A magical transformation

 

5 stars

Arborescence is a dystopian novel that has lingered in my mind since finishing owing to the original premise and the deeper meanings threaded throughout. I was fascinated by the plot – people willingly transforming into trees is quite the epic shift for cognisant beings. How? Why? What? 

It was a bumpy start as we navigate the lives of Bren and Caelyn who seemed to float around listlessly in life. I didn't connect with them initially. Caelyn is intrigued by the reports of people disappearing, seemingly growing into trees with time. She sets out to learn more pulling Bren along. He isn't terribly bothered as his job is a virtual one and seemed rather pointless. We crack on with vignettes into their shared existence and the oddities of these secretive camps of people living off grid supporting those who have 'dug in' or in the process of digging in. But with time it catches on all over the world, in the strangest of places, changing the world and how we live. This comes to define life for Caelyn and Bren, in his own way.

Once arborescence seems to take off the story shifted gears and I felt more engaged with it. The phenomenon of saving the planet by turning into trees, what the implications were for Bren's one time friend, Miles and the career Caelyn acquires all converge in new and interesting ways. I thought I knew where the book was headed, and was desperate to know how it would end, pleasantly surprised by a number of turns in a more meaningful direction. By the end I was hooked and this book went from 3/4 stars to 5. Bren's attitude adjustment and his experiences, particularly with his new job, seemed to bring the book full circle on an emotional level. It's difficult to explain without giving bits away.

This book has a quietly poetic resonance that spoke to me. If this could actually happen, I would be onboard with having a go. My heart breaks every time I hear a chainsaw digging into trees in our village and would love to give back and help heal the hurt we've done to the world. If only fiction was reality... But, if it were, I would miss all the books I so enjoy.