Men speaking with birds, roadside dealers of laughing lizards, unrecognized princes seeking freedom, and soldiers justifying their actions. These are key features of the short stories within A Practical Guide to Levitation by José Eduardo Agualusa (Archipelago Books, 2023). Link here.
The stories weave a tapestry of Angola’s rich history and folklore, a country that gained independence in 1975 only to face a 27-year civil war. Agualusa, an Angolan author, brings forward characters grappling with the impacts of war, both during and long after the conflict, all while exploring universal themes of freedom, escape, and human frailty.
Many of the stories are rooted in Angola, though Agualusa’s narrative takes readers across the globe—from America to Brazil, Portugal, and even Russia. Each tale feels like a window into worlds where history and mythology intersect, as Agualusa delves into the personal struggles of his characters against broader political and social backdrops.
Themes of Nature, Authority, and Surrealism
Throughout the collection, Agualusa masterfully blends surreal elements with the harsh realities faced by his characters. Stories such as “The Tree That Swallowed Time” and “The Outrageous Baobab” place nature at the forefront, portraying plants and animals as keepers of lost knowledge or objects of obsession. The human psyche is probed deeply in each narrative, where characters chase freedom, escape, or understanding.
In stories like “Interpreter of Birds” and “They’re Not Like Us,” Agualusa infuses a Kafkaesque tone, exploring the alienation of his characters through surreal, ‘othered’ identities. These narratives push boundaries, highlighting themes of exclusion, self-protection, and the complexities of human relationships.
Morality and Humanizing Villains
Agualusa also delves into the gray areas of morality in stories such as “K40,” “He Said His Name Is Darkness,” and “The Good Despot.” Here, villains are humanized, and their actions are explained through personal, often tragic, perspectives. The stories raise questions about power, responsibility, and the fragility of human intention.
Faith, Skepticism, and the Human Spirit
At the heart of many of these stories is a recurring struggle with faith. In the title story, “A Practical Guide to Levitation,” a skeptical protagonist mocks a conman’s flying trick, while “The Fourth Angel” contrasts two angels—one who follows God’s rules and another who escapes to live freely as a flamingo. This balance of skepticism and hopefulness, cynicism and faith, permeates the collection, offering readers a thought-provoking and entertaining exploration of the human condition.
A Unique Reading Experience
The book’s physical design is as distinctive as its content. The compact 6.5” by 5.5” dimensions make it stand out on a shelf, and the waffle-print softcover adds to its tactile appeal. The difference in holding, reading, and turning the pages of the book add to the experience of strangeness and difference pervading the text. A Practical Guide To Levitation is an excellent thought-provoking and seriously entertaining collection of Short Stories. With its size, it is perfect for traveling or sitting in a park somewhere.