The Overstory: A Novel Book Reviews

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Flawed but Wonderful. This novel asks the question, “Why, when the natural world is obviously on the brink of destruction, are so many doing nothing?” And it asks that question by following a handful of people who decide to save the world and by showing the forces that oppose them in the background. The novel is too long, has several subplots that are silly, and some sequences and passages that are cringeworthy as they fall short of the wisdom for which they aim. But when this novel is on target, it is marvelous. Well worth the time investment.

Ended up a waste of time. I thought I would like this book, even though I’m not fond of novels. Enjoyed it at first, but really...forced plot and characters strained to make points the author wanted to make about the environment, too many characters to follow or frankly, to be very interested in. It became very artificial and eventually I was just plain bored and put it down. Save yourself a bunch of time and instead just read “The Hidden Life of Trees”, a REAL book about the overstory.

Still. Richard Powers novel The Overstory is an act of grace, opening the way to perceive and receive the natural world while sitting still in your chair.

Beautiful. This is the best book I’ve ever read.

Boring. I keep reading 4 & 5 star reviews of this book and I just don’t get it. The book was just plain boring. I tried to read the entire book but at about 40% I just couldn’t take it anymore. My brother said it was one of the greatest books he ever read so I purchased it on my iPhone and was so excited to begin this novel and then the torture began. The tree metaphors fell flat and turning the pages became a chore. The author is certainly skilled with words but the endless descriptions I found painful. One star. That’s it. Want to read a great book...read The Last Days of Night.

Magnificent. Changes the way you think about everything

Not that great. How this won a Pulitzer is baffling. These short stories seem under baked and the language is suppose to be what? Clever? Thought provoking? Certainly not entertaining because for the sixteen bucks I paid for this stink fest I would like my money back. I watched this guy on the news hour and was expecting this to be about trees. This book has little to do with trees except in glances and the paper it was wasted on. Avoid this one. Then figure out how easy it must be to buy a Pulitzer

Divinely braided words. I highlighted so many parts of this book as I read it because Powers managed to somehow impeccably articulate observations and life experiences with his words. Reading this book was a gift I hope to unwrap again and again.

Not worth the effort (or money). First short story was wonderful. Downhill from there. He desperately needs an editor. He should have focused on (and attributed) the story of ELF’s activities and trail of Daniel McGowan. Trying to connect that story with Julia (Butterfly) Hill and The Hidden Life of Trees (again without any attribution that I saw) is interesting in the abstract. But snow-shoveling unrelated stories about online gaming and an IP lawyer who marries a court reporter muddied it beyond endurance. Read about the above separately and spare yourself his incessant preaching.

Overstory. I'm changed by this book.

Life Changing. I thought I was fairly tuned in to the connectedness of life on this planet, but now I feel mission bound to develop a deeper understanding of everything around me. This book is a thought provoking spiritual guide that will challenge you to live an intentional existence.

Beyond amazing!. I am changed forever.

Most satisfying book I have ever read. I was deeply touched and inspired by the ecological metaphors, the ringing theme that humans are newcomers to this complex system few of whom notice the brilliance and sanctity of biological life. I presume the negative reviews are from humans tied to their narcissistic lot unquestioningly. Please ignore the doubters and read this book. Truly life changing.

You’ll never think of Trees and your garden the same.. I began reading The Overstory and got into it for a couple of chapters and put it aside. I thought it was a collection of short stories on a theme. Then I picked it up again and it changed how I view the entire world around me. I’m from California, have a cottage near the Russian River and love the awe inspiring redwoods. This overarching story has made me understand so much more and question everything out my window. His writing is forceful and thought provoking so much so I’d find myself repeating pages and passages knowing I’ll read this again. Brilliantly played out over decades and places coast to coast and over the world with the common linkage of trees. If you watch the news with the Amazon on fire and it’s freaking you out, read this book. Deserving of the Pulitzer and other awards it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Soooo well written. Beautiful prose and certainly a relevant message for our times. I cannot believe the depth of knowledge the author has in so many disparate fields. Super impressive. I didn’t love the end but nevertheless think it is an important and elegant novel!

The Overstory. This book can change your life. It will break your heart and give you hope. It recreates the way things grow, how they connect, and joins us, and all we do, to the tree of life. From solitary lives to a growing forest you see your individual history made meaningful. The future as memory.

The long long story. Long and repetitive. The narration is confusing and the inner thoughts of the too many characters are nonsense. He has ruined a good cause with a load of nonsense.

Phenomenal. Usually the hype is a huge disappointment (too many examples to name here) but not in this case. So beautiful and thoughtful.

Love. One of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read

The Overstory. This is the best book I’ve ever read! I learned so much about trees and about humans, the ways we are intertwined.

The Overstory. Beautiful and haunting and unforgettable

GENIUS. Pure Genius!

Overstory. This ambitious book was a disappointment to me. The various segments did not come together in the weaving process of the story. Too often the writing descended into long monologues or overblown plot that felt more like crass popular fiction than artful character development and storytelling.

The Trees are alive. I was really impressed with this novel. I had never read anything by Richard Powers before, but I will definitely read more from this author. It was fascinating reading about the secret life of the forests and how connected the trees are to everything in nature, including us. I wish the book within the novel: Secret Forest by Patricia Westerford, who was also a supporting character was a real book.

Just amazing !!. There is a reason why this book received such rave reviews. It can get a bit dry in the middle, but totally worth reading it.

One of THE best books I have ever read. As stated above. One of the very best ever in 55 years of literary consumption. The Pulitzer got this one right am surprised that so few I talk to have not heard of this amazing piece of literature Running reader

Never the Same Again. It grows on you. It grows all around you. Roots and branches that weave a tale of people and trees. You’ll never look at a tree the same way again.

The Overstory. Important and topical subject. Story however, wanders and rambles, often senseless and weird. Story pointlessly continues seemingly forever. Kill me.

Torture. This book was dense. That is all.

Haunting and Life-Changing. A magnificent work that will haunt you and lead you to action. You will never look at our world the same way again. Brought me to tears many times, but there is hope. Read this, it will disturb and move you.

The overstory. A great and poignant read beautiful writing.

So much wisdom. I am amazed a single author knows so much about so many diverse topics and was able to weave the knowledge into this novel with such skill and grace. My admiration for trees increased tenfold. A must read

You hear or you don’t. Reading reviews one would think that two different books are being reviewed here. Some will never be able to hear the forest but all of us will pay for it.

really engaging. i loved it. felt like the thread got lost a few times. reread several sections to clarify. leaves the reader open to wonder.

This garbage won a Pulitzer?. Heavy handed and contrived. I also marvel at the fact that the author was able to have so many different viewpoints that all sounded like a boring old man. The Lorax made all the same points without being so condescending.

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