DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD

by Olga Tokarczuk

I want to begin this review by saying that this is an incredibly well-written book and it deserves much of the praise it has received. I’m certainly not claiming to know more than the Nobel committee or my mom and fellow reviewer who loved it (review here).  That said, it was really not my cup of tea.  I think partly I read it at the wrong time.  It’s about winter and depression and I read it on summer vacation by a lake.  I found it difficult to read chapter after chapter about the protagonist’s relentless anxiety and sadness. Giving credit where it’s due: the author provides a strong and unexpected ending. But even that didn’t make up for the slog of the first 90% of the book. (Lily)