By Gustavus Duif
Blue Macaw Books, 600 pages
Translated as “In Search of Lost Bread,” Duif’s lengthy novel tells the tale of an unnamed Pigeon’s journey home across the entire North American continent.
Having flown a great distance on a mission direct by Humans, our protagonist finds himself feeling lost and alone. During the course of his return expedition, his memory of past times and “lost bread” is evoked by a random series of sights, sounds, and smells. As he remembers more and more about his journey, the “truth” and “purity” of his experiences in flight become clear to him and his place in the world seems more secure. The lost Pigeon, like the lost bread, is found again in the beauty of flight and in the experience of returning home.
While À la recherche du pain perdu is not a suitable novel for novices, experienced readers of all species will find that it has much to commend it.
© The Mammalian Daily
Reprinted with permission from Issue 111, Summer 24 AZ
