The last flight of the flamingo cover

The last flight of the flamingo

by Mia Couto

"'In Tizangara, the only facts are supernatural ones. To put it crudely and rudely, here's what happened: a severed penis was found right there on the trunk road just outside Tizangara. A large organ on the loose. Folk turned up from all around.'" "So the translator of Tizangara begins his tale. But more than folk turn up: car loads of foreign investigators and even a UN official, the Italian Massimo Risi, sweep into the small Mozambican town. And what a minefield they have come to investigate! A labyrinth of witnesses tell stories about each other, the town's past, its folklore, magic and occasional mayhem: among them are Anna Godwilling, the town's whore and therefore the most knowledgeable expert in local manhood, the ancient Temporina who changes into a seductive young girl and bewitches Massimo away from his investigation; the bombastic and obsequious administrator and his wife who insists on being called 'The First Lady'. Even the story of the last flight of the flamingo has its part to play."--BOOK JACKET.

More by Mia Couto

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?