As The Crow Flies

As the Crow Flies is a collection of short stories by Véronique Tadjo, winner of the 2022 Los Angeles Times Book Award. It tells the stories of nameless and faceless characters, weaving together tales of parting and return, losing and gaining, suffering and healing, creating a lyrical and moving portrait of the interconnectedness of human life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Véronique Tadjo's As the Crow Flies is a captivating collection of short stories that explores the interconnectedness of human life through a mosaic of 20th-century life. Writing in exquisite, poetic prose, Tadjo weaves together a rich tapestry of characters – all nameless and faceless – as they tell their stories of parting and return, losing and gaining, suffering and healing. Like a bird in flight, Tadjo travels across a borderless landscape composed of tales of daily existence, news reports, allegories, and ancestral myths, creating a lyrical and moving portrait of the interconnectedness of human life.

The book has received critical acclaim, including the 2022 Los Angeles Times Book Award. Reviewers have praised Tadjo's ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences in a way that is both profound and relatable.

One of the key themes of As the Crow Flies is the idea of home. Tadjo explores the concept of home as a physical place, a mental state, and a sense of belonging. She shows how people can be displaced from their homes due to war, poverty, or other circumstances, and how they struggle to find a new sense of belonging in a new place.

Another theme of the book is the power of storytelling. Tadjo believes that storytelling is a powerful tool for healing and transformation. She uses storytelling to explore the experiences of her characters and to help them find a way to move forward.

Tadjo's writing is characterized by its vivid imagery and its ability to evoke emotion. She uses descriptive language to create a sense of place and to bring her characters to life. She also uses metaphor and symbolism to convey deeper meanings and to create a sense of mystery.

As the Crow Flies is a book that will appeal to readers of all ages and backgrounds. It is a book that will make you think and feel, and that will leave you with a sense of hope and inspiration.

In conclusion, Véronique Tadjo's As the Crow Flies is a captivating collection of short stories that explores the interconnectedness of human life through a mosaic of 20th-century life. Writing in exquisite, poetic prose, Tadjo weaves together a rich tapestry of characters – all nameless and faceless – as they tell their stories of parting and return, losing and gaining, suffering and healing. The book has received critical acclaim, and it is a book that will appeal to readers of all ages and backgrounds.

Weight: 100g
Dimension: 200 x 130 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781035906178