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For every thing that lives is Holy.

The action of the novel, the title could be translated as a quote from Blake’s Drive Your Plough over the Bones of the Dead, takes place in a remote mountain settlement in the beautiful Kotlina Kłodzka. That quiet, tranquil location suddenly is a place of murders of local hunters, with only animals� tracks left on the crime scene. Revange of the game?

This one was promoted as an ecological and moral thriller with strong feministic and anarchic accents. But you can read it as well as a satire on provinionalism and insular way of thinking, as a critique of hipocrysy of clergy and local policymakers, accusation of upstart holidaymakers who think that nature is only for their pleasure, opposition to maltreating the old and weak, objection to misogyny and finally call for justice and mercy for all living creatures and respect for the nature world.

Look at this scene. It’s called display of trophies of the hunt. Hunters would say it means respect and tribute for animals but I find it only ridiculous and barbaric. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Drive Your Plough over the Bones of the Dead has some unconventional protagonists with one particularly standing out from the crowd. Janina Duszejko is a bit eccentric not to say quirky old lady. She used to be an engineer but now after retiring looks after houses of absent neighbours, teaches English and translates William Blake's poetry, by the way trying to apply his views to a modern way of living. She also is a homebred astrologist and an ardent advocate of animals.

In my estimation it is not the best Tokarczuk’s novel but for sure it didn’t waste my time either. It has distinctive for her elements of magical realism, shows the beauty of the particular region in southern Poland, near Czech border, and its mountainous landscape, here in the wintry scenery and windy weather. Every chapter starts with quote from Blake what, in the long run, resulted in immersing myself in his strange, visionary world.

Even if you pay not too much attention to animals and their rights or to nature in general you still have something to ponder about. The message Tokarczuk delivers here is rather clear though the way she manages it it’s not always satisfying to me. Here and there strikes me as being unbelievable, at times it's guilty of naivety but nonetheless covers some important issues and rises even more questions. It makes us think of distinction between poaching and hunting, is that really any ?, of mindless acts against nature, of violence and cruelty towards animals and our double moral standards. Why do we find it unacceptable to tar suffering of people and animals with the same brush? Aren't we all the same under the skin? Why people, especially older women are so often object of dismissive remarks when they act on behalf of animals and their rights? Why do we think that hunting is wrong but a cutlet on our plate rarely makes us think about living creature once it was? And what do you think about slaughterhouse, poultry farm, or fox one? And when you answered yourself to these questions and agreed that killing animals is wrong thing what about slaying the evildoers, then?

3,5/5