The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
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Book Reviews of The Giving Tree
Book Review: A CONTROVERSIAL Classic to promote family discussion
Summary: 3 Stars
There are two extreme ways to interpret this book, as shown by the multiple ratings of 1 and 5.
The first: This is a beautiful and sad story of unconditional love between a tree and a boy, in which the tree is generous and gives of itself to help the boy whenever he is in trouble. The metaphor in this case is that of a mother and a child, or God and a human.
The second: This is a story of a very selfish boy and a tree who loves him. Whenever he is in trouble, he returns to the tree who gives him another part of her self without ever setting limits, even though it makes her sad (and physically damages her) to do so. In this case, you can compare the story to a metaphor of an abusive, codependent relationship.
I can understand both views of this story, but the fact that the second interpretation is just as valid as the first makes me hesitate to recommend this book. Personally, I would NOT buy this book as a gift, or for my own children. If I had this book, I would wait to read it to my children until they reach the recommended 10 years old (or at least 8), and then I would discuss the book and its concepts (selfishness, limit setting/saying NO) with them. "What did you think of this book?" "Do you think that the tree/the boy did the right thing?" "What would you have done differently if you were the tree/the boy?" "If you were the tree, would you have said 'NO' to the boy at any point?"
A story that may be complementary to this one and more appropriate for younger audiences is "Ladies First", also by Shel Silverstein (found in "A Light in the Attic" or "Free to Be, You and Me"), which is about a girl who always gets to be first to do everything, but in the end that is not to her advantage. At least in that book the message is clear that selfishness is not OK.
If you prefer to avoid this type of discussion, you might be better off sticking to one of the MANY childrens' books that are much less controversial and intended only for entertainment.
Book Review: What is wrong with some of these reviewers?
Summary: 5 Stars
The Giving Tree is an allegory either about parenthood or about God. Either way, it is a beautiful story. A little disturbing, you say? Naturally. Such is life. Life's hard out there, people! Get a helmet.
And if I have to read one more review talking about how this is an allegory about environmentalism, I will scream. The apple tree is not representative of nature! And last time I checked, Mother Nature was not a particularly good mom. Do we use up resources like mad? Yes. Do we need to stop and think things through and change? Yes. But what the earth gives, the earth also takes away. Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes...need I continue? The plague? AIDS? Is any of this ringing a bell?
The Giving Tree is an allegory for parenthood (and/or possibly God). Period. There is no environmental message.
And if you really think the point of having children is to be thanked for all the sacrifices you have made, don't become a parent. Being a parent--and giving out of love--is exactly like what the tree experiences. Is the boy selfish? Yes, but so are children and so are adults.
From Wikipedia:
As Timothy Jackson, a professor of Religious Studies at Stanford University put it:
" Is this a sad tale? Well, it is sad in the same way that life is sad. We are all needy, and, if we are lucky and any good, we grow old using others and getting used up. Tears fall in our lives like leaves from a tree. Our finitude is not something to be regretted or despised, however; it is what makes giving (and receiving) possible. The more you blame the boy, the more you have to fault human existence. The more you blame the tree, the more you have to fault the very idea of parenting. Should the tree's giving be contingent on the boy's gratitude? If it were, if fathers and mothers waited on reciprocity before caring for their young, then we would all be doomed. "
Amen, brother. My thoughts exactly.
Book Review: one of the greatest books ever
Summary: 5 Stars
this has to be on my all time favourites list. i tear up every time i read it. its a beautiful story about unconditional love, i'd say between a mother and a child. its great to see stories like this in today's society where what you 'really need to worry about' is people cheating you, someone ripping you off, not getting your fair share, etc.. society's so focused on the individual and selfishness is so celebrated that stories like this are refreshing to read and much needed in my opinion. to be honest i was surprised to see the negative reviews, but i guess that has to happen with widely read books, there's always a critic, and this is a good thing. but i would like to say in response that, yes the boy is taking from the tree and the tree never asks for anything, just offers everything, this is true. but, the reader takes on the perspective of the tree, the giver, and they experience this giving as something joyous, as an expression of love. when you love someone don't you want to do something to make them happy? and when someone gives you something you want or need, sometimes unexpectedly, sometimes not, isn't that a great feeling? to know that they care, sometimes enough to go out of their way, just for you? the boy never demands anything from the tree, the tree offers to make the boy happy, like a parent (or even a grandparent, anyone who cares really). parents do everything for their children, sometimes this goes unnoticed, but they continue to do it because they love their children with all that they are. you can definitely pick out abuse if you look for it, but only if you look for it, not if you take the story as it is. it is a story about loving no matter what, and it kind of makes me sad that some people take that as abuse, especially when the boy did nothing offensive or abusive. he just took what was offered.
it's a beautiful story, and i think everyone should read it at least once in their lives.
Book Review: Beautiful story of selfless love.
Summary: 5 Stars
I find it amazing how some people can read a beautiful story of how a tree selflessly helps a human throughout its life and they somehow read into it (what appeared to me) a battle of the sexes. Of course it is all about perspective, but I have loved this book for 30+ years for the fact that the tree was there for someone in need. I did not see the boy as the hero or main character in this story. It is the tree that is the main character and heroine. The fact that the boy was self-centered and took the life of the tree was not what touched my heart as a young boy. It was the fantasy of a living being in nature, a tree, being so kind and "giving".
There are two things that stick out in my mind about this story: 1) The tree offered its services, the boy took what was offered. 2) The selfless simple kindness and compassion for someone in need. IT WAS A TREE, A.M. White!! Just a caring, loving, selfless tree that gave what it could to someone it loved. Forget that the boy was self-centered and try to see the magic in a beautiful, fictional story of a tree's love for a little boy.
To anyone scared to read this story to their kids for fear of the negative review stating it as "rotten" and the comment as "frightening", try to see it in the tree's perspective. Selfless love. The boy's life was enriched by the tree without him ever giving thanks back to the tree, and yes, that could be deemed as bad. Maybe therein lies a moral which was unseen by A.M. White and perhaps was added by the author as a lesson. But my early life was enriched by this beautiful story of unconditional love, and I thank Shel Silverstein for writing it and for teaching me two things at a very early age: 1)The power of fantasy and selfless giving in a sometimes very bad world. And 2) Tree stumps make great seats! No, I mean trees make great friends!
Please give this magical book a read!
Book Review: To call this book REPUGNANT would be an understatement
Summary: 1 Stars
If your aim is to mold a small, impressionable child into a self-absorbed narcissist, then this is certainly the book you've been seeking. The story illustrates how it's perfectly acceptable to be completely selfish and to exploit those who love you. As Gordon Gecko said, "Greed is good!"Lesson 1 - How Life Works: You are free to take all that other people may be willing to give to you out of their own unselfish love for you. If someone is willing to make sacifices because he/she loves you, just use it to your advantage; there is no price for you to pay. In fact, not only can you get away with taking anything-and-everything your little heart desires from those who love you, but afterwards you are free to simply abandon them without explanation. Even then, if you should ever think of something *else* you'd like to have that they might be able to help you acquire, just swing by for a quick visit and ask them for it; it'll be perfectly okay. Trust me, they'll be thrilled that you merely dropped by.
Lesson 2 - Giving Back: You need give nothing in return, because it's YOUR happiness that's paramount to all. When someone who loves you is sad or lonely or in need, that does not matter; the only thing that matters in life is your happiness. Just ignore others' troubles, even when you are (and i use this deliciously ironic word intentionally) responsible. Instead, focus solely on having fun and indulging your whims at the expense of those who love you.
The Cherry On Top: No matter how badly you may have treated them, no matter how ruthlessly you may have exploited them, no matter how cruelly you may have neglected them, the people who love you will ALWAYS love you. No matter what, they will always be happy to see you again, to be near you once more, to indulge you, to comfort you, to shower you with unconditional love.
Here endeth the lessons.