How I Became a Tree

by Sumana Roy

In this remarkable and often unsettling book, Sumana Roy gives us a new vision of what it means to be human in the natural world. Increasingly disturbed by the violence, hate, insincerity, greed and selfishness of her kind, the author is drawn to the idea of becoming a tree. ‘I was tired of speed’, she writes, ‘I wanted to live to tree time.’ Besides wanting to emulate the spacious, relaxed rhythm of trees, she is drawn to their non-violent ways of being, how they tread lightly upon the earth, their ability to cope with loneliness and pain, the unselfishness with which they give freely of themselves and much more. She gives us new readings of the works of writers, painters, photographers and poets (Rabindranath Tagore and D. H. Lawrence among them) to show how trees and plants have always fascinated us. She studies the work of remarkable scientists like Jagadish Chandra Bose and key spiritual figures like the Buddha to gain even deeper insights into the world of trees. She writes of those who have wondered what it would be like to have sex with a tree, looks into why people marry trees, explores the death and rebirth of trees, and tells us why a tree was thought by forest-dwellers to be equal to ten sons.Mixing memoir, literary history, nature studies, spiritual philosophies, and botanical research, How I Became a Tree is a book that will prompt readers to think of themselves, and the natural world that they are an intrinsic part of, in fresh ways. It is that rarest of things—a truly original work of art.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Memoir, Essays, Philosophy, India, Indian Literature

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 8, 2017

About the author

Sumana Roy writes from Siliguri, a small town in sub-Himalayan Bengal.

Reviews

[Rakhi Dalal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another quick update

The book is now published by Yale University Press. Paris review carries an excerpt here:

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2...


A quick update for fellow Goodreaders

This beautiful book is now available with French translation. Here is the link:

https://nouveautes-editeurs.bnf.fr/an...

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Review


“As I removed my watch from my wrist, and clocks from my walls, I realized that all my flaws—and this I now discover I share with many others—came from my failure to be a good slave to time."

Wouldn’t you agree that sometimes when you are reading a work, you come across such sentences which reverberate with your feelings about certain things in life? And that these sentences then help pave the way into a writer’s mind, kind of opening alleyways that lead you to those corners where the thought had first occurred. And that those corners are discovered not only because the writer makes you privy of those thoughts through her writing but also because they are illuminated with a clarity that is alluring. And then you find yourself going deeper and cherishing every moment along the way.

This happened with me while reading “How I Became a Tree” by Sumana Roy. I loved her writing. I loved how she took me onto a journey with her, a journey in the search of a ‘tree time’.

“It was impossible to rush plants, to tell a tree to ‘hurry up’. In envy, in admiration and with ambition, I began to call that pace ‘Tree time’.”

Tired of the way the world moves, Roy wishes to slow down and in order to be doing so, begins to wonder about the lives of trees, about their time. How their world is not affected by the chaos which seems to have engulfed our lives. To correlate the life of trees with that of humans, she starts with planting saplings as a way of beginning. She understands that tree time cannot be equated with our time as trees don’t live like us or have days like birthdays or anniversary days but she realizes that trees can possibly only live in the present. In her journey forward, she reflects upon the ideas like kindness, tolerance, content, silence as could be understood in the realm of trees. She ruminates over the idea of living like a tree, of loving a tree, of having plants as children, of getting lost in the forest or sitting under a tree.

To convey her ideas more clearly she meticulously cites works of writers including poets, essayists, scientists, philosophers and painters as well as anecdotes from her life. So in a sense the work has elements of memoir, essay and even critique which make it much more beautiful. It reminded me of Gaston Bachelard’s “Poetics of Space”, a work I had enjoyed reading tremendously.

I read this work slowly, as it is meant to be. And as I proceeded with the different parts this book is divided into, I realized that they can be related to different ashramas (stages) of life as depicted in Ancient Indian texts, not in a literal but symbolic sense, with each stage the author turning closer to discovering herself in relation to life of trees while brooding over the different stages of human life that we are expected to follow or go through.
The parts include:
I. A Tree Grew inside My Head (Saisava)
II. I Paint Flowers so they will not die
III. See the long shadow that is Cast by the Tree (Tarunya)
IV. Supposing I became a Champa Flower (Yauvana)
V. I want to do with you what Spring does with Cherry Trees (Ghrihasta)
VI. One Tree is Equal to Ten Sons (Ghrihasta)
VII. Lost in the Forest (Vanprastha)
VIII. Under the Greenwood Tree (Sanyasa)
IX. The Tree is an Eternal Corpse (Mokhsa)

In italics are the stages in Indian context as I could grasp. I am not really sure whether these were intended by the author in the same manner or not.

This book is a wistful account of the compulsiveness to escape the chaos as experienced by humans in a fast moving world where we have wilfully forgotten the pleasure of living a slow (read ‘unhurried’) life which is the natural disposition of trees and perhaps, of ours too. So the author’s journey to become a tree is more of a journey to rediscover the simplest things in life, things which make us more tolerant, kind and more human.

I must say that it is one of the most compelling works of contemporary Indian non-fiction I have read in a while. Highly recommended.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

(***This book just made it to my 2020 topmost 5 favourite non-fiction reads!)

I got the shock of my reading life at how this book turned out to be. I was like a being beinf shown an alien world and got obsessed with the obsession.

First, it's a non-fiction which I didn't know!

Second, it's a memoir which I am really glad to know!

Third, believe me when I say this, this is a book about wanting to become a tree like the actual title says!

I mean...let me take a moment.

And wow, this is one of the most bizarre books I have ever read. And that too with all those nostalgic childhood memories; the useful references (books, events, movies, memories and what not!); the narration....

It's the narration, the writing, the flow in the thoughts that are present in between the lines and the reader which goes in sync like ,"yes, I am the crazy one if you think so when you are the crazy one".

I love how genuine yet insightful and informative the content is. There isn't a moment of wasted words. At times, you may feel like "she's gone crazy and is talking crazy" but you will realise you love whatever she's written. So, yes, I say it's still okay to think so because....(just read the book!).

Trying to save the world, aren't we?

Your world-saving side will become alive with how much you get obsessed with trees and everything related to them while reading this memoir!

This is one non-fictional read that is stranger than fiction; more engrossing than fantasy; written words carrying deeper meanings than any of the world's best poetry lines combined.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that some of this went over my head a bit, but I enjoyed it. It was very interesting to listen to, and I spent a lot of time thinking over the things she was saying. I would like to reread this one as physical book at some point so I can take longer over some of sentences and ideas. I still don't think I'll completely get it, but maybe I'll get a little closer!

The narrator, Soneela Nankani, was very good. I would happily listen to another book read by her.

[Areeb Ahmad (Bankrupt_Bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

SECOND READ: Still love it! Lots of new interesting thoughts. Will update.
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I would give this book, one of the best things I have ever read in my life till now, more than 5 stars if I could. It was splendidly written, breathtakingly beautiful and brims with rare originality. Roy examines the life of trees in heavy detail without sacrificing the sheer magnetism of the narrative. She also interprets the works of artists such as Tagore, Lawrence and shines a light on how we have always been fascinated by nature and it's wonderful mysteries. She even studies the works of scientists like Jagdish Chandra Bose and spiritual icons like the Buddha to work out more meaningful human relationships with the trees around us.
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The book never ceases to fascinate and whatever you can imagine, and not imagine, with respect to trees is included. I can still remember brilliant passages vividly even though I read it last year in August. There is mention of people who marry trees or have sex with them (true story). She explores the importance of trees with people who live in close proximity to them, such as forest dwellers and even talks about the death and rebirth of trees. The book is a true mixture of genres - memoir, literary history, nature studies, spiritual philosophies and botanical research. It is a dazzling medley of the creativity of fiction mixing with the strangeness of fact. In a world, increasingly cut off from nature, it prompts readers to think of the natural world as an intrinsic part of their existence.

[Coepi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The problems I had with this book are mostly with the writing style and the central conceit of the author wanting to become a tree/describing trees as humans. I found the latter annoying, pretentious and fake deep. As for the former, How I Became a Tree is full of phrases that made me roll my eyes, e.g:

“An epiphany wrapped me like a tendril - were trees freelancers or salaried employees?”

“I did post a photo of myself with a few of my plants, but, quite naturally, the comments were either about me or about the ‘freshness’ and ‘colour’ of the flowers and so on. Not a single person said anything about this being a happy family photograph.”

“When I returned from such dreams, an old question returned to haunt me. Why had the sight of trees never aroused me sexually?”

Coming from a scientific background, I think I prefer my nature books to have a bit more scientific insight in them, and I’ve read quite a few lately that do that well. Roy doesn’t really offer much science, and while this book is supposedly all about centring trees, it feels like the only trick in her repertoire is to anthropomorphise them. I don’t think How I Became a Tree actually succeeds in presenting the world from a tree’s perspective; it just highlights how human concepts (employment, family, etc) don’t fit trees, which is still focusing on human life. Other attempts to juxtapose humans and trees fell flat, e.g:

“Was this movement in opposite directions - northwards for the sun and southwards for water - a natural bipolarity that psychologists had, after all the head-heart romanticized allegories, called bipolar disorder in humans?”

That’s not what bipolar disorder is, and I don’t this misunderstanding/misrepresentation of a serious mental illness is clever or thought provoking. It’s just irritating.

I did like the forays into the role of trees in literature, especially Bangla literature. I also felt the concept did have potential if it was taken in a more metaphorical, less literal and serious (almost deadpan) direction. But the way it was executed felt almost self-indulgent, self-consciously twee and affected, and it just didn’t work for me.

[Surabhi Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I was tired of speed. I want to live to tree time.” – Sumana Roy

People do not usually look at the thing or here to say trees, as author see them. She finds them as a companion, a family member, someone she likes to talk and be with, and wonders, do they feel the same as humans do, like to cry in pain, laugh in happiness. Do they worry about how they look? Do they fear death?

The author is fascinated with the plants. She finds an escape root in the company of them, from the noises and violence. The noise spears the heart and violence that spear humanity. She finds her solace in the company of that brown and green piece of nature, well crafted and often ignored.

She wants to live in tree time like trees do not run with the clock time. They have their own time zone, unabashed. They are not in hurry to reach anywhere; they stand at one place and grow taller and higher, wider and bigger. New branches, new leaves come and old ones left the place for new ones. They talk to the wind and never complain of non-movement and loneliness.

The book might not be for every reader, but one’s who love nature and loves to spend a good amount of time with them and feels peace and calm in their company, will able to relate themselves with the author. We have many types of obsessions but hardly seen anyone obsessed with trees, despite, the trees all through their life gives us so much and rarely anyone appreciated their kindness.

https://thereviewauthor.wordpress.com/

[Dhanya Narayanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A review which appeared in The Wire, coincidentally ‘liked’ by a friend, prompted me to read this book by Sumana Roy. I would remain thankful to that special friend, whose words have always struck a chord with my heart, for being the trigger for such a wonderful reading experience. Sumana Roy is a writer and poet who tries to stick on to ‘tree time’ and writes from Siliguri. The foremost aspect which held my attention was that, the book did not belong to any distinct genre. The author, by writing about nature in a personal manner, has broken the rule which insists on conforming rigidly to a particular style of writing . This book can be tagged as a self refection, a memoir, an essay or even a comparative analytical study of the relevance and predominance of plant life in literature, cinema and religion. Roy’s language is lucid and poetic and many a times reminds you of the fact that she is also a poet. I have never been a staunch environmentalist or nature lover. But some time ago I realised that I would love to live effortlessly and die with the ease of a leaf falling from a tree. In the recent past, I got involved with a lot of plants in my house (Of course, now I realise that one reason for my friendship with plants could be my solitary life, as Sumana points out) and sporadically while watering or tending them, I end up having comparative thoughts about plant lives and human lives. When I read this book, those thoughts became ‘legitimised’! It is reassuring to discover sisterhood in thoughts.

Sumana Roy writes, “Writing is a solitary act and demands painstaking apprenticeship”. With the sort of research done for this book, which is her first one, she has beyond doubt, proved her commitment to writing. Her effort is evident in the discussions about depiction of plant life in literature and movies. Some of her seemingly innocent observations are original and brilliant. She writes, “For the shadows of trees obliterate specificity, the colour of the bark, leaves, flowers and fruits. Just like the shadows of humans do not reflect race, caste or religion” and this is a valuable statement in the present era. “Inequality seemed to be necessary to keep marriages happy or at least stable” cannot be passed off as a silly thoughtless remark . She observes, “reciprocity is the need that soured many human relationships”, and we cannot expect this from a love relationship with plants. Looking back, I feel I never gave enough importance to Botany as a subject compared to Zoology while in college. Somehow as Sumana points out, animal world or all that moves is the centre of attention than the ‘so-called-static’ plant world. I agree that this book inadvertently glorifies plant life. But this exaltation of plant life is an absolute necessity in this era of extreme violence inflicted on plants by human beings . There is no harm in romanticising the idea of a superior and ideal plant life so that more people come forward to do something about it. Being passionate about plant life is comparable to being passionate about pets or ones own children and should become the norm rather than being portrayed as a deviant behaviour.

I read a review in The Hindu where the author says that Sumana Roy embraces the ‘imaginary tree’ rather than the real one. I have my own reservations about such comments. For somebody to passionately write about a subject, it is not mandatory that they should be practising it in a way insisted by the majority. For a person to write passionately about dance or music, there is absolutely no need to dance or sing. This book without doubt, is noteworthy for its unconventional style and language and some authentic observations which would definitely alter the way you think. And Sumana has evolved into a tree. She just doesn’t write any more for anybody else. For a tree it never matters whether you are an academician, critic or a plant lover; it embraces everyone who comes to its shade.

[Kamilė · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It takes a child to prise open obvious etymologies of words and expose us to the sharp edges of our chairs. I had never thought of a forest as 'for rest'."

Sumana Roy's "How I Became a Tree" is an exploration of self through comparison to trees. It explores the author's adoration for plants, her inner desire to become a tree, and the steps taken in the process to liken herself to one. The book takes aspects of humanity – birth and death, love, sex, gender, communication, movement – and tries to see how they differ in trees, what similarities lie there, what effect they may have on the existence of trees. Roy also explores portrayal of trees in different artworks, from traditional art to the medium of film, and how it has varied across cultures and history.

I enjoyed this book far more at the start than at the end. It's a very insightful read, and Roy presents some interesting ideas about similarities between the life of a human and that of a tree, but towards the second half the sheer amount of references started to overwhelm, and it was harder to find her own thoughts among the citations. However, it provided a fascinating glimpse into Indian and Bengali arts, culture, and religions. I knew very little about Buddhism and Hinduism, and Roy's book was quite informative in how different religions perceive the relationship between man and nature.

This is a very quotable book. I'm not big on annotations but if I owned a physical copy, I think it'd be all tabbed and highlighted by now — my e-book is certainly full of bookmarks. "How I Became a Tree" is a book best described as calm. It may help you learn something new about yourself and how you see nature surrounding you. At the very least, it may teach you about how different cultures portray plants in their arts and media. I just sadly couldn't quite fall in love with it.

Thanks to Yale University Press and NetGalley for the access to the book.

[Anu Khadka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to be tree in my other life 🙂

[Pragya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just couldn't understand the whole purpose of writing this book. Headache inducing abstraction and metaphors and similes that my I needed a cup of strong chai immediately upon finishing it.

The only saving grace was the chapter that talked about Tree stories of Tagore and Satyajit Ray... And now I plan to read Tagore. This one star is for that chapter.

[Camelia Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

An essay collection and a book length love letter to trees and plants by Sumanna Roy, an Indian poet and essayist. I enjoyed reading the analysis of the roles of trees in Indian literature. Rabindranath Tagore was mentioned a lot.

[m · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for my trees class but finally finished the whole thing - combines religion, spirituality, botany, arts, sociology and so many other disciplines. Makes u wanna be a tree

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to like this, I really did. In part I think the fault is mine; I wasn't aware that the book would be quite so spiritual, which is not a genre I enjoy. I think if you are someone who has a holistic, spiritual view on life you may enjoy this more than I. However, this book really wasn't for me. The writing was at parts mediatory and engaging, at others purple and far-fetched. Certain chapters I found myself enjoying, but for the most part I was bored. This is a book that delivers exactly what it says it does - 'How I Became a Tree' is not just some intriguing title, it's what actually happens in the book. You get what you're promised. In my case it didn't fulfil, but if you find the blurb interesting I encourage you to try it out

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure how to talk about this book, which is lovely and often strange. I related to some of it (I love the notion of tree time, which is the time it takes, as opposed to, say, capitalism time). But as eccentric as I am, I couldn’t go as far as Roy does. I admire commitment like this. Mostly though, Roy’s mind is a force and I enjoyed spending time with and being pushed by her. I have begun to feel impatient with books where I cannot sense the author’s brainpower, which is perhaps entitled of me as a reader as I don’t always bring my best brain to a book. But it was a relief to have something to knock mine against.

[Joseph Schreiber · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a long time to track down a copy of this book. When in India I would forget or not know hat section to look in. This is a love song to plants and trees, a most unusual memoir/meditation, shot through with striking observations, fascinating characters—human and plant-like—from science, spirituality and literature.
The best test of a singular book like this? The number of side trips to internet searches and titles added to the wish list. A longer review can be found here: https://roughghosts.com/2020/07/16/a-...

[M Rijks · Rating 3 out of 5]

The soft, wandering prose of this book made it a perfect pre-bed read. It did mean that it took me two months to finish because I kept falling asleep after a couple of pages.

[Nithya K · Rating 5 out of 5]

At some point in time, I have certainly wondered how it would feel like to become a tree or even become some inanimate object. When I came across this delicious book called, 'How I became a tree', I was overjoyed. Sumana Roy has effortlessly captured the lives that trees lead. Ok, I sound a bit off there. But, that is the effect of the book. If you begin to relate to inanimate objects around you and wonder about the probability of becoming that object, multiple vistas open up. Parallel worlds into which one can escape to avoid the present. I feel to get a perspective on the environment and how we interact with the flora and fauna around us, it is a very important book. A deliciously written masterpiece.

[Benjamin Felser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I told a friend that there are some "out there" writers who's work I read and think, "mmm maybe not for me" and others who I read and think "I just want to get to where she is!" Sumana Roy is the second type. Her unabashed intimacy with not just trees, but the humans who write about them and even their shadows imbued my landscape in and outside the book with a whole new layer of animacy. Her conversations on the conditions which cause women to become trees, intimate lives and relationships with trees and what it means to carry a tree as a lifelong companion just made me want to start my own little garden. It was generative for both thinking and writing, and I'm so grateful to the friend who recommended this collection of contemplations.

[Taylor Bouchard · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really enjoyed the personal narratives and ponders of the author. it is clear she is very intelligent and passionate about trees. what lost me was the amount of references she pulled from, especially towards the end of the book. in one chapter, different plays, poems, short stories, and so on, would all be explained, with connections being drawn to the anecdote. it sometimes read more like a research paper. an info-dumping, confusing l, research paper. a lot of it was hard to follow, and went over my head. i think i thought this was going to just be an auto biography, but to my dismay it is that and more.

[Malavika Rajesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been some time since I read a book and I am glad I choose this gem by Sumana Roy.I have been nodding at various passages in sync with the author and at times I was marveled at the way she was able to draw a parallelism between being a human and being a tree.
Trees have always fascinated me.Their long trunks as a testimony to their strength, their deep roots, their ever hugging nature by the branches.Sumana was able to put words into my thoughts that had always marveled me.
This is a book I will always cherish reading. :)

[Rahul Kumar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldnt complete it

I purchased this with some recommendations on youtube on top spiritual books. 20% ...i couldnt take it . May be it only applies to some section on people. For me it is just self indulgence of a person.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I Became A Tree is a richly poetic paean to Mother Nature and especially the often underappreciated world of trees. It's a rare and unusual meditation on the plant world that meanders through history, religious philosophy, botanical research, literature, cinema, folklore and mythology exploring Roy’s desire not just to foster a higher appreciation and understand them but to become one herself; to feel the freedom they feel and to have no concept of time and the pressures than accompany it. To slow down from the weariness of the world and truly take in the beauty of the world we inhabit in all its glory.

The life of a tree is so much simpler than our own, and although the desire to become a tree may certainly seem a little bizarre, when you dive deeper into the explanations behind Roy's dream can be understood by anyone. Her musings often provide unique insights and alternative perspectives about the nature of the world. However, there are a few parts of the book that do make you wide-eyed in befuddlement. For instance, her rumination on having sexual relations with trees, taking them as lovers and becoming wed to them; she also wonders why we do not produce statues of trees.

Throughout Roy intersperses stories about those she deems kindred spirits which I found fascinating. Many of them hail from her native India but not all and include botanist Jagdish Chandra Bose, photographer Beth Moon who devoted 14 years of her life to traversing the planet photographing many of the oldest trees and author DH Lawrence, a prominent nature lover. This is an intriguing, wholly original and beautiful book on appreciating the magic of the flora and fauna which surrounds us. Written in an engaging and often lyrical fashion, this is one for those who simply adore the natural world.

[Khyati · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important book of my life !!

I was looking for books which explore the connection with nature and answers questions such as- is there someone who also cries when a plant dies?, is it OKAY to collect dead plants/leaves/flowers, assimilate and create a miniature-sort-of-thing?, reading about places where plant fossils were found, visiting botanical gardens with high enthusiasm, comparing palm lines with veins of a leaf (“seriously? There are better things to do”- The usual reaction I get).

I found such a book and a person who gave me more than I asked for! THANK YOU

This is a book for every person who wants to (for)-rest, enjoy time without structure, experience silence and solitude, know the exact color of forest and observe the playful nature of light with trees.

This book is for people who enjoy reading Art & History because the author takes us to the beautiful gardens of Shantiniketan and Bodhi Tree of Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Sri Lanka. She takes us to time when “studying nature” was a subject and how beautiful it seems. She explains the distinct connect of Nandlal Bose’s paintings and nature; both greedy for “light” and how the painter showcased qualities of tree into human face/figure.

For Literature lovers; you are going to have a gala-time! An exceptionally wide range of recommendations.

For Science enthusiasts; Oh! The way she has blended science in nature is remarkable. There are characteristics and efforts of Jagdish Chandra Bose are pointing out their steady connection such as indifference to money, liberating sense of life, polite expressions and language. He even named the plant script as –Torulipi.

This is her personal journey of “becoming a tree”; sometimes hazy yet informative and elegant. No matter the outcome, read it for the journey.

[Sookie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sumana Roy has become one of my favorite contemporary writers. Everything I have read from Sumana till now, I have loved. Alas, that streak ends here.

On paper this is but a perfect book. However (maybe its the stress I am in) the metaphors started to wear me down. By midway I wanted nothing to do with plants or trees. I do get that writing is a meditative contemplative reflection of the self but I was ready for the metaphors to be over.

Maybe if I had picked this up when life wasn't hectic/stressful, I might have had a better experience.

[Lisa Penninga]

Could not finish. Started out really strong, but a little too philosophical for me and the sex with a tree chapter was where I decided it was enough lol.

[Nhu Khue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no idea why I chose to read this book.

[I'mogén · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for providing me with an advanced readers copy (digital). As always, all opinions remain 100% my own.

This felt like a love letter to nature.
Sadly, I think the majority of this beautiful, poetic, sculpted piece of non-fiction, nature writing of a sort, went over my head and was too experimental in concept and design for me to fully understand and appreciate.

Had I gone in knowing even a little of Sumana Roy's culture (art history, more on the gods etc), I think I would have resonated with this on a much deeper level. As it stands, I didn't connect an awful lot and could only really appreciate the beautiful way in which Roy expressed herself and this inspiring connection she had with trees.

I think I also went into this with different expectations. I sort of had in my mind that this could be the non-fiction equivalent to Han Kang's The Vegetarian, and so that left me with a certain type of feeling when it wasn't what I thought.... Or rather, it came to be what I expected but in a way that was too intense for me to handle...I can't blame this on anyone other myself though, because I should have researched more before diving excitedly into the deep end (I mean, I can't swim, so that was always going to be a bad idea...)

Nevertheless, I reckon this will have a niche audience that will really enjoy what Roy has to say. I, unfortunately, am not a part of that audience.

Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<

[Ann Samford · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my. This is my first one star. I typically rate books 4 or five stars. This book rambles uncontrollably about everything the author thinks about trees and shadows. I’m not sure if this book would be better if read by the author, but I have a difficult time listening to this book and her “profound” ramblings about dreams and writing. It feels like a self aware diary written for others. And I am again tempted to ask if she’s paid by the word and what was her editor thinking.

I’m about halfway finished and struggling to keep listening. I’m sort of committed myself to finish listening to the books that I have started. I hope I’ll be able to finish this one.

Lots of self indulgent babble.

I did like the idea of taking off the watch and living in tree time. But since she admits to living in tree time only an hour or two a day when she’s writing. it’s hard for me to think of her sentiments as anything other than lip service.

I finally finished the tree. The last part was about the great historic Indian history of writing about the tree.

It ended with the strong image of becoming a tree means dying or is a metaphor for dying.Being so I’ll one can not move.

The book did impact me. And I was move down in with two or three point but that’s probably 5% of the book. I’m not sure I’d listen to another of her books but I’ll be first in line for the Readers Digest version!

[Miss P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by the trees, but the idea of becoming one first came to me while reading "The Vegetarian" by Han Kang. So, when I came across this book- "How I became a tree" by Sumana Roy, I bought it without any second thoughts, and I don't regret my decision.

This is one of the most innovating and intriguing book I have ever read. I was already in love with the idea of trees, but the massive research work and references in the book was an icing on the cake.

It is an essential book in these hard times which would let you slow down and find calmness in the lives of trees.

[Prem · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book to be savoured in tree time, its genreless insights and wisdom gleaned and embraced, its philosophical wonders pondered upon. It has its flaws and contradictions, as a work of such ambition is wont to have, but there is so much that will change you how you look at the world around you, as well as the one within. A peerless masterwork that challenges, and then comforts.