Not Gonna Lie, The Overstory Had Me Rethinking My Whole Life During Han River Weekend
Okay, so I’m probably late to this whole The Overstory thing, but I finally picked it up during one of those weekends when you’re just lounging by the Han River, trying to escape the unbearable summer heat. You know, sometimes Seoul feels like it’s on fire. Anyway, started reading this book and wow – I wasn’t ready for how it would mess with my head.
First off, the whole concept of trees having their own stories – I mean, come on. Growing up in Korea, trees were just… there. Cherry blossoms for photos, maybe, but not something to really think about. Richard Powers takes it to a whole other level and honestly, it made me wonder how disconnected I’ve been from nature all this time. I don’t know, maybe living in Seoul does that to you. But here’s the thing – this book is not just about trees. It’s about humans and our impact and, man, it hit different.
The characters? So many of them! And yeah, honestly, I lost track of who was who at times. Maybe my English isn’t as good as I thought because I had to Google some stuff to fully get it. But still, their stories felt real. Especially the parts about activism and corporate greed – reminded me way too much of my own workplace hierarchy struggles. Like, you ever just feel like a cog in a machine? That was me, every single day.
And not gonna lie, there were parts where I almost fell asleep. Maybe that’s more on me than the book – these long, dense chapters while you’re trying to unwind after a brutal week at the office? Yeah, tough combo. But the more I read, the more I realized how each character was connected to these bigger themes of survival and growth. It was like untangling a giant web, and somehow, I got hooked.
The ending though. I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say it left me with mixed feelings. Like, what does it even mean for my own future? Am I just another person oblivious to the bigger picture? I might be overthinking this, but hey, it’s The Overstory – it’s supposed to make you think, right?
So, yeah. I’m probably gonna recommend this to my friends – maybe during one of our book club meet-ups at a Hongdae cafe. Plus, I’m actually considering getting the Korean version for my dad, even though explaining it will probably involve a long discussion about why his son is obsessed with “tree stories.”
This book – it really got to me. And honestly, it’s made me rethink my whole place in this world. Maybe I’m just being dramatic, but I don’t care. Sometimes, you need a good book to shake things up a bit.
| Tags : | Contemporary Fiction |
