Book Review: The Overstory by Richard Powers
I finished The Overstory a couple weeks ago, and I had meant to post this sooner! Unfortunately, life got in the way, but better late than never!
This is a stunning novel that is incredibly enjoyable and thought provoking to read. Every page is filled with the subtlest beauty, crafted with the precision of a splendid artist. For me, there’s a little bit of a story behind this book. I had seen it when it first came out in bookstores, and because of the subject matter, I was immediately drawn to it. The book jacket description did its job and convinced me that I needed to read this novel, but because I have quite a long list of books to read, I didn’t think I would get to it for a while.
When second semester began, there was an English course that I had been hoping to take, but I didn’t see how I could possibly fit it into my schedule. The course was called New Theories of Environmentalism, and it combined environmental theory with the analysis of literature. The professor was one that I admired, and the subject matter was a combination of my favorite things: nature and literature! To think that I almost didn’t take this class is horrifying because now I look forward to going every Monday and Wednesday. What finally persuaded me to switch into this class was when I saw the syllabus. The Overstory was on the reading list! Since it was a book I had been looking forward to reading, I made the decision to make space and switch into the class. This book is the reason that I ended up in my favorite class of the semester, and maybe even of my college career thus far.
What it’s about:
The Overstory weaves together the lives of nine individuals as they fight to save the trees that mean so much to them. The novel deals with topics such as ecoterrorism, environmental art, how we interact with the natural world and how our lives intermingle with the lives of others. There are many different stories, so it’s hard to give a summary of a single plot; however, I think that what Powers was aiming to do was to write a story that centers around the natural world. The plot is really about the trees.
Who should read it:
Honestly, I cannot recommend this book enough. This is such an important message, and I believe that everyone should read it. Because of its diversity between different story lines, there is something for every reader. Specifically, nature lovers will enjoy this novel. I found it to be a pretty quick read, just because I enjoyed it so much, but for people who might read at a slower pace, I recommend reading this novel when you have the time to properly enjoy it. It is a full 512 pages, so reading The Overstory is a time commitment, but it is well worth the time and energy. For me it never felt long or tedious. For those of you who prefer happier reads, I should warn you that this book can be pretty sad at some parts; however, I believe that there is more to the story than just sadness. It is possible to find hopeful moments in the midst of the tragic.
Rating: 5/5
This book definitely sticks with you after you read it. The characters are brilliant, the pace is just right and the language constantly amazes and delights. There is just something about this novel that is inherently tree-like. The slow, subtle beauty calls to mind the ancient oak that has been growing in your yard since you were a kid. It reminds us of the kinship between humans and trees and the power that the environment around us will always hold. As soon as I finished this book, I wanted to pick it up and read it all over again. There’s so much you miss the first time around, and it will absolutely be a rewarding reread. This book probably makes it onto my top ten favorite books list. I could talk about it for ages, and I welcome anyone who reads it to reach out to me and tell me your thoughts!