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gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition
This book is repulsive. It feels like White People pretentious self-congratulatory prose written for white people who like to believe they're good at philosophy. It's xenophobic, misogynistic, ableist, racist, discriminatory against the non-wealthy, and *overtly* pretentious. I personally plan on ripping the pages out one by one and burning every single one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Ableism, and Misogyny
graceflvnt's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
3.75
Really liked all the tree imagery, very atmospheric.
The way that Powers writes about disabled people is atrocious. Also, I was uncomfortable with what he chose to focus on in regards to the female main characters - a lot of infuriating choices made on his part.
The way that Powers writes about disabled people is atrocious. Also, I was uncomfortable with what he chose to focus on in regards to the female main characters - a lot of infuriating choices made on his part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
abomine's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
WIP
The first quarter of this book was the best part, a compelling little collection of short stories about characters from all walks of life and the significant ways trees have influenced their lives. It was lovely, lyrical and subtle in its message. Everything after that was not nearly as enjoyable, between the sudden preachiness, the lack of interconnectedness between most of the characters (contrary to The Overstory's blurb), the info-dumpy rehash of information about tree communities/intelligence that would only be compelling to people who know absolutely nothing about trees, and an ending that felt less ambiguous and more like a dwindling out.
The reviews promising a mind-blowing tour de force, something that would change the way I looked at the world, an epic about humanity's role in nature that did with trees that Moby-Dick did with whales, definitely over-hyped this book for me.
The first quarter of this book was the best part, a compelling little collection of short stories about characters from all walks of life and the significant ways trees have influenced their lives. It was lovely, lyrical and subtle in its message. Everything after that was not nearly as enjoyable, between the sudden preachiness, the lack of interconnectedness between most of the characters (contrary to The Overstory's blurb), the info-dumpy rehash of information about tree communities/intelligence that would only be compelling to people who know absolutely nothing about trees, and an ending that felt less ambiguous and more like a dwindling out.
The reviews promising a mind-blowing tour de force, something that would change the way I looked at the world, an epic about humanity's role in nature that did with trees that Moby-Dick did with whales, definitely over-hyped this book for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Ableism, and War
Minor: Child abuse
max63815's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Definitely longer than I'd normally like, but I think that's the point. The books structure resembles a tree, and the author frequently talks about how the passage of time is so subjective relative to species. The author also critiques some people's fleeting engagement with ecological destruction before moving on to other topics. So the length feels like an intentional challenge, and a good way to reflect the scale at which the story is playing out.
The book had a diverse cast of characters, and I did like that there were so many of them and how their lives came together. But I found them very similar and two-dimensional at times. In particular I feel like Neelay got the short end of the stick, and the author often degraded him and his body.
I'm passionate about the subject matter, and found it a moving and depressing 10 hour read. I have quite mixed feelings that I'm struggling to articulate about the book as a whole, but am glad I read it and may look to re-read it one day.
The book had a diverse cast of characters, and I did like that there were so many of them and how their lives came together. But I found them very similar and two-dimensional at times. In particular I feel like Neelay got the short end of the stick, and the author often degraded him and his body.
I'm passionate about the subject matter, and found it a moving and depressing 10 hour read. I have quite mixed feelings that I'm struggling to articulate about the book as a whole, but am glad I read it and may look to re-read it one day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Death and Police brutality
weeta's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I saw Richard Powers speak about this title a few years back and it’s been on my TBR pile since. He has a gift for weaving information into story. This slow but sturdy world will pull you towards learning more about trees and leave you searching for something to fill the gap that is left once you finish the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Ableism, Suicide, Violence, Infidelity, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
ahlca's review
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
2.0
Loved the stuff about trees, really beautiful prose on display, but I hated the way the author wrote characters. The women were incredibly two dimensional and the men were often depicted in a horribly ableist manner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
elspeth56's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This was a really really beautiful book, with a monumental feel to it. I wish I'd been in a better headspace to read it. I wouldn't say it was slow, but it's a heavy powerful book that interweaves many stories and requires your focus, which I don't have a lot of right now!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, and Ableism
maddiebusick's review against another edition
It was honestly kind of dry and boring to me...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism and Mental illness
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