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The Willow Tree
The Willow Tree is a heartbreaking coming-of-age book similar to White Oleander and with profound introspection akin to that of The Bell Jar.
In this book, Emma must learn to fight for her emotional stability and life after her mother remarries. She engages in a stormy relationship with her abusive step-father, while her mom slips away to depression.
Both book-smart and painfully awkward, she struggles to connect with her peers and eventually finds friends with students who are considered outcasts.
Outside of school, her home life becomes more and more turbulent. The bond between Emma and her mother dwindles to only occasional encounters, while her step-father remains present in her waking life and nightmares.
Fraught with hiding the stress from deep concerns about her friends’ misjudgments, Emma hides the torment of her step-father’s unrelenting sexual abuse. After his sudden suicide, her feelings she developed for him dangerously lead her down her own self-destructive path.
In this book, Emma must learn to fight for her emotional stability and life after her mother remarries. She engages in a stormy relationship with her abusive step-father, while her mom slips away to depression.
Both book-smart and painfully awkward, she struggles to connect with her peers and eventually finds friends with students who are considered outcasts.
Outside of school, her home life becomes more and more turbulent. The bond between Emma and her mother dwindles to only occasional encounters, while her step-father remains present in her waking life and nightmares.
Fraught with hiding the stress from deep concerns about her friends’ misjudgments, Emma hides the torment of her step-father’s unrelenting sexual abuse. After his sudden suicide, her feelings she developed for him dangerously lead her down her own self-destructive path.
266 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2014
4 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Elan Carson
3 books16 followersElan Carson is a TED Talk speaker, mental health advocate, and author of The Willow Tree and The Millennial Mentality: More Than Memes, Cats, & Social Mishaps.
Her second book, The Millennial Mentality: More Than Memes, Cats, & Social Mishaps discusses where Millennials stand when it comes to racism, LGBT+ rights, body image, and other divisive issues all while surviving as delayed adults.
A millennial who was tired of being labeled as entitled after graduating with an unreal-yet-all-too-real amount of student loan debt, she wants to give voice to the generation of thought leaders, activists, and entrepreneurs who’s figuring out their way through adulthood just like she is.
Her second book, The Millennial Mentality: More Than Memes, Cats, & Social Mishaps discusses where Millennials stand when it comes to racism, LGBT+ rights, body image, and other divisive issues all while surviving as delayed adults.
A millennial who was tired of being labeled as entitled after graduating with an unreal-yet-all-too-real amount of student loan debt, she wants to give voice to the generation of thought leaders, activists, and entrepreneurs who’s figuring out their way through adulthood just like she is.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 7, 2014
The Willow Tree by Elan Carson is a sorrow filled story about Emma, an awkward and abused young lady. Her step father leaves permanent scars upon her soul as he takes her innocence replacing it with haunting pain and nightmares. The novel covers several years span in Emma’s life from junior high through college. She flounders to make friends, always strives to be a “cool kid”, and has a deep desire for a boyfriend. She awkwardly foils every attempt to fit in, although it seems that would be her own insecurities, and lack of confidence. Her own self- destructive voice mimicking that she isn't good enough.
Emma’s struggles aren't unlike the average teenage girl who seeks to be something more than what she is, who pursues popularity and acceptance, and desires to be beautiful and admired. The years that she was abused physically, mentally and sexually forced deep pitted gashes inside the twisted crevasses of her mind. They control her, pushing her to depression, and actions that place her on the edge; reminding her that she is alive, putting pain into her numbness.
Elan Carson uses a lyrical sing songy poetic tone in her writing. The images flow easily from one page to the next within visual scenes drawn by the words of the text. The novel places the reader front and center in Emma’s horrific world where they witness her pain, suffering and anger but also her unnatural feelings towards her step father as both a “lover” and a torturer. Few authors have such a profound ability to illustrate emotions, and feelings bringing the reader on an impassioned journey with the protagonist.
The Willow Tree is a novel I envision as a beloved paperback; crinkled edges, sagging binding, countless pages twisted over in a familiar book marking pattern, and borrowing disallowed by the owner in fear of it not being returned. This novel is timeless and will be endeared every bit as much in a hundred years as it is today.
Emma’s struggles aren't unlike the average teenage girl who seeks to be something more than what she is, who pursues popularity and acceptance, and desires to be beautiful and admired. The years that she was abused physically, mentally and sexually forced deep pitted gashes inside the twisted crevasses of her mind. They control her, pushing her to depression, and actions that place her on the edge; reminding her that she is alive, putting pain into her numbness.
Elan Carson uses a lyrical sing songy poetic tone in her writing. The images flow easily from one page to the next within visual scenes drawn by the words of the text. The novel places the reader front and center in Emma’s horrific world where they witness her pain, suffering and anger but also her unnatural feelings towards her step father as both a “lover” and a torturer. Few authors have such a profound ability to illustrate emotions, and feelings bringing the reader on an impassioned journey with the protagonist.
The Willow Tree is a novel I envision as a beloved paperback; crinkled edges, sagging binding, countless pages twisted over in a familiar book marking pattern, and borrowing disallowed by the owner in fear of it not being returned. This novel is timeless and will be endeared every bit as much in a hundred years as it is today.
March 10, 2014
First, this book is so powerful & overwhelming that it's hard to find the words to do it justice......
At times it was hard for me to read due to the overwhelming mix of emotions it conjured, but even if I put it down I couldn't stop thinking about it.
It is a very realistic account of the life of a very depressed & at one time abused young woman. I can relate with her feelings of wanting to be cool & never really feeling like she fit in anywhere. It took me a long time to feel comfortable in my skin. It also made me regret not going out of my way to befriend others who just didn't fit in.
I know not all stories can have a happy ending, and do not expect them to but do wish this particular story had ended with Emma finding some kind of peace, something that I wanted for her so very badly throughout. If it was based on any kind of truth for the author, or someone she knows, my greatest wish for her is to find a peace in life & become comfortable with herself.
This is an excellent book & I will look forward to reading others from this author.
At times it was hard for me to read due to the overwhelming mix of emotions it conjured, but even if I put it down I couldn't stop thinking about it.
It is a very realistic account of the life of a very depressed & at one time abused young woman. I can relate with her feelings of wanting to be cool & never really feeling like she fit in anywhere. It took me a long time to feel comfortable in my skin. It also made me regret not going out of my way to befriend others who just didn't fit in.
I know not all stories can have a happy ending, and do not expect them to but do wish this particular story had ended with Emma finding some kind of peace, something that I wanted for her so very badly throughout. If it was based on any kind of truth for the author, or someone she knows, my greatest wish for her is to find a peace in life & become comfortable with herself.
This is an excellent book & I will look forward to reading others from this author.
April 15, 2014
I received a copy of this book from the author against an honest review.
“The Willow Tree” is the dizzying emotional journey of Emma’s experience as a sexually abused teenager by her step-father, Adam, and the emotional and psychological trauma it leaves in its aftermath. It is rare to get even a glimmer of the perpetrator’s background to shed some light on his sick behavior, so it was satisfying to learn of Adam’s past, presented as fact, not excuse, for his abuse of this innocent girl. Hurt people hurt people is a truism, evidenced in Ms. Carson’s novel.
Emma desperately tries to fit in, bond with other girls her age, establish a relationship with boys, but despite her efforts, her lack of self worth and her fragility work against her efforts, her neediness and despair for acceptance and affection a deterrent for a meaningful and lasting relationship with either boy or girl.
Any story of child sexual abuse requires the kind of lean writing only an experienced author can bring to the page. Ms. Carson’s handling of Emma’s story is an exercise in verbal gymnastics, at times obscuring the story by too flowery language. It’s never a good idea to surprise the reader, which happens a few times in this book. Emma’s beloved dog dies, but with that incidence I learn of the dog’s existence for the first time. Emma is in therapy, but this is mentioned only once without detail as to where therapy leads or if Emma pursues therapy. Also, it was a surprise to me to find Emma in Paris, but apart from a few stray words in French and the mention of her French family, the story falls short on local color or the purpose of her stay.
Ms. Carson’s handling of this very emotional story is knowledgeable, unsparing in detail as to Emma’s pain, her dashed hopes and despair. I missed more dialogue, would have welcomed less narrative. As written, I was confused at times as to where the story takes me, missing the author painting pictures for me instead of telling me. Altogether, however, “The Willow Tree” is a remarkable story of a woman’s journey after having been sexually abused. I commend Ms. Carson’s handling of this very sensitive issue without falling into the trap of maudlin pity or justification.
“The Willow Tree” is the dizzying emotional journey of Emma’s experience as a sexually abused teenager by her step-father, Adam, and the emotional and psychological trauma it leaves in its aftermath. It is rare to get even a glimmer of the perpetrator’s background to shed some light on his sick behavior, so it was satisfying to learn of Adam’s past, presented as fact, not excuse, for his abuse of this innocent girl. Hurt people hurt people is a truism, evidenced in Ms. Carson’s novel.
Emma desperately tries to fit in, bond with other girls her age, establish a relationship with boys, but despite her efforts, her lack of self worth and her fragility work against her efforts, her neediness and despair for acceptance and affection a deterrent for a meaningful and lasting relationship with either boy or girl.
Any story of child sexual abuse requires the kind of lean writing only an experienced author can bring to the page. Ms. Carson’s handling of Emma’s story is an exercise in verbal gymnastics, at times obscuring the story by too flowery language. It’s never a good idea to surprise the reader, which happens a few times in this book. Emma’s beloved dog dies, but with that incidence I learn of the dog’s existence for the first time. Emma is in therapy, but this is mentioned only once without detail as to where therapy leads or if Emma pursues therapy. Also, it was a surprise to me to find Emma in Paris, but apart from a few stray words in French and the mention of her French family, the story falls short on local color or the purpose of her stay.
Ms. Carson’s handling of this very emotional story is knowledgeable, unsparing in detail as to Emma’s pain, her dashed hopes and despair. I missed more dialogue, would have welcomed less narrative. As written, I was confused at times as to where the story takes me, missing the author painting pictures for me instead of telling me. Altogether, however, “The Willow Tree” is a remarkable story of a woman’s journey after having been sexually abused. I commend Ms. Carson’s handling of this very sensitive issue without falling into the trap of maudlin pity or justification.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews