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Bottom of the pile
8
/100
I Index Overall Rating
Readers
13/100Critics
4/100Scholars
Author:
Sylvain Tesson, Frank Wynne
Publisher:
Penguin Press
Date:
July 13, 2021
In this winner of France's 2019 Prix Renaudot, adventurer Tesson visits the mountains of Tibet in search of the famously elusive snow leopard. For the chance to glimpse this near mythical beast, Tesson and his companions must wait for hours without making a sound or a movement, enduring the thin air and brutal cold. Their vigil becomes an act of faith, which Tesson explores in all its peculiar dimensions.
What The Reviewers Say
... ably translated by Frank Wynne.
Tesson writes in an almost stream-of-consciousness style to capture his observations, jumping from Buddhist tenets about life as suffering to the Finnish concept of sisu, or gritty determination, to teachings from the Bhagavad Gita about avoiding anticipation or expectation. Exceptionally well translated by Wynne, Tesson’s latest is part travelogue, part philosophical treatise, and part meditation on patience, a thoughtful read as we venture back into the larger world and seek new adventures..
Tesson writes—in snippets, rather than chapters—beautiful observations about the scenery, spiritual insights, and humanity in poetical bursts. While the book's subtitle suggests that the snow leopard features prominently, only a small portion of the work focuses on the animal. Readers drawn to lyrical yet adventurous narratives will enjoy this one. Tesson's deep thoughts are softened by his jokes, but some of the humor or asides might not resonate with an American audience (European readers would probably have a better understanding of the context). The story's heavy reliance on Buddhism and Taoism to ponder nature and patience might also divide some readers..
The narrative builds slowly—it is, after all, mostly about waiting—though the lyricism helps pass the time while waiting for the leopard to show up. Occasionally, the author's aphorisms strike as melodramatic.
