I think I was the odd one out, as this book didn't work for me. It wasn't quite what I expected, though I would definitely give it another read in the future and would definitely read the author again.

-- This review is several years past the release date due to the many issues of 2020, but a huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of the book.

It’s 2038 and Jacinda “Jake” Greenwood, a former botanist overburdened by a heavy student loan, is working as a tourist guide in the Greenwood Arboreal Cathedral. That island with its giant Douglas firs, is one of the very few areas of the planet where greenery survived the Withering, an event that saw the disappearance of plants all over the world, due to the climate change lowering plants’ resistance to fungal infections. During one of her usual tours, however, a concerned Jake notices that the oldest firs are starting to show early signs of the disease, and soon after her former boyfriend (now a lawyer) reconnects with her to inform that Jake can actually claim the island the Arboreal Cathedral as her rightful property.
From 2038 we then travel through time: we go back to 2008, 1974, 1934, 1908 and then we move forward again until we reach 2038. Each time we spend some time with different generations of the Greenwood family. We meet Harris and Everett, two brothers by chance… and just by chance, one will become a tycoon, founder of a lumber empire, and the other will live as a vagrant across a Canada swept by the crisis and the Dust Bowl. Later on we meet Willow, Harris’s daughter, an environmental activist who in spite of her father will donate all her inheritance to a hippie collective; and Liam, Jacinda’s father, a carpenter working with reclaimed wood.
It’s a family saga where trees – particularly the Douglas firs of Greenwood island – are always present... a story that we follow like the growth rings of a tree in a trunk section. Ecology and the ecosystem protection is one of the main theme of this novel, but there’s a lot more than that. The story challenges us to define what is family, and we are presented with characters who deals the best and worst that life can offer love and kindness, but also betrayals, PTSD and drug addiction. The story grew a lot on me over time, as I’m always very biased when I witness acts of true generosity and kindness in a novel, and in Greenwood we encounter some examples of them. The author does that using a fluent prose, with some lyrical lines – like when Jake comments “This tree is older than the language I’m thinking in”).
Greenwood is one of those novels that stays with you even after you’re read the final word; I’ll definitely miss some of the characters – Everett among all.
Whether you’re interested in trees and ecology, or in family sagas, this book is for you! Highly recommended!

I loved this book!

I seem to have read a few eco fiction books recently - this is the best so far.

Beginning in the near future, with the world in the grips of the "Withering" (doesn't sound good does it?) the story rewinds into the early 20th century with a multi generational story that spans Canada east to west and back again.

Michael Christie weaves a tight story, with characters you believe in and hope the best for, but your hopes are often dashed as each succumb to their fates.

You'll be transported to old growth forests, logging moguls manor houses and box cars with the hobo's. You can almost smell the sap from the Douglas firs - highly recommended, it would make a great movie!

From the outset you’d be forgiven for thinking that this is a book centred around dystopian climate fiction, and whilst it definitely has elements of this, it is not centred around it. This is a multi-generational family saga. A saga about the Greenwood’s and the people at the forefront of its lineage. The structure follows the dendrochronology of trees, commonly known as annual growth rings. Beginning in 2038, we travel back in time (2008, 1974, 1934 and 1908) before travelling forward again (1934, 1974, 2008, 2038) representing the cross section of a tree; the growth rings. Throughout each of these years we discover the people and the secrets of the Greenwood name and origin.

This was superb. I absolutely love multi-generational family sagas and this one did not disappoint. We begin with Jacinda Greenwood and as we progress deeper into the narrative meet Liam, Willow, Harris and Everett of the Greenwood name. So layered and so complex it truly was wonderful to read about these people and the choices they all made in the various circumstances surrounding them. Christie analysed so many varied angles about what makes a family as well as what we pass from generation to generation. We all have struggles that can reverberate through family lines regardless of our biological DNA and that families being quite malleable are we something that we can either create or destroy. It’s an insight into what people are willing to sacrifice for their beliefs and the art of being able to accept the imperfections of life.

Throughout the first character arc (2038) I did struggle to grasp what Christie was beginning to create but as I got deeper into the book the Greenwood’s burrowed under my skin. I didn’t want the story of Everett Greenwood (1934) to end. I just wanted to know more and more about him. Easily my favourite part of the saga. A truly astounding book. If you love a family saga, I highly recommend this.

4.5 stars

Greenwood by Michael Christie is a multi-generational saga about genetic families and created families, blended with the interconnectedness of long-lived magnificent trees and also their exploitation by humans. I loved it.

The structure of the book, moving like the rings of a tree from the near future back in time to 1908 then moving forward again to the near future, was innovative and really helped explain the characters’ context and motivation.

A thoroughly recommended read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Great story, great writing, very indulging. I loved this book. I'd definitely read from the writer again.

Thanks so much to NG and the publisher for this copy.