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The Lost Soul
The only book in English for readers of all ages by Nobel Prize-winning novelist Olga Tokarczuk is a beautifully illustrated meditation on the fullness of life.
Bologna Ragazzi Award, Special Mention 2018
Prix de l'Union Internationale pour les Livres de Jeunesse (IBBY)
The White Raven (IJB Munich)
Łódź Design Festival Award
"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."
Bologna Ragazzi Award, Special Mention 2018
Prix de l'Union Internationale pour les Livres de Jeunesse (IBBY)
The White Raven (IJB Munich)
Łódź Design Festival Award
"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."
48 pages, Hardcover
First published October 26, 2017
About the author
Olga Tokarczuk
76 books6,188 followersOlga Tokarczuk is one of Poland's most celebrated and beloved authors, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Man Booker International Prize, as well as her country's highest literary honor, the Nike. She is the author of eight novels and two short story collections, and has been translated into more than thirty languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 567 reviews
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.
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
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.
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.
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.”
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.
June 4, 2022
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 . . .
Aunque las novelas de Olga Tokarczuk no son precisamente para todos los públicos, The Lost Soul es un cuento de los de toda la vida. Comienza con su preceptivo “once upon a time” y termina con el correspondiente “happily ever after.” En realidad empieza un poco antes, invitándonos a observarnos desde lo alto, a vista de pájaro. Desde esa perspectiva nosotros, que nos creemos tan únicos e importantes, no somos sino pequeñas figuras apenas distinguibles unas de otras, persiguiendo las agujas del reloj, empeñados en tareas insignificantes. También termina un poco después, porque vivir felices para siempre no es suficiente si no hemos aprendido algo por el camino.
Este brevísimo volumen ilustrado se podría definir, siendo tan parco en palabras como la propia Tokarczuk —apenas cuatro páginas de la cuarenta y dos con las que cuenta contienen texto—, como una reflexión sobre el valor de la paciencia. The Lost Soul es el cuento de un hombre que, entre las prisas y el estrés de su vida diaria, termina por dejar su alma atrás. Aunque, ¿qué problema hay con perder el alma, cuando la mayoría de nosotros ni siquiera creemos que exista tal cosa?
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 exercise book, entirely covered in evenly spaced squares.
Pero sea lo que sea el alma, no se puede vivir sin una por demasiado tiempo, así que un día el hombre sufre un ataque de pánico en una de esas anónimas habitaciones de hotel en las que pasa buena parte de su vida y decide que no puede seguir así. Como siempre nos sucede, es tarde para encontrar una solución sencilla: su alma quedó atrás hace tanto que es imposible que vuelva a encontrarla. Probablemente ni siquiera sería capaz de reconocerla. Ahora no le queda otra solución que armarse de paciencia y sencillamente esperar a que sea su alma quien le encuentre a él.
A partir de ahí Tokarczuk cede la “palabra” a Joanna Concejo y la historia se desarrolla a través una serie de evocadoras imágenes, dibujadas en las páginas de un cuaderno cuadriculado. La semilla plantada por la escritora florece poco a poco de la mano de la ilustradora.
Para ser justos, aunque la idea original de The Lost Soul fuera de Tokarczuk —que la tuvo durante años en su ordenador sin saber cómo terminarla—, el resultado final le debe más a Concejo. No solo porque sus hermosas y melancólicas ilustraciones dicen más que el texto; fue ella quien ideó los símbolos que representan al alma del hombre o su crecimiento emocional mientras espera, que para mí son el mayor atractivo del cuento.
Además de reproducir perfectamente el espíritu del relato, las ilustraciones de Concejo tienen el poder de transmitir paz y calma —casi me atrevería a decir que pueden curar. Uno puede observarlas hasta perder la noción del tiempo, descubriendo detalles y perdiéndose en ellos.
Olga Tokarczuk opina que el libro ilustrado es una “forma única de comunicación. El lenguaje debe limitarse lo que es absolutamente esencial. Es la ilustración la que hace avanzar la historia. Para mí es una manera poderosa, primigenia de contra una historia que es capaz de llegar a cualquiera, sin importar la edad, las diferencias culturales o la educación.”
Puede que las ilustraciones sobrias y de estética retro de Concejo hagan de The Lost Soul un libro más atractivo para los adultos que para los más más pequeños. En todo caso, es un título que los más mayores leerán con asombro infantil.
“El mundo en los dibujos de Joanna aparece tal como era hace unas pocas décadas, lo que es una clara referencia a la infancia de aquellos que ahora son adultos,” afirma Tokarczuk. “Es sorprendente como de tranquilizador y catártico puede ser sumergirse en el mundo de tu propia infancia.”
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 илюст��ациите 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 илюст��ациите 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..."
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.
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 5, 2023
#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.
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❤
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!!
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?
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.
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.
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...
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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.
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/
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.
October 2, 2022
Olga Tokarczuk toma un tema muy manido (vivimos demasiado deprisa y uy qué malo es eso para nuestras almas) y lo vuelve a hacer interesante con este pequeño cuento. Pero lo que es realmente hermoso de este volumen son las ilustraciones de Joanna Concejo. De veras, parad un poco y saboreadlas despacio.
Olga Tokarczuk takes an overused topic (how fast we live and oh how sick that makes our souls) and makes it interesting again. But what's really beautiful in this book are Joanna Concejo's illustrations. Do slow down a little to savour them.
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Olga Tokarczuk takes an overused topic (how fast we live and oh how sick that makes our souls) and makes it interesting again. But what's really beautiful in this book are Joanna Concejo's illustrations. Do slow down a little to savour them.
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June 12, 2022
Добавям тази красива книга в колекцията си от 'мълчаливи' и медитативни книги.
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