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charlie_rosannah_reads's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mariasuniverse's review against another edition
2.0
The first chapter was extremely compelling, but the rest of the story was bogged down with a tedious stream of consciousness narration that ultimately didn't work for me. There are some interesting discussion points presented in the book, but handling of them within the story and the twist itself ultimately fall flat.
the_sunken_library's review
4.0
This is a curious little murder mystery. Written by a winner of the Nobel prize for Literature, Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead is a Polish novel that explores themes around nature, religion, feminism, age and morality.
The author is known for being an outspoken feminist and intellectual, and some in her country label her a 'traitor' - the blurb of the book references the 'political unrest' the publication of this novel supposedly caused, though I don't know enough about Poland & it's culture/scoiety to understand how or why this might be.
I found the writing to be beautiful, unusual and beguiling, but the musings on Astrology dull. I confess, I often skimmed over those descriptions in the book. And the rants about vegetarianism. It was a bit heavy handed for my liking.
Janina is an usual narrator - she is highly intellectual yet also often confused. Her story has a tendancy to lose focus as she becomes embroiled in her own emotions or observations. She is aware of other people's perceptions of her, thinking she's a 'crazy old woman', or 'hag' but she doesn't hold back on her critical assesments of other's either, often descrbing them as 'goblins' and 'murderers'. We, as the reader, are trying to puzzle out the potential slayings of three hunters but must do so through the mind of a woman distracted by the twilight of her own life, her regrets, her fears and anger. Janina is deeply troubled by the world around her, her place in it and the treatment of animals by humans. She is perpetually melancholic and describes herself as a 'useless' person. That she came into the world and will leave here having provided nothing for it (focusing mainly on the fact she is childless) - though this misses the point that she spent years building bridges, she teaches English to children, she is assisting in the translation of Blake's works. All these will continue on after her.
This is a crime noir riddled with black humour but it is predominantly, in my opinion, the existential crises of a woman who has lost sight of her place in the world. She bows under the weight of knowing she can 'never understand it all'. The culomination of the plot and end revelations are at once cathartic, understandable, inevitable and a bitter relief.
The author is known for being an outspoken feminist and intellectual, and some in her country label her a 'traitor' - the blurb of the book references the 'political unrest' the publication of this novel supposedly caused, though I don't know enough about Poland & it's culture/scoiety to understand how or why this might be.
I found the writing to be beautiful, unusual and beguiling, but the musings on Astrology dull. I confess, I often skimmed over those descriptions in the book. And the rants about vegetarianism. It was a bit heavy handed for my liking.
Janina is an usual narrator - she is highly intellectual yet also often confused. Her story has a tendancy to lose focus as she becomes embroiled in her own emotions or observations. She is aware of other people's perceptions of her, thinking she's a 'crazy old woman', or 'hag' but she doesn't hold back on her critical assesments of other's either, often descrbing them as 'goblins' and 'murderers'. We, as the reader, are trying to puzzle out the potential slayings of three hunters but must do so through the mind of a woman distracted by the twilight of her own life, her regrets, her fears and anger. Janina is deeply troubled by the world around her, her place in it and the treatment of animals by humans. She is perpetually melancholic and describes herself as a 'useless' person. That she came into the world and will leave here having provided nothing for it (focusing mainly on the fact she is childless) - though this misses the point that she spent years building bridges, she teaches English to children, she is assisting in the translation of Blake's works. All these will continue on after her.
This is a crime noir riddled with black humour but it is predominantly, in my opinion, the existential crises of a woman who has lost sight of her place in the world. She bows under the weight of knowing she can 'never understand it all'. The culomination of the plot and end revelations are at once cathartic, understandable, inevitable and a bitter relief.
avpolski's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
crixmadine's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Great read!
sofiarhidalgo's review against another edition
21/01/2020
incrível!!!!!!!!!
06/01/2021 - releitura
Esse livro é muito peculiar. Ele tem tudo isso: um vilarejo na Polônia com muita neve, astrologia, poesia de William Blake, várias mortes misteriosas, uma associação dos catadores de cogumelos, um especialista em insetos e, a cereja do bolo, uma velhinha que usa um casaco de penas vermelhas e sombra verde nos olhos(sim, perfeita), amante e defensora dos animais, que inventa nomes pra todo mundo porque esses nomes precisam combinar de verdade com seus donos. Ela tem teorias que todos consideram mirabolantes, e constantemente é taxada de “a velha maluca”. Ela é uma das minhas personagens preferidas.
Esse livro fala muito sobre morte, coisa que eu não percebi muito na primeira leitura. Mas ele também é muito engraçado e eu amo como Dusheiko fala o que pensa sem se preocupar muito, e ela é sempre muito sincera.
Quando você chega nos últimos dois capítulos as coisas mudam tão rápido de uma forma tão inesperada e isso só deixa esse livro melhor.
Quero ir pra Klodzko e encontrar Dusheiko andando por ai.
“De qualquer modo, conheço a data de minha própria morte e graças a isso me sinto livre“
”E meu cabelo branco, cujos átomos preservam a memória dos primórdios da vida, da catástrofe cósmica que deu início ao mundo”
incrível!!!!!!!!!
06/01/2021 - releitura
Esse livro é muito peculiar. Ele tem tudo isso: um vilarejo na Polônia com muita neve, astrologia, poesia de William Blake, várias mortes misteriosas, uma associação dos catadores de cogumelos, um especialista em insetos e, a cereja do bolo, uma velhinha que usa um casaco de penas vermelhas e sombra verde nos olhos(sim, perfeita), amante e defensora dos animais, que inventa nomes pra todo mundo porque esses nomes precisam combinar de verdade com seus donos. Ela tem teorias que todos consideram mirabolantes, e constantemente é taxada de “a velha maluca”. Ela é uma das minhas personagens preferidas.
Esse livro fala muito sobre morte, coisa que eu não percebi muito na primeira leitura. Mas ele também é muito engraçado e eu amo como Dusheiko fala o que pensa sem se preocupar muito, e ela é sempre muito sincera.
Quando você chega nos últimos dois capítulos as coisas mudam tão rápido de uma forma tão inesperada e isso só deixa esse livro melhor.
Quero ir pra Klodzko e encontrar Dusheiko andando por ai.
“De qualquer modo, conheço a data de minha própria morte e graças a isso me sinto livre“
”E meu cabelo branco, cujos átomos preservam a memória dos primórdios da vida, da catástrofe cósmica que deu início ao mundo”
lilyreadingbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5
chez_abaa's review against another edition
4.0
If you are interested in reading a novel that gives voice to environmental concerns and ethics related to the subject but are afraid of coming across a pedantic story, then “Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead” is a great choice.
Witty, noir, elaborated language and environmental issues. Really enjoyed it as a mystery lover and was amused by the language and style.
Witty, noir, elaborated language and environmental issues. Really enjoyed it as a mystery lover and was amused by the language and style.
lily_snyder's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
1.0
jesus fucking christ don’t get me started on this audiobook it was like being on the phone with a boomer trying to tell you a story