The Tortoise's Tale: A Novel - Rilegato

Coulter, Kendra

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 1668068621 ISBN 13: 9781668068625

Casa editrice: Simon & Schuster, 2025

Riassunto

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.

Su questo libro

Informazioni sull'autore

Kendra Coulter earned her PhD at the University of Toronto and is a professor at Huron University College at Western University, where she leads the world’s first major in animal ethics and sustainability leadership. She is a fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics in England and the author of Defending Animals: Finding Hope on the Front Lines of Animal Protection. The Tortoise’s Tale is her first novel.

Estratto. © Ristampato con autorizzazione. Tutti i diritti riservati.

1. Steadfast Steadfast
I MISS MUSIC. By no means do I enjoy all of it, let me be perfectly clear about that. But I am something of a musical connoisseur, a nuanced appreciator of your most evocative and rhythmic songs, the uplifting as well as the mournful. Tchaikovsky. Nina Simone. Phil Collins. Shania Twain. Beyoncé. In fact, I have known talented artists personally and been a cherished muse. Sometimes, I imagine that one of them has returned and is singing by the pool as I stand nearby in rapt solidarity and the redbuds glimmer in the moonlight.

Every now and then I feel the ground rumble and think someone is outside. A courageous leader seeking refuge. A compassionate visionary with inspiring plans. A new friend with whom to share a sweet slice of mango as the irrepressible spirit of wonder gently twists around the sharpest points of the cactuses, undaunted.

No visitors arrive. The gates remain closed and the walls solid. I checked them after the smoke finally dissipated and the sky shone again.

Then yesterday, a red-winged blackbird landed on a branch nearby, and we locked eyes, utterly mesmerized by the sight of another living being. This morning, a pair of blue jays appeared and proceeded to study the place from every angle while I stared, entranced. I want to believe that they are harbingers. Though the vastness of the silence drapes heavily around me, the soft breeze from feathered wings invites a dance of possibility.

You see, I have been given different names: Daisuke, Magic, Shelley, Sara, Zaagi’, Fern. Each one is special in its own way. This is my story, but it is not simply about me. Perhaps I am a prism.

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Simon & Schuster
• Data di pubblicazione: 2025
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1668068621
• ISBN 13: 9781668068625
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 256
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: Simon and Schuster Netherlands BV, GPSR Europäische Union; info@simonandschuster.nl; ; Herculesplein 96; Utrecht; 3584 AA; Paesi Bassi