Reviews - Oamenii Din Copaci

I can absolutely understand the polarizing quality this novel seems to have. The story is slow and often mundane, but very much calls attention to that and lives within it. If you are looking for a thrill-ride this is not the book for you, but if you want to read a gripping reflection on the long steady process of living you will find something here. I have never read anything quite like it, and for that the author deserves commending.
It focuses most directly on the life of one man and his friends. We see him begin his adult life and as it progresses we are introduced to more and more of his childhood. Yanagihara uses this simple setup to dig into the impact of childhood, the fragility of human self-hood, and the incredible struggle that is love and friendship. The slow creeping quality of the piece is perfect for these topics as they are not one time events, not things that are ever done, but are constantly digging into every aspect of life and growing and evolving over our entire lives. The power with which this book takes on love and friendship is unlike anything I've experienced, gutting those topics of their potential melodrama, and placing them in the context of full lives intersecting and struggling for themselves and each other.

At time it seems a bit over the top, but never too unrealistic, and it isn't the sort of book that ends with a grand conclusion or realization, but the meat of it is in the lives of its characters and that's where life is right? so i thought it was beautiful for its ability to capture that.

tricera_hops's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kaylashutup's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I really disliked the perspective shifts, I was pulled out of the story each time it switched. I also feel like the author’s writing is much less impactful in first person so the ending was lackluster for me 😭. A shame because I really really loved the book.

Content Warnings