This novel shines with immersive, lyrical prose and a unique memoir-with-footnotes format that makes the story feel real - sometimes uncomfortably so! It’s an intellectually provocative look at science, colonialism, and moral ambiguity, filtered through a deeply unreliable narrator. If you love complex antiheroes, dark psychological explorations, and ethical quandaries (think Nabokov or Highsmith, or even some Donna Tartt themes), you’ll be riveted. Readers interested in anthropological adventures, dark character studies, or the impact of Western incursion on indigenous cultures will find a lot to discuss here.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Many readers found the protagonist nearly impossible to sympathize with - he’s arrogant, amoral, and at times, outright repulsive. The book dives into difficult subjects, including child abuse and animal cruelty, which are disturbing and potentially triggering. Some felt the pacing dragged, especially during detailed anthropological sections, and found the footnotes distracting. If you need a likable main character or a sense of hope from your fiction, this might not be your cup of tea.

A beautifully written, haunting, and disturbing novel that’s as thought-provoking as it is unsettling; unforgettable, but definitely not for everyone.

About:

The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara is a character study of Dr. Norton Perina, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who discovers a hidden tribe in Micronesia and their secret to physical immortality. The book delves into Dr. Perina's psyche, portraying him as a self-involved aggressor who uses those around him for his own gain, leading to horrifying consequences. Through Dr. Perina's autobiography, the novel explores themes of exploitation, scientific discovery, and moral relativism, creating a multi-layered narrative that questions the ethics of colonialism and the impact of one man's actions on indigenous cultures.

Characters:

The characters, particularly Dr. Norton Perina, are complex and often deeply flawed, showcasing a range of moral ambiguities and the consequences of exploitation.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by rich, evocative prose presented through a memoir format, enhanced by detailed footnotes that provide additional context and authenticity.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows Dr. Norton Perina's exploration of an island tribe, the discovery of their long lifespans linked to a rare turtle, and the ensuing moral quandaries stemming from his actions and their consequences.

Setting:

The setting is a richly depicted fictional Micronesian island, illustrating the clash between indigenous culture and colonial exploitation.

Pacing:

The pacing is initially slow, focusing on detailed exploration, which builds tension and leads to significant revelations later in the story.

I was born in 1924 near Lindon, Indiana, the sort of small, unremarkable rural town that some twenty years before my birth had begun to duplicate itself, quietly but insistently, across the Midwest. B...

Notes:

The People in the Trees is Hanya Yanagihara's debut novel, published in 2013.

The book is inspired by the life of real-life Nobel laureate Daniel Carleton Gajdusek.

It explores themes of colonialism, ethics, and the moral implications of scientific discovery.

The protagonist, Dr. Norton Perina, is portrayed as a deeply flawed and unreliable narrator.

The narrative is structured as Perina's memoir, complete with footnotes from his colleague, Dr. Kubodera.

The island setting in the novel is fictional, depicting a lost tribe in Micronesia.

The book raises questions about the exploitation of indigenous cultures by Western science.

Perina discovers a tribe that appears to live for centuries, tied to the consumption of a rare turtle's meat.

The story takes a dark turn, culminating in themes of child exploitation and abuse.

Yanagihara's prose is noted for being beautiful and lyrical, contrasting with the heavy themes of the novel.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The People in the Trees contains high levels of content warnings related to child sexual abuse, exploitation, psychological manipulation, and colonialism.

From The Publisher:

A thrilling anthropological adventure story with a profound and tragic vision of what happens when cultures collide, from the bestselling author of the Man Booker Prize and National Book Award-nominated modern classic, A Little Life.

"Enthralling . . . deeply entertaining." -San Francisco Chronicle

It is 1950 when Norton Perina, a young doctor, embarks on an expedition to a remote Micronesian island in search of a rumored lost tribe. There he encounters a strange group of forest dwellers who appear to have attained a form of immortality that preserves the body but not the mind. Perina uncovers their secret and returns with it to America, where he soon finds great success. But his discovery has come at a terrible cost, not only for the islanders, but for Perina himself.

Look for Hanya Yanagihara's new novel, To Paradise, coming in January 2022.

August 2013

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443 pages

Ratings (17)

Incredible (4)
Loved It (6)
Liked It (5)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (71):

Read It (18)
Want To Read (47)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (5)

2 comment(s)

Christos

Liked It

10 months

3.5⭐

afoowl471

Loved It

1 year

I am very much disturbed with the ending of the book. It is one of those books that is making me think a lot.it really got in my head about humanity and westernization. Impeccable writing. I liked the footnotes and it is a very detailed book that in some of the chapters it feels real. Intense, sad, enraging book that will stay in my mind for a long time. It did have boring and mundane moments here and there but again that also reflects the reality so i couldn't be mad at it. Looking forward to read her other book "A Little Life"

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About the Author:

Hanya Yanagihara lives in New York City.Hanya Yanagihara is available for select speaking engagements. To inquire about a possible appearance, please contact Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau at speakers@penguinrandomhouse.com or visit www.prhspeakers.com.

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The People in the Trees

Hanya Yanagihara

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