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Wisdom Tree #3
Vancouver: Wisdom Tree 3
Vancouver is the story Paul would tell if he were living in plague times—a story that comforts, a story that wards of evil. His story is about the giant that influenced his life, it’s about the day the world changed, and it’s about what happens when our giants come tumbling down. Think, any one of Giovanni Boccaccio’s stories from, Decameron.
"This floored me. The format is a game changer and the linked novellas combine to create the best book I’ve read in 12 years, since David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas.Five complex and distinct stories set in New York, Brisbane, Vancouver, Alaska and L.A. that somehow magically meet—I can’t quite believe it. Earls has never had his due but if this doesn’t get incredible press from here to Timbuktu, then publishing truly is broken. Or maybe he just fixed it, because Wisdom Tree is a transcendent wonder. " — Chris Flynn, author of Tiger in Eden and The Glass Kingdom.
"This floored me. The format is a game changer and the linked novellas combine to create the best book I’ve read in 12 years, since David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas.Five complex and distinct stories set in New York, Brisbane, Vancouver, Alaska and L.A. that somehow magically meet—I can’t quite believe it. Earls has never had his due but if this doesn’t get incredible press from here to Timbuktu, then publishing truly is broken. Or maybe he just fixed it, because Wisdom Tree is a transcendent wonder. " — Chris Flynn, author of Tiger in Eden and The Glass Kingdom.
59 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2016
5 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Nick Earls
74 books172 followersNick Earls is the author of twelve books, including bestselling novels such as Zigzag Street, Bachelor Kisses, Perfect Skin and World of Chickens. His work has been published internationally in English and also in translation, and this led to him being a finalist in the Premier of Queensland’s Awards for Export Achievement in 1999.
Zigzag Street won a Betty Trask Award in the UK in 1998, and is currently being developed into a feature film. Bachelor Kisses was one of Who Weekly’s Books of the Year in 1998. Perfect Skin was the only novel nominated for an Australian Comedy Award in 2003, and has recently been filmed in Italy.
He has written five novels with teenage central characters. 48 Shades of Brown was awarded Book of the Year (older readers) by the Children’s Book Council in 2000, and in the US it was a Kirkus Reviews selection in its books of the year for 2004. A feature film adapted from the novel was released in Australia by Buena Vista International in August 2006, and has subsequently screened at festivals in North America and Europe. His earlier young-adult novel, After January, was also an award-winner.
After January, 48 Shades of Brown, Zigzag Street and Perfect Skin have all been successfully adapted for theatre by La Boite, and the Zigzag Street play toured nationally in 2005.
Nick Earls was the founding chair of the Australian arm of the international aid agency War Child and is now a War Child ambassador. He is or has also been patron of Kids Who Make a Difference and Hands on Art, and an honorary ambassador for both the Mater Foundation and the Abused Child Trust. On top of that, he was the face of Brisbane Marketing’s ‘Downtown Brisbane’ and ‘Experience Brisbane’ campaigns.
His contribution to writing in Queensland led to him being awarded the Queensland Writers Centre’s inaugural Johnno award in 2001 and a Centenary Medal in 2003. His work as a writer, in writing industry development and in support of humanitarian causes led to him being named University of Queensland Alumnus of the Year in 2006. He was also the Queensland Multicultural Champion for 2006.
He has an honours degree in Medicine from the University of Queensland, and has lived in Brisbane since migrating as an eight-year-old from Northern Ireland in 1972. London’s Mirror newspaper has called him ‘the first Aussie to make me laugh out loud since Jason Donovan’. His latest novel is Joel and Cat Set the Story Straight, co-written with Rebecca Sparrow.
Zigzag Street won a Betty Trask Award in the UK in 1998, and is currently being developed into a feature film. Bachelor Kisses was one of Who Weekly’s Books of the Year in 1998. Perfect Skin was the only novel nominated for an Australian Comedy Award in 2003, and has recently been filmed in Italy.
He has written five novels with teenage central characters. 48 Shades of Brown was awarded Book of the Year (older readers) by the Children’s Book Council in 2000, and in the US it was a Kirkus Reviews selection in its books of the year for 2004. A feature film adapted from the novel was released in Australia by Buena Vista International in August 2006, and has subsequently screened at festivals in North America and Europe. His earlier young-adult novel, After January, was also an award-winner.
After January, 48 Shades of Brown, Zigzag Street and Perfect Skin have all been successfully adapted for theatre by La Boite, and the Zigzag Street play toured nationally in 2005.
Nick Earls was the founding chair of the Australian arm of the international aid agency War Child and is now a War Child ambassador. He is or has also been patron of Kids Who Make a Difference and Hands on Art, and an honorary ambassador for both the Mater Foundation and the Abused Child Trust. On top of that, he was the face of Brisbane Marketing’s ‘Downtown Brisbane’ and ‘Experience Brisbane’ campaigns.
His contribution to writing in Queensland led to him being awarded the Queensland Writers Centre’s inaugural Johnno award in 2001 and a Centenary Medal in 2003. His work as a writer, in writing industry development and in support of humanitarian causes led to him being named University of Queensland Alumnus of the Year in 2006. He was also the Queensland Multicultural Champion for 2006.
He has an honours degree in Medicine from the University of Queensland, and has lived in Brisbane since migrating as an eight-year-old from Northern Ireland in 1972. London’s Mirror newspaper has called him ‘the first Aussie to make me laugh out loud since Jason Donovan’. His latest novel is Joel and Cat Set the Story Straight, co-written with Rebecca Sparrow.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 20, 2024
5★
“I’m on my way to meet our giant again, after all this time. He’s in my head like a figure in a fable, a story, one I could tell if the slightest chance opened up.”
Australian author Nick Earls has Paul tell us about his flight to Vancouver to see the giant (and he IS an exceptionally big man) who lived with his family when Paul was 10. He’s now 38 and an author, travelling to writers' festivals.
The passenger in the next seat is a nervous passenger, taking pills and looking terrified.
“In plague times, and this is one, in its own way, people fled medieval cities and told stories to each other in the hills to ward off contemplation of the end of the known world. I’ve worked out which story I would tell. I practised it in the car on the way to the airport, or at least pulled out the bits that seemed to fit the conversation. Maybe it is just bits, anyway, however vivid they are.”
He talks to his seatmate, and when they land, he begins scanning the airport, looking for the giant of his childhood.
Most of the story is about the year Knut lived with them. Paul didn’t know his name had a K, because it was pronounced Newt, but he did know the young man was exceptional. He says the safest he ever felt was when his shadow was next to Knut’s.
Knut played Gridiron, American football, and Paul’s father brought him down to Australia to try to get some venture capital backing to start a league in Australia. Aussies love their footy leagues – Aussie Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Football/Soccer. (We are learning to call it football.) Dad knew Aussies would love gridiron, too, and this kid Knut had a record-breaking pass to his credit.
What a show they could put on. Dad would hold a board room presentation, bring Knut in, dressed in full uniform, and then take everyone to the biggest nearby park. They would put a strong board member at one end, and Knut at the other, and WHOA! He passes! Many a board member dodges the ball, which approaches like a bullet, even at that distance.
This is a wonderful story of friendship and acceptance, and how relationships change. There are references to fables and the Colossus of Rhodes and probably more classical things I’ve missed – I just loved the story itself, especially Knut and Paul, both as boys and men.
It is the third of Nick Earls’s Wisdom Tree: The Complete Collection of novellas, and so far, they’ve all been excellent.
This was narrated by NZ actor Michael Dorman (not with a New Zealand accent), who did a perfect job of it. It was an Audible Plus ‘read’ for me.
My reviews of the series:
My review of Gotham- Wisdom Tree #1
My review of Venice-Wisdom Tree #2
My review of Vancouver- Wisdom Tree #3
My review of Juneau- Wisdom Tree #4
My review of NoHo- Wisdom Tree #5
“I’m on my way to meet our giant again, after all this time. He’s in my head like a figure in a fable, a story, one I could tell if the slightest chance opened up.”
Australian author Nick Earls has Paul tell us about his flight to Vancouver to see the giant (and he IS an exceptionally big man) who lived with his family when Paul was 10. He’s now 38 and an author, travelling to writers' festivals.
The passenger in the next seat is a nervous passenger, taking pills and looking terrified.
“In plague times, and this is one, in its own way, people fled medieval cities and told stories to each other in the hills to ward off contemplation of the end of the known world. I’ve worked out which story I would tell. I practised it in the car on the way to the airport, or at least pulled out the bits that seemed to fit the conversation. Maybe it is just bits, anyway, however vivid they are.”
He talks to his seatmate, and when they land, he begins scanning the airport, looking for the giant of his childhood.
Most of the story is about the year Knut lived with them. Paul didn’t know his name had a K, because it was pronounced Newt, but he did know the young man was exceptional. He says the safest he ever felt was when his shadow was next to Knut’s.
Knut played Gridiron, American football, and Paul’s father brought him down to Australia to try to get some venture capital backing to start a league in Australia. Aussies love their footy leagues – Aussie Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Football/Soccer. (We are learning to call it football.) Dad knew Aussies would love gridiron, too, and this kid Knut had a record-breaking pass to his credit.
What a show they could put on. Dad would hold a board room presentation, bring Knut in, dressed in full uniform, and then take everyone to the biggest nearby park. They would put a strong board member at one end, and Knut at the other, and WHOA! He passes! Many a board member dodges the ball, which approaches like a bullet, even at that distance.
This is a wonderful story of friendship and acceptance, and how relationships change. There are references to fables and the Colossus of Rhodes and probably more classical things I’ve missed – I just loved the story itself, especially Knut and Paul, both as boys and men.
It is the third of Nick Earls’s Wisdom Tree: The Complete Collection of novellas, and so far, they’ve all been excellent.
This was narrated by NZ actor Michael Dorman (not with a New Zealand accent), who did a perfect job of it. It was an Audible Plus ‘read’ for me.
My reviews of the series:
My review of Gotham- Wisdom Tree #1
My review of Venice-Wisdom Tree #2
My review of Vancouver- Wisdom Tree #3
My review of Juneau- Wisdom Tree #4
My review of NoHo- Wisdom Tree #5
January 10, 2025
Not my favourite from this collection so far, but I did enjoy the more contemporary part of the story a lot more than the recollections of Paul from his 1970s Brisbane childhood. I was interested in the idea of the Giant, just not the American football side of things.
Currently free on Audible.
Currently free on Audible.
July 1, 2016
I'm continuing to love this series by Earls. I've already raved about his story-telling ability and this third novella in the Wisdom Tree series is no different.
Earls again gives us a character we can latch on to with author Paul - another likeable and very real protagonist (three for three...) - who's in Canada for a Writer's Festival and catches up with Knut Knutsen - a former gridiron player and wannabe writer who stayed with Paul's family in Brisbane when Paul was young.
The novella's set just after 9/11 and the world (and our characters) are still trying to understand what it all means for them.
I'm possible wrong (because I usually am) I'm again struck by the theme of someone coming into our lives when we most need them and the impact they have on our futures. For Paul it's Knut who feeds his desire for knowledge and for creativity.
Another stunning novella. Roll on number 4!
Earls again gives us a character we can latch on to with author Paul - another likeable and very real protagonist (three for three...) - who's in Canada for a Writer's Festival and catches up with Knut Knutsen - a former gridiron player and wannabe writer who stayed with Paul's family in Brisbane when Paul was young.
The novella's set just after 9/11 and the world (and our characters) are still trying to understand what it all means for them.
I'm possible wrong (because I usually am) I'm again struck by the theme of someone coming into our lives when we most need them and the impact they have on our futures. For Paul it's Knut who feeds his desire for knowledge and for creativity.
Another stunning novella. Roll on number 4!
December 2, 2016
If ever there was a series of novellas to take your breath away the one going under the collective names of the Wisdom Tree by Nick Earls is it. Vancouver is the third in the series and is about a writer meeting up with his childhood "giant" as an adult; beautiful character development and delicate observations about childhood, memory and time. Writing at its best. Do yourself a favour and buy the entire series - you'll want to keep them to read again.
October 11, 2017
Terrible
Not interesting
Not interested in what he’s saying
Not interesting
Not interested in what he’s saying
August 3, 2016
Once again Nick Earls has done a fantastic job of blending and distilling so many observations and themes about society and relationships into a short yet profound work of art. It deals with childhood, ageing, dreams coming true and not coming true, success and failure. Lots of symbolism too with the giant metaphor, but always subtle, and deftly drawn and sympathetic characters.
December 17, 2016
The 3rd novella in a five book series. A loosely inter-related collection. This was a lovely tale of a friendship that spans continents and decades. A sad and heartwarming tale. The novellas are good but I think the strength of the collection is how the stories are individual yet intertwined. Beautiful all round. #australian
November 8, 2016
I've enjoyed all the books in this series, but this was by far my favourite. It had a beautiful blend of the strange and the poetic, and captured the era (2001) beautifully.
September 7, 2018
Another great and unique addition to the Wisdom Tree series. This one gets rolling quickly with another memorable key character who, as in Gotham, is at once outlandish yet true to life. Although the story starts to run out of steam in the second half, the short novella format keeps it from stagnating.
July 20, 2017
Nice. I wish I knew what happened to Knut's legs.
March 7, 2018
This was a lovely story. I read it in one sitting.
June 19, 2018
Very slow and story idea is disconnected. It was difficult to keep focus on the story and I kept losing interest.
January 17, 2017
Disappointing after the first two in the series. Too sad and slow for me
September 21, 2020
3.5* It has taken me a while to think about this one. There was something in the first part of this volume that left me feeling uncomfortable. It eased slightly during the second part but I’m still unsure what caused it? There was something achingly sad about the characters, a vulnerability perhaps.....? That even as grown men was still hovering in the background. Shadows....things left unsaid...an awkwardness between the characters and in them?
August 9, 2016
I felt like this 3rd instalment of the Wisdom Tree novella series lacked heart. And perhaps I was a bit detached from the subject matter this time around (a writer reminisces about a football playing giant from his boyhood). I did feel like it picked up a bit towards the end and I did bit of a double take when the protagonist talks about how pre-edited Raymond Carver stories had more heart than the edited versions (just as I was figuring out what was missing from this story).
In hindsight, maybe I missed the point?
3.5/5
Still loving the format and looking forward to the next 2 editions.
In hindsight, maybe I missed the point?
3.5/5
Still loving the format and looking forward to the next 2 editions.
July 21, 2016
Well, he's done it again. Vancouver, the third novella in Nick Earls' series of five, showcases the form in an easy to read length without sacrificing the story. Again, the narrative concerns human connections and what they mean to us over time. This book has it all: giants (real ones); stock market crashes and the after-effects; football; book contracts and the writing life; ageing; friendship; and the long pull of memories. In this tiny book is the microcosm of lives. I'm thinking that the whole series would make a great gift
October 6, 2016
Book three of the series and I am loving “The Wisdom Tree” stories. “Vancouver” is another perceptive story of the extraordinary things observations and events within the lives or relatively ordinary people. This time, it is Paul and his giant - a really, really tall athlete brought home by his father, who will influence his life in many ways. Fast forward to the future and the giant’s a professor at a US liberal arts college and the narrator’s a writer too, but when they meet, things aren’t entirely straightforward.
September 28, 2018
I have read this small novella out of context and desperately need to read the other four in The Wisdom Tree series. This simply written story got under my skin. The main character Knut, pronounced Noot, was indeed a gentle giant who, abruptly, had his life changed after a night of celebration. As a teenager his friend Paul looked on him as a hero, in later life, when they meet again at a writer's festival, Paul becomes acquainted with the broken life and the man his hero has become.
July 23, 2016
Disappointing.
Insufficient substance to justify more than a short story. Needed fierce editing. Strangely, or perhaps intentionally, a subject touched on in the book.
Also (taking this series as audio books) this voice actor was awful, forced and unnatural.
That said loved first two and on tenter hooks awaiting last couple.
Insufficient substance to justify more than a short story. Needed fierce editing. Strangely, or perhaps intentionally, a subject touched on in the book.
Also (taking this series as audio books) this voice actor was awful, forced and unnatural.
That said loved first two and on tenter hooks awaiting last couple.
July 18, 2016
An interesting little read. It is the middle of a 5 book series so it would probably be more enjoyable if it were read in order. Still enjoyed it though.
May 21, 2017
Perhaps not my favourite in the series so far, but still an intriguing tale about the influence people (even briefly) can have on our youth and how that shapes us into the person we will become.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews