Author: Galsan Tschinag
Translator: Katharina Rout
Genre: Historical Fiction
First Published August 1, 1997
Book description: In the Altai Mountains of northern Mongolia, the nomadic Tuvan people’s ancient way of life is colliding with the pervasive influence of modernity. For the young shepherd boy Dshurukuwaa, the confrontation comes in stages. First his older siblings leave the family yurt to attend a distant boarding school, followed by the death of his beloved grandmother and with it, the connection to the tribe’s traditions and deep relationship to the land. But the greatest tragedy strikes when his dog — “all that was left to me” — dies after ingesting poison set out by the boy’s father to protect the herd from wolves. His despairing questions to the Heavenly Blue Sky are answered only by the silence of the wind.
The first and only member of the Tuvans to use written language to tell stories, Galsan Tschinag chronicles their traditions in this fascinating, bittersweet novel.
Review:
I recently read an incredible autobiographical novel set in Mongolia in the late 1940s/early 1950s. The story is told through the eyes of the author, who was a small child at the time and grew up within a family of steppe herdsmen. It's the first in a trilogy, but unfortunately, only the first two parts have been translated into English. Despite this, the book was a captivating and immersive read, transporting me to a time and place I knew little about. The author's descriptions of the landscape and traditions of the nomadic people were vivid and detailed, and I found myself completely absorbed in the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique and engaging read.
The read was quite evocative, but it didn't come across as sentimental. The author's family had a tough life, especially since Mongolia was a Soviet satellite during that era. As the author grew up, he began to notice how the communist government was impacting his family's age-old traditions. His father's name was Shynykbai, with the inherited suffix bai which hinted at the family's former wealth and status. However, such ancestry was quite dangerous, and an insult like "kulak" could prove to be fatal. Despite this, I think the author did a good job of showing the lack of understanding that a small child may have. I wouldn't say that the book was a masterpiece, but it was quite readable. The last third of the book was especially dramatic and kept me hooked. I will read the next one in the series.
This was used for the challenges:
Around the world: the author was Mongolian
Translated works
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