My mother taught Rick Powers creative writing in high school, DeKalb Illinois. He dedicated "Three Farmers" to her. Our greatest living author, and easily the most intelligent person I've ever talked to. I'm about half way though Overstory and loving it.
That's such a cool link! Every time I hear him talk on podcasts, he sounds like he has a bottomless well of knowledge. Glad you're loving The Overstory.
How enjoyable it is to read your review after just completing this book! It really is a gem. Incidentally, Powers didn't move to the Rockies but to the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (one of the largest blocks of deciduous, temperate, old growth forest in North America).
I picked up this book recently and am still making my way through the first section, "Roots." The writing is astounding. Brilliantly constructed narratives. Will revisit this comment thread after completing the book. Really enjoyed your review, Ben. I don't look for detailed explications in RUclips book reviews. Rather, I look for meaningful probings into the soul of the work. You've given us that.
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it - that writing thankfully continues to be beautiful and compelling throughout. It's such a treat. Thank you for the kind comment - this was my first standalone book review and I really wanted to get under the skin of what it made me feel. Glad that came through!
AMAZING review 🌳 I just got myself a copy. You are very articulate and this spoiler-free review (which I appreciate for actually BEING spoiler-free) has thoroughly convinced me to put this on my March reading list. Happy reading!
LOVE Bewilderment sooo much - one of my top 2 reads of last year and probably ever- and immediately got Overstory and it’s waiting on my TBR nightstand RN
Bewilderment is an absolute lot beautiful novel, one of my favourites ever as well. I’m trying to get more Richard Powers into my reading diet - I think I might go for Galatea 2.0 (about artificial intelligence) next.
This book has been on my radar for ages because I love trees! I really enjoyed your review separated into the different parts. You’re very eloquent in describing the different aspects of the novel 😊📚 🌲 🌳
Excellent review! I’ve had this on my TBR for awhile. I stumbled onto it when perusing the bookshelves and the cover caught my eye, as an avid hiker I’ve always had an affinity to trees and how forests are so magical and brimming with life. You have me very excited to read this! Great review that avoids spoilers but discusses enough of the themes to pique one’s interests. Saving this for the spring for when I’m out in the woods more often to get me more immersed.
Thank you so much! I was a bit conscious that it was a fairly high level, vibe-based review, but I’m glad you got something out of it. There is definitely SO much that could be discussed and analysed - maybe one day I will work my way up to reviews like that 😅
That's crazy that it made you sad. Now I'm wondering how it was written. Was it written like a romance novel involving a guy and some forest preserve or what? Sounds damn interesting. I bought a DSLR just for the fact that I want to learn more about nature and take pictures too examine. I would hate for my images to become historical pictures.
I have to agree with your other commenter who said they hadn’t been planning on reading this book due to its size until they saw your video. I don’t do well with big books, but I definitely want to give The Overstory a try now. Perhaps on audio. Thanks for your thoughts on it!
That’s great! I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I will warn you that the middle section is LONG, but you just need to try and treat it like lots of small chapters, despite it not being broken up in the text.
If you’ve read The Overstory, let me know what you thought of it!
Absolutely love the book!
My mother taught Rick Powers creative writing in high school, DeKalb Illinois. He dedicated "Three Farmers" to her. Our greatest living author, and easily the most intelligent person I've ever talked to. I'm about half way though Overstory and loving it.
That's such a cool link! Every time I hear him talk on podcasts, he sounds like he has a bottomless well of knowledge. Glad you're loving The Overstory.
How enjoyable it is to read your review after just completing this book! It really is a gem. Incidentally, Powers didn't move to the Rockies but to the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (one of the largest blocks of deciduous, temperate, old growth forest in North America).
I picked up this book recently and am still making my way through the first section, "Roots." The writing is astounding. Brilliantly constructed narratives. Will revisit this comment thread after completing the book.
Really enjoyed your review, Ben. I don't look for detailed explications in RUclips book reviews. Rather, I look for meaningful probings into the soul of the work. You've given us that.
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it - that writing thankfully continues to be beautiful and compelling throughout. It's such a treat.
Thank you for the kind comment - this was my first standalone book review and I really wanted to get under the skin of what it made me feel. Glad that came through!
Beautiful review, thank you so much! I'm currently reading it and in love with the language and structure.
Thanks very much for the kind words - glad you enjoyed it! It's a really wonderful novel.
AMAZING review 🌳 I just got myself a copy. You are very articulate and this spoiler-free review (which I appreciate for actually BEING spoiler-free) has thoroughly convinced me to put this on my March reading list. Happy reading!
What a kind comment - thanks so much! I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did 🙏
LOVE Bewilderment sooo much - one of my top 2 reads of last year and probably ever- and immediately got Overstory and it’s waiting on my TBR nightstand RN
Bewilderment is an absolute lot beautiful novel, one of my favourites ever as well. I’m trying to get more Richard Powers into my reading diet - I think I might go for Galatea 2.0 (about artificial intelligence) next.
This book has been on my radar for ages because I love trees! I really enjoyed your review separated into the different parts. You’re very eloquent in describing the different aspects of the novel 😊📚 🌲 🌳
Thanks so much! I am a sucker for structure, so I like to break things down into sections. Glad you enjoyed it 🌳
Excellent review! I’ve had this on my TBR for awhile. I stumbled onto it when perusing the bookshelves and the cover caught my eye, as an avid hiker I’ve always had an affinity to trees and how forests are so magical and brimming with life.
You have me very excited to read this! Great review that avoids spoilers but discusses enough of the themes to pique one’s interests. Saving this for the spring for when I’m out in the woods more often to get me more immersed.
Thank you so much! I was a bit conscious that it was a fairly high level, vibe-based review, but I’m glad you got something out of it. There is definitely SO much that could be discussed and analysed - maybe one day I will work my way up to reviews like that 😅
This book is so painfully good and beautifully written. It hurt me to read it, but it was so worth it.
Yeah, there’s a certainly a lot to be sad about, to see our natural world being stripped for parts in real time. But as you say, definitely worth it.
That's crazy that it made you sad. Now I'm wondering how it was written. Was it written like a romance novel involving a guy and some forest preserve or what? Sounds damn interesting. I bought a DSLR just for the fact that I want to learn more about nature and take pictures too examine. I would hate for my images to become historical pictures.
Reading now.. have always loved trees and am astounded by this ode to trees!
It's a really beautiful, epic novel! Hope you enjoy it the whole way through.
Lovely review! I have The Overstory on my to-read list and your review convinced me to read it in the upcoming month.
Thanks so much. I really hope you enjoy it!
Thank you for this review, I was not planning on reading it just because of its size, but you really inspired me to add it to my to-read list.
I’m so pleased! It really is a wonderful book.
I have to agree with your other commenter who said they hadn’t been planning on reading this book due to its size until they saw your video. I don’t do well with big books, but I definitely want to give The Overstory a try now. Perhaps on audio. Thanks for your thoughts on it!
That’s great! I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I will warn you that the middle section is LONG, but you just need to try and treat it like lots of small chapters, despite it not being broken up in the text.
By the way, if you did want a taster of Powers’ writing without diving into such a mammoth book, I like Bewilderment even more.
@@benreadsgood Ooh! I have Bewilderment here waiting to be read!
I don’t want to overuse the word ‘masterpiece’ on my channel, but… yeah it’s also a masterpiece!
How good the book is if i had to use eco criticism in it for my thesis showing human and nature relationship
That timeline you mentioned was in JFK's speech setting off the space race.
It’s such a startling image, so that makes total sense!
im inspired to read this book because my favorite singer Andrea Von Kampen released 2 songs based on this book so now i have to read it
That's so cool! You know you're onto a winner when you're inspiring songwriters to respond to your work.
I’ve had this on my shelf for a year and still haven’t gotten to it 😮
Now is the time!!!
Same for me, too! I agree tho - maybe now's the time!
👏🏽 👏🏽 💚