The Tortoise's Tale
A Novel
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- 129,00 kr
Publisher Description
A century of American history unfolds through the eyes of a giant tortoise with a heightened awareness for live music, the location of edible flowers, and the nuances of human behavior in this spellbinding debut novel.
Snatched from her ancestral lands, a giant tortoise finds herself in an exclusive estate in southern California where she becomes an astute observer of societal change. Her journey is one of discovery, as she learns to embrace the music of jazz and the warmth of human connection.
The tortoise’s story is enriched by her bond with Takeo, the estate’s gardener, who sees her as a being with thoughts and feelings, not just a creature to be observed. The tortoise’s mind and heart are further expanded by Lucy, a young girl who names the tortoise Magic and shares a friendship that transcends species. Together, they witness the estate’s transformation into a haven for industry titans, politicians, and rock stars, each leaving their mark on the world and on Magic’s heart.
The tortoise embraces her role as a muse with gusto and witnesses how diverse human harmonies and the mighty winds of social change both uplift people and tear them apart. Over the course of her lifetime, the estate changes ownership, bringing raucous Hollywood parties, and animals both familiar and unexpected. There are also threats, as the estate’s idyll is not immune to the ravages of a damaged planet. Through each era, the tortoise remains a refreshingly honest and endearing narrator whose unique vantage point illuminates the transcendent power of compassion, the unexpected connections that shape how we see ourselves and each other, and the wide-reaching effects of choice—or the lack thereof.
The Tortoise’s Tale is a whimsical yet profound exploration of humanity’s entangled journey, a call to recognize the interconnectedness of all life, and the potential for healing. Kendra Coulter’s debut novel is a moving portrait of resilience and hope, perfect for fans of Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A giant tortoise pursues an interest in people and human creativity over the course of a century in Coulter's charming debut. Captured as a hatchling, the tortoise, who narrates, is sold to the wealthy owner of a massive Southern California estate, where she joins a menagerie that over time includes a monkey, a peacock, and a donkey-zebra hybrid. After keeping to herself for many years, the tortoise is drawn to the family who owns the estate by the entrancing sounds of jazz during a party in the 1950s. She befriends Lucy, the young niece of the estate's owner, who names her "Magic." While sitting in on Lucy and her brother's lessons with their tutor, Mr. Williams, Magic learns about geography. She longs to be able to speak like Lucy does, while Lucy is disappointed when Mr. Williams is unable to say where in the world Magic came from. As the decades pass, Lucy remains Magic's dearest friend. Meanwhile, the estate's next owner allows his gay lover to transform it into a retreat for famous musicians such as Nina Simone. Throughout, Coulter evokes the creature's wonder and curiosity, as the tortoise falls in love with music and gets to know how people tick ("You can learn a lot about people by considering what stories they want to tell"). Readers are in for a treat.
