A review by max63815
The Overstory by Richard Powers

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.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings