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hopester84's review against another edition
4.0
Four timelines: 1934, 1974, 2008, 2034. A well-crafted novel of the Greenwood family, and the importance/effect of trees and the environment in their lives. Yet, it is so much more than that. There is suspense, greed, famlly secrets. This novel skips back and forth between timelines, keeping me ON MY TOES to remember who is who and who is related to who. But it was very much worth it, as the author brilliantly revealed the characters in the past, future, and their effects on each other, as well as the environment's effect on their lives.
emillie_parrish's review against another edition
4.0
On the surface, the theme appears to be about saving our forests and follows the pattern of tree rings across the narrative of the story. It also is a story about how family is chosen, not genetic. However, I feel the purpose of the book is best defined by this quote: "There aren't any normal lives, son. That's the lie that hurts the most."
kait_mck's review against another edition
5.0
Greenwood by Michael Christie, Narrated by Raven Dauda, David Ferry, Christo Graham, and Amy Matysio - 5 Stars
This book was so very wonderful and now holds a special place in my heart. I love stories of unconventional families and I just love Canadian literature, (I actually took an amazing University class on Canadian Literature and Canadian Women’s Literature). I greatly enjoyed this book early on, but once we went back to the beginning of the Greenwood name, with Harris and Everett, my love grew. Everett is just an easy character to get behind I found, but when Harris and Liam moved to Greenwood Island it brought back so many memories of nothing but joy for me. Then, when Everett and Pod watched Killer Whales off the cliff of the Greenwood cabin, it brought me fond memories of my childhood in BC.
I thought the format of storytelling was wonderful and really kept me engaged in the story. Having four different generations and 5 characters with very interesting lives to follow, told from newest to oldest, then back to the newest again, just wow. I never knew what I was going to get in each chapter and I was on the edge of my seat while listening to Everett on the run. When we got Everett and Willow’s entire backstory, and then Willow having no idea who he was when she picked him up from prison, quite literally broke my heart. The only consolation is Everett going back to live with Temple and getting a perspective of their lives through Liam’s eyes. At the end of the book when Jake was basically offered ownership of Greenwood Island and her not taking the opportunity really took me by surprise. I honestly thought she would say yes and that is how the book would end. Jake taking that one child with her at the end of the book was a turn I didn’t see coming but definitely kept on theme with the book; I only hope the cycle continues.
I have always been lacking in the kind of wanderlust at most people my age exhibit. That being said, one of my favourite places on earth is British Columbia. I have family that live in Victoria and growing up I had the opportunity to go out west and visit for a couple of weeks each summer. As I got older and my life got busier, those annual visits drifted off. This wonderful book did nothing but stoke that desire to go back and walk through the giant tree forests and go whale watching again.
This book was so very wonderful and now holds a special place in my heart. I love stories of unconventional families and I just love Canadian literature, (I actually took an amazing University class on Canadian Literature and Canadian Women’s Literature). I greatly enjoyed this book early on, but once we went back to the beginning of the Greenwood name, with Harris and Everett, my love grew. Everett is just an easy character to get behind I found, but when Harris and Liam moved to Greenwood Island it brought back so many memories of nothing but joy for me. Then, when Everett and Pod watched Killer Whales off the cliff of the Greenwood cabin, it brought me fond memories of my childhood in BC.
I thought the format of storytelling was wonderful and really kept me engaged in the story. Having four different generations and 5 characters with very interesting lives to follow, told from newest to oldest, then back to the newest again, just wow. I never knew what I was going to get in each chapter and I was on the edge of my seat while listening to Everett on the run. When we got Everett and Willow’s entire backstory, and then Willow having no idea who he was when she picked him up from prison, quite literally broke my heart. The only consolation is Everett going back to live with Temple and getting a perspective of their lives through Liam’s eyes. At the end of the book when Jake was basically offered ownership of Greenwood Island and her not taking the opportunity really took me by surprise. I honestly thought she would say yes and that is how the book would end. Jake taking that one child with her at the end of the book was a turn I didn’t see coming but definitely kept on theme with the book; I only hope the cycle continues.
I have always been lacking in the kind of wanderlust at most people my age exhibit. That being said, one of my favourite places on earth is British Columbia. I have family that live in Victoria and growing up I had the opportunity to go out west and visit for a couple of weeks each summer. As I got older and my life got busier, those annual visits drifted off. This wonderful book did nothing but stoke that desire to go back and walk through the giant tree forests and go whale watching again.
theblueforest's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
narvotron's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thepinky's review against another edition
1.0
Mein zähestes Leseerlebnis seit Langem ...
Die Charaktere sind alle nicht besonders sympathisch, nicht einmal tiefgründig, die meisten sind sehr flach. Der Anfang, der im Jahr 2038 spielt, soll das Interesse an der Vergangenheit wecken, an der Familien- und Ahnengeschichte der Familie Greenwood, aber leider tut er das nicht. Die ganze Zeit über hatte ich beim Lesen ein Gefühl des Desinteresses und wollte einfach nur "durch" sein. Ich hatte überhaupt keine Motivation, die Geschichten der einzelnen Generationen zu erfahren, denn die Charaktere waren mir schlicht und einfach völlig egal. Die Erlebnisse und Schicksale sind auch durchweg nichts Neues, Originelles, man hat all das schon unzählige Male gelesen oder gesehen.
Der Wald und die Bäume - also das, was einen am Buchumschlag 'catcht' - spielen eigentlich nur eine Nebenrolle (sind aber halt trendy...) und die Verbindungen zwischen der Handlung und den Bäumen sind sehr erzwungen, vor allem sprachlich. Es sollte wohl poetisch daherkommen, aber leider wirkt es sehr unbeholfen.
Wunderschönes Buch, aber leider nur als Dekoobjekt zu gebrauchen ...
Die Charaktere sind alle nicht besonders sympathisch, nicht einmal tiefgründig, die meisten sind sehr flach. Der Anfang, der im Jahr 2038 spielt, soll das Interesse an der Vergangenheit wecken, an der Familien- und Ahnengeschichte der Familie Greenwood, aber leider tut er das nicht. Die ganze Zeit über hatte ich beim Lesen ein Gefühl des Desinteresses und wollte einfach nur "durch" sein. Ich hatte überhaupt keine Motivation, die Geschichten der einzelnen Generationen zu erfahren, denn die Charaktere waren mir schlicht und einfach völlig egal. Die Erlebnisse und Schicksale sind auch durchweg nichts Neues, Originelles, man hat all das schon unzählige Male gelesen oder gesehen.
Der Wald und die Bäume - also das, was einen am Buchumschlag 'catcht' - spielen eigentlich nur eine Nebenrolle (sind aber halt trendy...) und die Verbindungen zwischen der Handlung und den Bäumen sind sehr erzwungen, vor allem sprachlich. Es sollte wohl poetisch daherkommen, aber leider wirkt es sehr unbeholfen.
Wunderschönes Buch, aber leider nur als Dekoobjekt zu gebrauchen ...
booksandprosecco's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aidmcd's review against another edition
4.0
had a slow start and took me a while to get into it but i loved the way it circled back through all the timelines and connected all the characters
clpaton's review against another edition
4.0
“They stand. They reach. They climb. They thirst. They drop their leaves. They fall. You see, Jake? We make them human.”