This is the 2nd book by Richard Powers I’ve read–a small number for such an acclaimed author, for sure. In hindsight his 2017 novel The Overstory is similar in some ways to the one I read and wrote about a few years ago, The Time of Our Singing.
Most importantly, the focus of the novel–in the earlier book, song, here, trees–is dealt with in an overwhelmingly incredible way. Powers’ descriptions of different trees, from the massive, lost forests of a few centuries ago in North America to the dwindling remaining old growth stands of the Pacific Northwest, from isolated trees found far from their native home to carefully curated displays of biodiversity, are fantastically informative, rich, and compelling.
They even form the structure of the narrative, as the history of each of the main characters is interwoven with a specific arboreal species. That he manages that without the device feeling forced or cliché is quite an accomplishment.
The primary characters (this is a sprawling novel, with many, um, branches to follow) are nicely diverse, and Powers is at his best when dealing with individuals whose perspectives are slightly askew to the expected, whether through natural aptitude, mental illness, or circumstances, and some of the smaller moments will stay with you for quite some time. There is an explicit environmental bent to the story, something I found appealing, but others may not.
And, while–and this is a weakness The Overstory shares with The Time of Our Singing–the final act of the story may not fully satisfy, the novel has the capacity to transform how you think about whatever trees you encounter in your daily life. That’s impressive, and pretty neat.
#WhatIWishICouldDo
The act of embracing this kind of thematic fiction is an immense undertaking, and one that seems overly daunting to me. I can imagine the research side of it, for sure, it’s the shaping of the narrative so everything from start to end touches on the arboreal theme that amazes me.