Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

A Novel

De: Olga Tokarczuk, Antonia Lloyd-Jones - translator

Narrado por: Beata Pozniak

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?

Listened to it twice

This has turned out to be one of my favorite books. At first the narrator’s voice made me wonder if I would like it, but I grew to love her voice and the cadence of the sentences plus the story is fabulous fabulous fabulous. Strange title but a wonderful book. The title is a line from the poet Blake.

The courage of those who know the true nature of love

This book is not only about a “preference” for the company of animals. It is a desperate cry in defense of their very survival. I wish I had the courage, when I was living in similar circumstances, to ask for a show of conscience on the part of the hunters (and poachers) who perpetuate the so-called tradition of human dominion over the animal world. I wish that today, I had the courage to call on those who prefer to digest the blood born of horror. But, as Tokarczuk shows, to do so is madness, and we prefer reason. It is one of the many reasons why this book is so cathartic. It allows the reader to imagine herself larger, better, kinder and stronger than what she really is. I too would like, in my dreams, to put the good of animals above my own. To do something that may acknowledge their suffering and humiliation. Tokarczuk has the consummate talent and wisdom of great writers, whose work can measure the immeasurable. She can descend what Thomas Mann called, the bottomless well of time. She takes us along and brings us back up purified, and distraught by the fact that her book must end. And we must continue without her.

Unique story - unlike any book I've read in all my decades. I definitely need to listen again!

Quirky narrator, hilarious nicknames for everyone she encounters, surprise ending, and great quotes from William Blake's poetry. I might even have to learn more about astrology.

an amazing book

What an amazing story and an incredible performance!!! I absolutely loved it! it may have been my favorite performance ever

The narration of one of best ever.

Narrator Beala Pozniak, is superb in this audio book. The story is mesmerizing as the elderly woman tells her story. And within it all is a wonderful murder mystery.