What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Overstory'
Published in 2018, 'The Overstory' by Richard Powers won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2019.
The novel explores the lives of a group of people and trees, and how they are interconnected, emphasizing the relationship between humans and nature.
In the book, nine characters whose lives were influenced by encounters with trees — either through family history, personal tragedy, science or activism — find their paths crossing.
Their connection to trees and their shared goals lead them to join efforts to advocate for environmental health.
Throughout the story, Powers threads the narrative with themes and concepts such as ecological interdependence, sacrifice and the necessity for conservation, creating a mixture of science, storytelling and environmental ethics.
While the book is a great option for people interested in the environment and natural science, the pacing suffers a bit, despite being well-written. Some readers may struggle to stay captivated by the story.
Richard Powers is an American novelist known for his fiction as well as science fiction works.
Powers has published several works including 'Bewilderment,' 'Playground' and 'The Time of Our Singing.'
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