Silk worm dreams

Josefin, aged 9, lives with her mother, Anemone, in Amsterdam, in the quiet space between the busy city and the equally busy harbour. When Anemone is not at work as a waitress in the restaurant, she and Josefin pass time reading books from the library – especially poems by their favourite, the old Chinese poet Li Po. One early morning in spring, Josefin wakes up to find the garden outside their house strangely changed. And there, in the far end of the garden, is Li Po, as large as life, of flesh and blood. He has come to live with them. Very soon, and in the most natural manner, the 1000 years old poet and the nine-year-old girl develop a close friendship, allowing them to explore the area, and to venture into a wide range of adventures, including caring for a huge, orange bird, and a companionship with a group of grafitti artists that are strong admirers of Li Po’s Chinese writings on the walls.

Adopting a technique of magical realism, and an exceptionally strong visualization in her text, the author creates a picture of Josefin and Li Po’s life together that is absolutely factual, inviting the reader to accept their friendship as something very real. There is nothing fable-like or inventive about this – you have to take the story at face value. The original and powerful text, quivering with the resonance of one thousand year old poems, allows the reader to take part in a thoroughly poetic way of considering the world. Add to this a brisk wittiness and a warm affection between the mother and daughter and their unexpected guest, and Silk Worm Dreams is a real treat to any reader between 6 and 106.