Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead: A Novel
WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE
New York Times Readers Pick: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
"A brilliant literary murder mystery." —Chicago Tribune
"Extraordinary. Tokarczuk's novel is funny, vivid, dangerous, and disturbing, and it raises some fierce questions about human behavior. My sincere admiration for her brilliant work." —Annie Proulx
In a remote Polish village, Janina devotes the dark winter days to studying astrology, translating the poetry of William Blake, and taking care of the summer homes of wealthy Warsaw residents. Her reputation as a crank and a recluse is amplified by her not-so-secret preference for the company of animals over humans. Then a neighbor, Big Foot, turns up dead. Soon other bodies are discovered, in increasingly strange circumstances. As suspicions mount, Janina inserts herself into the investigation, certain that she knows whodunit. If only anyone would pay her mind . . .
A deeply satisfying thriller cum fairy tale, Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead is a provocative exploration of the murky borderland between sanity and madness, justice and tradition, autonomy and fate. Whom do we deem sane? it asks. Who is worthy of a voice?
New York Times Readers Pick: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
"A brilliant literary murder mystery." —Chicago Tribune
"Extraordinary. Tokarczuk's novel is funny, vivid, dangerous, and disturbing, and it raises some fierce questions about human behavior. My sincere admiration for her brilliant work." —Annie Proulx
In a remote Polish village, Janina devotes the dark winter days to studying astrology, translating the poetry of William Blake, and taking care of the summer homes of wealthy Warsaw residents. Her reputation as a crank and a recluse is amplified by her not-so-secret preference for the company of animals over humans. Then a neighbor, Big Foot, turns up dead. Soon other bodies are discovered, in increasingly strange circumstances. As suspicions mount, Janina inserts herself into the investigation, certain that she knows whodunit. If only anyone would pay her mind . . .
A deeply satisfying thriller cum fairy tale, Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead is a provocative exploration of the murky borderland between sanity and madness, justice and tradition, autonomy and fate. Whom do we deem sane? it asks. Who is worthy of a voice?
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Readers say *Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead* is a richly atmospheric novel blending mystery, philosophy, and social commentary, praised fo...
I read this book for a book club which is the only reason I finished it. I don’t understand the high praise. It seemed that the author was using this book to preach at us about her disdain for meat eating and hunting. Intertwined with that is her love of astrology. The plot dragged and I had no connection to the characters.
This book has everything: a quirky central character, mystery, suspense, drama, social commentary, humor.
Janina is a woman "of a certain age," who makes do by teaching some classes and acting as caretaker for her neighbors' holiday homes. She and her friend Dizzy get together often to translate Blake's poetry. She seems to be tolerated by the locals, but they think she's a little bit off her rocker. She's an animal lover, and when we meet her, she's still grieving the loss of her "girls," her two dogs who went missing awhile back and whom she assumes are dead, probably killed by a hunter.
More strange things start happening. Her neighbor dies under questionable circumstances, or was it just an unfortunate accident? Wild animals are rumored to be stalking the area. Are they plotting a revenge, turning the tables on the human hunters?
Janina is a woman "of a certain age," who makes do by teaching some classes and acting as caretaker for her neighbors' holiday homes. She and her friend Dizzy get together often to translate Blake's poetry. She seems to be tolerated by the locals, but they think she's a little bit off her rocker. She's an animal lover, and when we meet her, she's still grieving the loss of her "girls," her two dogs who went missing awhile back and whom she assumes are dead, probably killed by a hunter.
More strange things start happening. Her neighbor dies under questionable circumstances, or was it just an unfortunate accident? Wild animals are rumored to be stalking the area. Are they plotting a revenge, turning the tables on the human hunters?
This beautifully written book was meant to be savored rather than rushed. I reread several passages silently and then aloud, awestruck by their depth and profundity. Olga Tokarczuk crafted a quirky, noir mystery that subverts our superficial assumptions.
Beyond the plight and mistreatment of wild animals, “Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead” explored a diverse range of themes, some presented with subtle, heart-wrenching clarity. These included grief, depression, solitude, the decline of physical health, ageism, and abuse. The book also employed dark, deliciously derisive humor to critique themes such as machismo, brotherhood, and religion.
Olga Tokarczuk was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2018 “for a narrative imagination that with encyclopedic passion represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of life.” Although it’s enjoyable to follow Janina Duszejko, the protagonist of this novel, as she displays her eccentricity and fervor with equal disregard for her neighbors’ opinions, it’s her underlying afflictions of circumstance—her loneliness, sorrow, and marginalization—that struck me the most deeply. Regrettably and inevitably, many of us will encounter similar “boundaries” as we age and experience loss.
Beyond the plight and mistreatment of wild animals, “Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead” explored a diverse range of themes, some presented with subtle, heart-wrenching clarity. These included grief, depression, solitude, the decline of physical health, ageism, and abuse. The book also employed dark, deliciously derisive humor to critique themes such as machismo, brotherhood, and religion.
Olga Tokarczuk was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2018 “for a narrative imagination that with encyclopedic passion represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of life.” Although it’s enjoyable to follow Janina Duszejko, the protagonist of this novel, as she displays her eccentricity and fervor with equal disregard for her neighbors’ opinions, it’s her underlying afflictions of circumstance—her loneliness, sorrow, and marginalization—that struck me the most deeply. Regrettably and inevitably, many of us will encounter similar “boundaries” as we age and experience loss.
Yes. Literary, snarky, quirky, and dark. Raises important questions about life, death, fate, power, morality, and being true to yourself. Couldn't have done it without the wonderful, powerful, and original Janina.
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