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The Lost Soul
"Once upon a time there was a man who worked very hard and very quickly, and who had left his soul far behind him long ago. In fact his life was all right without his soul--he slept, ate, worked, drove a car and even played tennis. But sometimes he felt as if the world around him were flat, as if he were moving across a smooth page in a math book that was covered in evenly spaced squares... " --from The Lost Soul
The Lost Soul is a deeply moving reflection on our capacity to live in peace with ourselves, to remain patient, attentive to the world. It is a story that beautifully weaves together the voice of the Nobel Prize-winning Polish novelist Olga Tokarczuk and the finely detailed pen-and-ink drawings of illustrator Joanna Concejo, who together create a parallel narrative universe full of secrets, evocative of another time. Here a man has forgotten what makes his heart feel full. He moves to a house away from all that is familiar to him to wait for his soul to return.
The Lost Soul is a sublime album, a rare delicacy that will delight readers young and old.
"You must find a place of your own, sit there quietly and wait for your soul."
The Lost Soul is a deeply moving reflection on our capacity to live in peace with ourselves, to remain patient, attentive to the world. It is a story that beautifully weaves together the voice of the Nobel Prize-winning Polish novelist Olga Tokarczuk and the finely detailed pen-and-ink drawings of illustrator Joanna Concejo, who together create a parallel narrative universe full of secrets, evocative of another time. Here a man has forgotten what makes his heart feel full. He moves to a house away from all that is familiar to him to wait for his soul to return.
The Lost Soul is a sublime album, a rare delicacy that will delight readers young and old.
"You must find a place of your own, sit there quietly and wait for your soul."
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2017
58 people are currently reading
6798 people want to read
About the author
Olga Tokarczuk
81 books8,930 followersOlga Nawoja Tokarczuk is a Polish writer, activist, and public intellectual. She is one of the most critically acclaimed and successful authors of her generation in Poland. She was awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature as the first Polish female prose writer for "a narrative imagination that with encyclopedic passion represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of life".
For her novel Flights, Tokarczuk was awarded the 2018 Man Booker International Prize. For Flights and The Books of Jacob, she won the Nike Awards, Poland's top literary prize, among other accolades; she won the Nike audience award five times.
Her works have been translated into almost 40 languages, making her one of the most translated contemporary Polish writers. The Books of Jacob, regarded as her magnum opus, was released in the UK in November 2021 after seven years of translation work, followed by release in the US in February 2022. In March that year, the novel was shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize.
Source: wikipedia
Photo: Łukasz Giza
For her novel Flights, Tokarczuk was awarded the 2018 Man Booker International Prize. For Flights and The Books of Jacob, she won the Nike Awards, Poland's top literary prize, among other accolades; she won the Nike audience award five times.
Her works have been translated into almost 40 languages, making her one of the most translated contemporary Polish writers. The Books of Jacob, regarded as her magnum opus, was released in the UK in November 2021 after seven years of translation work, followed by release in the US in February 2022. In March that year, the novel was shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize.
Source: wikipedia
Photo: Łukasz Giza
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August 15, 2023
Life comes at you fast and from every direction, so it is easy to get so caught up in the kinetic energy that we lose sight of ourselves. Such is the case of the busy man in The Lost Soul, an absolutely gorgeous picture book for adults by Nobel winning Polish author Olga Tokarczuk (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones) and brought to life in astonishing artwork from Joanna Concejo. Look at this delightful book:
The art is so lovely. Several pages are printed on translucent sheets that make you feel you are stepping through the scenery, which is a cool choice. This is really a wonderful art piece on its own.
‘if someone could look down on us from above, they'd see that the world is full of people running about in a hurry, sweating and very tired, and their lost souls, always left behind, unable to keep up with their owners.’
This is a charming story about waiting for your soul or inner child to catch back up with you, lost somewhere down the line in all the hustle and bustle of life. The art conveys the loneliness felt even when surrounded by some many others, and the lack of color through much of the work gives a somber atmosphere perfectly matching the sparseness of Tokarczuk’s words that accompany the story. I like how the art is drawn on what looks like graphing paper, perfectly fitting his description of life:
It is that feeling of being more a number on a chart and less a person, of being something that is part of the world but lacking the soul to step off the page. Which is why the man decides to go sit in a cottage and wait for his soul to return to him.
I love how this book reminds us to slow down and enjoy the beauty in the quotidian, to let our souls catch up to us and just take in the wonders of life. As the story progresses and his soul returns—represented by a young girl—we see color begin to enter the art. His plants begin to grow bright green and cover his world and we feel refreshed and alive with him. It is such a charming story with incredible art. Also a big shoutout to Alan’s review for making me aware of this. I love Olga Tokarczuk’s work and this is a wonderful little collector’s piece as well as a fun book. I like how the concept of being a picture book returns us to our inner child much in the way the story calls for us to do. Adorable and moving, this is a book to warm your heart.
The art is so lovely. Several pages are printed on translucent sheets that make you feel you are stepping through the scenery, which is a cool choice. This is really a wonderful art piece on its own.
‘if someone could look down on us from above, they'd see that the world is full of people running about in a hurry, sweating and very tired, and their lost souls, always left behind, unable to keep up with their owners.’
This is a charming story about waiting for your soul or inner child to catch back up with you, lost somewhere down the line in all the hustle and bustle of life. The art conveys the loneliness felt even when surrounded by some many others, and the lack of color through much of the work gives a somber atmosphere perfectly matching the sparseness of Tokarczuk’s words that accompany the story. I like how the art is drawn on what looks like graphing paper, perfectly fitting his description of life:
‘But sometimes he felt as if the world around him were flat, as if he were moving across a smooth page in a math exercise book, entirely covered in evenly spaced squares.’
It is that feeling of being more a number on a chart and less a person, of being something that is part of the world but lacking the soul to step off the page. Which is why the man decides to go sit in a cottage and wait for his soul to return to him.
I love how this book reminds us to slow down and enjoy the beauty in the quotidian, to let our souls catch up to us and just take in the wonders of life. As the story progresses and his soul returns—represented by a young girl—we see color begin to enter the art. His plants begin to grow bright green and cover his world and we feel refreshed and alive with him. It is such a charming story with incredible art. Also a big shoutout to Alan’s review for making me aware of this. I love Olga Tokarczuk’s work and this is a wonderful little collector’s piece as well as a fun book. I like how the concept of being a picture book returns us to our inner child much in the way the story calls for us to do. Adorable and moving, this is a book to warm your heart.
May 7, 2024
A touching and beautiful contemplation for all ages - or perhaps seven to centenarian.
It’s printed on thick matt paper, with a strong aroma of parchment and ink, between solid covers. The drawings are a mix of monotone and colour - sometimes in the same image: the choice is part of the story, part of its message. There are a couple of translucent pages between pairs of pictures, casting a veil before the revelation.
Perhaps uniquely, rather than a sentence or two for each illustration, the story is on a single page in the middle, with uncaptioned pictures before and after, plus one page with a short paragraph to conclude the story. Before you reach the words, there’s no clear significance to the pictures. After reading the story, realisation dawns, but the illustrations remain slightly elusive.
Some pages are on plain backgrounds; others on lightly squared paper. Some are numbered; others are not. The numbers increase, but are not continuous. In a few places, it looks as if there’s a smaller sketch of photo, loosely between the pages. It has the intimacy of a private, unfinished notebook. I just wish the words looked handwritten, rather than Times New Roman.
Image: On the left, in black and white, people on a snowy park bench, echoing earlier illustrations. On the right, what looks like old photos and an envelope, in colour.
Many pictures echo others in the book, prompting the reader to look back for comparison and contemplation.
Pausing to consider our past, reflecting and connecting, and bringing it to the present, is what the book quietly but insistently urges the reader to do. Standing still to catch up with oneself. It’s a form of mindfulness.
“The world is full of people running about in a hurry… the souls lose their heads and the people cease to have hearts.”
Even for an atheist like me, the soul works well as a metaphor.
Image: On the left, a black and white sketch of a child behind a green, leafy plant. On the facing page, a bearded man, in colour.
Thank you so much to Steven Penkevich, whose review, HERE, made me buy this.
I must now bury watches and suitcases in the garden and see what happens…
It’s printed on thick matt paper, with a strong aroma of parchment and ink, between solid covers. The drawings are a mix of monotone and colour - sometimes in the same image: the choice is part of the story, part of its message. There are a couple of translucent pages between pairs of pictures, casting a veil before the revelation.
Perhaps uniquely, rather than a sentence or two for each illustration, the story is on a single page in the middle, with uncaptioned pictures before and after, plus one page with a short paragraph to conclude the story. Before you reach the words, there’s no clear significance to the pictures. After reading the story, realisation dawns, but the illustrations remain slightly elusive.
Some pages are on plain backgrounds; others on lightly squared paper. Some are numbered; others are not. The numbers increase, but are not continuous. In a few places, it looks as if there’s a smaller sketch of photo, loosely between the pages. It has the intimacy of a private, unfinished notebook. I just wish the words looked handwritten, rather than Times New Roman.
Image: On the left, in black and white, people on a snowy park bench, echoing earlier illustrations. On the right, what looks like old photos and an envelope, in colour.
Many pictures echo others in the book, prompting the reader to look back for comparison and contemplation.
Pausing to consider our past, reflecting and connecting, and bringing it to the present, is what the book quietly but insistently urges the reader to do. Standing still to catch up with oneself. It’s a form of mindfulness.
“The world is full of people running about in a hurry… the souls lose their heads and the people cease to have hearts.”
Even for an atheist like me, the soul works well as a metaphor.
Image: On the left, a black and white sketch of a child behind a green, leafy plant. On the facing page, a bearded man, in colour.
Thank you so much to Steven Penkevich, whose review, HERE, made me buy this.
I must now bury watches and suitcases in the garden and see what happens…
August 31, 2023
link: source
If someone could look down on us from above, they’d see that the world is full of people running about in a hurry, sweating and very tired, and their lost souls.
Life is so dark and scary yet so lively. It regenerates itself. Life awaits death right from the moment of birth and stares at it with horror- ridden eyes, however those who understand life would do otherwise. The universe follows the same course. It takes birth, develops, sometimes into other universes, and then dies out, perhaps to give birth to some new universes. The process had been reconstructing and renovating itself since time immemorial and will continue to do, perhaps till eternity, which is indefinite and seems to be working in its own repetitive, mechanical way through some inherent cohesive energy. At least, the recent developments in the scientific community point to such a strange reality of our universe as we say reality is stranger than fiction. But how do we, one of many life forms on this planet, perhaps of the universe, react to it. Would our consciousness allow us to accept this ordinary fate of ours, how would our soul react to it?
We often see that our lives keep on tumbling like a mechanical wheel which rotates day in and day out without us realizing that life is slipping out of our hands. We always seem to be in a bizarre sort of race, wherein we seem to keep progressing at a breath-taking swiftness, keeping pace with ever-demanding existence whose daily chores gradually but certainly suck the soul out of our lives. And when we realize it, we find ourselves contemplating upon the lost time, the friendships, the love, and the relationships which get buried in the cemetery of time. Suddenly, we come upon gaping at ourselves to discern how far we have come in time, having lost all those memories, people and bonds which constitute our soul. Perhaps the solitude of our existence is the only reality which stays with us over time.
link: source
However, I am a not fan of graphic novels but The Lost Soul came as a bit of pleasant surprise which landed into my hands through the beautiful review of Steven Penkevich, I started reading the write-up with an expectation to unearth a casual graphic novel however, the charm of the author and beautiful words of the reviewer beguiled me to buy it instantly. It is a beautiful little story which in a way pokes you to take a pause and ponder upon life, far from the flurry of it, as to what exactly means to be alive.
Though I have read a few picture books earlier -Animalinside, and The Bill: For Palma Vecchio, at Venice (The Art Monographs) by Laszlo Krasznahorkai are to name a few, but this book is slightly different from the others. The story starts with a series of pictures which sort of act as prologue to the story, in which the language has been kept to minimum just to convey the central theme while the story unfolds through various pictures just like the ancient times of storytelling through rock-paintings and other such modes. This unique idea of its both creators conveys the message of how to enjoy life in a distinctive but universal manner. It would be difficult to categorize it since it is not a conventional graphic novel but it stands out somewhere between the visual and verbal communication, and carved out a niche of its own.
link: source
While mundanity plays an important role in braving through our existential ordeal but it in a way takes us far from our soul, our life, the book comes as fresh dew drops of morning to force us to sit still and watches the life actually passing through, in a way to be married with our soul. The pictures alone are being used to impart the beauty and irony of life; every picture moves the story forward towards its ultimate goal which has been communicated through just a short text. The loneliness of our existence is perfectly conveyed through the pictures of which color is deliberately sucked out. As the protagonist takes the holiest pilgrimage to search for his soul, we see that gradually colors infuse the pages, initially from a tinge of a few colors to the perfectly colorful pictures eventually as he find his soul.
It happens because souls move at a much slower speed than bodies. They were born at the dawn of time, just after the Big Bang, when the cosmos wasn’t yet in such a rush, so it could still see itself in the mirror. It may sound absurd but the abovementioned lines inevitably reminds me of the idea of ‘eternal recurrence’ put forwarded by Friedrich Nietzsche, the idea states that time repeats itself in an infinite loop, and that exactly the same events will continue to occur in exactly the same way, over and over again, for eternity. Perhaps these lines prompt me to relate it to the idea of eternity of the soul which is central to so many civilizations of the world.
The pages of the book are numbered in an intriguing manner which is devoid any progression- linear or otherwise, perhaps reflects that more time has lapsed than our assimilation on every turning of the page, though it remains sequential in a double spread to underline the visual storytelling, and some pages act like a veil to gradually reveal the underlying truths. The soul of the man is personified as a young girl and its growth is represented through the pots full of flourishing plants, and the post cards and letters which perhaps represent the rediscovered lost childhood. You feel as if you have been shaken to the core to realize what is to be alive. As soon as you finish the book, it influences you to start it again at a slower pace, perhaps mirroring what the book wants you to do in life- to pause and contemplate on life itself to relish it to fullest.
link: source
From then on they lived happily ever after, and John was very careful not to do anything too fast, so that his soul could always keep up with him.
October 12, 2023
I gave myself a treat and bought this gorgeous adult picture book written by award-winning Polish writer, Olga Tokarczuk, illustrated by Joanna Cocejo.
I read almost exclusively on Kindle now that it feels like a luxury to turn the pages of a hard-bound book and be greeted by lovely artwork. There are very few words, and the story is told mostly via expressive illustrations.
This is a beautiful meditation on staying in touch with our own selves. The premise is that when we run about in a hurry to get through the days of our lives, unbeknownst to ourselves, we leave our souls behind.
We journey with a man who went in search of his soul. Imagine waking up in a hotel room not knowing where and who you are. His doctor ordered him to slow down and allow his soul to catch up. Not a bad idea at all because I felt something of the man’s peace as he retired to a cottage at the edge of the city and waited for his soul to return.
I love how the color tones of the illustrations mirror the man’s inner being. They started off sepia or monotone, then a flash of green, and then more brilliant hues as his soul returned. Most pages are on plain background, others on lightly graphed paper (in tandem with the man feeling as if he were ‘moving across a smooth page in a math exercise book'), and a couple on translucent paper that magically allowed us to see the transformation that was about to happen.
There is something too about looking at the landscapes depicted – mostly of trees in various seasons, country paths, scenes outside a window – that offer a sense of quiet.
What a lovely, lovely book and what a timely reminder to slow down in order not to lose touch with who we are and to be more alive to the world around us!
A big 'thank you' to Cecily and Gaurav whose reviews led me to this unique reading experience.
I read almost exclusively on Kindle now that it feels like a luxury to turn the pages of a hard-bound book and be greeted by lovely artwork. There are very few words, and the story is told mostly via expressive illustrations.
This is a beautiful meditation on staying in touch with our own selves. The premise is that when we run about in a hurry to get through the days of our lives, unbeknownst to ourselves, we leave our souls behind.
We journey with a man who went in search of his soul. Imagine waking up in a hotel room not knowing where and who you are. His doctor ordered him to slow down and allow his soul to catch up. Not a bad idea at all because I felt something of the man’s peace as he retired to a cottage at the edge of the city and waited for his soul to return.
I love how the color tones of the illustrations mirror the man’s inner being. They started off sepia or monotone, then a flash of green, and then more brilliant hues as his soul returned. Most pages are on plain background, others on lightly graphed paper (in tandem with the man feeling as if he were ‘moving across a smooth page in a math exercise book'), and a couple on translucent paper that magically allowed us to see the transformation that was about to happen.
There is something too about looking at the landscapes depicted – mostly of trees in various seasons, country paths, scenes outside a window – that offer a sense of quiet.
What a lovely, lovely book and what a timely reminder to slow down in order not to lose touch with who we are and to be more alive to the world around us!
A big 'thank you' to Cecily and Gaurav whose reviews led me to this unique reading experience.
January 9, 2024
This book found me on the perfect day. Having just spent a night in ER and feeling fragile, I opened this book. The beautiful drawings transported me to tranquil, peaceful nature-filled locations. I could feel a sense of calm descending over me.
This book has few words, but its words are deep and meaningful. Slow down, breathe, become surrounded by the peacefulness which is Nature.
Many thanks to my friend, Laysee, whose review brought this book to me.
A picture book for adults!
I reread it three times and just slowly lost myself in the drawings.
Published: 2017
This book has few words, but its words are deep and meaningful. Slow down, breathe, become surrounded by the peacefulness which is Nature.
Many thanks to my friend, Laysee, whose review brought this book to me.
A picture book for adults!
I reread it three times and just slowly lost myself in the drawings.
Published: 2017
August 1, 2023
I saw this book in my local bookstore a year ago, but it was far too expensive for the tiny amount of text that it contained. $30. I was intrigued, but not that intrigued. So I promised to buy the book if I ever ran across it in a used bookstore. Well, that day came today. Cheap copy for a (very lightly) used copy.
Tokarczuk writes so little, but she manages to get to the heart of what plagues most adults at one point or another. She doesn’t go down a particular road, but presents the story at the crossroad. The rest is taken up by Joanna Concejo’s art.
This book is so unique. It’s quite large and thin, boasts beautiful pencil sketches, and even has interspersed tracing paper drawings (on different quality, translucent paper) – this last bit is important, in that it conveys an effect of frosted glass and vague premonitions. Here is the heart of the story:
“If someone could look down on us from above, they’d see that the world is full of people running about in a hurry, sweating and very tired, and their lost souls, always left behind, unable to keep up with their owners. The result is great confusion as the souls lose their heads and the people cease to have hearts. The souls know they’ve lost their owners, but most of the people don’t realize that they’ve lost their own souls.”
Tokarczuk writes so little, but she manages to get to the heart of what plagues most adults at one point or another. She doesn’t go down a particular road, but presents the story at the crossroad. The rest is taken up by Joanna Concejo’s art.
This book is so unique. It’s quite large and thin, boasts beautiful pencil sketches, and even has interspersed tracing paper drawings (on different quality, translucent paper) – this last bit is important, in that it conveys an effect of frosted glass and vague premonitions. Here is the heart of the story:
“If someone could look down on us from above, they’d see that the world is full of people running about in a hurry, sweating and very tired, and their lost souls, always left behind, unable to keep up with their owners. The result is great confusion as the souls lose their heads and the people cease to have hearts. The souls know they’ve lost their owners, but most of the people don’t realize that they’ve lost their own souls.”
December 15, 2019
Има няколко причини, поради които си заслужава да притежавате тази книга:
1. Изданието е повече от страхотно.
2. Текстът е изключително смислен.
3. Въздействието е огромно.
4. Посланието е важно.
5. Разлиствате шедьовър.
6. Замисляте се къде се намира тя (вашата душа).
7. Заравяте часовници и куфари.
и... не на последно място...
8. Душата ви ще ви настигне (това е най-важното).
1. Изданието е повече от страхотно.
2. Текстът е изключително смислен.
3. Въздействието е огромно.
4. Посланието е важно.
5. Разлиствате шедьовър.
6. Замисляте се къде се намира тя (вашата душа).
7. Заравяте часовници и куфари.
и... не на последно място...
8. Душата ви ще ви настигне (това е най-важното).
March 17, 2021
Lovely. A picture book for adults.
Read
October 6, 2023Very short story with a very relevant message, but above all very beautifully illustrated with an independent animated story, that interacts with the text in a creative way. It forces you to look your own lost soul in the eye. I'm not rating it, because that would be unfair, I can't put it on the same line as other books I've read.
January 21, 2024
A simple and lovely story. Here the illustrations are everything.
March 18, 2021
Винаги много силно ми е въздействал образът на празния стол. Веднага отключва у мен идеята за отсъствие, за липса - за нещо, което доскоро е било тук, но си е отишло, или пък естествено принадлежи на дадено място, но по някаква причина го няма.
Това само по себе си поражда изненада, а след нея идва и тъгата, примесена с очакване.
Веднага се сещам за Сартр и неговата идея за доминиращата роля на отсъствието над присъствието и как когато очакваш да видиш някого някъде, всичко, което забелязваш, само по-силно откроява отсъствието му.
Корицата на "Изгубената душа" на Олга Токарчук с рисунките на Йоана Консехо изобразява именно един празен стол. Когато разлистите книгата до края, сами ще се уверите защо е използвала толкова често този образ.
Обичайно в този тип издания илюстрациите са в помощ на текста, ала тук е обратното. Думите на Токарчук подават ръка на прекрасните рисунки на Консехо. Почти до края на книгата те са черно-бели, което заедно с първоначално празния стол, разказва историята за изостаналата, изгубена назад по пътя душа.
Самите илюстрации не позволяват на окото да ги обходи бързо и провокират към бавно вглеждане във всеки детайл и щрих.
Със сигурност сте чували за движението "Slow Life", създадено през 1986 г, като призив за намаляване на темпото и наслаждаване на обичайните моменти от деня ни. Хартмут Роза - авторът на появилата се преди няколко години книга "Ускоряване" (изд. Критика и хуманизъм), говори в нея именно за опасностите от постоянното живеене на бързи обороти, което води до невъзможност за изживяване на момента в пълнота, до отчуждение, изолация и хронична тревожност.
"Изгубената душа" на Токарчук и Консехо
е нов, необичаен поглед към този проблем. Тя се опира на притчата за бедуините, цитирана от Борхес, която Георги Господинов обича да споменава в свои интервюта. Бедуините имали навика да правят чести почивки, докато прекосявали пустинята, за да могат душите им да ги настигнат.
Сигурна съм, че когато разгърнете великолепното издание на изд. ICU, ще си припомните защо е наистина важно понякога просто да спрем и да се огледаме. :)
"Ако някой можеше да ни погледне отвисоко, щеше да види, че светът е пълен с хора, които тичат нагоре-надолу, плувнали в пот и капнали от умора, както и с техните закъснели, изгубени души..."
Това само по себе си поражда изненада, а след нея идва и тъгата, примесена с очакване.
Веднага се сещам за Сартр и неговата идея за доминиращата роля на отсъствието над присъствието и как когато очакваш да видиш някого някъде, всичко, което забелязваш, само по-силно откроява отсъствието му.
Корицата на "Изгубената душа" на Олга Токарчук с рисунките на Йоана Консехо изобразява именно един празен стол. Когато разлистите книгата до края, сами ще се уверите защо е използвала толкова често този образ.
Обичайно в този тип издания илюстрациите са в помощ на текста, ала тук е обратното. Думите на Токарчук подават ръка на прекрасните рисунки на Консехо. Почти до края на книгата те са черно-бели, което заедно с първоначално празния стол, разказва историята за изостаналата, изгубена назад по пътя душа.
Самите илюстрации не позволяват на окото да ги обходи бързо и провокират към бавно вглеждане във всеки детайл и щрих.
Със сигурност сте чували за движението "Slow Life", създадено през 1986 г, като призив за намаляване на темпото и наслаждаване на обичайните моменти от деня ни. Хартмут Роза - авторът на появилата се преди няколко години книга "Ускоряване" (изд. Критика и хуманизъм), говори в нея именно за опасностите от постоянното живеене на бързи обороти, което води до невъзможност за изживяване на момента в пълнота, до отчуждение, изолация и хронична тревожност.
"Изгубената душа" на Токарчук и Консехо
е нов, необичаен поглед към този проблем. Тя се опира на притчата за бедуините, цитирана от Борхес, която Георги Господинов обича да споменава в свои интервюта. Бедуините имали навика да правят чести почивки, докато прекосявали пустинята, за да могат душите им да ги настигнат.
Сигурна съм, че когато разгърнете великолепното издание на изд. ICU, ще си припомните защо е наистина важно понякога просто да спрем и да се огледаме. :)
"Ако някой можеше да ни погледне отвисоко, щеше да види, че светът е пълен с хора, които тичат нагоре-надолу, плувнали в пот и капнали от умора, както и с техните закъснели, изгубени души..."
July 26, 2024
#A story a day to chase the blues away #13
“A Alma Perdida”, Olga Tokarczuk, Polónia, 2020
Não há nada que saia das mãozinhas abençoadas de Olga Tokaczuk que não valha a pena e, aliado às ilustrações preciosas de Joanna Concejo, este conto é mais uma prova do talento da premiada autora polaca.
Num dia em que se sintam particularmente vazios, leiam “A Alma Perdida”. Pode estar aqui o diagnóstico e a cura.
A sábia médica respondeu:
(…) O senhor tem de encontrar um lugar onde se sinta bem, sentar-se aí tranquilamente e aguardar pela sua alma. Certamente, ela estará agora onde o senhor esteve há dois ou três anos. Por isso, a espera pode demorar um pouco. Não vejo outro remédio para o seu caso.
“A Alma Perdida”, Olga Tokarczuk, Polónia, 2020
Não há nada que saia das mãozinhas abençoadas de Olga Tokaczuk que não valha a pena e, aliado às ilustrações preciosas de Joanna Concejo, este conto é mais uma prova do talento da premiada autora polaca.
Num dia em que se sintam particularmente vazios, leiam “A Alma Perdida”. Pode estar aqui o diagnóstico e a cura.
A sábia médica respondeu:
(…) O senhor tem de encontrar um lugar onde se sinta bem, sentar-se aí tranquilamente e aguardar pela sua alma. Certamente, ela estará agora onde o senhor esteve há dois ou três anos. Por isso, a espera pode demorar um pouco. Não vejo outro remédio para o seu caso.
January 4, 2022
Anticipating the release of The Books of Jacob, I came upon the existence of this little gem, immediately available via a library download. I worried about reading it that way since it's illustrated, but it worked really well in the e-book format. As I “turned the pages,” each illustration seemed to flow magically into the next.
The words are minimal and effective. The art is wonderful. Once I realized what it was achieving with its two illustration styles, I paged back to read it again, with no words.
The words are minimal and effective. The art is wonderful. Once I realized what it was achieving with its two illustration styles, I paged back to read it again, with no words.
November 13, 2023
This slender creation is a forty eight page reminder to take the time to focus on one’s inner self.Olga Tokarczuk’s sparse, poignant narrative is augmented by Joanna Concejo’s illustrations.The result is a stunning fusion of verbal and visual storytelling that urges individuals to pay attention to internal composure while contending with the demands of an increasingly turbulent, time compressed daily outer world.
“ If someone could look down on us from above,they’d see that the world is full of people running about in a hurry, sweating and very tired,and their lost souls…”
These words greet the reader after several pages of black and white illustrations showing children playing and adults bustling in an unspecified tree laden space that conjures images of a long ago childhood that is tinged with loneliness in the midst of the activity. The somber visuals combine with the spare phraseology to impart a fable like aura that underscores the story’s thematic underpinnings.
A man who is caught up in the maelstrom of the modern world wakes up one morning in a hotel room.He has forgotten his name, his purpose and his location.All his daily efforts and touchstones of success have a sameness that clash with his personal core and internal development. Upon consulting with a doctor, the man is confronted with a startling diagnosis…he has lost his soul. The doctor posits that people’s souls move at a slower pace than the frenetic rhythms of their everyday bodies.In fact, there can be a two or three year lag between the movements of the two entities.In order to realign the two parts, the man must wait in one place for his soul to find him.The man waits in a small cottage and ultimately his soul, anthropomorphized as a little girl in a plaid coat, catches up to him.
The beauty of this short book is the melding of Cancejo’s illustrations with Tokarczuk’s minimalist, strategically placed prose.This book is meant to be felt as much as it is intended to be read.The first illustrations are drawn in pencil and are placed on a tactilely enticing grade of paper.For me, these illustrations imparted a shimmering haze reminiscent of the visually stunning black and white films of the 1940s.The combination of narrative and visual presented an illusion of a parallel environment swirling with secrets.As this brief journey moved to its denouement, the illustrations became dotted with color and ultimately burst into an array of earth tones as the soul and body rediscovered each other.
The reunion of the two parts of the self is a reminder to revisit one’s inner child that lingers within even as we progress towards old age.This book is a physically arresting creation that can best be enjoyed in its print edition that allows the reader to savor the feel of the translucent paper that houses the illustrations.These sensations will augment this special journey and encourage the reader to return to its pages at key moments in life.4.5 stars.
“ If someone could look down on us from above,they’d see that the world is full of people running about in a hurry, sweating and very tired,and their lost souls…”
These words greet the reader after several pages of black and white illustrations showing children playing and adults bustling in an unspecified tree laden space that conjures images of a long ago childhood that is tinged with loneliness in the midst of the activity. The somber visuals combine with the spare phraseology to impart a fable like aura that underscores the story’s thematic underpinnings.
A man who is caught up in the maelstrom of the modern world wakes up one morning in a hotel room.He has forgotten his name, his purpose and his location.All his daily efforts and touchstones of success have a sameness that clash with his personal core and internal development. Upon consulting with a doctor, the man is confronted with a startling diagnosis…he has lost his soul. The doctor posits that people’s souls move at a slower pace than the frenetic rhythms of their everyday bodies.In fact, there can be a two or three year lag between the movements of the two entities.In order to realign the two parts, the man must wait in one place for his soul to find him.The man waits in a small cottage and ultimately his soul, anthropomorphized as a little girl in a plaid coat, catches up to him.
The beauty of this short book is the melding of Cancejo’s illustrations with Tokarczuk’s minimalist, strategically placed prose.This book is meant to be felt as much as it is intended to be read.The first illustrations are drawn in pencil and are placed on a tactilely enticing grade of paper.For me, these illustrations imparted a shimmering haze reminiscent of the visually stunning black and white films of the 1940s.The combination of narrative and visual presented an illusion of a parallel environment swirling with secrets.As this brief journey moved to its denouement, the illustrations became dotted with color and ultimately burst into an array of earth tones as the soul and body rediscovered each other.
The reunion of the two parts of the self is a reminder to revisit one’s inner child that lingers within even as we progress towards old age.This book is a physically arresting creation that can best be enjoyed in its print edition that allows the reader to savor the feel of the translucent paper that houses the illustrations.These sensations will augment this special journey and encourage the reader to return to its pages at key moments in life.4.5 stars.
May 15, 2021
I loved the illustrations for this book, I loved the story too, a man has lost touch with what makes him happy, he’s forgotten how simple things can be enjoyable. He spends time alone trying to work out what’s wrong. I enjoy books that have ambiguous or subtle messages, but I was left wondering if
As another reserve was waiting for this at the library I took it back and thought that by reading reviews I would be able to work out what the child character was meant to be or represent. Sadly I haven’t found one that comments on that yet so will have to reread to clear up that mystery!
As another reserve was waiting for this at the library I took it back and thought that by reading reviews I would be able to work out what the child character was meant to be or represent. Sadly I haven’t found one that comments on that yet so will have to reread to clear up that mystery!
August 29, 2020
“Jeigu kas sugebėtų pažvelgti į mus iš aukštai, pamatytų, kad pasaulis yra pilnas skubančių, suprakaitavusių, labai pavargusių žmonių ir vėluojančių, pasiklydusių jų sielų, kurios nesuspėja su savo šeimininkais. Todėl kyla didelė painiava, sielos pameta galvas, o žmonės praranda širdis. Sielos žino, kad atsiliko nuo savo šeimininkų, bet žmonės dažnai nė nenutuokia, kad pametė savo sielas.”
😭😭😭😭😭
Gražiausia, ką nusipirkau šį rudenį.
😭😭😭😭😭
Gražiausia, ką nusipirkau šį rudenį.
March 28, 2023
Oh wow a little gem💕. Beautiful little heartfelt story and absolutely amazing art work! This is a perfect little short read to let you mind drift and relax.
I have looked at this a couple of times over now and i absolutely adore it. I Would love some of this art work for my wall.
Each one tells a story that ties in perfectly to the overall meaning. The end was beautiful.
Im such a sop at times but i really love this meassage and believe it is exactly what we all need to stop and think about at some point or another.
Take care never to leave your soul behind❤
I have looked at this a couple of times over now and i absolutely adore it. I Would love some of this art work for my wall.
Each one tells a story that ties in perfectly to the overall meaning. The end was beautiful.
Im such a sop at times but i really love this meassage and believe it is exactly what we all need to stop and think about at some point or another.
Take care never to leave your soul behind❤
April 13, 2022
Gewoonweg prachtig!
De tekst kan je wat richting geven, maar die is absoluut niet noodzakelijk om het boek te smaken. De tekeningen zeggen zoveel en blijven je boeien.Al kijkend ontdek je steeds nieuwe kleine details die je weten te verrassen. Een boek zoals dit maakt me instant blij. Ik ben zo benieuwd naar de andere boeken van Joanna Concejo.
Mag ik ook eens zes sterren geven voor het tekenwerk?
De tekst kan je wat richting geven, maar die is absoluut niet noodzakelijk om het boek te smaken. De tekeningen zeggen zoveel en blijven je boeien.Al kijkend ontdek je steeds nieuwe kleine details die je weten te verrassen. Een boek zoals dit maakt me instant blij. Ik ben zo benieuwd naar de andere boeken van Joanna Concejo.
Mag ik ook eens zes sterren geven voor het tekenwerk?
January 2, 2025
No me esperaba este cuento que a penas alcanzas a tomarle un trago al café cuando ya se termino. Cada palabra es un cuchillo al corazón. Yo tendré que esperar unos años para que mi alma también me alcance
September 12, 2020
Labai labai graži paveikslų knyga, gali žiūrėti ir žiūrėti - viena kryptim, kita, atsitiktinai. Nuostabios iliustracijos, labai norėčiau perskaityti daugiau iliustratorės Concejo knygų, kur ji sukūrusi.
Teksto, kaip visi rašo, nedaug (suskaičiavau: 1,2 lapo), ir ko nesitikėjau - kad jis yra visiškai pagalbinis ir antrinis, ir jo vaidmuo - padėti iliustracijoms. Pats jis - toks ribinis. Yra toks Jonas, dirba, visur skuba, nespėja (nu įdomu įdomu apie ką čia), pradeda blogai jaustis, jam pasako, kad jis nuskubėjo per toli į priekį ir jo siela atsiliko. Tai jis pasėdi ant sofos, pakimarina ir siela iš lėto pasiveja. Pirmai norėjau sakyt, kad didaktiška, bet kad net nedidaktiška - vaikams (o knyga skirta viakams ir būtent vaikų literatūros mugėj apdovanota) čia neneša jokios žinutės, vaikai ir taip dažniausiai niekur neskuba. O suaugusieji jau turbūt moralą girdėjo arba iš Coelho, arba iš psichoterapeuto, pas kurį gydosi perdegimą. Žodžiu, teksto tikslo nesupratau.
Bet vaizdas - vaizdas gyvena atskirą gyvenimą. Kai lygini tarsi vienodus piešinius, matai, kad jų smulkūs skirtumai rodo praėjusį laiką. Kai matai žiemos panoramą, supranti, kad tai ne tokia panorama, kur būtų svarbu bendras paveikslas ar kažkokia Mintis, o viduje, kiekvienam kampe, vykstantys daugybė mažų procesų. Pati "siela", kai jau ateina pas Joną, užsikloja ant visko tuo permatomu popierium, kaip būdavo fotoalbumuose, ir nuo tada grįžta spalvos.
Aš turbūt esu biški akmeninės širdies, kaip vis priverčia prisiminti bukheiterių tema, bet šiaip man nepasidarė taip jau automatiškai gražiau, kai atėjo siela ir atsirado spalvos :D
Bet su spalvom iš tiesų atsirado daugiau tūrio, 3d efekto, augalų piešinys staiga tapo džiunglėm.
Gal inversiškai ta knyga tikrai gražesnė - kai negalvoji apie tą a la moralą apie šiuolaikybę, o pabandai suprasti, kas iš tiesų galėtų būti siela tame, ką darai? Kaip spalva prideda tūrio, kaip spalvos nebuvimas išryškina detalę, kaip atsiranda tūris arba plokštumas žodžiuose. Kaip tai nebūtinai automatiškai yra gražu arba negražu, ir kaip tą pastebėt.
Vo, ir aš pamoralizavau, o ką!!
Teksto, kaip visi rašo, nedaug (suskaičiavau: 1,2 lapo), ir ko nesitikėjau - kad jis yra visiškai pagalbinis ir antrinis, ir jo vaidmuo - padėti iliustracijoms. Pats jis - toks ribinis. Yra toks Jonas, dirba, visur skuba, nespėja (nu įdomu įdomu apie ką čia), pradeda blogai jaustis, jam pasako, kad jis nuskubėjo per toli į priekį ir jo siela atsiliko. Tai jis pasėdi ant sofos, pakimarina ir siela iš lėto pasiveja. Pirmai norėjau sakyt, kad didaktiška, bet kad net nedidaktiška - vaikams (o knyga skirta viakams ir būtent vaikų literatūros mugėj apdovanota) čia neneša jokios žinutės, vaikai ir taip dažniausiai niekur neskuba. O suaugusieji jau turbūt moralą girdėjo arba iš Coelho, arba iš psichoterapeuto, pas kurį gydosi perdegimą. Žodžiu, teksto tikslo nesupratau.
Bet vaizdas - vaizdas gyvena atskirą gyvenimą. Kai lygini tarsi vienodus piešinius, matai, kad jų smulkūs skirtumai rodo praėjusį laiką. Kai matai žiemos panoramą, supranti, kad tai ne tokia panorama, kur būtų svarbu bendras paveikslas ar kažkokia Mintis, o viduje, kiekvienam kampe, vykstantys daugybė mažų procesų. Pati "siela", kai jau ateina pas Joną, užsikloja ant visko tuo permatomu popierium, kaip būdavo fotoalbumuose, ir nuo tada grįžta spalvos.
Aš turbūt esu biški akmeninės širdies, kaip vis priverčia prisiminti bukheiterių tema, bet šiaip man nepasidarė taip jau automatiškai gražiau, kai atėjo siela ir atsirado spalvos :D
Bet su spalvom iš tiesų atsirado daugiau tūrio, 3d efekto, augalų piešinys staiga tapo džiunglėm.
Gal inversiškai ta knyga tikrai gražesnė - kai negalvoji apie tą a la moralą apie šiuolaikybę, o pabandai suprasti, kas iš tiesų galėtų būti siela tame, ką darai? Kaip spalva prideda tūrio, kaip spalvos nebuvimas išryškina detalę, kaip atsiranda tūris arba plokštumas žodžiuose. Kaip tai nebūtinai automatiškai yra gražu arba negražu, ir kaip tą pastebėt.
Vo, ir aš pamoralizavau, o ką!!
March 16, 2021
За тази книга, няма нужда да се пише!
January 17, 2020
Изключително красиво издание с мощно въздействие върху всички сетива. Книга за ценители.
March 10, 2025
Tik skaista grāmata! Brīnišķīgas ilustrācijas un stāsts, kas tver dziļi, lai gan teksta ir maz. Izlasīju un izbaudīju trīsreiz, apsveru nopirkt saviem plauktiem.
August 21, 2023
An odd book in many ways but one that makes you sit quietly and reflect. It needs more than one reading, although there are very few words. When you have read it for the first time, you realise what the illustrations are telling you and have to go back to the beginning and start again. It’s a little unsettling but a positive experience.
July 15, 2021
Beautiful. I’ve never really seen a book like this ever, when it crossed paths with me in a bookstore and I read it then and there.
With only about a page of written word and illustrations you want to live in, the book really lets you let your mind wander and think deeply about your own interpretation of the story. It’s a book that spoke to me and one I’d very much want to own to read whenever I felt the need to.
With only about a page of written word and illustrations you want to live in, the book really lets you let your mind wander and think deeply about your own interpretation of the story. It’s a book that spoke to me and one I’d very much want to own to read whenever I felt the need to.
Read
October 6, 2023 „Ako ko ima moć da pogleda na nas odozgo, video bi po svoj zemlji ljude kako žure u znoju, sustale, veoma iznemogle, i njihove duše koje kasne za njima, izgubljene. Iz toga nastaje velika pometnja, duše gube glave, a ljudi ostaju bez srca. Duše znaju da su izgubile svog domaćina, ali ljudi često ne shvataju da su izgubili svoju dušu.“
Lepa knjižica. Idealan poklon ljubitelje/ljubiteljke sporijeg ritma i starinske estetike.
Stranica i frtalj teksta, i niz sa ukusom i smislom oslikanih ilustracija.
Lepa knjižica. Idealan poklon ljubitelje/ljubiteljke sporijeg ritma i starinske estetike.
Stranica i frtalj teksta, i niz sa ukusom i smislom oslikanih ilustracija.
December 11, 2019
Объркан съм, и същевременно впечатлен. Този разказ, който ни казва толкова много в толкова малко текст, те кара да се замислиш над въпроса “А моята душа дали е изгубена?” Изданието е феноменално. Илюстрациите са страхотни, концепцията безумно яка...
August 21, 2024
Nē, bet tiešām: kur mums steigties?
January 28, 2022
Beeld ★★★★★
Tekst ★★★
Kijk zo langzaam als je kunt...
en maak je los van de tekst.
Zelf zegt Olga Tokarczuk daarover in The Guardian 'The language has to be limited to what’s absolutely essential. It’s the picture that carries the story.' en daar ben ik het helemaal mee eens. Nou is de tekst op twee losse zinnen na beperkt tot één volle bladzijde dus niet echt een stoorzender, het is eenvoudig over te slaan voor degene die dat wil. Maar wat mij betreft had dit verhaal zonder tekst verteld mogen worden, de kracht zit hem in de beelden en de ruimte die je daar vindt aan de ene kant en de kijker aan de andere kant.
De tekeningen zijn werkelijk prachtig, de stilte en het terug vinden wat verloren was is zo prachtig verbeeld! Wat een kunstwerk levert Joanna Concejo af, heel benieuwd naar ander werk van haar.
Voor een inkijkje: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZRupJ3gsQw/
Tekst ★★★
Kijk zo langzaam als je kunt...
en maak je los van de tekst.
Zelf zegt Olga Tokarczuk daarover in The Guardian 'The language has to be limited to what’s absolutely essential. It’s the picture that carries the story.' en daar ben ik het helemaal mee eens. Nou is de tekst op twee losse zinnen na beperkt tot één volle bladzijde dus niet echt een stoorzender, het is eenvoudig over te slaan voor degene die dat wil. Maar wat mij betreft had dit verhaal zonder tekst verteld mogen worden, de kracht zit hem in de beelden en de ruimte die je daar vindt aan de ene kant en de kijker aan de andere kant.
De tekeningen zijn werkelijk prachtig, de stilte en het terug vinden wat verloren was is zo prachtig verbeeld! Wat een kunstwerk levert Joanna Concejo af, heel benieuwd naar ander werk van haar.
Voor een inkijkje: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZRupJ3gsQw/
_1613993018055_1613993029130.jpg&tbnid=YFNiEeClK3HIlM&vet=12ahUKEwjBtMfLkv2AAxUJz6ACHW1KB_YQMygBegQIARBI..i&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hindustantimes.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fnobel-laureate-olga-tokarczuk-s-art-book-the-lost-soul-hits-bookstores-101613992214764.html&docid=vnEj0v-fh7_kgM&w=1600&h=900&q=the%20lost%20soul%20olga%20tokarczuk&ved=2ahUKEwjBtMfLkv2AAxUJz6ACHW1KB_YQMygBegQIARBI){kind=link}
October 9, 2020
Istorija tokia paprastutė, gal ir pigoka, apie nespėjančią paskui skubantį žmogų sielą, bet man tiksliai pataikė į būseną, susitapatinau :) Bet piešiniai!!! Ten ne tik kad apžiūrinėji, bet į kai kuriuos sėdi ir žiūri tiesiog, ilgai. Pasidaro ramu nuo to stalo, lango ir žmogaus sėdinčio ir žiūrinčio pro langą. Ne tik pasakojimas apie perdegimą, bet ir vaistas nuo perdegimo.
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