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The Condemned Oak Tree
When a tree is ready to topple, the weight of one bough breaking will bring it crashing down. For a family with something to hide, memories can be as destructive as a gale.
In April 1972, Maureen buries her husband on her allotment and pretends he's run away, leaving her to care for their ten-year-old twins, Lucy and Carol. But living a lie gets harder as time goes by.
For years, Maureen has kept her secrets close, but now, she's ready to talk. The question is, who is listening, and will they unearth the truth?
In April 1972, Maureen buries her husband on her allotment and pretends he's run away, leaving her to care for their ten-year-old twins, Lucy and Carol. But living a lie gets harder as time goes by.
For years, Maureen has kept her secrets close, but now, she's ready to talk. The question is, who is listening, and will they unearth the truth?
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Published April 26, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 29, 2022
In a Nutshell: "April is the best time of the year to dig a grave." - When this is the first sentence of the book, you know you are in for a treat. The book is weird in many ways but I loved it! Don't know what this says about me! 😂😂
Story:
This has got to be the shortest story synopsis I have ever written for a full-fledged novel. And yet, it is all that you need to know. The entire story revolves around Maureen’s decision to bury Frank without telling anyone and the reasons and consequences of this. The writing is very intelligent, with the plot slowly being uncovered with each subsequent chapter. The unusual format and the indirect second person narration makes us feel like we are sitting across the table from Maureen and listening to this middle-aged woman unburden her soul before us. There is an abundance of dark humour in this story, which further enhances the impact. Add to this a few surprise revelations and the book becomes tough to keep aside. The final chapter is the icing on the cake.
If you have to describe the writing style in one word, it will be “experimental”. This is such an ingenious way of writing literary fiction. The chapters are divided mostly by months – April, May, June, and so on – with each month revealing one worrying incident from Maureen’s past. Each chapter begins with Maureen’s comments about the month and its impact on nature and her garden. Then it goes to the flashback and provides details on some event that changed Maureen’s life before or after Frank’s death. Finally, it moves back to the “present” (which is, the late 1990s) and ends with Maureen’s observations on the incident and linking it again to nature. Sounds repetitive and restricted. But it is absolutely not so!
There are some amazing quotes in this book that either caused me to pause and ponder or just made me burst into laughter. In addition, Maureen reveals some lovely thoughts about nature and plants and animals, every single one of which shows the author’s love for the world around us. In fact, Maureen’s fondness for plants indicates why the author made the odd choice of beginning her narration from April instead of January. April is the month of spring, of fresh beginnings, and this is linked wonderfully to how Maureen’s confessions come out to her listener. You also realise the significance of the title as it is not just a reference to an oak tree in Maureen’s allotment but a metaphorical nod to Maureen herself.
Maureen has a fondness for saying “my dear” and “truth be told”, and this might end up getting on your nerves. But remember that the entire book is written in a conversational style because Maureen is having a conversation with someone, and this person’s identity tells you why Maureen addresses them so sweetly.
For a debut novel, this book left me mighty impressed with its unique storytelling structure. It is literary fiction at its best, with the strongly character-oriented narrative and the non-linear timeline making you focus on and relish every chapter. The only flaw I could find is that there were quite a few run-on sentences. This might have been an editing call to indicate the free-flowing conversation from Maureen but it felt awkward to read.
Aside from this minor complaint, I have absolutely no other issues. This is a must-read for literary fiction lovers, but it will not work for those who don’t enjoy character-oriented stories.
4.5 stars from me because I love such well-crafted literary fiction that delights the senses without being too snobbish in its writing.
My thanks to Butterdragons Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Condemned Oak Tree”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
In April 1972, Maureen Thompson’s husband Frank died. She buries him on her allotment and pretends that he ran away, leaving her alone with her ten year old twin daughters, Lucy and Carol. Why did Maureen do this? How did she cope with the aftermath of her decision? Why is she suddenly revealing her secrets now? You have got to read the book to find the answers to these questions.
The story is written in the first person pov of Maureen, addressed in second person to some mysterious "my dear", whose identity is revealed towards the final quarter of the book.
This has got to be the shortest story synopsis I have ever written for a full-fledged novel. And yet, it is all that you need to know. The entire story revolves around Maureen’s decision to bury Frank without telling anyone and the reasons and consequences of this. The writing is very intelligent, with the plot slowly being uncovered with each subsequent chapter. The unusual format and the indirect second person narration makes us feel like we are sitting across the table from Maureen and listening to this middle-aged woman unburden her soul before us. There is an abundance of dark humour in this story, which further enhances the impact. Add to this a few surprise revelations and the book becomes tough to keep aside. The final chapter is the icing on the cake.
If you have to describe the writing style in one word, it will be “experimental”. This is such an ingenious way of writing literary fiction. The chapters are divided mostly by months – April, May, June, and so on – with each month revealing one worrying incident from Maureen’s past. Each chapter begins with Maureen’s comments about the month and its impact on nature and her garden. Then it goes to the flashback and provides details on some event that changed Maureen’s life before or after Frank’s death. Finally, it moves back to the “present” (which is, the late 1990s) and ends with Maureen’s observations on the incident and linking it again to nature. Sounds repetitive and restricted. But it is absolutely not so!
There are some amazing quotes in this book that either caused me to pause and ponder or just made me burst into laughter. In addition, Maureen reveals some lovely thoughts about nature and plants and animals, every single one of which shows the author’s love for the world around us. In fact, Maureen’s fondness for plants indicates why the author made the odd choice of beginning her narration from April instead of January. April is the month of spring, of fresh beginnings, and this is linked wonderfully to how Maureen’s confessions come out to her listener. You also realise the significance of the title as it is not just a reference to an oak tree in Maureen’s allotment but a metaphorical nod to Maureen herself.
Maureen has a fondness for saying “my dear” and “truth be told”, and this might end up getting on your nerves. But remember that the entire book is written in a conversational style because Maureen is having a conversation with someone, and this person’s identity tells you why Maureen addresses them so sweetly.
For a debut novel, this book left me mighty impressed with its unique storytelling structure. It is literary fiction at its best, with the strongly character-oriented narrative and the non-linear timeline making you focus on and relish every chapter. The only flaw I could find is that there were quite a few run-on sentences. This might have been an editing call to indicate the free-flowing conversation from Maureen but it felt awkward to read.
Aside from this minor complaint, I have absolutely no other issues. This is a must-read for literary fiction lovers, but it will not work for those who don’t enjoy character-oriented stories.
4.5 stars from me because I love such well-crafted literary fiction that delights the senses without being too snobbish in its writing.
My thanks to Butterdragons Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Condemned Oak Tree”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
July 26, 2022
with a dead husband fertilizing
rhubarbs in her garden, maureen
will gladly tell her story, relating it
to changes in nature over a year
in her tired yet flippant tone. ♡
rhubarbs in her garden, maureen
will gladly tell her story, relating it
to changes in nature over a year
in her tired yet flippant tone. ♡
June 29, 2022
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Slow but fantastic
Maureen buries her husband on her allotment in April 1972. She pretends that he ran away and left her to care for their 10yo twins, Lucy and Carol. However, life puts many obstacles in her path. She has decisions to make that alter her and the children’s futures.
Twenty-Seven years later, Maureen begins to tell her story- the story of her life, her growth, her mistakes, choices, love, family, acceptance, and resilience. But what is the truth? Who is listening to her story and why? What does Maureen want by revealing the secrets after so many years have passed?
The story comes in the first-person narration by Maureen and is addressed to an unknown ‘you’ (revealed later).
My Observations:
I knew the book would be slow and was prepared for it, but this one takes its own sweet time to progress. But the writing is beautiful, and I couldn’t make myself speed-read.
The book has nature interwoven into the narration with such love and reverence that I took my time to savor the descriptions and the emotions aligned with each month.
The writing is undoubtedly clever. The twists come at the least expected time and are not highlighted. On the contrary, the revelations are toned down, which amplifies the impact on the reader. Very smart and artful.
The title suits the book so well. It wasn't there for the sake of it but means a lot more to the story.
The narration is non-linear, which makes it even more interesting. It helps fill up the blanks and sketch Maureen’s character arc. And she is such a well-crafted character too. Her dark humor is a treat to read.
I like how the book starts in April. It is our month of New Year (the Hindu calendar) and the arrival of Spring. It suits the story perfectly.
The ending is yet another highlight of the book. It ties up the loose ends but leaves enough room for the reader to imagine another scenario. The revelation aligns with the character arcs developed throughout.
To sum up, The Condemned Oak Tree is a slow but fantastic read for those who love to read about nature and human emotions without drama.
Thank you, NetGalley and Butterdragons Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#TheCondemnedOakTree #NetGalley
*****
PS: It saddens me that such a beautiful book has single-digit reviews. There are many below-average indie books with more traction. This one deserves to be read.
Thank you, Rosh, for spotting this gem and recommending it to me.
One Liner: Slow but fantastic
Maureen buries her husband on her allotment in April 1972. She pretends that he ran away and left her to care for their 10yo twins, Lucy and Carol. However, life puts many obstacles in her path. She has decisions to make that alter her and the children’s futures.
Twenty-Seven years later, Maureen begins to tell her story- the story of her life, her growth, her mistakes, choices, love, family, acceptance, and resilience. But what is the truth? Who is listening to her story and why? What does Maureen want by revealing the secrets after so many years have passed?
The story comes in the first-person narration by Maureen and is addressed to an unknown ‘you’ (revealed later).
My Observations:
I knew the book would be slow and was prepared for it, but this one takes its own sweet time to progress. But the writing is beautiful, and I couldn’t make myself speed-read.
The book has nature interwoven into the narration with such love and reverence that I took my time to savor the descriptions and the emotions aligned with each month.
The writing is undoubtedly clever. The twists come at the least expected time and are not highlighted. On the contrary, the revelations are toned down, which amplifies the impact on the reader. Very smart and artful.
The title suits the book so well. It wasn't there for the sake of it but means a lot more to the story.
The narration is non-linear, which makes it even more interesting. It helps fill up the blanks and sketch Maureen’s character arc. And she is such a well-crafted character too. Her dark humor is a treat to read.
I like how the book starts in April. It is our month of New Year (the Hindu calendar) and the arrival of Spring. It suits the story perfectly.
The ending is yet another highlight of the book. It ties up the loose ends but leaves enough room for the reader to imagine another scenario. The revelation aligns with the character arcs developed throughout.
To sum up, The Condemned Oak Tree is a slow but fantastic read for those who love to read about nature and human emotions without drama.
Thank you, NetGalley and Butterdragons Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#TheCondemnedOakTree #NetGalley
*****
PS: It saddens me that such a beautiful book has single-digit reviews. There are many below-average indie books with more traction. This one deserves to be read.
Thank you, Rosh, for spotting this gem and recommending it to me.
May 7, 2022
Spectacular!!!!!
All of these author’s stories are like this, exciting and unexpected. This one drove me crazy to know who is she talking to, what the hell happened with her husband, what happened to her daughter and gimme more of her past cause I find it fascinating, but you HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED ALREADY!!! Oh, look another flashback... I wonder if it's the grandma again, love her grandma.... oh, it's not, oh wait this is interesting too, HOLLY SHIT, DID THIS JUST HAPPEN???
I think this describes my feelings best, so yeah this book definitely kept me at the edge of my seat from beginning to the end.
All of these author’s stories are like this, exciting and unexpected. This one drove me crazy to know who is she talking to, what the hell happened with her husband, what happened to her daughter and gimme more of her past cause I find it fascinating, but you HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED ALREADY!!! Oh, look another flashback... I wonder if it's the grandma again, love her grandma.... oh, it's not, oh wait this is interesting too, HOLLY SHIT, DID THIS JUST HAPPEN???
I think this describes my feelings best, so yeah this book definitely kept me at the edge of my seat from beginning to the end.
April 24, 2022
I might just go hang myself then bury my cold dead body next to Frank’s…….”you see, my dear?”
For the love of a good editor, please forgive me for this, but I’ve never been so blunt in any comments until now. This is maddening. Such potential for something great was just shoved off a cliff by how many times the character speaks to the reader saying “you see, my dear?”. The first time was oddly unsettlingly then there was another and another and another and……keep repeating that until you too want to hang yourself then bury your own body next to Franks body. (Frank is the MC’s husband). Her dead husband (that is not a spoiler at all). The main character is talking to the reader the entire book?????!!!!
For the love of a good editor, please forgive me for this, but I’ve never been so blunt in any comments until now. This is maddening. Such potential for something great was just shoved off a cliff by how many times the character speaks to the reader saying “you see, my dear?”. The first time was oddly unsettlingly then there was another and another and another and……keep repeating that until you too want to hang yourself then bury your own body next to Franks body. (Frank is the MC’s husband). Her dead husband (that is not a spoiler at all). The main character is talking to the reader the entire book?????!!!!
July 3, 2022
This Condemned Oak Tree opens on the death of Maureen's husband and her burial of him. Told with jumping timelines in a very flat tone, we follow Maureen through points of her life that led her to where she is today. She has been a very independent and secretive person, and the book is her feeling ready to share her story with someone.
I found the book very interesting. I liked the jumping timelines and learning more backstory. I didn't love the tone of Maureen's speech and found her pretty flat and unemotional. I can understand why it was written that way though. There are a couple of minor twists that I did guess while reading. Overall it was a solid read.
I found the book very interesting. I liked the jumping timelines and learning more backstory. I didn't love the tone of Maureen's speech and found her pretty flat and unemotional. I can understand why it was written that way though. There are a couple of minor twists that I did guess while reading. Overall it was a solid read.
August 19, 2022
If one word summed up this debut novel for me it would be quirky. I liked the style of writing and how the author broke down the chapters into months of the year and their connection to the garden and nature, while then using flashbacks to recount the life and events in the MCs life. I needed to know how Frank died, because the answer is very vague throughout. Although the ending was a little quick to turn for me, I still enjoyed the twists.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews