Who Would Like This Book:
The Overstory is a sweeping, lyrical novel that redefines our relationship with nature, especially trees. Richard Powers masterfully weaves together the interconnected lives of nine characters, inviting readers to see forests not just as a backdrop, but almost as living protagonists. Nature lovers, fans of literary fiction, and those interested in environmental themes will be especially drawn in. The story is rich in botanical detail and packed with moments of awe that might just have you hugging a tree - or at least noticing them in a new light.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found The Overstory a bit heavy-handed with its environmental message, or felt bogged down by its ambitious length and large cast of characters. If you prefer fast-paced plots, clear narrative arcs, or dislike novels with overt ideological themes, you may find it slow or preachy at times. A few also noted that the prose can get dense, and that keeping track of so many intertwining stories can be confusing. Others were put off by what they saw as repetitive characterizations or less believable dialogue.
About:
"The Overstory" by Richard Powers is a novel that intricately weaves together the lives of various characters who have a deep connection with trees. The book starts with seemingly disconnected short stories that gradually intertwine, highlighting the importance of trees and the impact they have on people's lives. The writing style shifts between individual character narratives and an overarching theme of environmental activism, creating a complex yet compelling storyline that explores the relationships between humans and nature.
The narrative of "The Overstory" delves into the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world, particularly focusing on the significance of trees in shaping individual destinies and the collective fate of the planet. Through a mix of poetic language, overlapping storylines, and thought-provoking events, the book presents a powerful and emotional tale that challenges readers to rethink their perspectives on environmental conservation and the beauty of nature.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include themes of environmental destruction, suicide, and violence stemming from activism.
From The Publisher:
THE GLOBAL MILLION COPY BESTSELLER and WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION
'It changed how I thought about the Earth and our place in it' Barack Obama
'Really, just one of the best novels, period' Ann Patchett
A wondrous, exhilarating novel about nine strangers brought together by an unfolding natural catastrophe. The perfect literary escape.
An artist inherits a hundred years of photographic portraits, all of the same doomed American chestnut. A hard-partying undergraduate in the late 1980s electrocutes herself, dies, and is sent back into life by creatures of air and light. A hearing- and speech-impaired scientist discovers that trees are communicating with one another. An Air Force crewmember in the Vietnam War is shot out of the sky, then saved by falling into a banyan.
This is the story of these and five other strangers, each summoned in different ways by the natural world, who are brought together in a last stand to save it from catastrophe.
'It's not possible for Powers to write an uninteresting book' Margaret Atwood
'Radical and exciting' Jessie Burton
'Breathtaking' Barbara Kingsolver
Ratings (108)
Incredible (34) | |
Loved It (35) | |
Liked It (21) | |
It Was OK (9) | |
Did Not Like (7) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (252):
Read It (107) | |
Currently Reading (3) | |
Want To Read (114) | |
Did Not Finish (11) | |
Not Interested (17) |
6 comment(s)
How to explain my mixed feelings on this book? I resonate with the idea behind the novel and the desire to force us to stop for a second and pay attention - to become attune to the magic of trees around us. I understand wanting us to appreciate how much we rely on trees for our survival, and how much this has become a threat in today’s digital age. And I even appreciate the probe into advocacy, radicalism and the question of how much you give to a cause that may already be lost. But despite these intentions, I felt unfulfilled and underwhelmed by the end of this book. The overarching theme was so obviously and repeatedly stated that it felt condescending. The writing, though unique and smart in its own way, was also convoluted and pretentious. The intertwining stories rambled on, and I was often lost in a sea of tedium that overall made this book a slow struggle for me.
A few flaws keep it from realizing its max potential but this left a mark and really that’s all that matters. 4.5 but it deserves the 5 on here
That was really hard to get through. I kept holding out hope for something so kept trudging on. I get it, but there were so many trite, unnecessary sections of this book. I think the author read a little too much Thoreau.
Excellent!
Beautiful, mythic, timely, and timeless. A eulogy for the anthropocene and a tribute to the great, endlessly branching tree of life. One of the best books I’ve ever read.
4.5 stars
RTC
Happy Reading!
What can you read after
The Overstory?
About the Author:
Richard Powers has published thirteen novels. He is a MacArthur Fellow and received the National Book Award. His most recent book, The Overstory, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. He lives in the Great Smoky Mountains.
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