The Tree of Ecstasy & Unbearable Sadness

by Matt Ottley

The Tree of Ecstasy & Unbearable Sadness is an allegorical story of a boy's experience of psychosis, with mental illness represented as a fantastical tree whose flowers are ecstasy and whose fruit is unbearable sadness. Stunning drawings and paintings lead the reader through the boy's early discovery of his strangeness, his surrender to the disease (an all-consuming tree), the ensuing psychotic journey, and eventual self-acceptance. The recording of a full orchestral score composed by the author-illustrator will accompany the book, and an international tour is planned.

Genres: Picture Books, Young Adult, Graphic Novels, Mental Health, Health, Adult, Psychology

122 pages, Hardcover

Published February 1, 2022

About the author

Matt Ottley is an award-winning artist as well as a musician and a Yamaha-endorsed composer. His illustrations have appeared in more than three dozen books, but How to Make a Bird is his first book with Candlewick Press. He lives with his partner in New South Wales, Australia.

Reviews

[Phebs Cinnabon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful blend of modalities to show case what it can be like living with psychosis and bipolar. So many themes that I think many people with mental health difficulties may relate to, such as the notion of fragility, particularly the fragility of interpersonal relationships and attachments. Ottley really drove things home for me when the Boy touched the tree with flowering lanterns, after which the trees ceased to flow and sing… I think a lot of this is associated with an immense amount of guilt and shame that people living with mental health difficulties may feel when asking for help, or trying to connect with someone. I watched the screening of this in person, together with a Q&A with Matt present. How awesome Matt, well done for shedding light and insight onto such an important topic that invites thinking, discussion, and how we can make adaptations to current models of treatment.

[Stef (Noveltea Corner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very unique young adult picturebook that follows a boy who experiences psychosis and mental illness. I chose to read the book while listening to the accompanying orchestral score and audio narration as well as reading the physical book. The music, coupled with the illustrations and the words, make this an immersive reading experience - if not one that can be difficult to experience because of the content material. It's definitely a book that will make you think and one that may bring up strong feelings and emotions so be kind to yourself while reading.

[Chanel Chapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strangely beautiful. Alice in wonderland-like.

There is a boy who has within him a tree that bears flowers of ecstasy and fruits of unbearable sadness - an analogy for mental illness.
The illustrations are gorgeous and there’s an accompanying CD with music & narration which you are also able to download from his website - I’m sound sensitive so I preferred to read without it but I think for most people, the song makes the book experience immersive and more profound.

[Leila Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book full of wonderful illustrations and thought provoking words. I listened to the accompanying music and found myself completely absorbed.

[Méabh McDonnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very beautiful and unique picture book for older readers - the artwork is truly magnificent and sweeps the reader along on an incredible magical journey. A beautiful examination of mental illness.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What did I think? Wow! that's what I thought. Amazing. Beautiful. Complex, yet simple. Such depth. Such beautiful music. Just wow.
Matt Ottley is one of my favourite illustrators (along with Shaun Tan, Stephen Michael king and Kim Gamble). I'm always excited to see a new book by Matt, but I was especially excited to see this one. Mental illness is a topic deserving of the exploration given here, and, like this book, it is also complex yet simple. The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness can be read as a fairytale, but of course there is so much more to it. I've read it a half dozen times, pouring over the pages, listening to the accompanying music CD, but every time I find something more - whether it be a detail in the illustrations or an inference in the text. I doubt I will ever discover everything this book has to give, to share.
The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness will sit beside Shaun Tan's The Red Tree as the most beautiful, complex and touching treatments of mental illness in picture book format in my bookcase. So highly recommended I can barely stand it. But a warning - put aside a few hours when you pick this up as you'll want to read and re-read again and again. Love it.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and truly unique adult picture book/graphic novel, The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness, is a one-of-a-kind look at being consumed by mental health issues. The artwork alone is worth picking up a copy for - it is whimisical, but stark and enrapturing. And then the metaphorical storytelling will keep you stop and think about what life is like inside an individuals mind.

This book is something that you will want to hang on to and revisit time and time again. An absolute must-see for all readers.

→ trigger warnings: mental health, dissociation

becandbooks.com ‧ trigger warning database ‧ book depository ‧ more links

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As can be expected with a Matt Ottley production, this book has great depth and many layers of meaning. We are taken into the life of a young man who suffers from mental illness and see it grow, take root and consume him over time. The illustrations are compelling, at time confronting, raw and and intricate - and they carry the story where words alone do not.

The book is part of a larger multi-modal work that unites literature, music and visual arts together. It is presented in seven parts, with the ongoing mental decline of the protagonist until the final section. The book itself comes with a it a CD that weaves and embellishes the story thorough orchestral music a choir and a solo tenor voice. For me, this book seems a personal journey for Matt Ottley with no clearly designated audience, though the raw and at times depressing and aggressive content would warrant caution when using with young adults. In interviews he has indicated that the book explores psychosis and the need for love and nurturing for those with a mental illness.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork in here is astounding. Truly breathtaking scenes full of vivid colour and imagination and full of emotional imagery. The story starts out strong and then takes a meandering trip to a fantasy land that didn’t flow as well and in places became hard to follow the metaphor, but brings it all back around.
Did I mention it is absurdly beautiful? The scenes where the tree began engulfing him just conveyed so much and really spoke to me.
There’s music that plays alongside, and I have no idea what to classify this as. Graphic novel? In verse? Adult picture book? Multimedia presentation? Magical realism? It is very much its own lovely thing.

[Idris Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Booktober prize… wanted to read before giving away. A wonderfully illustrated book depicting a young person’s journey with mental health issues.

There’s a cd and music score with the book, I didn’t use this as I no longer have a cd player.

Great story, would probably be awesome with soundtrack

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

So heartbreakingly beautiful.
Just pick it up, turn the beautiful pages, and get lost in a world of wonder and a boy's struggle with mental illness. I did not stay dry eyed, especially when I re-read it with the accompanying music. Haunting and lovely.

[Maria Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to go back a spend more time re-reading as this is the first time I have looked at something similar. The writing and illustrations were moving and so to the point , but want to ponder the accompanying music more. Not a book for a single sitting. Multimedia experience.

[Michael Earp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

[Rachel Coutinho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! The illustrations add another depth to the emotional journey of the story

[feronia]

thanks loreto for giving this to me 😘😘

[ADakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and provocative. But did feel its audience was senior and above.

[Mel Kim Lam · Rating 4 out of 5]

stunning book, so creative and compelling