Coming to this book of stories with a theme of trees and forests I was looking forward to reading and reviewing. But I encountered a problem. The Tall Trees Short Stories tales were so enthralling that my pen and notebook were left untouched. Instead I wandered through sylvan trails wondering where I would I next find myself.
Some tales linked easily one with the next. Rolling into each other, the words enmeshed in the lives of small woodland creatures. Or I was taken on a human timeline, finding links between one generation and the next. Another story might liken the creeping roots of the forest to the synapses that create memories stored in our brain. And likens dementia to when an axe cuts, but does not fully sever, the roots. Like a tree struggling to find nutrients through damaged roots, we battle to remember until the war is lost.
And then there are other tales weaving stories of futures that are perhaps less distant than we might like. Some are reminders that Gaia Is not some mythical entity but the planet we have been misusing. But even these horror stories are woven through with a glimmer of hope and “countertreeorism”.
Tall Trees Short Stories
“For you I will bind the earth and make still the shifting sands.”
The short stories have believable characters and dialogue which feels natural: no wonder I was drawn into the dancing forests. I even felt I had to drop Gabriel an email of apology:
“ I have nearly finished the review – had to read your book twice as I became so engrossed I forgot to take notes…Reading twice was not a hardship and enabled me to find even more depth”
But do not think that all these Tall Trees Short Stories are there to rip out your heartwood. Although some may make you cry, others will raise a smile. And whilst trees tall and small are the heroes of this book, they needed an empathic and knowledgeable author such as Gabriel to bring their narrative out of the forest and into the wider world.
Tall Trees Short Stories – About the Author
Dr Gabriel Hemery is a silvologist, or forest scientist, author and tree photographer. His first book (non fiction) The New Sylva was published in 2014. He was instrumental in the creation and 2017 launch of the UK Tree Charter.
To order a signed copy of Tall Trees Short Stories, or an eBook version, to read Gabriel’s tree blog, and more, head to his website
Tall Trees Short Stories will be published June 2020
This book review of Tall Trees Short Stories also forms the basis of a blog post over on Plews Potting Shed
And you can find my review and those of others over on Good Reads
There are different kinds of trees in the world trees like deciduous trees, coniferous trees, arborvitae, banyan trees, black Ash, White Ash, and many others. I think the tallest tree in the world is Hyperion which is over 300 feet tall (91 meters). The tallest tree in the world is located in California it has been standing over 700/800 years old. Hyperion is also known as the coast redwood. while the smallest tree in the world is dwarf willow it does not grow more than 1-6 cm it is mainly located in North Atlantic Ocean it is one of the smallest of woody plants. I really love trees and plants thanks for this article.