A stunning novel
5 steloj
When I Sing, Mountains Dance is such a stunning novel. I really had no idea what to expect from Irene Solà's writing and soon found myself utterly captivated. Centering on multiple generations of one Pyrenees family, the story is much more than simply a historical saga although that is its heart. Solà switches narrators between members of the family, neighbours and friends, animals and even the Pyrenees mountain range itself which sounds bizarre, but works beautifully to give a novel that is easily as much about its remote location as it is about its characters. Having, over the past decade, spent several winters in Catalonia I could empathise with elements such as emotional reactions at the sight of the dramatic Canigó mountain top, and remember walking dusty hill paths under scented pine trees.
Each chapter is written in the first person, frequently with a kind of stream-of-consciousness flow which might …
When I Sing, Mountains Dance is such a stunning novel. I really had no idea what to expect from Irene Solà's writing and soon found myself utterly captivated. Centering on multiple generations of one Pyrenees family, the story is much more than simply a historical saga although that is its heart. Solà switches narrators between members of the family, neighbours and friends, animals and even the Pyrenees mountain range itself which sounds bizarre, but works beautifully to give a novel that is easily as much about its remote location as it is about its characters. Having, over the past decade, spent several winters in Catalonia I could empathise with elements such as emotional reactions at the sight of the dramatic Canigó mountain top, and remember walking dusty hill paths under scented pine trees.
Each chapter is written in the first person, frequently with a kind of stream-of-consciousness flow which might not appeal to all readers, but which I felt allowed me to fully inhabit each speaking entity in turn. The narrative switches about in time, winding back and forth like the hidden river which is often mentioned, so the full sense of its storyline isn't complete until the book ends, but with each new voice I filled in more detail of this incredible tale. I loved seeing how earlier actions and events impacted upon later generations and magical realism elements give the novel an otherworldly atmosphere. When I Sing, Mountains Dance is not an easy read and I needed to make sure I remained focused, but it is an amazing achievement. Every page was a pleasure to read.