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A review by humphreads
Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree
5.0
I have no idea where to start with Tomb of Sand.I stayed up late reading it, I got up early to read it, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop thinking about it.
Oooh that’d be a good clickbait quote, but I’m being serious. This book has had me questioning how printed words can do this.
Sand of Tomb begins with a mother who is ill in bed. She’s mentally ill from a cloud of depression and/or grief (because how can one separate these things?). This is a real slow burner, with her only emerging from bed 200 pages in. Fear not though, it’s a big boy at 700 pages and despite a potential lack of movement, you will not get bored.
As well as utter loss, this book explores borders and relations between Pakistan and Israel, family ties, gender expression, the reverse roles of parents and children that come with ageing, religion, traumatic childhood. My brain is genuinely a blur because there’s SO much within these pages.
The plot it pretty amazing, but to me what makes this book spectacular is it’s language. The fact that this book is translated fiction is insane, and both Geetanjali Shree and Daisy Rockwell are stupidly talented. The narration of this book makes it feel like a story. “But it is a story?” you say, while I scratch my head because how can I articulate this magic. Remember sitting down, legs crossed and being read a story by a wise owl? This is how the book is. If you watched Jackanory, this is the vibe.
We break off the story multiple times to say things like “there’s also another son, but he’s not relevant at the moment” or “didn’t I tell you that was important?”. Additionally, there’s a very wise crow who apparently has a main voice in this book, a fairytale about how Reebok shoes were snakes and the most gorgeous prose on windows and doors.
If you like Ali Smith, you’ll love this. If you like the confusion, yep. If you want a straight forward beach read, absolutely avoid. It’s long and it’s hard but !!!! IT IS A WORK OF ART !!! and I’m genuinely in a state of confusion over this paPER WITH WORDS ON THAT HAS THIS CONTROL OVER ME. So so thankful that @thebookerprizes shone a light on this beauty.
*mic drop*
*gabby faints*
Oooh that’d be a good clickbait quote, but I’m being serious. This book has had me questioning how printed words can do this.
Sand of Tomb begins with a mother who is ill in bed. She’s mentally ill from a cloud of depression and/or grief (because how can one separate these things?). This is a real slow burner, with her only emerging from bed 200 pages in. Fear not though, it’s a big boy at 700 pages and despite a potential lack of movement, you will not get bored.
As well as utter loss, this book explores borders and relations between Pakistan and Israel, family ties, gender expression, the reverse roles of parents and children that come with ageing, religion, traumatic childhood. My brain is genuinely a blur because there’s SO much within these pages.
The plot it pretty amazing, but to me what makes this book spectacular is it’s language. The fact that this book is translated fiction is insane, and both Geetanjali Shree and Daisy Rockwell are stupidly talented. The narration of this book makes it feel like a story. “But it is a story?” you say, while I scratch my head because how can I articulate this magic. Remember sitting down, legs crossed and being read a story by a wise owl? This is how the book is. If you watched Jackanory, this is the vibe.
We break off the story multiple times to say things like “there’s also another son, but he’s not relevant at the moment” or “didn’t I tell you that was important?”. Additionally, there’s a very wise crow who apparently has a main voice in this book, a fairytale about how Reebok shoes were snakes and the most gorgeous prose on windows and doors.
If you like Ali Smith, you’ll love this. If you like the confusion, yep. If you want a straight forward beach read, absolutely avoid. It’s long and it’s hard but !!!! IT IS A WORK OF ART !!! and I’m genuinely in a state of confusion over this paPER WITH WORDS ON THAT HAS THIS CONTROL OVER ME. So so thankful that @thebookerprizes shone a light on this beauty.
*mic drop*
*gabby faints*