The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Giving Tree
Book Review: A MUST READ FOR ANY & ALL AGES
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are not yet familiar with THE GIVING TREE, I cannot possibly recommend anything more. It is the only book of my youth that had an enormous impact on me, and still does today, at age 29. I vividly recall the intense feelings I had at about age 9 when I read this book, and had it read to me. I remember feeling like crying as I discovered for the first time what love really was. My first copy was just given to me, an hour ago, as a gift after I described the story last week to my girlfriend. I couldn't get through it without crying. I've never been so touched by a story and message - ever. With stories like this, how needs movies? I can almost guarantee that you and/or your kids will NEVER forget this book and the message it delivers. It will be the first story I will ever read my newborn baby when that day arrives. It will be the best $ you'll ever spend. Trust me.Book Review: A Misty-Eyed Political Metaphor That Led Me To Christ
Summary: 5 Stars
Somehow I missed reading this book until this evening. And apparently, while reading it, I missed all the Real Meanings buried in it, too.
If a book does not spell out an Aesop-style moral at the end, does that make it a bad book? If it leaves you (or your child) to think about who and what are right, does that make it a bad book?
If you treat a book as a machine made to generate morals, you can make it squish out any message you like, even messages full of pop-psych talk about codependence. If you liked the book, the message you squish out will be one you agree with, and it'll give you an excuse to like the book. If you hated the book, magically the message will get you up in arms, and you'll be justified in burning the book.
If you treat the book as a book, not a machine, suddenly you and your child get to think, ask questions, talk. The experience is deeper.
Yeah, it's sad that the tree gave and gave. The tree should have found a new boy. The boy should've grown up and realized he was killing the tree. Maybe the boy realized his debt to the tree at the end. Maybe he felt like the tree was stifling him, always giving, giving, giving, never letting him fend for himself. Maybe life is complicated, and sometimes good isn't rewarded. Who knows? Nailing down a story's Real Meaning is never as rewarding as thinking and talking about all its meanings.
Book Review: A Mother's Love
Summary: 5 Stars
Discriminating readers may find the boy to be quite selfish. Only a mother could love so unconditionally. For the permanent personal collection for the sensitive. A nice gift.Book Review: A Mother's Perspective
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a student in English Education and I was on campus with my three year old son. I sat on the floor of the bookstore and read this book to him. By the time the boy cut off all of the tree's limbs, I was quietly weeping. Several people were listening and one woman was crying as well. When I was finished and closed the book, one young man thanked me. The simple words and images of this story moved me (and my listeners) beyond what I can describe.To me, Mr. Silverstein's book illustrated some of what it means to be a parent, to give and give and give... gladly, until all is consumed. It is both a guide and a cautionary tale. To give is beautiful, but it can devastate.
Book Review: A Moving Life Lesson, told with Silversteinian simplicity
Summary: 5 Stars
I didn't discover this book until I was in college (I was already past it's "suggested reading age" when it was first published). Which was fine, as there is simply NO right age to experience this book. It is a book for every age. This past Christmas, I bought a copy for my four year old nephew who, although he may not glean all that the book has to offer immediately, will, I hope, come to love this story as much as I have. We should all heed it's lessons about giving and, more importantly, I think, receiving