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When I Sing, Mountains Dance

By Irene Solà
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4.21 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 33,895 ratings, 5,870 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solà is a lyrical exploration of life in a remote Pyrenean village. The narrative weaves through the voices of villagers, spirits, and even the surrounding mountains, unveiling interconnected stories that reflect the rhythms of nature and the depths of human experience. Through poetic imagery and a touch of magical realism, the book paints a vivid portrait of this enchanting landscape and its inhabitants.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are captivated by lyrical storytelling and the rich tapestry of nature and folklore. It weaves a tale where the landscape itself is a vivid, living character, offering a unique, atmospheric experience with its blend of humanity and the mystical elements of the Pyrenees.

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A ferociously imaginative, polyphonic debut: amid the rugged beauty of the Pyrenees, the mountains' inhabitants - both human and non-human - bear witness to the tragedies that befall one family

A ferociously imaginative, polyphonic debut: amid the rugged beauty of the Pyrenees, the mountains' inhabitants - both human and non-human - bear witness to the tragedies that befall one family

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"Sola pushes past the limits of human experience to tell a story of instinct and earth-time that is irresistible in its jagged glory." - C Pam Zhang, author of How Much of These Hills is Gold

When I Sing, Mountains Dance tells the story of Domenec—mountain-dweller, father, poet, dreamer—who dies suddenly, struck by lightning. He leaves behind two small children, Mia and Hilari, to grow up wild among the looming summits of the Pyrenees and the ghosts of the Spanish civil war.

But then Hilari dies too, and his sister is forced to face life's struggles and joys alone. As the years tumble by, the inhabitants of the mountain—human, animal and other—come together in a chorus of voices to bear witness to the sorrows of one family, and to the savage beauty of the landscape.

This remarkable English-language debut is lyrical, mythical, elemental, and ferociously imaginative.

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solà is praised for its enchanting and polyphonic narrative, beautifully blending human and natural elements. The novel's imaginative storytelling shines through in its unique voice, bringing to life both the living and the spirits of nature. Its powerful translation maintains Solà's lyrical and expansive prose, captivating readers with its profound connection to nature and a deep reflection on human experiences across time.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781783788255

Publisher: Granta Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 May 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Granta Books

Contributors:

  • Translated by Mara Faye Lethem

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 12.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 151g

Pages: 208

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Irene Solà Literary Fiction

About the Author

Irene Sola is a Catalan writer and artist, winner of the European Union Prize for Literature, the Documenta Prize for first novels, the Llibres Anagrama Prize, and the Amadeu Oller Poetry Prize. Her artwork has been exhibited in the Whitechapel Gallery.

Mara Faye Lethem is an award-winning translator and author. Her recent translations include books by Patricio Pron, Max Besora, Javier Calvo, Marta Orriols, Toni Sala, and Alicia Kopf.

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