Anyone read The Trees by Percival Everett?

4 replies

ClarebaldingforPM · 10/01/2023 18:51

I’m about half way through and I’m struggling a bit with this book. I think it’s supposed to be funny but I just don’t ‘get’ it is it just me? I think I’ll finish it because I watched the film ‘Till’ on the weekend which the book draws on and I’m interested to know what the author does with it but I can’t say I’m loving the read. Anyone else have any thoughts?

OP posts:

SmugglersHaunt · 16/01/2023 12:28

I didn’t like it at all. It wasn’t vaguely funny and the characters were all stereotypes. The ending was ridiculous as well imo

50andup · 13/01/2023 14:48

I've just finished it. I got the humour (especially the wise-cracking detective duo) and laughed out loud in places, which is a weird thing to say about a book centred around a series of the most brutal murders.

It took me until about three-quarters of the way through to figure out what was going on! I thought it was a clever way to address the details of historic USA lynchings and police violence without seeming preachy.

Original poster

ClarebaldingforPM · 11/01/2023 16:45

Not just me then. It’s had such good reviews too and was shortlisted for the Booker.

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Theheartsinvisiblefuries · 10/01/2023 19:01

I couldn't get on with it at all. I gave up as I just didn't get it. My DH loved it though.

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