Should have read classics discussion

This is the November children's group read. I have not actually read this one(gasp) and I'm looking forward to it. Thanks Sorento62 for the nomination!

It ended differently than I expected; I thought the tree would be dead and the boy would regret his thoughtless using of her.
This book is morally ambiguous to me. I'm not sure how to feel. And I'm not sure I'd want to read this to a child repeatedly, the way most children's picture books are.
What is the message? Here are some possibilities.
1. Trees are very useful to humans.
2. We often give so much to those we love that it hurts us. But that is just part of love.
3. Life ends in old age and death. It's just the cycle of life. True for humans, true for trees. It's not so bad. Just the way it is. Learn to accept it.
4. The creatures and plants we humans use are intimately tied up with our own fates. We sacrifice them for our food and other uses. This is sacred. The web of life.
5. Humans are users.

What is missing in this book is how the boy feels about all this. Maybe the point is that the reader has to figure out for himself how to feel about it. I guess my answer would be, the boy should love the tree back and not take so much from her that it hurts her. But the fact is that we humans do indeed hurt trees, plants, and animals. So how to reconcile that? I suppose by not taking more than we need, and by appreciating the sacrifice we force on the other living being.

It was a strange book, I'll agree, because it did not tell you what you were supposed to feel or if what you were feeling was correct--as most books like to do. I've chosen to read it as picture of sacrificial love so that I like it more :)

Jayme wrote: I've chosen to read it as picture of..."
I noticed on the GR book reviews that a lot of people see it as a metaphor for a parent's love for a child. It didn't really strike me that way, but I see that it could be experienced as that.

Somewhere in my facebook newsfeed, there is a really great post on The Giving Tree: two insightful views--one excoriating it and one praising it. Much as I love Silverstein, I hated this book until I read the pro side. I'll dig it up and post the link here when I get the chance. For such a simple book, it sure stirs some complicated reactions.

Longhare wrote: "I'll dig it up and post the link here when I get the chance."

Hi, Longhare-
Any luck finding that Facebook feed post on The Giving Tree?
Thanks,
Julie

Here it is. I was looking among all the nerdy book blogs I have on my FB feed. All the time, it was
this old dinosaur.

Longhare wrote: "All the time, it was
this old dinosaur."
Thanks!!

Did anyone read this as a child? I was wondering what a kid's perspective of this book would differ from an adult reader.