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markcastaneda's review against another edition
3.0
it was a good story and i don't think it's bad but;
-1 for being slightly delusional storyline that refuses to develop its characters into cogent examples of humanity's best, worst, or anything in between in the face of mass deforestation (idk maybe working in natural resources makes me jaded)(and no olivia/maidenhair just didn't do it for me as a compelling character/leader).
-1 because it's not artistic to list trees for 2-3 pages at a time. it feels like he has a hard-on for trees. I love trees bro but typing something like "the whispering poplars, the charismatic sugar maple, the stone faced tepid oak" doesn't really mean anything if it's not with a writer's intent. you're just excited about the trees. and that's okay, but in a 500 page book when this is a repeating trope, I just don't care
I feel like this would have been a lot better if he had cut after the first round of introductory stories and gone no further. then developed the rest of the book as a second installment in the series, if you REALLY wanna get involved. but this just wasn't it.
I liked that some characters never got tangled up in the "main" storyline with the 5 who did meet, or at least not intentionally. beautiful demonstration of how everything is intertwined, like when mimi saw patty's speech. however, patty's end felt like weird timing i think and it didn't really debrief the effect on the rest of the story.
sometimes real world events were effective to weave in with the magical realism, like the american chestnut blight of course, and the stanford prison experiment, but sometimes it felt awkward and forced, like when he's just like "btw 9/11 happened, but trees thoooo!!!"
idk all in all I'm glad i finally got around to reading it but i'm afraid if i ever met the man who wrote this i would verbally berate him for taking something that was almost beautiful and making it super mid
-1 for being slightly delusional storyline that refuses to develop its characters into cogent examples of humanity's best, worst, or anything in between in the face of mass deforestation (idk maybe working in natural resources makes me jaded)(and no olivia/maidenhair just didn't do it for me as a compelling character/leader).
-1 because it's not artistic to list trees for 2-3 pages at a time. it feels like he has a hard-on for trees. I love trees bro but typing something like "the whispering poplars, the charismatic sugar maple, the stone faced tepid oak" doesn't really mean anything if it's not with a writer's intent. you're just excited about the trees. and that's okay, but in a 500 page book when this is a repeating trope, I just don't care
I feel like this would have been a lot better if he had cut after the first round of introductory stories and gone no further. then developed the rest of the book as a second installment in the series, if you REALLY wanna get involved. but this just wasn't it.
I liked that some characters never got tangled up in the "main" storyline with the 5 who did meet, or at least not intentionally. beautiful demonstration of how everything is intertwined, like when mimi saw patty's speech. however, patty's end felt like weird timing i think and it didn't really debrief the effect on the rest of the story.
sometimes real world events were effective to weave in with the magical realism, like the american chestnut blight of course, and the stanford prison experiment, but sometimes it felt awkward and forced, like when he's just like "btw 9/11 happened, but trees thoooo!!!"
idk all in all I'm glad i finally got around to reading it but i'm afraid if i ever met the man who wrote this i would verbally berate him for taking something that was almost beautiful and making it super mid
emikemper's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
lladnar42's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
cryingalot49's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
3.0
enzsch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is too smart for me lol. I think it is still an epic book but I dont understand things that aren't made a bit more obvious. I think Jenny will like this though its got a lotta description.
Story itself was very powerful, very much a vibesy book without much of a narrative arc, but cool characters, if a bit doomer-y at times.
Story itself was very powerful, very much a vibesy book without much of a narrative arc, but cool characters, if a bit doomer-y at times.
yentagon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
lauriewdc's review against another edition
5.0
The slow build of the story, beautifully written, is later punctuated by intense scenes that stay with me. The message is difficult to separate from the story but why should they be separate?
My first Powers book but I intend to read more.
My first Powers book but I intend to read more.