Birnam Wood

[Anonymous]

Did anyone read it? A search gave me one hit of someone starting it in April. I just finished and would like to discuss.

[Anonymous]

I read it a while back. Wild ride!

I was so annoyed with the first half - all of the proselytizing was annoying and I didn't enjoy remembering that age (idealistic 20s) when you think you have all the answers to global problems. I also thought the idea of guerrilla gardening was strange - using random plots of land to farm?? Even organically, this seemed out of line. I thought the group should have been into restoring native plants to the wildlife rather than taking every random corner for human usage.

And then the second half turned to this enormous conspiracy with billionaires, violence (to say the least), and cult vibes. It was extremely cinematic writing.

So I ended up feeling like I just hated it. But on the other hand, I'm still thinking about it!

[Anonymous]

I hated the end!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read it a while back. Wild ride!

I was so annoyed with the first half - all of the proselytizing was annoying and I didn't enjoy remembering that age (idealistic 20s) when you think you have all the answers to global problems. I also thought the idea of guerrilla gardening was strange - using random plots of land to farm?? Even organically, this seemed out of line. I thought the group should have been into restoring native plants to the wildlife rather than taking every random corner for human usage.

And then the second half turned to this enormous conspiracy with billionaires, violence (to say the least), and cult vibes. It was extremely cinematic writing.

So I ended up feeling like I just hated it. But on the other hand, I'm still thinking about it!

OP here. Agree with much of this. Possible spoilers to follow, for those who haven’t read it.

Did you ever read Moo by Jane Smiley? Some of this seemed very derivative of her Chairman X, Arlen Martin, etc. Catton just took it to a whole new level in a more apocalyptic world. And the very long sentences, half of which included semicolons, gave me the same vibe.

I didn’t hate it, and I’m still thinking about it, but the ending - was that necessary? I remember being invested in Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto and being dismayed by the ending. But then again, I understand that it really couldn’t have ended any other way. From the first page, everything pointed to this kind of end.

Anyway, it’s clear the book made an impression on me, and you as well. I’ll be thinking about it for awhile.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read that Jane Smiley book. And I loved Bel Canto - I felt the end was in keeping with the trajectory of the book.

But Birnam Wood - it just really felt like two different books between the first half and the second. I'm still not sure what to make of it. I'm not sure if the end was necessary - it was so gruesome. I also wasn't sure what Catton's overall message/theme was supposed to be. Did you come away with a message?

I loved Catton's The Luminaries, but I really hated The Rehearsal (I didn't even finish it, which is rare for me). She always sparks an intense reaction, though, so I'll keep reading her books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read that Jane Smiley book. And I loved Bel Canto - I felt the end was in keeping with the trajectory of the book.

But Birnam Wood - it just really felt like two different books between the first half and the second. I'm still not sure what to make of it. I'm not sure if the end was necessary - it was so gruesome. I also wasn't sure what Catton's overall message/theme was supposed to be. Did you come away with a message?

I loved Catton's The Luminaries, but I really hated The Rehearsal (I didn't even finish it, which is rare for me). She always sparks an intense reaction, though, so I'll keep reading her books.

I loved Bel Canto too, and agree the end was in keeping with the story arc - sad, but fitting. But yes, after Birnam Wood accelerated into that finale, I was left wondering what the message was. Even more basic, if you were trying to pick out themes, what would they be? The first half felt pretty character-driven; the second was more apocalyptic thriller.

[Anonymous]

I found it really disturbing but also can't stop thinking about it. I read an interview with Eleanor Catton where she said she had been inspired not just by Macbeth but by Emma (she wrote the screenplay to the 2020 adaptation, which I loved). I found that so interesting--viewing Mira as a vain and misguided girl whose mistakes lead to disaster, rather than a Jane Austen-esque happy marriage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found it really disturbing but also can't stop thinking about it. I read an interview with Eleanor Catton where she said she had been inspired not just by Macbeth but by Emma (she wrote the screenplay to the 2020 adaptation, which I loved). I found that so interesting--viewing Mira as a vain and misguided girl whose mistakes lead to disaster, rather than a Jane Austen-esque happy marriage.

I’m OP and that is really interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[Anonymous]

Emma!! That is interesting . . . I wouldn't have picked up on that. Certainly Mira's actions shouldn't have resulted in the utter violence and chaos that did.

[Anonymous]

Emma would never have been my guess but then it does fit!!! All three of the young characters are truly awful in many ways, but it’s so well paralled in the monomania of the villian and even the petty egos of the landowners.

Enjoyed it hugely, I’m on the waiting list for her other stuff.