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hilaryrowell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
marennrenn's review against another edition
4.0
3.67
Don't go into this expecting a murder mystery. I'd advice you to read this with as little expectations as possible.
Don't go into this expecting a murder mystery. I'd advice you to read this with as little expectations as possible.
fluanita's review against another edition
4.0
“Na Idade Média, na época em que Santo Agostinho ainda não havia proibido ler o futuro escrito nas estrelas, um certo monge astrólogo previu a própria morte a partir do seu mapa astral. Morreria do golpe de uma pedra que cairia em sua cabeça. A partir de então, sempre usou um capacete de ferro debaixo de seu capuz de monge. Até que, uma Sexta-feira Santa, o tirou junto com o capuz - mais para não chamar a atenção para si do que por amor a Deus. E foi então que uma pequena pedra caiu em sua cabeça desprotegida, ferindo-o ligeiramente. Porém o monge estava certo de que a profecia havia se cumprido, então pôs todas as coisas de sua vida em ordem e, um mês depois, morreu.
É assim que funciona as coisas, Dísio. Mas eu sei que ainda tenho bastante tempo.”
É assim que funciona as coisas, Dísio. Mas eu sei que ainda tenho bastante tempo.”
schnauzermum's review against another edition
4.0
At one level, this is a crime novel. It also asks big questions about the relationship between humans and animals, the role of tradition, and the way we treat those who don’t conform.
That might sound daunting, but it is also funny. The novel is narrated by Janina Duszejko, a former engineer turned schoolteacher living in an isolated rural community seemingly centred on hunting and mushroom picking. The first sentence sets the voice immediately:
‘I am already at an age and additionally in a state where I must always wash my feet thoroughly before bed, in the event of having to be removed by an ambulance in the Night.’
One night, she finds the dead body of her neighbour, a prolific poacher. He appears to have choked to death on a venison bone. Can the animals be wreaking their revenge? Janina sets out to try to convince her neighbours and the police that this is exactly what is going on.
I shouldn’t have called her ‘Janina’, as she hates the name, and says she tries to avoid using other people’s given names, choosing instead to use a nickname that comes to mind the first tine she sees someone. So we have Oddball, Big Foot and (my favourite) Father Rustle.
Tokarczuk is critical of aspects of Polish society and this novel caused a stir when it was published. It has taken nearly 10 years for it to be available in English, probably helped by the success of ‘Flights’, last year’s Man Booker International winner. This is a prize that does a good job in bringing new authors to an English-speaking audience. As the narrator says, ‘How wonderful - to translate from one language to another, and by so doing to bring people closer to one another - what a beautiful idea.’
The translator is Antonia Lloyd-Jones.
That might sound daunting, but it is also funny. The novel is narrated by Janina Duszejko, a former engineer turned schoolteacher living in an isolated rural community seemingly centred on hunting and mushroom picking. The first sentence sets the voice immediately:
‘I am already at an age and additionally in a state where I must always wash my feet thoroughly before bed, in the event of having to be removed by an ambulance in the Night.’
One night, she finds the dead body of her neighbour, a prolific poacher. He appears to have choked to death on a venison bone. Can the animals be wreaking their revenge? Janina sets out to try to convince her neighbours and the police that this is exactly what is going on.
I shouldn’t have called her ‘Janina’, as she hates the name, and says she tries to avoid using other people’s given names, choosing instead to use a nickname that comes to mind the first tine she sees someone. So we have Oddball, Big Foot and (my favourite) Father Rustle.
Tokarczuk is critical of aspects of Polish society and this novel caused a stir when it was published. It has taken nearly 10 years for it to be available in English, probably helped by the success of ‘Flights’, last year’s Man Booker International winner. This is a prize that does a good job in bringing new authors to an English-speaking audience. As the narrator says, ‘How wonderful - to translate from one language to another, and by so doing to bring people closer to one another - what a beautiful idea.’
The translator is Antonia Lloyd-Jones.
jessreadthis's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
cameronbmoon's review against another edition
4.0
I think about this book more often than I thought I would. Even though it was a struggle to get through at points, it’s really grown on me in the last month since finishing.
The payoff here was fantastic, but the build-up felt laborious and scattered. I was trudging.
Considering the main character is an astrologist AND obsessive animal-lover (two things I can’t stand), I was surprised by how convincing she was for me. By the end I felt I understood her, and she DIDN’T annoy me with her ‘don’t hunt animals’ tangents. Well written. But soooo much (too much?) astrology.
The payoff here was fantastic, but the build-up felt laborious and scattered. I was trudging.
Considering the main character is an astrologist AND obsessive animal-lover (two things I can’t stand), I was surprised by how convincing she was for me. By the end I felt I understood her, and she DIDN’T annoy me with her ‘don’t hunt animals’ tangents. Well written. But soooo much (too much?) astrology.
saltkroka's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
This book has left me with a particularly comforting feeling that I am far from being the craziest, I'm rather crazy enough. Loved it.
katieply's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
God I love Olga Tokarczuk- something about her writing feels so intimate but off-putting at the same time. This book was unique in that I don't think I've ever read something that combined elements of so many different genres: mystery, fantasy, existentialism, etc, etc. Overall this book did a good job at keeping up to pace with a singular theme-ish, but be warned that Tokarczuk is an author that isn't afraid to diverge from the original plot line only to come back to it in a nonsensical, erratic way. If you like astrology, animals, murder mysteries, and an unreliable narrator- this book is for you!
nlhill's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jswense's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0