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Pedro's Reviews > Flights
Flights
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Pedro's review
bookshelves: 21st-century-a-literary-odyssey, this-is-how-it-should-be-done
Mar 05, 2021
bookshelves: 21st-century-a-literary-odyssey, this-is-how-it-should-be-done
I don’t think “Flights� was the best choice of a title for this book. I mean, in Portugal it has been translated as “Viagens� (travelling in English) and after checking the original title, it seems to me to be a much more accurate one, as “Bieguni� refers to wandering; wandering around with no specific destination. See? Why “Flights� then?!
I do understand these kind of marketing choices but sometimes they really bug me. Especially in cases like this one where I think it pays the book a disservice. Bah!
It would be so so much easier to understand this book if people were going into it with the idea of just wandering around, exploring and trying to see the world as it is instead of how they think it should be.
Open-minded.
That’s my general idea about Olga Tokarczuk (am I ever going to write her surname right without double checking??); I see her as a very open-minded person. And very intelligent too. And extremely honest, by the way.
Well, in fact, and this might sound a bit weird, after finishing Tokarczuk’s novels I feel like I admire her even more as a “normal person� than as the wonderful writer that she is (yes, this is a big compliment).
Filghts is not a novel in the pure sense of the word. There’s no plot and no character development either. What you’re going to get by picking it up is a meandering and philosophical travel memoir/diary of sorts.
A bite-sized snack of a book, that you could swallow whole.
I couldn’t stop reading it. In fact, as with Drive your Plow, I believe I read it too fast. I can only blame the author for such delightful writing. And for always making me feel like I still have a lot more to learn.
With Tokarczuk nothing is as simple and straightforward as it seems at first glance. Everything, every word has a purpose, a place and a meaning. Even silence between words. Or silence alone.
I do understand these kind of marketing choices but sometimes they really bug me. Especially in cases like this one where I think it pays the book a disservice. Bah!
It would be so so much easier to understand this book if people were going into it with the idea of just wandering around, exploring and trying to see the world as it is instead of how they think it should be.
Open-minded.
That’s my general idea about Olga Tokarczuk (am I ever going to write her surname right without double checking??); I see her as a very open-minded person. And very intelligent too. And extremely honest, by the way.
Well, in fact, and this might sound a bit weird, after finishing Tokarczuk’s novels I feel like I admire her even more as a “normal person� than as the wonderful writer that she is (yes, this is a big compliment).
Filghts is not a novel in the pure sense of the word. There’s no plot and no character development either. What you’re going to get by picking it up is a meandering and philosophical travel memoir/diary of sorts.
A bite-sized snack of a book, that you could swallow whole.
I couldn’t stop reading it. In fact, as with Drive your Plow, I believe I read it too fast. I can only blame the author for such delightful writing. And for always making me feel like I still have a lot more to learn.
With Tokarczuk nothing is as simple and straightforward as it seems at first glance. Everything, every word has a purpose, a place and a meaning. Even silence between words. Or silence alone.
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Reading Progress
February 22, 2020
– Shelved
February 22, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 28, 2021
–
Started Reading
March 4, 2021
–
Finished Reading
February 6, 2022
– Shelved as:
21st-century-a-literary-odyssey
February 8, 2022
– Shelved as:
this-is-how-it-should-be-done
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Diane
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Mar 05, 2021 03:04PM
I havent even read Drive Your Plow yet, and you write something like this! SO my kind of book. To top it off, I'm reading an 825 page Trollope novel, which I am loving, but it makes every review I read sound irresistible because I can't get to it right now.
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A wonderful review, as usual, Pedro :))
Pedro, I can't help but think about a couple of my recently read novels when you mention no plot or character development. Still, I'm completely intrigued by this: "It would be so so much easier to understand this book if people were going into it with the idea of just wandering around, exploring and trying to see the world as it is instead of how they think it should be." Any suggestions on which to read first? This one or Drive Your Plow?? Because you know I want to read both ;) Great review, my friend :)
Oh, it's so wonderful to see your five stars for this, Pedro! I absolutely loved Drive Your Plow, and I've had Flights for some time now, but I've been avoiding it because I heard it's "difficult" and it seems like those who like it don't like Plow and vice versa.No character development and no plot sort of puts me off, I'm not going to lie, but I am definitely willing to give it a try based on her brilliance and your wonderful review!
Diane wrote: "I havent even read Drive Your Plow yet, and you write something like this! SO my kind of book. To top it off, I'm reading an 825 page Trollope novel, which I am loving, but it makes every review I ..."Diane, they're both wonderful books but if you really don't mind the lack of a plot I'd say go for this one first. I found the writing and the whole concept simply irresistible. I did try to read it slowly but the damn thing was stronger than me. Aha. I hope you'll love it too.
Mark wrote: "A wonderful review, as usual, Pedro :))"Thank you, Mark. I can see you're trying to take Elizabeth Strout from me again. You're really crossing the line, aren't you??
In Brazil, the title was translated as "Os vagantes", much closer, but doesn't sound nice :p It is a 2014 edition. The new edition will be called... "Viagens" :(
Candi wrote: "Pedro, I can't help but think about a couple of my recently read novels when you mention no plot or character development. Still, I'm completely intrigued by this: "It would be so so much easier to..."Candi, I know what to mean about feeling underwhelmed/frustrated by bad characterisation and/or a blurry plot line and I'll be back to your review of The Street Kids so we can discuss it a bit more.
As I mentioned, Candi, this is a book to wander around and one that's worth exploring. It doesn't matter who the characters are because the most important thing is what they've been through; their journey... It's a really difficult one to describe and review, especially when one doesn't want to give too much away. I could've gone for a few really good teasers but I rather let people discover it by themselves.
As I said to Diane, they're both wonderful books in their own way. Pick the one that suits you better at the time of reading.
P.S. I think you're going to love them both. Aha.
I am writing my review of this wonderful but very different book right now. I am glad to read your review as I so agree with you. I am sure there are many who feel differently. Great review, Pedro.
I think certain books demand different elements, and when they are lacking then it's a bit of a fail for me. I don't always need a strong plot line. I don't always need strong character development. I don't know if that's so much a function of ME at the time of reading, or of the book itself. Anyway, it's fun to think about the reasons why :) :) I'm feeling more inclined to read this one first, but we'll see when the time comes!
Excellent review, Pedro. I get what you're saying about the marketing of certain books. I do hope to read this one. Hopefully, soonish.
Robin wrote: "Oh, it's so wonderful to see your five stars for this, Pedro! I absolutely loved Drive Your Plow, and I've had Flights for some time now, but I've been avoiding it because I heard it's "difficult" ..."Robin, aren't you that clever reader who wrote the most liked review of Tokarczuk's wonderful Drive your Plow?! Such an honour to have you here commenting my humble attempt of writing something that only resembles a proper review. Thank you.
Yes, apart from the wonderful writing, there's absolutely nothing in common between this one and Plow but I don't see that as something negative. Quite the opposite, I think it just shows Tokarczuk's brilliance and versatility as a writer and storyteller. I really hope this one works for you as it did for me.
Marcio wrote: "In Brazil, the title was translated as "Os vagantes", much closer, but doesn't sound nice :p It is a 2014 edition. The new edition will be called... "Viagens" :("á, "Os Vagantes" sounds even worse than "Flights" to me. I don't even believe such a word exists in European Portuguese. I guess trying to find the best translation for its tittle is as difficult as trying to explain its contents and structure. Aha.
Barbara wrote: "I am writing my review of this wonderful but very different book right now. I am glad to read your review as I so agree with you. I am sure there are many who feel differently. Great review, Pedro."Thank you, Barbara. I'm also sure many won't agree with us; especially the ones who've read Drive your Plow first and go for this one expecting the same kind of novel/story. I'm going to take a look at your review now.
Candi wrote: "I think certain books demand different elements, and when they are lacking then it's a bit of a fail for me. I don't always need a strong plot line. I don't always need strong character development..."So glad you really understood what I was trying to say here, Candi. It's exactly like that. It all depends on the book. Obviously, I'm not going to read a novel by Elizabeth Strout or Michael Cunningham, for example, and not expect a well defined plot and good characterisation. I guess it all comes down to the fact that one has to at least have a small idea about what to expect from authors and what they're trying to achieve with a particular work of art. Yes, let's not forget, not even for a second, that what we're talking about here is art.
I can't see why you wouldn't fall in love with this book, Candi. You're a literary globetrotter, remember? ;D
Bianca wrote: "Excellent review, Pedro. I get what you're saying about the marketing of certain books. I do hope to read this one. Hopefully, soonish."Some marketing strategies really do my head in, Bianca. I swear to god that sometimes I even take it personally. What are "they" thinking??
Ahem... Probably just money. Aha.
Thank you for your comment. I hope you also love it.
Pedro wrote: "I can't see why you wouldn't fall in love with this book, Candi. You're a literary globetrotter, remember? ;D"That's exactly why this is so very appealing to me, Pedro :) :)
Nice review Pedro ......... sounds like another really good, interesting author.
Richard wrote: "Nice review Pedro ......... sounds like another really good, interesting author."Cheers, Richard. I think you're the "right" reader for Tokarczuk's Drive your Plow. ;)
