“Swallowing Geography” is a novel by Deborah Levy that follows the journey of the protagonist, J.K, as she travels across the world in search of a place to call home. The story is not only a physical journey but also a metaphorical one that explores the themes of identity, displacement, and the search for meaning in life.
The novel takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of various locations, from Istanbul to Amsterdam, from Africa to South America, as J.K tries to escape her mundane life and find a sense of belonging. Along the way, she encounters a cast of characters, including a photographer, a mysterious woman in black, and a group of nuns, all of whom leave an indelible mark on her journey.
Through J.K’s travels, Levy explores the notion of travel as a form of self-discovery, as well as the complexities of cultural exchange and assimilation. The novel’s prose is vivid and poetic, immersing the reader in the sights, sounds, and smells of each location. It’s a thought-provoking and captivating read that will inspire wanderlust in even the most homebound reader.
This novel is a surreal and experimental work of fiction that explores themes of travel, displacement, and identity. Here are some travel-related lessons that can be gleaned from the novel:
Travel can be a means of escape, but it doesn’t always solve our problems.
The novel’s protagonist, J.K., is a woman who embarks on a journey across Europe in an attempt to escape her troubled past and find a new sense of purpose. However, as she travels from country to country and encounters various people and situations, she realizes that her problems are not so easily left behind. As J.K. reflects:
“I had traveled so far from my troubles, but they were sitting beside me, like two people on a bench, waiting for the bus to take them somewhere else”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to gain perspective and distance oneself from problems, but it is not always a complete solution.
Travel can be a way to explore different aspects of oneself.
Throughout the novel, J.K. undergoes various transformations and adopts different identities as she travels through different countries. She becomes a nun in Spain, a communist in Hungary, and a prostitute in Italy, among other things. Through these experiences, she discovers new aspects of herself and comes to question her own identity. As J.K. muses:
“I began to realize that I was made up of many different people, and that they were all me”
This suggests that travel can be a way to explore different parts of oneself and gain a deeper understanding of one’s own identity.
Travel can be a way to connect with others and build meaningful relationships.
As J.K. travels through Europe, she meets a variety of people, from fellow travelers to locals. While some of these encounters are fleeting and superficial, others lead to more meaningful connections. For example, J.K. befriends a young German woman named Lena, who becomes a close companion and confidante. As J.K. reflects on their relationship:
“Lena and I were more than friends, we were traveling companions, and that was something different”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to form deep connections with others, particularly when shared experiences and challenges are involved.
travel can be a way to confront one’s fears and insecurities.
Throughout her journey, J.K. is haunted by a sense of unease and uncertainty, which is reflected in the surreal and dreamlike quality of the novel. However, as she continues to travel and face various challenges, she becomes more resilient and self-assured. As J.K. observes:
“I had always been afraid of the world, but now I was no longer afraid of myself”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to confront and overcome our own fears and insecurities, and to develop a greater sense of confidence and self-awareness.
Additionally, “Swallowing Geography” highlights the importance of being open to new experiences and perspectives while traveling. J.K. encounters a range of different people and cultures on her journey, some of whom challenge her assumptions and preconceptions. For example, in Hungary, she meets a group of communist students who challenge her capitalist worldview, and in Italy, she befriends a group of prostitutes who challenge her ideas about sexuality and gender. Through these encounters, J.K. learns to be more open-minded and receptive to new ideas. As she reflects:
“Traveling was like being reborn into a new world, a world where everything was different and anything was possible”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to broaden our horizons and expand our understanding of the world.
travel can also involve a sense of loss and dislocation.
J.K. is constantly on the move, and as a result, she is never fully rooted in one place or community. This sense of dislocation is reflected in the novel’s fragmented and disjointed narrative structure. As J.K. reflects:
“I was a traveler, a person without a home, without a family, without a past or a future” .
This suggests that travel can be a way to escape one’s problems, but it can also result in a sense of isolation and detachment from the world. Additionally, J.K. experiences a sense of loss as she moves from place to place, leaving behind people and experiences that she may never see again. This sense of impermanence and transience is a recurring theme throughout the novel, and it highlights the bittersweet nature of travel.
travel can be a way to challenge conventional notions of identity and belonging.
J.K.’s journey takes her across national and cultural borders, and she encounters a range of different people who challenge her assumptions about race, gender, and sexuality. For example, in Spain, she meets a group of nuns who are also radical feminists, and in Italy, she befriends a transgender prostitute named Zoltan. Through these encounters, J.K. begins to question the social and cultural norms that have shaped her worldview. As she reflects:
“I was beginning to see that the world was full of people who didn’t fit into neat categories, people who defied easy explanation or understanding”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to challenge our preconceptions and expand our understanding of what it means to be human. By encountering different cultures and perspectives, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity and complexity of the world around us.
travel can also involve a search for meaning and purpose.
J.K. embarks on her journey in search of a sense of purpose and direction in her life. As she reflects:
“I was searching for something, although I didn’t know what it was. A sense of purpose, perhaps, or a direction in life. Something to give meaning to my existence”.
Through her travels, J.K. begins to discover new passions and interests, and she begins to develop a clearer sense of who she is and what she wants from life. This suggests that travel can be a way to explore our own identities and aspirations, and to gain a greater sense of clarity and purpose in our lives.
Furthermore, “Swallowing Geography” emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment and embracing the beauty of the world around us. J.K. often finds herself captivated by the simple pleasures of her surroundings, such as the taste of fresh fruit or the sound of a bird’s song. As she reflects:
“The world was full of small, beautiful things that were waiting to be noticed, waiting to be appreciated”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to cultivate a sense of mindfulness and appreciation for the beauty and richness of life.
travel can also be a form of escapism.
J.K. often uses travel as a way to distance herself from her problems and concerns. As she reflects:
“I was always running away from something, whether it was my problems or myself”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to avoid confronting the challenges and complexities of our lives, and that it can be used as a means of escape from difficult emotions or situations.
However, the novel also highlights the limits of this form of escapism. J.K. discovers that she cannot simply run away from her problems and that she must confront them directly if she hopes to find true fulfillment and happiness. This suggests that travel can be a valuable tool for self-discovery, but that it must be combined with a willingness to face the challenges and complexities of our lives.
Furthermore, “Swallowing Geography” emphasizes the importance of connection and community in the process of self-discovery. J.K. meets a number of people throughout her journey, some of whom become close friends and confidantes. Through these relationships, she begins to develop a sense of belonging and connection to the world around her. This suggests that travel can be a way to build meaningful relationships and connections with others, and that these connections can play an important role in shaping our identities and aspirations.
travel can also involve a process of self-creation and transformation.
J.K. begins her journey with a sense of uncertainty and confusion about who she is and what she wants from life. However, through her travels, she begins to develop a clearer sense of her own identity and aspirations. As she reflects:
“I was creating myself anew, discovering aspects of my personality and my desires that I had never known existed”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to explore new aspects of ourselves and to discover untapped potential and possibilities within us.
Furthermore, “Swallowing Geography” emphasizes the importance of embracing the unknown and stepping outside of our comfort zones. J.K. often finds herself in unfamiliar and even dangerous situations throughout her journey, but she also discovers a sense of freedom and liberation in these moments of uncertainty. As she reflects:
“I was no longer bound by the rules and expectations of the life I had left behind. I was free to create my own path, to embrace the unknown and the unexpected”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to challenge ourselves and to push beyond our perceived limitations, opening up new avenues for self-growth and transformation.
travel can help us to see the world from new and different perspectives.
Throughout her journey, J.K. encounters people from diverse cultural backgrounds and lifestyles, and she is exposed to new ways of thinking and being in the world. As she reflects:
“I was learning to see the world through different eyes, to appreciate the richness and diversity of human experience”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to broaden our horizons and expand our understanding of the world around us, fostering empathy and a deeper appreciation for the diversity of human experience.
Furthermore, “Swallowing Geography” emphasizes the importance of engaging with the world in a meaningful and authentic way. J.K. often finds herself in situations where she must confront the challenges and complexities of the places she visits, and she is forced to grapple with difficult questions of identity, history, and power. As she reflects:
“I was learning to see the world not just as a place of wonder and beauty, but as a place of complexity and contradiction, a place where the past and present intersect and collide”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to engage with the world in a more nuanced and critical way, and that it can be a means of developing a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges of our global society.
travel can be a way to connect with the natural world and to develop a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the environment.
J.K.’s journey takes her through a variety of landscapes, from the urban streets of London to the vast deserts of the Middle East, and she is struck by the power and majesty of the natural world. As she reflects:
“I was learning to appreciate the wonders of the natural world, to see the beauty in the desert landscapes and the intricacies of the ecosystems that sustained life in these harsh environments”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to develop a deeper connection with the environment and to cultivate a greater sense of responsibility and stewardship for the planet.
Furthermore, “Swallowing Geography” emphasizes the importance of taking risks and embracing uncertainty in order to fully experience the transformative potential of travel. J.K. often finds herself in situations where she must navigate unfamiliar terrain and confront her own fears and insecurities, but she also discovers a sense of liberation and empowerment in these moments of vulnerability. As she reflects:
“I was learning to embrace uncertainty and to take risks in order to fully experience the richness and diversity of the world around me”.
This suggests that travel can be a way to challenge ourselves and to push beyond our comfort zones, fostering personal growth and transformation.