“People aren’t the apex species they think they are. Other creatures – bigger, smaller, slower, faster, older, younger, more powerful – call the shots, make the air, and eat sunlight. Without them, nothing.” As this quote suggests, have you ever thought in a perspective that is not that human? Or have you been so blinded by selfishness and greed that you have ignored your surroundings? This question pervades the central idea of The Overstory by Richard Powers, who attempts to put nature in a new light through his novel.

Richard Powers is an American writer well-known for writing books related to the effects of modern technology. He has received several awards and has published a total of 12 novels, the last being The Overstory, which received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction as well as the William Bean Howells Medal. According to The Guardian, this work was inspired by the documentary Redwood Summer of 1990, “when guerrilla groups mobilized against the logging of California’s giant sequoias.” The story follows a similar plot to the documentary, where the author emphasizes the mysticality of trees and nature, presenting readers with nine different scenarios about why nature should be protected.

The novel is separated into two sections. The first is composed of nine short stories, each with different characters and plot, while the second is composed of three main chapters that depict how these characters meet and commence their journey for a common goal of protecting forests. This structure allows the reader to have an extensive background regarding the origins of each character’s decision, allowing for a deeper connection between the characters and the reader. To portray such a narrative, the author utilizes a third person point of view, where the characters share their own perspective of the world as they uncover Earth’s mysteries, giving them a unique persona overall. However, although this structure allows for a thorough dive into The Overstory, it still garners mild criticism in its method of literary portrayal.

Despite the author’s attempt to portray a thorough novel, the descriptive nature of it creates a long and dragging narrative, which is emphasized especially in the author’s description of trees. This not only causes boredom for some readers, but makes it seem unnecessary to the overall plot as it becomes repetitive since there are only a few ways to describe trees. This narrative does indeed send the message of the grandness of the trees; however, it can only be viewed as filler when it is overly repeated. The fact that the novel has too many characters also distracts the reader because it makes it hard to keep track of the names as the plot progresses.

One of the central ideas of the novel is the disparity that exists between humans and nature. As mentioned previously, the first half is composed of nine short stories where the author introduces the nine main characters. Each of these chapters demonstrate how the character’s thoughts and values transform after going through a life-changing experience, which ultimately molds them to pursue the common goal of preserving trees. Through this inspiring journey, the author urges the readers to think about the rights of trees. Not only that, but he also calls upon the injustices that these entities face due to their powerlessness, especially in front of capitalism. He writes, “Each will be monetized until all trees grow in straight lines, three people own all seven continents, and every large organism is bred to be slaughtered.”

Powers, however, creates a unique narrative when delivering his ideas. Instead of focusing on humanity, the author describes trees as somewhat mystical entities that have a life form, making The Overstory a galvanizing novel. For instance, he writes, “We found that trees could communicate, over the air and through their roots. Common sense hooted us down. We found that trees take care of each other.” Nevertheless, this mysticality is a double edge sword as it makes the plot a bit too fantastic. Although this is a fictional novel, the intention of the author is to create awareness about the importance of nature in our lives and ultimately promote the preservation of it. In other words, although the mysticality of trees in the novel does send the message that saving trees is an important task, the overbearing fantastic events make the interpretation seem like a religious portrayal rather than as the story’s moral.

The Overstory is a must-read novel that gives readers another perspective regarding trees and nature, making them ponder upon and reflect on the current relationship between humans and nature. Although the structure might be somewhat confusing and dragging, the characters are interesting and unique, allowing for diverse content and interpretation. In other words, the ideas delivered make the book worth a read, especially since it brings to the forefront an ongoing environmental issue that has been a huge challenge throughout the years.

Book Information

Title: The Overstory

Author: Richard Powers

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Publication Year: 2018

Pages: 612