I’m reminded of something that Borges was once reminded of, something he had read somewhere: apparently, in the days when the Dutch were constructing their empire, ministers announced in Danish churches that those who took part in North Pole expeditions would be practically guaranteed salvation of their souls. When nevertheless there were few volunteers, the ministers acknowledged that the expedition was a long and arduous one, certainly not for everyone – only, in fact, for the very bravest. But still few came forward. So to avoid losing face, the ministers finally simplified their proclamation: actually, they said, any voyage could be considered an expedition to the North Pole, even just a ride in a public carriage.

Flights took me by surprise. I first grabbed it reluctantly, knowing that I usually prefer classic-structured novels rather than other new – modern – forms of fiction. Unsurprisingly, the first few pages were difficult, but soon I found its flow and was quickly absorbed page by page (once I finished, I realized that the narrator speaks to the readers directly in these pages to give a certain context and exposé on herself). Tokarczuk proposes a new form of short stories that share similar, vaguely connected, motifs: traveling, wondering, secrets of the human body, and obscure aspects of human nature that many find fascinating.

The novel is just that, a compendium of different stories of different characters in different times with different main ideas, told by an amazing storyteller. The stories range from a father mysteriously losing his wife and child, the destiny of Chopin’s heart, a doctor that preserves human and animal specimens ( I think it is the novel that contains the word “formaldehyde” the most),  a description of “phantom pain” before the term existed, a case of euthanasia, and more. Each complete on its own, but part of the whole. In between the stories, the author adds short reflexions and interventions of life and travel in the world today. Although they might feel unrelated to the stories, there is always an underlying connection to all.

Tokarczuk jumps from story to story without any preamble o change of chapters, just a new bold subtitle at the beginning of the new story. Yet, what I found astonishing, is that in the end she circles back (you’ll have to see it for yourself).  She leaves some questions unanswered (that is why it is a book that cannot be ruined, I could tell what it is about and the reading experience would be just as satisfying), but the novel’s magic lies on how she tells the story and the thoughts she has around each character or each human behavior she describes, not the story she is telling. I will definitely read more of Olga and strongly recommend reading this novel.

About Olga Tokarczuk

Olga was born in 1962 in Sulechów, Poland. At the University of Warsaw she majored in Psychology, which is very visible in her writing. She has written more than 10 novels, the first published in 1989, and the first translated to English was “House of Day, House of Night” in 2003. She is a vegetarian and a feminist.

She won the Man Book International Prize in 2018 for her novel, “Flights”, published in Polish in 2007 and translated to English in 2017. She also won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2018 for her trajectory as a novelist. Flights is one the books she calls her “constellation novels.”

Other Books Written by Polish Women

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Polish initiatives and projects that support and empower girls and women

The Polish Book Institute

The Polish Book Institute is a cultural institution established by the Polish Ministry of Culture, apart from promoting Polish literature by convincing translators and foreign publishers, and organize literary events in the country, they have two great initiatives:

• Small book, great man: This campaign promotes reading as a family since childbirth. They distribute children’s books written by Polish authors to maternity wards and recently expanded the initiative to preschools.
• Readership campaign in Poland: This campaign distributed free books and e-books in 500 cities and towns. Books where found in bus stops, libraries, cultural institutions, schools and more.