Reading Envy Readers discussion

It is inevitable that I would start this thread, because I've always seen this book as one of the parts of what I call the Tree Triumvirate - three hefty novels about trees that came out within a year of one another...

The Overstory
Barkskins
Greenwood

I've read the Powers but not the Proulx or Christie.

And then I also read The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World, which figures in to at least the Powers.

Have you read any of these or can you think of others?

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "It is inevitable that I would start this thread, because I've always seen this book as one of the parts of what I call the Tree Triumvirate - three hefty novels about trees that came out within a y..."

I haven't read it yet, but the NYTimes Book Review and its podcast gave a great review to a new debut, Damnation Spring

Nadine wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "It is inevitable that I would start this thread, because I've always seen this book as one of the parts of what I call the Tree Triumvirate - three hefty novels about t..."

Ooh yeah the miscarriage theme gave me pause on that one but it's a landscape I know and love....

The Giving Tree...all my grandchildren received this
Sometimes a Great Notion...a beloved west coast tale of a family struggling in the lumber industry
I have recommended Damnation Spring to my library..sounds great!

Ooh yes, DS went straight onto my TBR as soon as I heard that podcast.

The Red Tree by Caitlin Kiernan is about a haunted tree. Very creepy.

I thought of a few more....

the beginning of the novel reminded me of Serena by Ron Rash, about a couple linked to the logging industry around the time that the Blue Ridge Parkway was in process, so a much later time period than the novel starts but a similar industry.

I also was reminded of Last Night in Twisted River, lesser successful John Irving novel (to my mind) about a logging town.

I loved both The Overstory and Barkskins. I also read Serena some time ago and I think I just remember one gory accident? Greenwood is on my TBR, but somehow I missed it when it first came out.

I have always associated Barkskins with The Luminaries--big books that I read around the same time, both about extractive industries. Totally different books, but always linked in my mind.

I just finished Damnation Spring this evening and really enjoyed the read. It was on my list and I wanted to get to it before I started Barkskins.

I am a bit of a tree fanatic - I loved Overstory. Hidden Life of Trees is on my shelf, but I haven't gotten to it yet. Oak Papers by Canton, The Wild Trees by Richard Preston, and The Sakura Obsession by Naoko Abe are three non-fiction books about trees that I have loved.

On a totally different tree themed book note, Wishtree by Katherine Applegate is a book for readers young and old and is absolutely a heartwarming delight. It was originally published as a young reader title, but then an adult version (same text, different cover) was released. If you just want to make your heart happy, this one is great.

I recently read ‘Deep River’ by Karl Marlantes, a family saga about Finnish and Swedish immigrants to Oregon and Washington around the turn of the 20th century and their involvement in logging and the rise of labor unions. The author based some of the characters and story on the Kalevala, an epic poem that tells stories from Finnish folklore and mythology.

The Journeys of Trees: A Story about Forests, People, and the Future. I haven’t read it, but it looks good.

Dree wrote: "I have always associated Barkskins with The Luminaries--big books that I read around the same time, both about extractive industries. Totally different books, but always linked in my mind.."
I bailed on The Luminaries and was sad to do so, but I can see them connecting in the way of both being about an industry kind of.

Gail wrote: "The Giving Tree...all my grandchildren received this
Sometimes a Great Notion...a beloved west coast tale of a family struggling in the lumber industry
I have recommende..."

Ooh my dad had Sometimes a Great Notion on his shelf and I read/skimmed it as a child. I remember Cuckoo better. :)

Laura wrote: "Oak Papers by Canton, The Wild Trees by Richard Preston, and The Sakura Obsession by Naoko Abe are three non-fiction books about trees that I have loved.

On a totally different tree themed book note, Wishtree by Katherine Applegate is a book for readers young and old and is absolutely a heartwarming delight. It was originally published as a young reader title, but then an adult version (same text, different cover) was released. If you just want to make your heart happy, this one is great."

Wow, unfamiliar with all, all sound good.

Karen wrote: "I recently read ‘Deep River’ by Karl Marlantes, a family saga about Finnish and Swedish immigrants to Oregon and Washington around the turn of the 20th century and their involvement in logging and ..."

I really want to read this one but feel guilty reading it before his book about Vietnam which I know is super epic. But you can see the Finnish influence on entire towns like Astoria, Oregon, still today (plus my uncle is Finnish!)

This may be of interest:

https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/09/01/...

This podcast is about chestnut trees and the fungus that kills them.
The focus of The Overstory.

https://thisislovepodcast.com/

I just finished Damnation Spring and it's set right during when Silent Spring was published, so I picture her in the group of activists trying to shut down the tree companies in the novel.

I felt it was worth the read in the end but I really had to push myself to get through it. I liked that it felt local to where I grew up (although arguably several hundred miles south.)