What was I reading this week? Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen.
This year, as part of my resolution to savor my hobbies—specifically reading—I joined a book club. The Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Book Club chose Harry’s Trees as its January read. Having joined a little late in the month, I just finished it now.
I haven’t been reading much fiction lately, so I felt a little out of my element. And as a book I didn’t choose myself, I wasn’t sure what I might be getting—the best fiction book around or something that left me cold.
There are a lot of characters, multiple intertwining plot lines, and just a hint of magic in Harry’s Trees. It was also a story about grief.
Harry works for the Forest Service because he loves trees, though not the paperwork he spends all day doing. When his wife, Beth, dies in a freak accident, he blames himself and spends a year practically comatose.
Amanda is a very practical nurse whose larger-than-life husband suddenly drops dead, leaving her with a young daughter and nothing but her own force of will to push on.
Oriana can only reconcile the loss of her father by relating it to fairy tales and magic.
Oriana’s belief in magic, her mother’s strong opposition, and a chance encounter with Harry lead them all on a winding path through the woods of grief and out to the other end—back to life.
My honest opinion of Harry’s Trees…
To enjoy a book like Harry’s Trees, you have to be able to suspend belief in order to appreciate the magic theme that runs throughout. This wasn’t a fantasy novel, but rather a story of regular people living very normal lives, when tragedy strikes. They choose to deal with those tragedies in very different ways though.
I was really taken in by this book. There are a number of characters, but I never felt like I was lost on who was who. The author does an amazing job of giving a taste of each of their lives, no matter how short their stay in the story.
I love character-driven stories, and this was definitely one of them. From the main characters of Harry, Amanda, and Oriana to the minor parts of Francine and Ginger, each person felt real and honest to me.
Set in the Endless Mountains near Scranton, Pennsylvania, Harry’s Trees gave me plenty of plot strands to follow. The quest to save the grum from his gold. The fate of Olive and the Pratt Library. The eventual confrontation between Wolf and Harry. (You have got to read this book—then it will all make sense!)
What I found most satisfying about this book was that all of those strands pulled together into a tidy knot at the end. Not an unrealistic, happily-ever-after knot. More like a knot you make with your hair—not so tidy, but everything basically where it should be, doing the right thing, and giving you a happy “ahhh” feeling.
If you like a story with an interesting cast of characters, a touch of whimsy, and some humor and romance—then Harry’s Trees will check all your boxes!
Happy Reading!
(Harry’s Trees is available for FREE in audiobook form. Just sign up for the FREE AUDIBLE trial and cancel whenever you want!)
So, what are you reading this week? Have any suggestions for me?
Interested in more book suggestions? Then check out these posts:
My February Reading List Picks
What I’m Reading… True Devotion
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