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halftimelord's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.5
Everything will pass. The wise Man knows this from the start, and has no regrets.
I REALLY enjoyed Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. I wasn't sure about it at first (not to judge a book by its cover, but the edition that I have isn't very inviting!) and when I picked it up I wasn't expecting an easy read, especially with the subject matter described in the blurb. However, I was glad to be proven wrong. I can see why the author is a Nobel Prize winner!
The book does a really good job of balancing the inner life of the main character and her reflections on life (and death) with the murder mystery that almost sneaks up on the reader. I really liked Duszejko and even at the end,despite her eccentricities and "madness" the book does a good job at making you feel that her actions were justified. The description of the photograph at the end was a gut punch. Although we don't spend much time with the other characters, they feel very realistic and the way they come together as a kind of family is really moving. For a book with a lot of horrible events, covering dark topics, there's also a lot of kindness in it.
On a Wednesday morning in January, at seven in the morning, it's plain to see that the world was not made for Man, and definitely not for his comfort or pleasure.
I REALLY enjoyed Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. I wasn't sure about it at first (not to judge a book by its cover, but the edition that I have isn't very inviting!) and when I picked it up I wasn't expecting an easy read, especially with the subject matter described in the blurb. However, I was glad to be proven wrong. I can see why the author is a Nobel Prize winner!
The book does a really good job of balancing the inner life of the main character and her reflections on life (and death) with the murder mystery that almost sneaks up on the reader. I really liked Duszejko and even at the end,
On a Wednesday morning in January, at seven in the morning, it's plain to see that the world was not made for Man, and definitely not for his comfort or pleasure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Murder
dizzzybrook's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adored everything about this book. I’ve found myself becoming increasingly bored with literary mystery/thriller books written from the POV of an unreliable narrator but Tokarczuk’s execution here is really great. Janina is one of my favorite literary characters that I’ve read in quite a while. Honestly, this book could have had absolutely no plot and I would have considered it a six star book anyways based on how incredible I found the prose alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Death, Body horror, and Blood
liesbethvv's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book had been on my TBR for so long and I’m happy BOB bookclub finally made me pick it up. It read like a gloomy thriller with an unreliable narrator and a big focus on the main characters loathing of hunting and killing animals.
The set-up was predictable (to me) yet executed in an entertaining way.
I could have done without the lengthy rants about astrology, though they did feel like part of the main character’s eccentricities. If you’d like to read something of
The set-up was predictable (to me) yet executed in an entertaining way.
I could have done without the lengthy rants about astrology, though they did feel like part of the main character’s eccentricities. If you’d like to read something of
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Murder, and Animal death
Moderate: Blood and Chronic illness
sneha_m's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Murder
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As the main character and narrator of this darkly funny novel, Mrs. Duszejko steals the show. A fierce old woman who lives alone in a house on a remote Polish plateau, she has a big personality as an eccentric astrologer, vegetarian, non-Catholic, and translator of William Blake. She patrols the area surrounding her home daily and has a few, select friends. After her neighbor, “Bigfoot,” is found dead, a series of deaths unfolds, but no one will hear her theories about stags and stars. Ultimately, this is a story of a woman in a significant amount of grief. Beata Poźniak’s narration is exemplary—just perfect.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Murder, Misogyny, Grief, and Death
Minor: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Medical content
savazelena's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It reminds me of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: quirky, introspective, dark.
I took my time with reading it so I feel like I can't appreciate it fully because I forgot the details. I adored the protagonist and her relationships, a little kooky but in a charming way. It feels like the book is not really even about the murders, since there's not much said about them, but just the meditative flow of thoughts was nice to read. Excellent writing and translation.
I took my time with reading it so I feel like I can't appreciate it fully because I forgot the details. I adored the protagonist and her relationships, a little kooky but in a charming way. It feels like the book is not really even about the murders, since there's not much said about them, but just the meditative flow of thoughts was nice to read. Excellent writing and translation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Murder
mandaleigh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Murder
jnunmont's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Just wow.
Without saying anything that can spoil it. The ending took my breath away. I see a lot of people calling the book boring and saying it’s not what they expected.
I found this book difficult initially, but once I was in, I was in. I loved living inside the head of Janina Duszjeko. And I hope she’ll forgive me for calling her by the name she was given at birth. I loved the setting and all of the characters. I really fell in love with it all. I understand why this book may feel like a slog to some. But I really loved it. I didn’t see the ending coming whatsoever. And it landed magnificently. Olga Tokarczuk is an absolute force. Just from this book alone I can tell she deserves all the awards, and all the flowers. Wow. Just wow.
Without saying anything that can spoil it. The ending took my breath away. I see a lot of people calling the book boring and saying it’s not what they expected.
I found this book difficult initially, but once I was in, I was in. I loved living inside the head of Janina Duszjeko. And I hope she’ll forgive me for calling her by the name she was given at birth. I loved the setting and all of the characters. I really fell in love with it all. I understand why this book may feel like a slog to some. But I really loved it. I didn’t see the ending coming whatsoever. And it landed magnificently. Olga Tokarczuk is an absolute force. Just from this book alone I can tell she deserves all the awards, and all the flowers. Wow. Just wow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Animal death
whatthekatdraggedin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Gore, Animal death, and Murder
laurenw22's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Animal death