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The Overstory A Novel Richard Powers 9780393635522 Books

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The Overstory A Novel Richard Powers 9780393635522 Books

I finished this magnificent, life-changing book 1/2 hour ago, and I hope to read it again soon. Powers takes on the single most important topic of our time: the effects of humans on the planet and the possibility of a future. Through 9 varied characters, he brings to life the old forests, the lives of individual trees, the quest for AI, and the love people are capable of, among other themes. It's a tour de force of creation and, at 500 pages, it could have gone on forever and I would have been happy. It will also break your heart, but it's not completely without hope. Highest recommendation.


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The Overstory A Novel Richard Powers 9780393635522 Books Reviews

I'm half way through it and I am finding it very hard to put down. This differs from his other novels in its accessibility to the average reader- I hope it will bring him the popularity he so richly deserves. This is an immensely readable novel- he seems to have improved his ability to communicate his rather esoteric ideas to an audience that is not necessarily well versed in science and/or music. His characters are well drawn and compelling- I find myself thinking about them often, and not wanting to end the book, because I will miss all of them. It is a uniquely American novel in many ways, and yet, of course, its themes are universal. Powers writes a lot about the connections between art and science; this more than most of his books, is about humans and our connection to nature. It's a common subject, and yet he gives it his own special twist. It's his most accessible novel since In The Time Of Our Singing. I have to say that the phrase "Great American Novel" keeps coming to me- I'm not sure if I am being hyperbolic.
How have I lived and read this long and not known of Richard Powers? What a writer and what a book.

If I were still in my 20s or even 30s I would be buying copies of this book and thrusting them all on my friends and telling them it is a must read. Now that I'm considerably older than that, I'm not so naive. You have to come to it of your own. The trees themselves will call you do it, just as in the book.

Of course, it's a clarion call to our species to stop wreaking havoc on the earth and all its species, including our own. And, of course, it is a cry in the dark. We will destroy ourselves and then the planet can begin to recover. It's happened many times during the earth's long history and will happen many times again. Too bad for us. Let's hope some of those magnificent giants out live us to help heal earth after we have destroyed it.

Nevertheless, read this book and try to change the "live only for today and the next dollar" ethos.
The first chapter alone is worth the price of entry -- if it were a stand-alone short story, it would be the best short story I've ever read. I have read a number of this author's works, and mostly enjoyed them, but there was always something missing. This book has it all.
A wise, deep, moving epic by an exceptional writer. I was totally entranced. There are fabulous stand-alone set pieces, engaging characters, glorious prose and a soul-stirring look into the inner lives of trees. It’s one of a handful of books of which I can say I was a different person when I finished it. Bravo, Mr. Powers. This may very well be your masterpiece.
When looking for a literary analogue, The Overstory is almost something of a Dostoevskian novel. The themes are different of course—-Powers is not interested in discussing God or the basis of morality—but one does get the sense in reading the Overstory that the plot, characters and various literary devices are all at the service of the author’s philosophical vision. And by philosophical I don’t mean esoteric fine points of metaphysics but the larger question of the future of life on earth—in both Powers and Dostoevsky there is almost a return to the themes of ancient apocalyptic writings.

While Powers certainly doesn’t need authentication of his narrative power—he has already won a National Book Award among many literary prizes—I can vouchsafe that he is an excellent storyteller. Similarly, his ability to create characters that may stretch the bounds of believability but still generate passionate sympathetic feelings in the reader is also beyond doubt.

Thus, I found myself reading the Overstory with every free moment I had over two days and loving nearly every page.

The overarching philosophy of the work is that human beings, either willfully or not, do not understand the amount of destruction they are causing to the world’s flora. Plants and trees, one of the oldest of the earth’s kingdoms, are only now beginning to be understood as beings that communicate, learn and in some instances even care for their own offspring. The human caused biocide of the world’s flora is a tragedy not only because these trees may have medicinal or other useful properties for humans but also because each one is a beautiful product of nature fashioned over millions of years. In the author’s view, we seem to be destroying some of the most important parts of creation, so that everyone can, so to speak, have a bigger projection screen TV.

Nor are biofuels, renewable energy or other technological fixes likely to stem this downward spiral. Even virtual reality is only going to be as interesting as the humans who create it and so cannot be a genuine substitute for the complexity of what nature provides for us gratis in the real world.

The author seems to envision only two scenarios either humankind will wipe itself out and the earth will generate new, unforeseeable solutions to life or artificial intelligence will impose a solution on a humanity which cannot save itself.

To those who have read optimistic works like Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment Now or related perspectives such environmental pessimism is somewhat startling. I can’t say that I am fully persuaded by Powers’ perspective but I can appreciate the accuracy of his science, the literary craftsmanship that went into embodying these ideas and the importance of his overall message.

So, if you are willing to endure a literary punch to the stomach and put on apocalyptic glasses then you will thoroughly enjoy The Overstory. But, though a love of trees thoroughly permeates the book, it is hardly a walk in the park.
I finished this magnificent, life-changing book 1/2 hour ago, and I hope to read it again soon. Powers takes on the single most important topic of our time the effects of humans on the planet and the possibility of a future. Through 9 varied characters, he brings to life the old forests, the lives of individual trees, the quest for AI, and the love people are capable of, among other themes. It's a tour de force of creation and, at 500 pages, it could have gone on forever and I would have been happy. It will also break your heart, but it's not completely without hope. Highest recommendation.