Play Book Tag discussion

When I was a kid there was a maple tree at the very edge of the woods which had tipped over and half the roots remained in the ground and thus providing life and nutrients for it. It was a delight to climb on horizontally and in the fall when the butternut trees not far from there in the middle of the pasture were dropping their nuts, this side wise maple was aflame. We gathered its leaves with hopes of capturing their beauty forever.

If we ventured a little farther into the woods, we find two trees which my father had joined together with a long and loose cable which had grown into the tree. He made a swing of it. It swung slowly and bouyantly over the sloping hillside. We would pump our legs and then let go and sail down to the soft forest floor. Cheer and do it again once more.

Some of us have stories of trees, they have a place in our hearts and some of us walk by them daily unaware of the riches which they provide. Richard Powers', Mann Booker nominated book The Overstory examines our relationship with trees. The first part of the book seems to be short stories of individual's relationship with trees, but in the next section the people and trees are drawn together in unique ways.

This is not a book for people uninterested in trees or the science behind them, because it is loaded with them. I enjoyed finding out about them.

I found Powers' prose quite beautiful and highlighted profusely:


In fact, it’s Douggie’s growing conviction that the greatest flaw of the species is its overwhelming tendency to mistake agreement for truth. Single biggest influence on what a body will or won’t believe is what nearby bodies broadcast over the public band.

Here’s the thing about an apple: it sticks in the throat. It’s a package deal: lust and understanding. Immortality and death. Sweet pulp with cyanide seeds. It’s a bang on the head that births up whole sciences. A golden delicious discord, the kind of gift chucked into a wedding feast that leads to endless war. It’s the fruit that keeps the gods alive. The first, worst crime, but a fortunate windfall. Blessed be the time that apple taken was.

I'm hoping that The Overstory moves on to the shortlist.

And one last tidbit, I will be forever thankful to Richard Powers for this bit of vocabulary," coprophagic ". I plan on using it in the near future.

I forgot to say that this fits into the friendship tag because there were a number of friendships throughout the book including humans with trees.

Lovely review for a special book, BnB

Thanks. The first part was hard for me to plow through, but once I got into the next part, I couldn't put it down.

What a beautiful review. As we’ve spoken of, I was the reverse and found the first half riveting but the second half harder to get through. I’m yet to write my review but I doubt it will be as lovely as yours.

Susie wrote: "What a beautiful review. As we’ve spoken of, I was the reverse and found the first half riveting but the second half harder to get through. I’m yet to write my review but I doubt it will be as love..."

The book forced me to tap into my experiences with trees. I could have gone on, but thought the two examples were enough. I'd love to hear others experiences as well.

I was interested in how the characters got together and their stories.

Some books are hard to write reviews for and I anguish over them and sometimes never write them. I'm having trouble with The Mars Room and I'm not sure if I will write one for it.

I’m glad you liked it- I suspected you might.

Tracy wrote: "I’m glad you liked it- I suspected you might."

Powers is an author that I need to put on my I need to read more by him list. I do happen to have one on my tbr, if only it weren't so full.

The Overstory fits my age profile, my where I am living profile and my passions profile.

I have on my tbr a book by Julia Butterfly Hill who lived in a redwood tree for months. I think I am going to read it with in the next month.

And now I am feeling guilty because I have been attacking the overgrown trees in my garden with a bowsaw and a hefty dose of tough love. They are no doubt grumbling about me ...

haha Kate.

Loved this book and loved your review.

Yes, lovely review. Nancy Pearl, in her Book Lust, classed Powers and a handfull of others as "Too Good to Miss".

Speaking of trees, Barkskins by Proulx sits like a fat lump on my shelf. There is "too big to fail" and in bookland there is "too big to lift".

Michael wrote: "Yes, lovely review. Nancy Pearl, in her Book Lust, classed Powers and a handfull of others as "Too Good to Miss".

Speaking of trees, Barkskins by Proulx sits like a fat lump on my shelf. There is ..."

Barkskins is really good, too. It is a chunkster, but it reads fast.

I know what you mean about big books. Although, I was addicted to Michener in the 70's, I now avoid books I consider too be to big to lift.

Finally finished this book. I have a terrible book hangover, so I'm reading all of the reviews that I skipped last month while I was still reading.

Loved this book so much, but I'm still digesting it. I did think of you as I read it. I suspect that it speaks more personally to Californians and others on the left coast.

Jgrace wrote: "Finally finished this book. I have a terrible book hangover, so I'm reading all of the reviews that I skipped last month while I was still reading.

Loved this book so much, but I'm still digesting..."

This book has so much to digest and I do think it is very pertinent to the west coast.

For a follow up book I have the one by Julia Butterfly Hill. I was so intrigued when they lived up in the redwood, I wanted to read a true story about it.

Booknblues wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "Finally finished this book. I have a terrible book hangover, so I'm reading all of the reviews that I skipped last month while I was still reading.

Loved this book so much, but I'm ..."

I had to google a lot of things while I was reading. I remembered the protests, but only the barest details. Took me even longer to finish because I kept checking things about the real events; the protests, that prisoner simulation at Stanford, lots of botany.

Jgrace wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "Finally finished this book. I have a terrible book hangover, so I'm reading all of the reviews that I skipped last month while I was still reading.

Loved this boo..."

It is one of those books that make you do that. I also googled the prisoner simulation, I was so surprised that it was true.

I googled about the chestnut tree. so sad. I remember when the elms died. We had some beautiful ones on our farm. They were a gorgeous tree with a beautiful vase shape.

Once a neighbor boy who I had a crush on came on our property by a beautiful elm and I hid from him moving around its base and he never knew I was there. A great memory, I was so sneaky but the tree helped me.

What a beautiful memory!