An evocative and highly original hymn to the Pyrenees by a Catalan artist, poet and writer. Poet and farmer Domènec is struck down by lightning on the Pyrenees mountains. He leaves behind a wife, Sió, and two children, Mia and Hilari. Time moves on, the children grow and another tragedy befalls the family. Hilari is killed in a shooting accident. Like the animals that gain their sustenance on the mountains, human life is also ruthlessly cut down by either natural forces or man's weaponry. The above may make When I Sing, Mountains Dance sound like a straightforward enough narrative. It isn't. These major incidents are almost inconsequential. The novel's real power lies in its idiosyncratic descriptions of nature, environment and history. The story is told through a wide array of voices, some completely unusual – animals, accused witches from the past and even mushrooms. The effect is almost experimental, a rich and strange tapestry of moods, atmospheres and characters. Catalan artist and writer Irene Sola’s second novel may not be to everyone’s taste. The crowd of different narrative voices that cut this way and that may have some scratching their heads. Others may gladly immerse themselves in this wild flower of a book, exulting in its free abandon. This reviewer found it an interesting literary byway, but was thankful for its short duration. When I Sing, Mountains Dance, by Irene Sola. Published by Granta. $27.99 Review by Chris Saliba Comments are closed.
|
AuthorNorth Melbourne Books Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
|