Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
Books | Fiction / Crime
3.8
(387)
Olga Tokarczuk
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 ProulxIn 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?
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Author
Olga Tokarczuk
Pages
288
Publisher
Penguin
Published Date
2019-08-13
ISBN
0525541330 9780525541332
Community ReviewsSee all
"A well written, imaginative mystery"
Sandy Lopez
"Janina observes events surrounding the murders in her small town through the lens of her study of astrology and love of animals and nature. So, something of a murder mystery and a surprise ending!"
Jackie Davidson
"Well written genre bending book with an unusual narrator, witty and eccentric older lady.
Her voice drives the novel offering a mix of melancholy, wisdom and dark humor and unexpected twists.
There is an eerie, desolate atmosphere making the village where she lives the character in itself.
The book challenges the questions of justice , morality and madness.
(01/12/2025)"
Anna
"An incredibly unique tale of philosophy and justice. Janina, our eccentric and unreliable narrator, is a devout follower of astrology and horoscopes, and feels an almost supernatural allegiance to animals. When members of her small village begin to mysteriously die, she seems it as divine justice against oppressive mankind. Funny, dark, and highly philosophical, this novel will have you thinking about our egos as humans, and how our egos often crush the nature that we should be kinder to. "
Emily
"Interesting and unusual story and uncommonly well-written for a modern novel, although I wouldn’t classify it as a murder mystery since it focuses more on a philosophical exploration of justice and morality than on solving a crime "
Jen
"It’s a whodunit, kind of, but it’s really a very smart observation of life and nature and one the best recent translation works. "
Frank Dittmar
"A slow burn, quiet and satisfying thriller."
Sara Stasi
"This was complex, brilliant, unpredictable. I had no idea where it was going and I LOVE that!!"
A S
Angela Skrowaczewski
"Well written. A great style and interesting perspective. Great read. "
Sally Carr
