Who Would Like This Book:
If you love genre-blending novels, "The Family Tree" delivers a wild mix of fantasy, post-apocalyptic sci-fi, mystery, and eco-fable. Tepper's knack for weaving clever, unexpected plot twists and rich, quirky characters makes this story both thought-provoking and special. Fans of speculative fiction and readers who don’t mind their storytelling a bit whimsical and unpredictable will find lots to enjoy here. If you like your novels bold, brainy, and just a little offbeat, give this one a go.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Not everyone vibes with Tepper’s style. Some readers found the dual timelines and shifting perspectives confusing at first, while others felt the book occasionally got a bit preachy with its ecological and feminist themes. If you prefer tightly focused stories and dislike heavy-handed messaging, or you need every plot thread neatly knotted, this might frustrate you. Plus, the big twist can be divisive - some loved it, others thought it pushed things too far.
About:
The Family Tree by Sheri S. Tepper is a captivating novel that combines elements of fantasy, science fiction, and eco-treatise. The book weaves together two seemingly unrelated storylines - one set in present-day America following Dora, a police sergeant leaving a loveless marriage, and the other in a fantasy world following Opalears on a quest to fulfill a prophecy. Both stories involve strange occurrences with trees rebelling against people, leading to a clever and unexpected convergence. Tepper's writing style is described as clever, funny, and immersive, with a touch of Arabian Nights flair and a surface feel that is lighthearted despite addressing serious themes like ecology, human behavior, and patriarchy.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains content warnings related to themes of environmental disaster and the implications of population control.
Has Romance?
The book includes a medium level of romance, primarily revolving around the protagonist's struggles within her marriage.
From The Publisher:
THE ONCE FERTILE EARTH OF DORA HENRY'S CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN UNDERVALUED AND OVERDEVELOPED. NOW NATURE, APPARENTLY, HAS DECIDED TO FIGHT BACK.
Police officer Dora Henry is investigating the bizarre murders of three geneticists. Meanwhile, strange things are happening everywhere she turns. Weeds are becoming trees; trees are becoming forests. Overnight, a city is being transformed into a wild and verdant place.
And, strangest of all, Dora can somehow communicate with the rampaging flora.
A potential civilization-ending catastrophe is in the making. The bearer Dora gets to a murderer-and to the truth-the more seemingly disparate events begin to entwine. And the answers she seeks today to the salvation of humankind may lie in afar distant future. . .one which is suddenly much closer than anyone imagines.
An exhilarating and enchanting novel that deftly combines fantastic invention with insight and a social conscience, from one of the most lyrical and important voices in contemporary speculative fiction.THE ONCE FERTILE EARTH OF DORA HENRYS CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN UNDERVALUED AND OVERDEVELOPED. NOW NATURE, APPARENTLY, HAS DECIDED TO FIGHT BACK.
Police officer Dora Henry is investigating the bizarre murders of three geneticists. Meanwhile, strange things are happening everywhere she turns. Weeds are becoming trees; trees are becoming forests. Overnight, a city is being transformed into a wild and verdant place.
And, strangest of all, Dora can somehow communicate with the rampaging flora.
A potential civilization-ending catastrophe is in the making. The bearer Dora gets to a murderer-and to the truth-the more seemingly disparate events begin to entwine. And the answers she seeks today to the salvation of humankind may lie in afar distant future. . .one which is suddenly much closer than anyone imagines.
An exhilarating and enchanting novel that deftly combines fantastic invention with insight and a social conscience, from one of the most lyrical and important voices in contemporary speculative fiction.
Ratings (5)
Incredible (3) | |
Loved It (2) |
Reader Stats (10):
Read It (5) | |
Want To Read (4) | |
Not Interested (1) |
1 comment(s)
So much fun, because both of the parallel storylines are set around their own engaging mystery, with enough hints scattered around to let you figure it all out on your own. Couldn't put it down.
What can you read after
The Family Tree?
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