actually wish the political landscape played more of a role. That it mattered more. But that’s not the story the author is telling. A Brief History of Seven Killings has spoiled me.

It also reminded me of The Death of Vivek Oji in that the power a particular person’s life is explored. Genie’s story is central, but we also never quite fully know it.

I enjoyed a lot about the family drama. I was a little scared when Vida got into art because I don’t enjoy art as a topic in fiction, but that portion is brief. The story focuses on family legacy and secrets. There are also some really excellent scenes that highlight class with really sharp dialogue - like with Valentine and the Masukus. This book also touches on living as HIV positive, dealing with the stigma, especially in the 80s.

What I didn’t like were the more earnest, poetic moments. That just doesn’t speak to me as a reader. But overall a good read - glad I got to it.

[Sakhile Mazibuko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly the type of read I was looking for - a gripping page-turner.
Gloria is a force to be reckoned with. It's evident in the way she structures her prose as well as her diction. It's also the creativity in her arc of the story, that isn't so straight forward, yet entertaining and educational, throughout. The simplicity in which she tells a complex story, allows the reader to be able to keep up - which I reckon, is a special talent on its own.

The Theory of Flight is important for several reasons. One of them being, learning about the transition of most African countries after they obtain democracy, and how the future leaders can learn from those who made mistakes, in order to be better.

The stigma surrounding HIV in the early 2000s as well as how more people could've been saved, had the populace been more educated about the disease, and the government aiding in getting patients treatment.

Most importantly, like any good fiction, it allows one to dream. And that all things work out for the best.

[lili · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible book. I started off the book feeling confused, before feeling happy and sad and happy and then reflective and then existential and, finally, feeling a deep sense of resignation. Ndlovu is an excellent writer. She uses her words so cleverly and crafts her characters so meticulously. The way she describes the environment makes it feel as though you can see everything.

Admittedly, this story has a slow and vaguely confusing start. However, once you reach a certain point in the book it'll feel like an actual sin to put it down.

I also feel as though the fact that this story had so many narrators made the book needlessly convoluted. It also made the story feel more punctured to me because we would jolt from one point in time with one character to a complete different one. While this was cool in some cases, it diluted the narrative overall - especially when the consequences of a past action were not pronounced in the present.

[Max Stolk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! The characters are amazing, the storyline very gripping, and the writing really succeeds in creating pictures for you. It really was amazing, however, it is very much like a metaphor, thus not directly tackling the topic of the book, so if you like your book a little more explicit, this one is not for you.

[Lisa Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, clearly not as much as other people did! The writing is definitely beautiful, I just didn’t like the disorganization of the timelines I guess.

[Lukanyo Mbanga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read review on my blog: https://inthelightroom.org/the-theory...