Tournament of Books discussion

space to discuss 'The Trees' by Percival Everett

is this book supposed to feel slapstick-y?

Yes, I think so. It’s satire that…evolves.

Amy wrote: "is this book supposed to feel slapstick-y?"

I'm sure some of it is...I wrote in my review that I thought some of it went a little too far into slapstick, which I didn't love. But in a way it was a good counterbalance to some of the truly horrific scenes he described. It was like being slapped back and forth, and really punctuated those scenes.

I also felt like Everett was having fun writing some of it...The over the top characterizations and fun character names, definitely the small-town detectives. And I loved that he was having fun.

I think this book is a masterpiece; I was astonished at how it evolved and how I was still laughing at some moments (and names) even as it was so devastating. Never has a list of names been so powerful and meditative and heartbreaking.

I've only read five so far, but if this book isn't in the final I'd be surprised. And now the ToB Gods will destroy me for this prediction.

Just saw The Trees is on the longlist for Pen America’s Jean Stein Award, which is their big prize ($75,000) for a book-length work of originality, merit and impact. Rivka Galchen’s Everyone Knows, from the summer ToB, is also on the list.

I wish I would have read this before Zombie voting; it would've gotten my vote for sure.

It was my Zombie vote.

Heather wrote: "I wish I would have read this before Zombie voting; it would've gotten my vote for sure."

Oh my gosh same. I'm bummed I couldn't give it my zombie and if it gets knocked out early, I'll be devastated.

I just finished this one and wow, that was a wild ride. I loved it but also have some questions...

I'm interested in interpretations of the ending... was the list of names Damon was typing the same ones Mama Z has kept files on before, or was it a list of names of the white people killed in the uprising(?)?

I'm glad the slapstick aspect was already mentioned here. I agree that it was sometimes a bit over the top, but also can see what Elizabeth mentioned about Everett clearly having fun with this one. I could feel that and it was similarly fun to read. For all the gruesome scenes described, this overall felt like a light and enjoyable read (maybe because the murders were in revenge and/or we didn't actually read about the mutilation as it was happening; we just saw the aftermath?).

I was completely fascinated by how much of this was based in the true history of Emmett Till's murder. It took me a bit to connect the dots on the last names of the white families and I had forgotten that the horrific lynching took place in the town of Money specifically. Was anyone else looking up some of the other names mentioned to see how many of these characters were real? I find it quite brave of him to use real names of people and the setting. I imagine this book is not being well received in Money, or anywhere in Mississippi for that matter... I'm curious how much of this will be discussed during the tournament.

I'm also wondering why he chose to capitalize both the terms "Black" and "White." There's a reason "Black" is capitalized these days, and not "white" or even "brown" but I haven't seen White capitalized when referring to people and I'm curious about Everett's decision on that.

Also curious about the Asian representation here... It seemed many victims from before, and participants in the present day uprisings were identified as Chinese specifically, but then there's that scene with the Riverside Sheriff's Department folks names Ho, Chi, and Minh, and those names have origins of Korea, China, and Vietnam (and of course together they point to the Vietnamese revolutionary leader - I know Everett had fun with that part!). I'm interested in the decision on making this an uprising of Black and Asian (maybe Chinese, specifically) folks without including Indigenous, Latinx, etc. who I also know have been terrorized by lynchings (in their various forms) across the country.

Back to the ending, I was a bit concerned about seeing the white supremacists getting organized in response to the new murders, although it seemed they were not a match for the "mobs" of folks carrying out the murders. Is the takeaway here that BIPOC folks will be able to rise up and squash white supremacists, or was it leading us more to a general "race war" where white folks would continue to cause more harm and destruction in response to what they were seeing?

Are most of my questions supposed to be unanswered and Everett wants us readers to just take it all in and not dwell on the details? ;)

Ok, better stop here. Overall I'm glad I voted for this one to zombie and I'm excited to hear different interpretations of this wild story.

Lauren wrote: "Was anyone else looking up some of the other names mentioned to see how many of these characters were real?..."

Definitely. I began looking up the names midway through, I guess it was my way of coming to terms with it all, and trying to find a way to honor them. (I was hoping for more information about them as people, rather than just their deaths, but unfortunately there are only a few snippets. I'll warn you, if you do this, that there are some pretty horrendous pictures. So be prepared. I'm still glad I did it though, and I've been planning to go more slowly through more.

... was the list of names Damon was typing the same ones Mama Z has kept files on before, or was it a list of names of the white people killed in the uprising(?)?..."

I read it as the actual list of names typed by Damon.

I also was wondering about the capitalized White...Maybe his way of emphasizing? I found it a little distracting, though, because I noticed it every time.

As for the ending, at first I read it as a call for revenge, since so much of the novel focuses on revenge. But then I wondered if it was more a call for the unheard, like they're now finally finding a way to rise up and be seen (and named), the horrors acknowledged. So maybe more broad than just white supremacists, he's making all of us look it in the eye.

Elizabeth wrote: "Lauren wrote: "Was anyone else looking up some of the other names mentioned to see how many of these characters were real?..."

Definitely. I began looking up the names midway through, I guess it w..."

Excellent interpretation of the ending - thank you!

Ok, I'm about 3/4 through and though I'm finding the satire maybe a LEEEETLE too broad -- the depiction of poor whites is a little, er, stereotyped -- I'm totally in for the ride. It was Farcel Fondle that tipped me over the edge. Pick L. Dill helped.

So far, my favorite of the short list BY far (it's only my 7th -- hey, I've got all of Jan. and Feb.).

Question:

Why is it called "The Trees"?

Ellen wrote: "Question:

Why is it called "The Trees"?"

I think it’s the trees used for lynching, but maybe also family trees?

Elizabeth wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Question:

Why is it called "The Trees"?"

I think it’s the trees used for lynching, but maybe also family trees?"

Yes, I believe there were references to "strange fruit" in the story, right? (Sorry if I'm confusing this with another book I was reading at the same time!)

Ellen wrote: "Ok, I'm about 3/4 through and though I'm finding the satire maybe a LEEEETLE too broad -- the depiction of poor whites is a little, er, stereotyped -- I'm totally in for the ride. It was Farcel Fon..."
There is something Pynchonesque about his naming of characters. But Dickens also did that a lot. I can forgive it.

Lauren wrote: "Yes, I believe there were references to "strange fruit in the story, right? (Sorry if I'm confusing this with another book I was reading at the same time!)."

Yes, the song lyrics are typed out in the text. If I remember correctly, someone was either singing the song or Billie Holiday was on speakers in the café/restaurant in The Bottom. I thought of trees for lynching. But for sure, family trees is also appropriate since they figure in the Emmett Till part of the novel.

Pynchon was definitely my point of reference for the names. Ironic that the two main characters were the only ones with non-silly names - well, them, and the actual people involved in the Till killing.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through this one.

Have you all seen how the Emmett Till memorial sign in Money keeps getting shot through with bullet holes? They've taken it down and replaced it multiple times. When they replaced it the last time, they put the shot up sign in the Smithsonian. (this was in 2018) :( They replaced it with a bulletproof memorial in October 2019.

So the first 50 pages of this book, I was feeling upset at what I was thinking was classism and how poor white people are stereotyped...but then I just thought about that memorial sign being shot with a 100 bullets (in 2018...not 50 years ago...) and I got mad and thought the characters in this book deserve every stereotype thrown at them.

https://time.com/5359426/emmett-till-...

I just finished this one last night! Does anyone feel like this book would have been way cooler if the women had risen up too? They are relegated to Mama Z (record keeper) and Gertrude (unknowing facilitator). I just think he missed such a cool opportunity. I don't know why it's just the men.

Cat wrote: "I just finished this one last night! Does anyone feel like this book would have been way cooler if the women had risen up too? They are relegated to Mama Z (record keeper) and Gertrude (unknowing f..."

That would have been interesting! But maybe it was because all (I think) who were lynched were men? It was a very male novel, in some ways, although I liked the female characters.

Cat wrote: "I just finished this one last night! Does anyone feel like this book would have been way cooler if the women had risen up too? They are relegated to Mama Z (record keeper) and Gertrude (unknowing f..."

I dunno. I thought the FBI agent Herbetta (Herbie) Hind was pretty bad ass (no pun intended!).

I was really surprised how much I loved this one and how funny it was -- there is no way I would have imagined a book that deals with lynching & other forms of racially-motivated murder could be so funny.

I thought the capitalisation of White was a reflection of the fact that whiteness is not a natural thing, or a default unmarked state, it is a state created by designating things 'non-white' and then carefully maintaining the borders. I feel like I've seen it done before in non-fiction works by black authors, although I can't cite anything to be sure.

I also read the ending as (view spoiler)[Damon's typing the names was what was causing all the dead to rise and go seek revenge. (hide spoiler)]

I didn't enjoy the other Everett I read for ToB much at all (So Much Blue) so this was just an unexpected delight and has tipped me over into wanting to read his back catalogue.

Same - I didn't particularly care for Telephone but this one was spectacular. Dude has a huge back catalogue, so that'd be a Project for sure.

Ellen wrote: "Ok, I'm about 3/4 through and though I'm finding the satire maybe a LEEEETLE too broad -- the depiction of poor whites is a little, er, stereotyped -- I'm totally in for the ride. It was Farcel Fon..."

I just inhaled this one yesterday. I come from white trash and live and work in a place full of southern white trash. The white characters felt true to life, and I have zero experience with the white trash found in the Deep South. My Ohio River Valley white trash relatives are downright cultured compared to those from Mississippi, and they would definitely play something akin to "Sweet Home Alabama" at a funeral. That particular line had me rolling.

I recently finished this and then recommended it to all my friends. It’s a page-turning read that also has a lot to think about (and discuss). I’m not sure I understand what was actually happening in the end, but I’ve learned to expect that from Everett’s books (see the ending of Telephone).

I live in Houston, TX, which (obviously) is a big international city (it’s also left-leaning in the city). A 60-min drive in any direction, however, will get you pretty close to the types of characters we see in this book. Yes, it’s satire and over-the-top at times, but it’s also scarily true. E.g., a close relative of one of my in-laws still has her grandfather’s KKK costume saved in the attic. (Needless to say, we are not in contact with that branch of the family.) It’s frightening and disgusting all at the same time. I’m glad Everett captured some of the horribleness of these people in these pages.

I’ve read three books by Everett now (all thanks to the TOB), and I’ve liked all of them. I’m pleased the organizers continue to spotlight his work.

Whew, my last book of the tournament and what a way to end the shortlist!

There were definitely a lot of over the top moments, but like you all say, the absurdity helps offset the horribleness.

I thought it was interesting that a few times they call the murders "potential hate crimes."

I was along for the ride and enjoyed it for the most part - I always appreciate brevity and tiny chapters to get through a book - but to me the ending just kind of... drops.

My fear is that just because Black people were getting revenge, it would ultimately be shortlived. I was interested in those who were passing, whether or not they knew they were.