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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Like the Bible if Jesus was a sapling. Excellent writing, complex story, moving. My God is tree now.
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Extremely creative book - it spreads out like the forest and connects people to trees in a myriad of ways. It was a bit depressing (not the books fault, def more of a humans at fault).
“when you cut down a tree, what you make from it should be at least as miraculous as what you cut down.”
“Her trees are far more social than even Patricia suspected. There are no individuals. There aren’t even separate species. Everything in a forest is the forest. Competition is not separable from endless flavors of cooperation. Trees fight no more than do the leaves on a single tree.”
“when you cut down a tree, what you make from it should be at least as miraculous as what you cut down.”
“Her trees are far more social than even Patricia suspected. There are no individuals. There aren’t even separate species. Everything in a forest is the forest. Competition is not separable from endless flavors of cooperation. Trees fight no more than do the leaves on a single tree.”
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This book should be required reading everywhere in the world.
Funny thing is, I stumbled upon it by accident and decided to buy it more or less on a whim, after hearing stuff about it that presented it as something different than it actually was. It doesn't matter, though, because I was enthralled from the first pages (even though I was sure I'd need a picture dictionary to figure out all the trees). It's a very well-written book, evocative and descriptive, and although it spans so many years and tackles so many characters, I was never bored. It's also one of the few books written after 2000 where I can actually like all the characters. Yes, they're flawed and they're definitely not perfect, but they're built in such a way that you can understand them. I liked the structure, it was very clever, following each character from their origins to the aftermath of the story and what comes after.
Now on to the content. I won't say much about it, because I do not want to spoil it for anyone who has not read it yet (and you should, you definitely should). There are times when the story is not easy to read. It's painful and it's harsh at times, but the subject is tackled with grace and respect. I might be biased, because I too have had trees I was greatly attached to (and some of them I lost, so this story speaks a lot to me). What surprised me, though - in a pleasant way - was that there was this glimmer of hope throughout the story, and I really appreciated that.
I might need a while to recover from this. I don't think I'll find another book too soon that's so well-crafted and touching at the same time. But I'll definitely be checking more Richard Powers at some point.
Funny thing is, I stumbled upon it by accident and decided to buy it more or less on a whim, after hearing stuff about it that presented it as something different than it actually was. It doesn't matter, though, because I was enthralled from the first pages (even though I was sure I'd need a picture dictionary to figure out all the trees). It's a very well-written book, evocative and descriptive, and although it spans so many years and tackles so many characters, I was never bored. It's also one of the few books written after 2000 where I can actually like all the characters. Yes, they're flawed and they're definitely not perfect, but they're built in such a way that you can understand them. I liked the structure, it was very clever, following each character from their origins to the aftermath of the story and what comes after.
Now on to the content. I won't say much about it, because I do not want to spoil it for anyone who has not read it yet (and you should, you definitely should). There are times when the story is not easy to read. It's painful and it's harsh at times, but the subject is tackled with grace and respect. I might be biased, because I too have had trees I was greatly attached to (and some of them I lost, so this story speaks a lot to me). What surprised me, though - in a pleasant way - was that there was this glimmer of hope throughout the story, and I really appreciated that.
I might need a while to recover from this. I don't think I'll find another book too soon that's so well-crafted and touching at the same time. But I'll definitely be checking more Richard Powers at some point.
emotional
reflective
sad
This book was painful to get through. Its a good story, and an interesting look at the world. But it draaaaaags.
I absolutely loved the first half of this book. It was a stunning series of stories with great character development and I couldn’t put it down. Then I got to the second half and gradually it degenerated to a very repetitive, very kooky storyline and I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’ve completely lost the will to go any further and can’t finish it. Shame really.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
The Overstory by Richard Powers - (5/5) Five tree huggers plus a few others learn to understand the language of trees and how humans alter the Earth.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated