The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
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Book Reviews of The Giving Tree
Book Review: A Misty-Eyed Political Metaphor That Led Me To Christ
Summary: 5 Stars
Somehow I missed reading this book until this evening. And apparently, while reading it, I missed all the Real Meanings buried in it, too.
If a book does not spell out an Aesop-style moral at the end, does that make it a bad book? If it leaves you (or your child) to think about who and what are right, does that make it a bad book?
If you treat a book as a machine made to generate morals, you can make it squish out any message you like, even messages full of pop-psych talk about codependence. If you liked the book, the message you squish out will be one you agree with, and it'll give you an excuse to like the book. If you hated the book, magically the message will get you up in arms, and you'll be justified in burning the book.
If you treat the book as a book, not a machine, suddenly you and your child get to think, ask questions, talk. The experience is deeper.
Yeah, it's sad that the tree gave and gave. The tree should have found a new boy. The boy should've grown up and realized he was killing the tree. Maybe the boy realized his debt to the tree at the end. Maybe he felt like the tree was stifling him, always giving, giving, giving, never letting him fend for himself. Maybe life is complicated, and sometimes good isn't rewarded. Who knows? Nailing down a story's Real Meaning is never as rewarding as thinking and talking about all its meanings.
Book Review: One of the Best Children's Books Ever Written
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1974, I gave this to my then seven-year-old son for Christmas - a time for "Giving." I let several days pass and then asked him if he had read the book. He had, so I asked him if he liked it. He said he did, so I asked him what he liked about it. He told me he was glad the tree was still there enough for the man to sit on because the man needed a good friend. Out of the mouths of babes, I thought. I remember stroking his head and saying, "You're right, he did. I'm glad, too, that he had such a good friend to whom to return." It was his observation that made me realize the tree wasn't left anything, but instead, as it used up its life in good deeds, it remained just as useful as a stump to sit on as it did when it was a full tree. Socrates observed that "The unexamined life is not worth living." Upon examination of my own life, I have found what makes it most worth living is being useful to others. My son is now 38 and has always been generous of spirit and deed. He still has this book with my Christmas inscription, "To the best son a mom could hope for" written on the inside cover, and his three children have read it. I've never "told" my son what is right or wrong. I preferred using the Socratic method of asking questions that provoked him to think more deeply and far beyond the tip of his nose. That's what this book does, and does brilliantly.
Book Review: Timeless classic
Summary: 5 Stars
I borrowed The Giving Tree from my local library for my four year old daughter. She loved it and I loved reading it to her. I hadn't heard of this book before, and was clueless regarding the reviews this book has been receiving.
I logged on-line to purchase a copy for my daughter, and came across these reader's comments. I'm astounded that there are such diverse and differing reviews, but I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion. At the very least, Shel Silverstein is in the truest sense, an artist - as this work of his is both evocative and emotive, touching people in such powerful ways.
For my daughter, the magic lay in watching the boy grow older with every turn of the page. It fascinated her, as did the fact that the tree could love someone for such a length of time. As a mother, it tugged at my heartstrings as the tree's unconditional love mirrored my own love for my child. I would give to, and love, my child forever.
I didn't see the negatives in this book as some of the readers here did. I can respect the points of view put across, but I can also disagree with them. For me this book begs to be read whilst snuggling close with my daughter, happy in the knowledge that my nature loving, polite, budding little feminist won't be corrupted, but will know in her heart that true love knows no bounds and has no conditions.
Book Review: a personal reply
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a personal acquantance with this lovely book. For five long, glorious years, I dated this beautiful woman. We were very much in love, although it seemed that I was the one who tried the hardest to make sure she was happy. After a while, our relationship started to disintigrate, as all things of wonder usually do. I tried harder and harder to make things right, although it was more like a force of nature tearing us apart. I gave and I gave and she took and she took and she tried to give something back but, perhaps, it was well beyond her capacity at that point when things were somehow ruined. As we split, over a dark and miserable Christmas, one of my gifts was this book, with a very personal inscription written inside. It began, "To (---), my giving tree . . ." This showed absolute understanding not only of our lives and our relationship for so long (she was abandoned by her parents at 18 and I, a few years older, took her in and saved her life) and also a beautiful understanding of the message of this book: Love is cruel and there can only be one victor, no matter how much emotion is reciprocated. All things die in nature, be it a person, a plant, a flower or a feeling. Everything ends.I wish to thank my anonymous ex-girlfriend for this lovely gift. It helped me through many of the darkest hours of seemingly perpetual lonliness.
Book Review: The Giving T ree Rule
Summary: 5 Stars
The book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a good book. My opinion is that it is a good and sad book it has a lot of sad things in it. The setting is in the light blue sky by a tree. My first reason for you to read this book is if you like sad things you can read this book. An example is when the little boy goes to the tree he chops it down and that is sad. My second reason to read this book is if you like trees getting chopped down. An example is when the boy copes downs the tree. My threed reason to read this book person this is a good book for you. This book is a second to threed grade book for you. You should read this book because its about a tree that gets coped down in tell there is nothing but a trunk of the tree. and sad book it has a lot of sad things in it. The setting is in the light blue sky by a tree. My first reason for you to read this book is if you like sad things you can read this book. An example is when the little boy goes to the tree he chops it down and that is sad. My second reason to read this book is if you like trees getting chopped down. An example is when the boy copes downs the tree. My threed reason to read this book person this is a good book for you. This book is a second to threed grade book for you. You should read this book because its about a tree that gets coped down in tell there is nothing but a trunk of the tree.