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A review by bookaneer
Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr by John Crowley
5.0
Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr is a work of art with a capital A. From the very first pages, I knew I was reading something extraordinary. A cross between magical realism and historical fantasy, this is told from the eyes of a two-thousand year old crow, as he flew throughout the history of man, the history of Ymr – our world, Ka – the world of the crows – and what lies in between, under, and beyond.
I truly never really paid attention to crows before this book. Their reputation as messenger of death, the death-black bird, seem to permeate in many histories including in my own country. Because of this book, however, I came to appreciate them more, one of the most intelligent animals out there. I spent hours falling into the rabbit hole of crow googling. Did you know crows can tell the difference between a man carrying a shovel over his shoulder and a man carrying a gun? They know to stay away from the one and the other one can’t hurt them. For Indonesians, did you know Indonesia has at least six different crow species? And our crows are exceptionally bright? Crowley did an extensive research for this book and it shows. How he integrated the facts of crows from biological traits to social behavior seamlessly into an engaging, magical tale is an achievement of its own.
CROWley (ahem) is also somehow successful in making an animal POV does not seem like a representation or allegory of men – which novels did often with their animal characters. There is no humanizing part. Dar Oakley is his own character, a crow, and he has his own, unique, endearing voice. Moreover, one of my favorite parts of the book is that the crow showed agency. Not just an observer, mind you.
History buff and myth lovers will enjoy this book. Dak Oakley tales brought me to many points of history; I lived with the ancient Celts, I witnessed the Roman legion in their bloody campaign, I traveled across the sea to the New World, I followed the homeward-bound victims of the Civil War, and I saw the bleak, diseased future of humanity. This book is divided into a few different era. Each era represents a journey. Every journey is different. Every journey is mythically-inspired and fantastically morbid. How could it not? There was a very thin line between worlds whenever Dar Oakley was around. The streams of human companions the crow had been engaged with across time and continent actually showed that Dar Oakley’s true companion is death. He croaks out "ka" (caw), which is also the ancient Egyptian word for the spiritual self that survives the decay of the body.
Let me stop with that, since whatever I wrote here won’t do the book any justice. There were too many parts I love. Aside from The Scar, this is the best book I read this year, one of those five glowing stars that will shine the longest in my memory. It was truly a marvelous, achingly beautiful reading experience – also thanks to the lovely buddies I had in SFFBC, you know who you are :)
I truly never really paid attention to crows before this book. Their reputation as messenger of death, the death-black bird, seem to permeate in many histories including in my own country. Because of this book, however, I came to appreciate them more, one of the most intelligent animals out there. I spent hours falling into the rabbit hole of crow googling. Did you know crows can tell the difference between a man carrying a shovel over his shoulder and a man carrying a gun? They know to stay away from the one and the other one can’t hurt them. For Indonesians, did you know Indonesia has at least six different crow species? And our crows are exceptionally bright? Crowley did an extensive research for this book and it shows. How he integrated the facts of crows from biological traits to social behavior seamlessly into an engaging, magical tale is an achievement of its own.
CROWley (ahem) is also somehow successful in making an animal POV does not seem like a representation or allegory of men – which novels did often with their animal characters. There is no humanizing part. Dar Oakley is his own character, a crow, and he has his own, unique, endearing voice. Moreover, one of my favorite parts of the book is that the crow showed agency. Not just an observer, mind you.
History buff and myth lovers will enjoy this book. Dak Oakley tales brought me to many points of history; I lived with the ancient Celts, I witnessed the Roman legion in their bloody campaign, I traveled across the sea to the New World, I followed the homeward-bound victims of the Civil War, and I saw the bleak, diseased future of humanity. This book is divided into a few different era. Each era represents a journey. Every journey is different. Every journey is mythically-inspired and fantastically morbid. How could it not? There was a very thin line between worlds whenever Dar Oakley was around. The streams of human companions the crow had been engaged with across time and continent actually showed that Dar Oakley’s true companion is death. He croaks out "ka" (caw), which is also the ancient Egyptian word for the spiritual self that survives the decay of the body.
"Maybe not, said the Skeleton. But look at it this way. When you return home, you'll tell the story of how you sought it and failed, and that story will be told and told again. And when you're dead yourself, the story will go on being told, and in that telling you'll speak and act and be alive again."
Let me stop with that, since whatever I wrote here won’t do the book any justice. There were too many parts I love. Aside from The Scar, this is the best book I read this year, one of those five glowing stars that will shine the longest in my memory. It was truly a marvelous, achingly beautiful reading experience – also thanks to the lovely buddies I had in SFFBC, you know who you are :)