Scan barcode
A review by misspalah
Flights by Olga Tokarczuk
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Why am I in pain? Is it because— as that lens grinder says, and perhaps only in this does he not err—in essence the body and soul are part of something larger and something shared, states of the same substance, like water that can be both liquid and solid? How can what does not exist cause me pain? Why do I feel this lack, sense this absence? Are we perhaps condemned to wholeness, and every fragmentation, every quartering, will only be a pretense, will happen on the surface, underneath which, however, the plan remains intact, unalterable? Does even the smallest fragment still belong to the whole? If the world, like a great glass orb, falls and shatters into a million pieces-doesn't something great, powerful, and infinite remain a whole in this? Is my pain God? I've spent my life traveling, into my own body, into my own amputated limb. I've prepared the most accurate maps. I have dismantled the thing under investigation per the best methodology, breaking it down into prime factors. I've counted the muscles, ten-dons, nerves, and blood vessels. I've used my own eyes for this, but relied, too, on the cleverer vision of the microscope. I believe I have not missed even the smallest part.
- Flights by Olga Tokarczuk
.
I find it puzzling that this book is not marketed as a collection of short stories. Reading it felt almost absurd due to the multitude of random topics, yet it was presented as a novel. It does not adhere to a traditional narrative format; rather, it resembles a mosaic of interconnected ideas, tales, and philosophical reflections. While I don't mind novels lacking a clear storyline, I take issue with it being categorized incorrectly, which can mislead readers from the beginning. The book thrives on a broad spectrum of themes—there's a sense that no topic is off-limits for the author. While that might sound like an exaggeration, consider that it shifts from discussing vulvas to swastikas, which illustrates my point. Given that this book has won the Man Booker International Prize, I anticipated an emotionally engaging story or a clear plot to follow. Instead, I was completely bewildered by its fragmented nature, leaving me feeling disappointed upon finishing it. This book is exceptionally unconventional, actively resisting the notion of cohesive storytelling. While it might be thrilling for some readers, I found it utterly frustrating and a real challenge to get through. Read at your own discretion!
- Flights by Olga Tokarczuk
.
I find it puzzling that this book is not marketed as a collection of short stories. Reading it felt almost absurd due to the multitude of random topics, yet it was presented as a novel. It does not adhere to a traditional narrative format; rather, it resembles a mosaic of interconnected ideas, tales, and philosophical reflections. While I don't mind novels lacking a clear storyline, I take issue with it being categorized incorrectly, which can mislead readers from the beginning. The book thrives on a broad spectrum of themes—there's a sense that no topic is off-limits for the author. While that might sound like an exaggeration, consider that it shifts from discussing vulvas to swastikas, which illustrates my point. Given that this book has won the Man Booker International Prize, I anticipated an emotionally engaging story or a clear plot to follow. Instead, I was completely bewildered by its fragmented nature, leaving me feeling disappointed upon finishing it. This book is exceptionally unconventional, actively resisting the notion of cohesive storytelling. While it might be thrilling for some readers, I found it utterly frustrating and a real challenge to get through. Read at your own discretion!