Flight theory
Product details
When Imogen Zola Nyoni lies in a hospital coma after a long illness, her family and friends try to come to terms with her impending death. Jenny's talents transcend the boundaries of time and place, and this is her story. It is also the story of her ancestors – Binz Tikiti, whose love of travel led him to change his name and ultimately cross the Indian Ocean on foot.
Yeh, and his son Livingston Stanley Tikitty, who adopted the code name "Juleed Gomedy" during the war and became obsessed with flying, as well as the story of his wife, Elizabeth Newney, a (Western and country) singer who followed in Dolly Patron's footsteps in everything.
With delicate touches and a layer of magical realism, this story paints a picture of the lives of a few families, the fate of a particular place on Earth, and decades of its history—from colonial occupation to the struggle for freedom, to the devastation wrought by soja, AIDS, and (the man himself!). Always honest, sometimes mysterious, sometimes magical, "The Theory of Flight" focuses not on the losses and failures in a nation's history, but on the personal triumphs and why they matter.
"A powerful story told in a magical way."
– Letnit (South Africa)
"The Theory of Flight paints decades of history in a South African country, with the most delicate touches, an unforgettable cast of characters, and moments of surreal beauty. The novel does not focus on the losses the country suffered in its war, but on the everyday achievements of its citizens, on the necessity of art, and the ability of its dreamers to soar in the sky."
Tropics Magazine
"I couldn't put this book down until I finished it, out of respect for Indlovu and her exceptional talent. A beautiful, sublime book. I consider it (the book of the year!)"
- Novio Chuma, author:
House of Stone
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Flight theory
A distinctive collection
The different oud
