The White Bone

Rating:
Summary: Elephant Epic
Review: One way of looking at "The White Bone" is to think of as following the conventions of much of the best of epic fantasy. A threatened race, dependant on the hope of a youth born with superior powers, destined to find a sacred artifact that will lead her people from the monsters that prey on them, through turmoil and hardship to a promised land, encountering fascinating creatures along the way. However, "The White Bone" is not fantasy -it's a harrowing, tragic and dramatic story - and it's real. The characters may be made up, and certain plot points (like the sacred object: the fabled White Bone of the title) but the basics are true. The threatened race is the elephant race, the monsters that prey on them are human poachers, the journey the group treks on is through Africa, and the creatures they encounter are mongooses, rhinoceroses, ostritches, etc.

The heroine in the book, and one of the great heroines in all the field of novels, is Mud, a young elephant orphaned at birth. The elephants have their own religion, their own worldview, their own stories handed down through the generations. Through the book we also get briefer glimpses of the worldviews of other species. The worldviews of the enigmatic hindleggers (the elephants's term for humans) is unknown; for, although each group of elephants has a mind-talker who can communicate telepathically with most creatures, thus learning of their perceptions of the world and their thoughts and feelings, to share with the other elephants, the minds of humans are unreadable. The mind-talkers hear from certain other animals they can't communicate with only what is described as a 'faint chiming'; from humans though comes a hideous absolute silence that can be deeply traumatic to encounter. The mind-talker in the main group of elephants is Date Bed, a shy younger elephant who clings to Mud. These two, along with the bull elephant Tall Time, comprise the three central characters of the story.

It's hard to say how much of the elephant culture and worldview depicted in the novel paralells the minds of real elephants, but it's likely alot closer than the traditional scientific view (now thankfully being abandoned in whole or in part by many scientists) of elephants and all non-human creatures as basically automatons driven solely by biological instinct and completely or virtually devoid of thought or emotion. Whatever the case may be, this involving, vividly written, detailed and character-driven epic gives fascinating glimpses at how other lifeforms may view things; and a disturbing look at how humanity does indeed conduct itself amongst its fellow species.

Rating:
Summary: Well-written but painful and unpleasant
Review: "The White Bone" is a prime example of a book that is extremely well-written, but nevertheless unsatisfying.

There is no denying Barbara Gowdy's talent in evoking the world of elephants, their mythology, and their emotions.

At the same time, the book is less of a quest-based plot than a series of episodes, with mixed in flashbacks. As a result, there isn't a feeling of build-up toward a natural climax. Instead, there is a gradual erosion of the herd through death, disease, and separation.

This book has been often compared to "Watership Down." It's not a particularly apt comparison. "Watership Down" is more of a classic adventure story, with more anthromorphized animal characters. "The White Bone," on the other hand, is probably a more realistic description of elephants as they think, and not as they would think if they were humans. Perhaps it's characteristic of my taste in books, but while I've read "Watership Down" numerous times, I don't see myself rereading "The White Bone." That's not to say it's not a good book, but it's certainly not pleasant.

Rating:
Summary: Profound
Review: A profound and inventive book. Gowdy's choice of speaking to the human condition through the medium of an extended family of elephants is unusual, to say the least, but ultimately rewarding. A challanging but deeply satisfying read. In my opinion, this is Gowdy at her best.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Unsettling
Review: Barbara Gowdy never ceases to amaze me. Having read her previous books, I did not believe that she could spin such another different tale. Her agility in presenting such an immense topic astounds me.
From the opening pages the reader becomes engrossed in an entire world of elephants that Gowdy spins with incredible dexterity. The elephants are graceful, powerful, but still susceptible to loss and defeat. The descriptions of the animals leave the reader breathless as they embark on the journey for a myth that becomes reality. An epic story that stirs the heart. The fact that Gowdy is capable of creating new words and phrases brings the reader further into the world of the magnificent creatures. It is virtually impossible to not become amazed by the perceptions that Gowdy presents through the characters. The break-down of the different groups is reflective of the societal break down of the human world.
An intense work that is a dazzling commentary on the roles of individuals in a society, shown through a unique perspective.

Rating:
Summary: imagintive but slow
Review: I was blown away by the description that Gowdy used to describe the life of an elephant. You rarely find a book that gives you the perspective of the animal without it seeming like a human in an animal's body. Although the book was fascinating, the plot didn't stand. As an another reviewer said all the elephants seemed to do was eat, sleep, dig for water, and lament over their dead. Excellent read if you're looking for a unique view but a dull plot,

Rating:
Summary: Shame About the Plot....
Review: I've enjoyed all the other novels of Ms Gowdy that I have read so it was with real anticipation that I approached this volume. The reviews for it in Australia where all positive...the jacket blurbs on the Australian edition where overwhelming in their praise. BUT I was sorely disappointed when I finished reading. There is no denying that Barbara Gowdy is a fine writer and she has obviously spent a great deal of time on painstaking research into elephant society. She has spent an equal amount of time fictionalising this research into a fashion that 'humans' can comprehend. It's just a pity she didn't spend as much time developing a plot. The novel is an episodic and fractured narrative that is sometimes difficult to follow. I suppose this could be seen as the whole point though...Gowdy does seem to be saying that this is how elephants perceive the world: through episodes of memory and dreamlike states. This seems to be a classic case of 'good writing, bad story'.

Having said all this Gowdy should be applauded for taking such a dramatic departure from her usual milieu and style. It takes courage to take on a task such as 'The White Bone'.

Rating:
Summary: A story about elephants...well done
Review: I've read a few reviews in which the readers were disappointed by the lack of plot in the book. I say, "bah humbug!" Please remember, people that this book is about and written from the point of view of elephants. No, there is no "boy meets girl, boy kills girl," or "husband dies of cancer and oh no what do I do?..." plots here. The plot of the story is getting to THE SAFE PLACE. These elephants want to make it to a safe place. They don't want to go through these awful butcherings of their kind any longer. They want to feel SAFE...that is the plot and as far as elephants go, I think that is a pretty good plot!!! Barbara Gowdy does a fantastic job of describing these elephant "characters" in somewhat humanistic terms so that, we, the HUMAN readers can understand them. She does this quite subtely, actually, seeing as how she could have completely gone anthropomorphic on us and made this into some goofy Disney-like elephant freak show.

I really can't imagine the research and empathy that went into this on the author's part. The animals (all of them...not just the elephants) are so interesting and individual. The trials they go through are so intricately depicted. You actually live on this African desertland with these animals and can feel the fear, love, hope they feel (and I am one of those people who believes animals feel certain pangs of love, hope, etc. in their own way).

All in all, I thought the book was good. It was not the easiest read, and it's not for everyone; it's not something you can plow through. I probably wouldn't recommend it to people who are into those "Oprah" books. If you have a really deep reverence for animals, and want to read 300 pages about elephants, this book could be for you (as I said, "it's not for everyone").

Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully imaginative novel
Review: Initially, I stayed away from reading this novel as any reviews I came upon described it in a most uninteresting fashion.

When I finally picked up the novel, I heaved a sigh. Another book introduced with family trees (this one for elephant clans), as well as a map and a glossary of terms. But upon reading, I found that the charts and glossary were merely assistive tools, and certainly not mandatory for enjoying this thoroughly imaginative book.

I was constantly struck by Gowdy's ability to paint the world of the elephant, through their eyes. Their search for a Safe Place, where humans do not slaughter them or their famiily for their heads, tusks, or feet.

Gowdy creates a wonderfully imaginative read in looking at the elephant's existence through their eyes, so rich in memory, mysticism and spirituality, but also full of sorrow. I found myself to be incredibly moved by the mourning rituals that Gowdy described.

Don't be put off by the subject matter. If nothing else, this is worth reading if only to see a writer at the peak of their craft. I am awed by Gowdy's ability to use extensive research to create a novel that is creative, interesting, touching and meaningful.

Does the ending disappoint? No, not when you consider that happy endings should not be expected in a world where one's reality is that of being pursued and hunted down.

This novel is a creative, imaginative journey, and I loved every second of it. I highly recommend taking this adventure.

Rating:
Summary: Strangely Disappointed
Review: Perhaps it was because I had been expecting more from this book {a bad idea, I know} but after reading this I felt let down. It was well written, but I just never felt myself really connecting with the characters. Now for the inevitable comparison . . . I loved `Watership Down'. I wanted to know more about what happened, if and how they would survive and so on. With `White Bone', I just did not find myself caring.
Overall, it's worth reading . . . maybe.

Rating:
Summary: MOVING, SAD -- AND BEAUTIFUL
Review: The key, I think, to understanding and enjoying this wonderful novel lies in the quote from author Joy Williams that appears on the back cover: 'This sorrowful novel does holy work because it engages us in that holiest of acts - empathy'. Rarely have I come across a creation as beautiful as this book - or as sad. The reviewers below who take issue with the 'lack of plot' and the mourning that seems to occur on every other page should stop for just a moment and think about the world in which elephants live - a world that has seemingly focused itself on their destruction as a species, all for the prize of their ivory tusks. There are laws in place today to make an attempt to stem this slaughter - but poaching remains a constant threat, and more aggressive steps are obviously needed to save these gentle creatures.

The world that Barbara Gowdy has imagined in this book is not one that leaps merely from her imagination - a look at her acknowledgements at the end of the novel will reveal this. She has definitely done her homework, and her work here has its roots in science and reality - which makes the scope of her creation all the more amazing. She has brought to life not just the surface of the elephants' lives - she has envisioned and made very real the structures of their society, their thought processes, the various methods with which they communicate (both with each other and with members of other species), and even a vast system of mythology, embodying legends, 'links' (omens, signs and folk wisdom), a vast knowledge of their natural world, and even the concept of a creative deity. This might sound like quite a feat for the author to pull off - and it is, but she does so with breathtaking success.

The society of elephants is a matriarchal one - the females are the leaders and seem to be more plentiful. The central character of the story - a young cow named Mud - is seen to go through the changes that life brings about to all species. She is born, orphaned, adopted by another family group, and grows into adolescence and adulthood over the course of the story. Her understanding and concept of the world around her grows and changes as her life progresses and takes shape - altered both physically and emotionally by her experiences. She is a visionary - an elephant within the family group who is sometimes gifted with visions of occurrences in other places and times. These events sometimes lie in the near or far future, sometimes in the present, and sometimes in the past. There is also (usually) present within each family group a member gifted with 'mind talking' - able to communicate without sound with the other group members and with other species. When a mind talker or a visionary - or a fine-scenter or a tracker, or other specifically talented member - dies or is killed, the gift is passed on to another individual.

The story is not, as at least one other reviewer has indicated, plotless. It involves the elephants' constant struggle for survival in a world where 'hindleggers' (humans) are continuously a threat, slaughtering them mercilessly and in whatever numbers they can manage. Their treatment is brutal - if you think that elephants in a circus are treated without respect, imagine them being hunted by jeeps and helicopters and slaughtered in the wild - with absolutely no discrimination as to age and size - and then cut apart by chain saws and axes, often before they are dead, in order to 'harvest' their tusks, tails, feet and sometimes heads. It's gruesome and horrifying - but it happens.

Gowdy's story brings this horrific treatment to life for the reader - but she also gives us a moving portrait of some of the most gentle, non-aggressive creatures on the planet. Individuals are imbued with a distinct personality - it's as easy to get to know them as human characters in other well-crafted fiction. The above-mentioned empathy that the novel invokes is, again, the key here. I was drawn into this book almost immediately when I started reading it - I was afraid at first that the name structure would be a high hurdle, but the vivid personality differences (and the appropriately given names) aided greatly in clearing it. This book wound up being one of the most moving experiences I've had with fiction in quite some time - there's a lot of sorrow and sadness here, but there is an amazing beauty to be found as well as joy and hope.