Ilka Tampke's 'How to Love the World' Review: A Novel of Survival and Decolonial Ecofeminism

The Trapping of Nellika

Ilka Tampke's novel, How to Love the World, begins with a dramatic event: a large branch falls to the forest floor, trapping a woman named Nellika. The novel unfolds through two timelines: the slow passage of time as Nellika tries to free herself, and flashbacks to her life before the accident.

Nellika's Backstory

Nellika's past is marked by a difficult relationship with her parents and her own struggles as a mother. The narrative explores themes of intergenerational violence, colonialism, and the complex relationships between humans and the natural world.

The Power of Attention

As Nellika observes her surroundings while trapped, she develops a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Her daily walks in the forest had previously provided a retreat from her difficult life, and now they become a survival strategy.

A Work of Decolonial Ecofeminism

Tampke's novel is a work of decolonial ecofeminism, exploring the intersections of human and environmental suffering. The novel asks urgent questions about what it means to live and die on land to which we have no deep ancestral connection.

The Writing Style

Tampke's writing style is meticulous and detailed, but sometimes lacks vividness. The novel's slow pace and dense descriptions may challenge readers, but the themes and questions it raises are timely and important.

Conclusion

How to Love the World is a novel that will leave a mark on readers. It is a fearless effort to conceptualize a decolonial phenomenology of place, and it centers a protagonist who is both wounded and capable of inflicting wounds on others.