Just like it says in the headline. If you aren’t familiar, you could read any or all of these:
The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht
The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht Part One
The Tigers Wife by Tea Obreht Part Two
The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht Part Three
Interview with Tea Obreht
Here’s part of what the Orange Prize Site has to say:
Bettany Hughes, Chair of Judges, said: “‘The Tiger’s Wife is an exceptional book and Téa Obreht is a truly exciting new talent. Obreht’s powers of observation and her understanding of the world are remarkable. By skillfully spinning a series of magical tales she has managed to bring the tragedy of chronic Balkan conflict thumping into our front rooms with a bittersweet vivacity.”
She continues, “The book reminds us how easily we can slip into barbarity, but also of the breadth and depth of human love. Obreht celebrates storytelling and she helps us to remember that it is the stories that we tell about ourselves, and about others, that can make us who we are and the world what it is.”
Dear Jason,
I want to thank you so much for this whole series on The Tiger’s Wife. I was cautious because of all the hype, then stunned by the story telling, then left unsure by the end of the book how to even explain to myself whether I loved it, liked it or didn’t care. For me it was not an easy read. But your mention of Pamuk, Mafouz, and Kasantzakis made me place the novel in its correct context. All of those authors have stunned and bored me, while inducing lovely long naps. It is a culturally different type of storytelling which ultimately puts the reader into the minds and hearts of peoples that are so not American and opens a whole world of strangeness and wonder.
Honestly I don’t know how I got along as a reader or reviewer before I started reading your blog.
Dennis should get the bulk of the credit for his fine reviews and his interview with Tea Obreht. He’s really driven the coverage on this book from an early date. Kudos to him, and thank you for reading.