Roxane's Reviews > The Overstory

Why is it that most Pulitzer Prize Winners seem to go like that for me? Maybe I should take winning the Pulitzer as a sign not to read the book?

I finally got rid of a Richard Powers book that my book group tried to read, like, twenty five years ago (Operation Wandering Soul). We found it impenetrable then, and I wasn't excited when he won the Pulitzer this year. But I do like trees. Maybe I'll find a library copy and give it a whack.

I love trees but I am with you. Halfway through and I’m giving up.

For me, the issue is less with the book's descriptiveness than with its heavy-handed messaging. The more it wears its politics on its sleeve, the less poignant and persuasive it becomes. Still, its scope, (occasional) power, and conceptual ambition make it one of the best book's I've read in a while.

I wish Rebecca Makkai had won.

This book is brilliant and beautiful and captivated me all the way through. I also really liked last year’s Pulitzer winner Less by Greer.

I'm with you Devi, The Great Believers was the best book in the bunch by far.

Adding The Great Believers to my summer reading list 👍

Most of all thank you for your continued review of books! I really appreciate your insights. Thank you

You perfectly captured my feelings on this book. I did finish though and ended up feeling resentful. At least the library will benefit from my late fees

Just echoing the thanks for continued reviews. It's edifying, yes, but more than that- comforting... like having a really cool neighbor who makes your day a plus when you see them. I wish more authors put themselves out there in as many ways as you do. Sending you love and appreciation, lady.

I had issues even in the first few pages—beautiful, but . . . I do love trees, but still felt disappointed. I will keep reading a while longer to understand what I am missing.

Just finished and I totally understand the Did Not Finish comments. I also hit some descriptive passages that seemed like more and more of the same gushing about tree varieties and leaf shapes, etc. Had to skim over as needed. I had to take this book in smaller poses than is typical for me. I'm glad I finished--definitely gave me a lot to think about. However, not the kind of book I would re-read!

Just starting this today. I loved The Echo Maker. I really want to love this but your review confirms my suspicions lol

This is my experience, I stopped reading about half way. Was super engaged by the character sketches at first but then it was getting way out there and I started to not care. Too far fetched.

Woohoo! I don’t have to trudge through just to be disappointed. I love trees. Huge fan. This book is kind of a bummer. Abandoned!

I'm 3/4 through this book, but I don't know if I can finish it. Your review captures my feelings perfectly.

'gets less engaging' is exactly the problem I had! Great first half...then downhill from there...all the way to 'wtf'?

I muscled through to the end, but it wasn't the nature writing that slowed me down! Am I alone in being struck by how one-dimensional the women become in this book?! All but one turns into a trope: magical ingenues and straightlaced-with-a-wild-streak and the occasional prop of a nagging wife or mother. Roxane if you're out there and you did give up on this book, rest assured you didn't miss much.

I'm glad it's not just me! I did finish, but it was really hard to get through. I do love trees but there's only so much you can read in a fictional story about trees.

I don't think enough is said about how this book is essentially a work of historical fiction (it struck me that one reviewer claimed it was "far fetched"). I lived in the Pacific Northwest during the early 2000s and remember the "timber wars" well, and was struck by how much of this book is based on real people and events - Olivia is based on Julia Butterfly Hill, who lived 200 feet up in an ancient redwood to protect it from logging, David Chain was killed by loggers "accidentally" during a demonstration similar to one depicted, police officers in Eureka CA used Q tips to apply pepper spray to the eyes of protesters who occupied the offices of a logging company, corporate lobbyists, post 911, urged the FBI to crack down on "eco terrorists" post 9/11 - the list goes on and on. I went down a real internet worm hole after finishing and loved learning more about the true stories behind the book!

I agree it could have benefitted from a bit of editing around the 3/4 mark and some characters were a bit flat, but for a book that sought to decentralize the human experience and make us realize our smallness in the scope of history and the natural world I thought it was beautifully written and very moving.

Oh wow. This is exactly what happened to me. Also, I do love trees but I couldn’t go ahead with this book. If it wanted to get its message across, it would have had to be less indulgent.

Oh whew. Relieved I’m not the only one. Yes, he desperately needed some editing to move the story along. Really well written (wordsmith-wise) but it got boring and repetitive and the characters stopped being compelling.

I struggled to finish it - the characters didn’t hold my attention and the story didn’t gel well from about half way. I was aware of a lot of the science but learned some new stuff and I’m ready to go chain myself to a tree somewhere!

So true, part one was mesmerizing. As I was drawn into each new character’s life with trees, it felt magical and I thought, wow, what am I reading?? But by the time the characters became activists, I lost interest. I was much more invested in how trees intertwined with their private lives than with the public activism and arrests part of the book.

I also struggled to finish it, but it was beautifully written and I get why it won the Pulitzer.

I’m not alone I see, 2nd half really torturous. Ughh.! Why I ask was this dribble attached?

I have lived in Western Washington for 71 years. I was really intrigued with the books premise. However, I don’t think I can afford to slog through another grind like the second half of this book. I read one of the authors other books, The Echo Maker. And I should have learned a lesson.

My husband and I both finished the book and were baffled as to why it won a Pulitzer and garnered so much critical praise (a case of the Emperor’s new clothes, perhaps?). I went to good reads to see what other mortals said about it and found a review that expressed my feelings exactly. And then I looked at the reviewer’s photo and realized that ROXANE GAY and I agree about the book!! I will NEVER doubt my literary taste again!

I agree. I don't think it deserved the Pulitzer.

It's a tad bit long-winded.

I totally agree. I rarely give up on a book because I tend to choose carefully. But this one, at the halfway mark had little pull for me. I sense the characters will come together, but I hardly care to endure the slow development any longer. I adore trees. And forests. And their care.

Thank you so much - I’m not a fan of short stories so that might be why I’m struggling. I’ll give it a few more pages and if it doesn’t grab my attention- I’ll add it to my abandoned shelf.

Yep, I start a highly acclaimed book like this and wonder why I am not that into it. Yes, the writing is beautiful. The stories at the beginning make for a good collection of short stories. But overall the book is pretentious, grandiose and bloated. Think I’ll find another one

I agree with Erica. I don't like the short story form and so I can't read them unless they are amazing and I just couldn't connect with us. Thanks for honest review.

I love trees. I did not love this book.

Omg, this won a Pulitzer? I’m only in the third chapter, and giving up. I find the dialogue horrible. The interactions feel like setups to deliver little nuggets of insight about the [pun alert] wooden characters, or some pithy comment about life . Ugh.

I think your review is very generous and well written. I really did not like much about this one at all.

I got depressed reading this and it took me months to read. It really is disheartening the way our culture treats scientists. And women. If there was overall trust of science, and we subscribed to the facts that humans can make a real impact to save our species & many others, we should live a certain way, produce food and conserve water and energy. I plant native trees bc I see developments and tree removal every day. I grew up in a community on a reservoir that didn’t allow lawns and encouraged xeriscape. That was 35 yrs ago; now new communities call for non-native plants and irrigation. Stop sprawl and clean up the cities. Learn to live together; don’t escape into VR.

Love your review, and it mirrors my feelings. Fantastic first third, ok second, and then meh third, turning to metaphysical for my taste.

I haven’t read Overstory yet, but it was recommended as I just finished Greenwood by Michael Christie. I might pass on this one now, but would highly recommend Greenwood.

Jonathan wrote: "Omg, this won a Pulitzer? I’m only in the third chapter, and giving up. I find the dialogue horrible. The interactions feel like setups to deliver little nuggets of insight about the [pun alert] wo..."

I think those Pulitzer voters like 'message' books. "Goldfinch" addressed art theft, for example, but oddly the only message I got out of it was to stay away from museum gift shops. And beware of mob folks disguised as high school students. Oh, and don't buy a tract house near Vegas. Oh, and don't give anyone your passport, but who does that anyway?

Good book. Depressing but I did feel for the characters. Took me about 3 1/2 weeks to finish. I liked it but wouldn’t read it again.

that cover though <3

Makes me want to go plant an acorn......see if I'll get an oak tree!!!!!!!

The book isn’t about trees…it’s about humans. Enjoyable and well written…just be prepared for a long journey. Well worth it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
This book, The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak, did for me what The Overstory didn’t. It actually brought trees to life.

Thanks for that! Looks like there are some interesting things by the same author.

Interesting Drew. I read this because when we discussed missing trees in a group a woman lent me overstory. I see your point but very different books.

Agree with this review 100%.