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The Elephant's Journey
The Elephant's Journey | Jos Saramago
7 posts | 13 read | 10 to read
A delightful, witty tale of friendship and adventure from prize-winning novelist Jos Saramago In 1551, King Joo III of Portugal gave Archduke Maximilian an unusual wedding present: an elephant named Solomon. In Jos Saramago's remarkable and imaginative retelling, Solomon and his keeper, Subhro, begin in dismal conditions, forgotten in a corner of the palace grounds. When it occurs to the king and queen that an elephant would be an appropriate wedding gift, everyone rushes to get them ready: Subhro is given two new suits of clothes and Solomon a long overdue scrub. Accompanied by the Archduke, his new wife, and the royal guard, these unlikely heroes traverse a continent riven by the Reformation and civil wars, witnessed along the way by scholars, historians, and wide-eyed ordinary people as they make their way through the storied cities of northern Italy; they brave the Alps and the terrifying Isarco and Brenner Passes; across the Mediterranean Sea and up the Inn River; and at last, toward their grand entry into the imperial city.
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Henrik_Madsen
Elephant's Journey | Jos Saramago
Pickpick

When the king of Portugal decides to give his brother in law an elephant all kinds of things happen. An expedition sets out and it has to deal with both politics and the very practical problems in travelling with an elephant. It is a great piece of storytelling in typical Saramago style but it feels lighter - in a good way. Definitely a pick.

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Julsmarshall
Elephant's Journey | Jos Saramago
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1. Elephant
2. Apatosaurus
3. Not really, only one particularly disgusting beetle type bug who must not be named. But I don‘t consider them an animal, they are an abomination.
4. My Patronus was an otter, I‘ll go with that!
5. An elephant 🐘
#hellothursday @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Thanks for playing! 😀 6y
38 likes1 comment
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TCLinrow
The Elephant's Journey | Jos Saramago
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Pickpick

The punctuation (or at least the lack of it) in this book bothered me a bit, but it didn't stop this from being an amazing story. I loved the historical context and facts that Saramago included, and Solomon ❤ just a truly beautiful story 😊❤🧡💛

#BackpackEurope

RadicalReader @TCLinrow love your bio “ from a land of fairies and legends” the land of perfection in my boo 6y
TCLinrow @RadicalReader thank you 😊 it seemed appropriate because of all the myths, legends and fairy tales we have... And because I love all the folklore things 😂 6y
Briget66 Ooo looks good! 6y
Henrik_Madsen Just starting this - and your review was a nice way to do so. 👍 5y
105 likes1 stack add4 comments
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TCLinrow
The Elephant's Journey | Jos Saramago
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#Friyayintro @jesshowbooks
1. New payment system at work... that doesn't work properly!!! 😤😡🤬
2. My friend's baby shower ❤🧡💛
3. Cray-on 🖍
4. Tagged 😊
5. You heard 'em littens 😘🤗💙

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karenna
The Elephant's Journey | Jos Saramago
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Pickpick

I confess that I bought this book mostly on the basis of the title and cover (with a small consideration given to the fact that the author, of whom I knew nothing, won the Nobel). I found it delightful. If you enjoy wry humor, especially directed towards imperialism and religious hypocrisy, then this is a good choice. Note: Saramago, or the translator, does not always employ standard punctuation, so it takes a little while to adjust.

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aloslibrary
Elephant's Journey | Jos Saramago
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I just received this a gorgeous gift from @JacintaMCarter for our #LitValentinesDay #WeTotesLoveValentinesDay exchange. Thank you so much Jacinta, I really love everything! You have made my weekend, I‘ll be using my new refills ASAP. 😁 Thank you as always to @Robothugs for organizing all the fun. 📚 #litsylove 💜 #hufflepuff

Robothugs So awesome! 😄 7y
39 likes1 comment
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Aninski
Elephant's Journey | Jos Saramago
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I missed yesterday's #riotgrams! My favourite bookish thing is this book loving elephant who lives in our bookshelves. My boyfriend convinced me that he was a bit too expensive when I first saw him, but then bought it for me as a birthday gift ❤