I can’t say enough good things about this profoundly moving and inspirational short book.
At the most basic level it’s the true life story of an ancient oak tree that stood on the grounds of Buchenwald Concentration Camp, written from the tree’s perspective. That makes it an interesting story on its own. But the book also explores questions and themes that are timeless and universal--about nature, poetry, love, hope, suffering, grief, beauty, family, strength, courage, spirituality, and compassion.
The genre and style of this book resist easy labels. It’s a lyrical work of nature writing, a historical narrative, and a young adult book. It's fiction and nonfiction; it's poetry and prose. The language is simple but poetic, so it’s accessible to younger readers while still carrying plenty of depth for adult audiences. It can be read in one sitting, making it–again–appropriate for all ages, and it would lend itself well to being read aloud given this brevity and the lyrical nature of the prose.
I didn't know much about Goethe's work or writing before diving into this book, but the way Price weaves together his own writing with the background and poetry of Goethe and the life of the tree works really well. It made me an insta-fan of Goethe, and this book (especially the prologue) has also inspired me to do more reading on the ideas it presents about the ways trees “communicate” with each other. I’ve added the science-based nonfiction books Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard and The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben to my holiday wish list because both have generated a lot of online discussion about what might be going on below the surface (literally and figuratively) when it comes to trees.
This gentle narrative took me on a journey through time from the perspective of a true Witness Tree and, while moments of the journey were painful, it is ultimately so uplifting at a time in history when hope is so needed. It would make a perfect gift book for any lover of nature, trees, or history.
