The Theory of Flight

Ndlovu combines her skills as a Zimbabwean filmmaker and writer to tell a generational story depicting extreme loss and love. She incorporates her childhood experiences, general history and the HIV epidemic to illustrate how seemingly disparate events are interrelated. Ndlovu reveals how our choices determine not only the course of our own personal history, but the histories of those around us and beyond – the domino effect. This is a complex and unique work of literature filled with engaging characters, depth and creative use of visual language. I suspect we will see much more from this talented artist.

I am so pleased that I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers program on Library Thing.

I recently bemoaned to my sister that I'm really weary of all the WWII American perspective historical fiction novels. While I think it is a valuable era to learn about, there are so many other places and times to write from and Siphiwe fulfills that with her novel on Zimbabwe before and during the 1980s.

I couldn't put this book down and even though there are so many vignettes and points of view shared from the characters' perspectives, it is woven together masterfully. I'm also happy with the character list, because my short-term memory isn't wonderful and there are so many relationships in the book.

The magical realism aspect isn't show more heavy-handed or even unbelievable. Everything felt just right. South African apartheid, revolution, the HIV/AIDS epidemic - it was all conveyed through the experience of the characters, which I loved. Nothing was "told" to us.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to get a feel for the experience of people who lived a life with things beyond what we can identify with or understand and the history it is so important that we understand. Someone summarized that this book explores all the ways that we lose someone before they are gone, but I would also argue that it is about how each person plays an important part in the overall story of our world and how interconnected and interdependent our experiences are. show less

This is a first novel by a writer from Zimbabwe, and this book won a prize for Debut Fiction in South Africa. The book centers on the life of Imogen Zulu Nyoni, known as Genie, but I would say she is more a focal point than a main character. The book has many characters, and the story moves between characters, locations, and time periods. At first I got a bit confused, even though there is a character list at the beginning of the novel, but as I got farther into the novel, I fell in love with it. Ndlovu demonstrates the interplay between the personal and the political, and highlighting issues of race, art, colonialism, HIV, and more, with a deft touch. I will probably re-read to catch things I missed the first time.

I don't want to share show more too much of the plot, in order to avoid spoilers, but here was a favorite passage, in which a journalist speaks to an angry reader:

"We live in a time of HIV and AIDS," Bhekithema Nyathi continues. "Everyone knows someone in hospital who is fighting to survive. That fact alone--that we all know someone who is struggling to be alive--should be the headline every day, but it is not. It is our reality, the way we live now, our truth. So of course we cannot acknowledge it, let alone print it. We cannot print what matters, we never print the truth, but we still have to sell the paper somehow. So in the end, all we have is sensationalism. And that is what your story had to be. I am really sorry...truly." show less

Lyrical and magical and joyful all while examining real tragedy on many fronts. This is probably the best book I read this year. Yes, it takes a bit to get through the long introduction of characters and history, but that section is so charming and mythical that it's a delight in itself, if you relax into it.

The Theory of Flight has an undeniable magic realism quality to it without having much magic actually happen within its pages.

I like the interconnectedness of the various characters, though on that note there are a *lot* of characters; about six of them are introduced on the first page alone, so I had moments where it was tough to keep up; luckily there is a list of characters listed before the prologue, and I did have to go back and look at it a few times until I got into the groove.

Apart from that, there are a lot of big issues such as liberation, and HIV; the book takes place throughout different years in an unnamed African country (possibly Zimbabwe?), and is meant to center around Imogen Zula Nyoni - known as Genie - and the show more people who shaped her life. This is done really beautifully, but because of there being so many characters I didn't really find myself connecting with Genie. The back of the book says that Genie is "a woman with gifts that transcend time and space" and in the pages we are told over and over how special she is, but we are not shown enough what makes her so special until much later on.

In some ways, the book takes its time unfolding, as things occur that are not explained until chapters later, but in a way that makes sense and feels organic.

I think the book's true magic is in the interwoven storylines, the intimate look into the lives of the characters, learning more about each through the eyes of others. It's difficult to review this book without giving much away, but suffice it to say - despite my few qualms - it is a smart, unique read, beautifully told. Ndlovu's "voice" is distinct and unforgettable, and I would gladly read more of her work. show less

What a magical, enchanting read! The cast of characters did get a bit confusing at times (though the author includes a list of characters at the start of the book which was very helpful to refer back to), the characters are all impactful to the story (which is not always the case) and portrayed with empathy. I loved that the author was able to make this book feel both like a fantasy, but also real. Such a wonderful read that took my mind to some extraordinary places. Would highly recommend.

These is the magical story of how connections among people have a profound impact on even those they’ve never met.

This is also a story of Zimbabwe with its wars and changing governments, the HIV/AIDS crisis, and the chronicles of how this affected a small circle of people.

Each chapter centers on an individual character, who they are, how their life was shaped, and how they connect with others even if the connections seem tenuous.

I’m truly grateful to have received this in exchange for a review. It’s one of the most moving, magical, heart-breaking, and loving stories I’ve read in a very long time.