The Tiger and the Acrobat

by Susanna Tamaro

Little Tiger is not like other tigers. Not content to spend her days alone, roaming the snow forests of Siberia hunting prey, she prefers instead to ponder the ways of the world. One day, eager to discover her own place within it, she sets out on a remarkable journey to discover the secret of life, and to meet the creatures she has heard most about: humans.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Animals, Literature, Unfinished, Italy, Cats

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2016

About the author

Susanna Tamaro is an Italian novelist.
Her second novel Per voce sola (Just For One Voice) won the International PEN Award and was translated into several languages.
Her novel Va' dove ti porta il cuore (Follow your Heart) was an international best seller.

Reviews

[Maria Espadinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

O Tigre, a Parede e o Xamã — Uma Estória Para Corações Alpinistas


Era uma vez um Tigre Fêmea que não sabia ser como os outros.
A sua alma era uma fonte de inquietação transbordante — um poço de perguntas sem respostas:

Existiria algo mais para além do visível?
Algo capaz de conferir sentido ao Todo existente?
Se sim, como sabê-lo?

Ao invés de seguir o destino de qualquer tigre fêmea — encontrar um território para procriar — vivia atormentado por questões desta estirpe.
Não!... A Normalidade nunca seria o seu trilho!...

Embora seguro do que não queria, não havia meio de encontrar o que queria!...
Caminhava sem rumo, parando aqui e ali, apenas para saciar curiosidades ávidas!...
Como a curiosidade matou o gato, foi atingido por alguns dissabores, que não sendo gato não o mataram, mas ainda assim o maçaram!

Numa das suas frequentes deambulações, encontrara o Homem. Um homem qualquer?
Não! Um Tigre de tamanho porte, só poderia deparar-se com um homem tão especial quanto ele.
Encontrara um Sábio! Um Xamã capaz de lhe aquietar a Alma Perguntadeira, ou atear-lhe ainda mais o Fogo do Saber!...

E o Sábio Xamã falara-lhe assim:

— Infeliz daquele que nunca se defrontar com uma Parede!

— Uma Parede?!... E serve para quê, lutar com uma Parede? — retorquira o Tigre Fêmea intrigadíssimo.

— Há Paredes que se escalam com o Coração — fôra a resposta enigmática do Xamã.

Seria então esse o Destino do Tigre Fêmea? Encontrar uma Parede que só o Coração consegue escalar?! Um Muro erguido na fronteira que separa o Reino da Ignorância do Mundo da Sabedoria?!

Era esse o seu Destino, então — Escalar uma Parede com o Coração!...


"O Tigre e o Acrobata" é uma leitura que se destina especialmente aos corações praticantes de alpinismo! ;)

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exhilarating and delightful fable about a Siberian tiger and her curiosity leading her to eschew the "normal" life of a tiger: staking out her Kingdom, mating, and raising a family. She seeks what lies beyond her life in the taiga. The story spans her whole life. She lives with first with a kindly and wise Man then in a Circus where a Little Acrobat sets her free. Transcending her tiger nature she grows to appreciate the wonder of Nature and explores the mysteries of life. A beautifully written, poignant novella.

Thank you to LibraryThing for an ARC. Highly recommended.

[Ülviyyə Tahir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uşaq ədəbiyyatı məni öz içinə çəkdikcə asta-asta bu dünyanın yazarları ilə tanış olmağa başlamışam. Uşaq ədəbiyyatı fərqli bir aləmdir. Bu əsər də bu fərqliliyin bir ilməsidir. Bol didaktika, əsrarəngizlik və qeyri-adi bir son. Susanna əla yazıb. Beş baldan əskikliyi isə kədərin bolluğudu. Uşaqlar üçün bu məsələ mübahisə oluna bilər.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

It breaks my animal-loving heart to report that I barely cared about the journey of a beautiful tiger with a sensitive soul, unmoored and all alone in the world. I expected to weep, I wanted to weep, and at the very least I wanted to be moved, but more often than not the wisdom and philosophy of this story just felt so forced. Most moments were so contrived that I just couldn't connect with or believe in Little Tiger's journey, let alone the connections she made along the way that were supposed to have so deeply shaped her. They didn't feel authentic, especially her relationship with the Acrobat who is in the title, I mean their relationship should've been at least somewhat significant or fleshed out.
Just, damn. It's a real shame.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this one in a hostel during my camino in Spain. The cover intrigued me and I read it in one sitting. Love the fact that it's written from the perspective of a young tiger, growing up and learning lifelessons.

[Amina Hujdur · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Kad imaš san i planine se mogu pokrenuti."
"Ali ljubav koja žrtvuje slobodu onog drugog, kakva to ljubav može biti?"
"Između onoga ko podari život i onoga ko ga primi, postoji nit koja se nikad ne pokida."

[... · Rating 2 out of 5]

A philosophical tale about a Siberian tigress that fails to resonate with the reader. Instead of being charming in its simplicity, it ended up flat and cliche. What a pointless story... Would not recommend.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to LibraryThing for the ARC in which I am voluntarily writing a review. The Tiger and the Acrobat by Susanna Tamaro is a wonderful little book that spans the life of a curious tiger who wanders past the taiga in search of the answers to all her questions. Follow along with Little Tiger as she goes through life with her mother as a cub, then when she meets The Man who teaches her many things, her capture and life through the circus and as she gains her freedom again by the Little Acrobat and finally her true freedom. Beautifully written and poignant to any reader.

[Antonio Gallo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una bellissima metafora che va letta con leggerezza e riletta con attenzione per sciogliere i nodi dei veli del racconto che la scrittrice ha voluto proporci sul mistero della vita.

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really introspective and peaceful to read. I found Little Tiger's story to be at once heartbreakingly sad and truly joyful. This one is super short, full of pretty illustrations, and contemplates a few grand ideas, but simplifies them enough that I think this could be read to a young child just beginning chapter books. I really liked it.

[Italo Perazzoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tiger And The Acrobat is a story of a small tiger that loves the liberty, and is curious by the environment around it.
This tiger is not a common animal because it does not accept the destiny, it wants to decide its destiny.
The first meeting is with a good man, he is not like the others, he is a herem and he refuses his similars.
Between them there is a true friendship, there is feeling and the man will die for his little tiger, to save his life.
This tiger does not want to be free but it wants to know where the sun is born, the liberty will have a high cost other than the death of its friend.
The second meeting is with the little acrobat, a teen who loves the tigers, he will speak with our tiger, and he will give her the liberty.
In the middle of the book there is a philosophical debate on the sense of death, the animals accept the death because they are not able to think about their future, the human being is afraid of the death because he will leave the known for the unknown, and they does not need the necessity to know if an action is right or wrong, they will act according to the nature.
The nature is cruel, thanks to the freedom and with the meeting with the humans, it will go against this law, because it does not need more to eat, and it will reflect on the meaning of the life and the beauty of our world and the afterlife.

[Maria-pia De caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetico

Era tanto tempo che non leggevo un libro in italiano. La leggerezza della prosa e la poesia del racconto ne hanno fatto un'esperienza privilegiata.

[Fabio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bellissimo racconto!

[xyZeereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming story of a tiger navigating the World of Man, with the help of He Who Should Not Be Trusted, man himself. Tiger's naivety was so endearing, and the few men who were able to actually talk to her ended up being her saviours. Such gorgeous illustrations too!

[Aynur Aslanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yine Susanno'dan muhteşem bir kitap okuyacağını biliyordum.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tiger and the Acrobat is one of those animal-focused fables, which have enjoyed popularity in recent years, and have been translated into many languages. In the vein of the Korean The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-mi Hwang, and the Japanese The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide, I liked this well enough, but found parts of it rather repetitive and overdone.

The focus of this story is named Little Tiger. As a cub, in the region between the taiga and the Arctic tundra, she lives with her protective mother and playful brother. From the first, Little Tiger is highly philosophical, and wants nothing more than to 'discover her own place' within the world. This comes when her mother decides the cubs are old enough to fend for themselves, and sets off alone. Little Tiger tries to follow her, but cannot find her trail; instead, she starts to head east. She befriends a couple of humans along the way, who allow her to live with them, or help her to escape.

The Tiger and the Acrobat was rather mawkish in places, and I must say that I really disliked the way in which Little Tiger could communicate with humans. I didn't think this was necessary, and it really added an element to the story which I was unable to suspend my disbelief for. The story is undoubtedly easy to read, with its very short chapters and rather simplistic prose, but I'm not sure that I got much from it overall. The plot is sometimes contradictory, and a little inconsistent, and it does feel a little too obvious most of the time.

[Kate Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet gem of a story contained in a rather short book. The writing is lyrical and dreamlike. Much wisdom is imparted within each chapter. It begs the reader to ponder their own experiences in relation to those of the Tiger. The story is one of curiosity, wonder, introspection, discovery, fear, trust, solitude, betrayal, love and affection. What does it take to follow your dreams and remain true to yourself?

Such sweetness in a beautiful and touching story for a not so perfect world.

I am grateful to author Susanna Tamaro, One World Publications and LibraryThing Early Reviewers for having provided a free uncorrected advance reader's copy of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.

[José · Rating 3 out of 5]

No es «El principito». Es un viaje iniciático, con cosas acertadas y otras no tanto.

[J.D. Estrada · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the Alchemist, you might like this book. An ethereal fable about a female tiger growing up and the journey of life, it has some moments that are truly poignant while others kind of miss the mark for me. At its high points, this book is very touching and at least connected in regards to the day to day struggles, the doubts, and missing my mother and how that feels. When it misses the mark, it is either the lack of development (namely the relationship with the boy acrobat, who plays a tertiary role, if that) and the ending which didn't surprise me as much as other parts of the book, which left me truly feeling deeply for the Tiger and her journey.

I think different people will gravitate towards different things. Some people will connect fully and others will roll their eyes. It's a light read and I think some of the lessons are truly universal and beautifully worded but do think it loses steam towards the end. Regardless, a beautiful read with some truly inspiring moments and for me, very worthy of a re-read.

[Marta Franchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tra i romanzi che ho letto di Susanna Tamaro, "La Tigre e l’Acrobata" si colloca sul podio delle mie preferenze, tra "Va' dove ti porta il cuore" e "Per sempre".

La storia di Tigre è la storia di una vita. Gli ingredienti ci sono tutti e tutti sono magistralmente equilibrati: la dolcezza dell'infanzia e dell'affetto della famiglia, il brivido delle prime scoperte, la curiosità che spinge ad affrontare il mondo esterno, la crudeltà di quello stesso mondo, ma anche le gioie piccole e grandi, gli insegnamenti che si ricavano dagli errori, la fatica e il riscatto, la saggezza raggiunta e il mistero della morte.

La protagonista affronta tutte le peripezie della vita cercando risposte a delle domande che le altri tigri non si sarebbero mai poste: l’innata curiosità è infatti il motore e la caratteristica che maggiormente distingue Tigre dagli altri membri della sua specie. E con la curiosità lei ci è nata.
Ma arriva il momento in cui la Madre rivela ai due cuccioli chi è l’uomo: una creatura che uccide non per mangiare ma per il gusto di uccidere, che non rispetta la dignità della vita.
Inevitabilmente però Piccola Tigre, ormai diventata Tigre a tutti gli effetti, incontra l’Uomo. Abita da solo in una casupola nella foresta e ha molto in comune con Tigre: entrambi sono dei solitari che vivono all'infuori del mondo a cui appartengono. E, inaspettatamente, Tigre si rende conto che riesce a comunicare con quella creatura così diversa da lei. Tigre trascorre con l’Uomo più di un anno e grazie al suo sapere sciamanico impara a riconoscere gli abitanti invisibili della Taiga e le forze benevole e maligne che giungono sulla Terra da altre dimensioni. Ma l’Uomo, pur potendole controllare, rinuncia al fascino del potere perché «tra la libertà e il potere, ho scelto la libertà.»
Giungono però altri uomini alla casupola, uomini malvagi che vogliono catturare Tigre. L’Uomo soccombe e Tigre per la prima volta conosce lo straziante dolore della perdita. Viene trascinata in un circo, dove trascorre molti anni della sua vita intrappolata tra esibizioni e fiacca routine.
Un giorno, finalmente, qualcuno la ridesta dal torpore e le parla con il cuore: è il Piccolo Acrobata che con i suoi voli da un trapezio all'altro le fanno sognare la libertà.
Tigre viene liberata dal suo nuovo piccolo amico e riesce a fuggire dalla città degli uomini. Inizia il lungo viaggio di ritorno, simbolicamente in ascesa: Tigre scala le montagne, ostacolo sia fisico che spirituale, perché sono «tristi le vite che non incontrano mai una parete.»
Tutti gli insegnamenti dell'Uomo, a quel tempo criptici, adesso le si svelano man mano che prosegue il viaggio e supera gli ostacoli fisici e spirituali. Potrei dire che si chiude il cerchio, ricongiungendo Tigre agli insegnamenti del suo vecchio amico e maestro.
Altre prove aspettano Tigre e sul suo cammino si affacciano degli animali: il Cerbiatto, l’Aquila e i Corvi che, inconsapevolmente, contribuiscono a rafforzare la decisione di Tigre sul suo personale percorso di vita.

"Il terzo giorno della sua impervia salita incontrò un’Aquila. Stava sospesa sopra di lei, apparentemente immobile, sfruttando una corrente ascensionale.
«Sei una tigre?» le chiese dall'alto.
«Non lo vedi?» rispose la Tigre, con il fiato corto per lo sforzo.
«Vedo sì, ma non capisco.»
«Cosa non capisci?»
«Cosa ci fai quassù? Questo non è il tuo Regno, qui non ci sono umani da mangiare. Hai forse perso la tua strada?»
«Tutta la vita ne ho cercata una» rispose la Tigre, raggiungendo una cengia e lasciandosi cadere, spossata.
«Perché? Non c’era quella dei tuoi genitori?»
«Non mi bastava.»"

La meta ultima sembra essere la morte, invece per Tigre si spalanca il Varco che conduce alla Taiga al di là del Cielo, l’eden descritto in passato da sua Madre, in cui non esistono fame, freddo, dolore, in cui prede e predatori vivono insieme. Una voce possente come un tuono la chiama… e da quale animale poteva essere impersonato Dio se non dall'Agnello? Simbolo cristiano per eccellenza, incarnazione di innocenza e purezza e, infine, esatto opposto della possente e sanguinaria Tigre.

Tra natura, morale e lezioni spirituali, "La Tigre e l’Acrobata" scorre veloce, con una prosa leggera ricca di profonda delicatezza. Un elisir per l’anima, alla riscoperta dei misteri della vita e dell’ignoto.

E siccome sono pur sempre pignola, devo porre l’accento sull’unica nota parzialmente negativa di tutto il romanzo: il titolo. Mentre leggevo, non vedevo l’ora che comparisse il tanto annunciato co-protagonista, l’Acrobata del titolo, e mi chiedevo chi fosse, che ruolo potesse avere, come avrebbe cambiato la vita di Tigre. Il Piccolo Acrobata compare per pochissimi capitoli, a metà libro, e scompare altrettanto velocemente, salvo tornare saltuariamente nei pensieri di Tigre. La presenza dell’Uomo della casupola invece è costante, anche se devo ammettere che "La Tigre e l’Uomo" come titolo sarebbe stato molto meno accattivante.
Però, ben pensandoci, "La Tigre e l’Acrobata" ci sta. Il Piccolo Acrobata effettivamente restituisce la libertà alla Tigre, facendole sognare di essere lei stessa un’acrobata. E forse, la continua ascesa verso le vette delle montagne non fa della nostra protagonista una "tigre acrobata"?

[Yamaguchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't the type of book I usually go for, but I don't regret picking this up at all. I loved the writing and the meaning behind the metaphors. It sort of felt like a warm hug and I really appreciate that.

[NerwSlowa · Rating 4 out of 5]

To, czy ta książka przypadnie nam do gustu, zależy głównie od tego, czy jesteśmy w humorze pozwalającym nam na akceptację retoryki typowo baśniowej. Ja przez większość lektury byłam w takim humorze (choć miałam moment kryzysowy), dzięki temu mimo wszystko zaliczam książkę Susanny Tamaro do typowej dla "Serii z żurawiem" bardzo rozmarzonej, nieco "efemerycznej" prozy. Przyznaję jednak, że aspekt "filozoficzności" tej baśni jest kwestią tego, czy akurat chce nam się ją analizować, świadomie dopisywać do niej własne doświadczenia, a nie dzieje się to niejako "mimo woli", jak na przykład podczas lektury "Małego Księcia". Zdarzył mi się moment, w którym byłam dość podenerwowana tą retoryką, zaczęłam wówczas zauważać również dość denerwujące mnie, nieco pretensjonalne podejście do... ortografii (a tak dokładnie: do momentami dziwacznego rozmieszczenia przecinków); wtedy książka tylko mnie frustrowała.

I mimo że książka ta wydana została w jednej z moich chyba już ulubionych serii książkowych, nie czuję do niej wielkiego entuzjazmu, rozmarzenia, zachwytu - ot, kolejna baśń. Polecam raczej osobom bardzo zafascynowanym baśniami, albo rzeczywiście mającym humor na taką filozoficzną opowiastkę.

[abi · Rating 2 out of 5]

i don't want to say much about this because it was a translation, but... yeah. a bit of a slog

[Mels ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strasznie madra ksiazka, czytajqc ja poczulam sie rozumiana

[Bridie Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read giving an insight into how free tigers feel in their natural habitat.

[Maria Eugenia Ossandon]

Bueno. Profundo.

[Giacomo Furlan]

Una novella di come si leggevano un tempo da bambini, che nasconde sotto sotto il cuore di una tigre curiosa, sulla propria natura e di ciò che la circonda, innocente quanto letale: lo spettro che ogni bambino che vive dentro di noi cerca di non affogare nella vita quotidiana, tra lavoro ed impegni.

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: The Tiger and the Acrobat by Susanna Tamaro. 4.5★'s

This is a wonderful story about a Little Tiger’s birth and her adventures through her growing process. The book was well written and the reader can’t help being memorized by Little Tiger’s life. The author was creative interweaving thought provoking messages within the story. The book is more for adolescents but I’m at an older age and I enjoyed the adventure. I received the book through the Early Reviewers category and the Little Tiger captivated my interest. The setting was Siberia in the eastern part of Russia.

This book has some Christianity background, a mother’s love of letting go of her cub at the right time, a brother who left the den and headed in the opposite direction to find his imminent future, the exploration of animal wildlife, the loneliness of travel, being captured and caged, and the happiness of freedom.

The little Siberian tiger whose curiosity crosses the path of a male human who befriended her and saved her life, later to be seized by circus men and locked in a cage, and than a young child acrobat sets her free. One message I got out of the story is, “the grass is not greener on the other side….Beautiful heartwarming story for all ages with meaningful insightful messages throughout the story.

[Kasiek · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://kasiek-mysli.blogspot.com/2018...

[Maegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was interesting, unique, and thoughtful. Little Tiger has such curiosity and I felt what she feels. I too am curious about many a thing, and I enjoyed her foray into unknown territory, both physical and mental. My favorite sections of the book were her childhood and then her journey to find man. I didn't care so much for the section after she meets the first man, but then I liked it again in the final years of her life. I won't go into detail because I don't want to spoil it.

There were quite a bit of philosophical thought and questions in this book, some of which I don't think really got through to me. Which is probably why I don't like a few parts of this novel.

Overall it was an enjoyable read, and I do plan on keeping my copy, but I don't know if I would read it again in the near future.

I do recommend at least reading this book once. I think some people will enjoy it very much.