I met Micheal Christie at Wordfest, here in Calgary, this year. Little did I know that a single reading and a very short little narrative shared about a coin of wood from a tree on his own lot, would lead me to my favourite book of 2019!
Greenwood is exceptional from beginning to end. If there is any weakness at all, it is in the character Jake and the segments written in the context of 2038. I wanted to get that out of the way, immediately. But, as the depth of the other characters emerges, the reader feels as though they have come to know a family and its related friends and enemies deeply. I was moved by this book so much.
There were some really personal reasons why I connected with this novel, but I highly recommend it because I believe that every reader is going to respond just as positively, and perhaps for other reasons.
First, I treasure the book, Greenwood, because it is well-written. Michael Christie is a relatively young author, having previously been a skate boarder. His other accomplishments include The Beggar’s Garden and If I Fall;If I Die.
His debut novel (and of course I will be finding it and reading it) was The Beggar’s Garden. Apparently this is a book of nine linked stories and similar to Greenwood, it interests itself in characters that are easily ignored and who are experiencing authentic suffering, oft-times brought on by choices they have made. In other words, his characterization is entirely honest and believable.
I am disappointed that Greenwood was merely longlisted for the Giller Prize. Reviews on Goodreads are overwhelmingly positive. I always go there after reading a book, not before.
Recently, I have read some disappointing books. Picking up The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff, (The Orphan’s Tale) I was left questioning the flat characters, the undeveloped romances and the lack of attention to the actual code senders, highlighted even in the title. The Girls by Emma Cline and The Huntress by Kate Quinn left me equally disappointed, for similar reasons. The characters had no guts and their narratives felt simplistic. In The Huntress, I felt that the focus of the novel needed to remain with the female pilots, but taking World War II settings and trying to build romances is always a wee bit challenging. While my own readers will find a number of positive reviews about each of these three novels, they did not appeal to me and my own sensibilities. I am using them as a contrast to Greenwood because everything that was lacking in them was delivered by Michael Christie.
In Quill and Quire, a review on his book, If I Fall, If I Die, published in 2015, holds true for Greenwood, as well.
The writing in Greenwood is descriptive, eloquent and the syntax, remarkable. While the structure is complex, it flows and I found myself buried in what is commonly referred to as a page-turner. Harris, Everett, Liam and Willow very-much entered into my life. Their stories were fraught with struggle, lies, omissions and these vulnerabilities built the tension that captured my heart.
I am not going to summarize the book in this review…I don’t like to do that. I will carry on sharing my personal reasons for treasuring this book.
Having once lost a treasured journal of my own, and on another occasion, having had someone take my personal journal and read it, the story of Euphemia Baxter’s journal became a thread that was very important to me throughout the book. The Secret and Private Thinkings and Doings of Euphemia Baxter is an object of real importance to me in the reading.
The metaphorical/symbolic presence of trees is another element that won my heart. Both poetic and inspiring this exploration is seldom accomplished by any other fiction writer.
My own interest in the genealogy of my family is also a passion and delight. Once finished this novel, I felt as though I’ve learned about the Greenwood family in its depths. I celebrate the foibles and mistakes of the family members and found that part of the writing to be authentic and true.
And finally, my interest in trees, the lives of trees and the stewardship that they require is right up there in my concerns and my interests.
I’m looking forward to reading more of Michael Christie and highly recommend. My new favourite! Greenwood!
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