For such a small book, there's a lot to think about.
Like, do you think the detail of the location that Giono gives is important to the story? Does it give authenticity?
There are plenty of religious references - is Giono pro or against God?
Seeing as this month is a bit bonkers with Christmas and New Year, I thought I'd delay the discussion until January 7th - to make sure everyone has recovered from the festivities and can get the old grey matter working again!
So I'll meet you all here at 9pm on Monday 7th January. Have a super dooper Christmas and may Santa bring you lots and lots of books - You might be lucky and get a few for the Unrefined Book Club list for 2008!
Oh dear...the next month's book has replaced Mother's Milk already as we're having the discussion in December - even though it's November's book choice!
All you have to do though, is go to the discussion archive at the bottome left of this page. Click on 'Mother's Milk' and we can start the discussion there!
Looking forward to hearing from you later, at 9 o'clock. Don't forget to refresh the page to post and to keep updated with the comments.
Jean Giono's beautiful allegorical tale is legendary. Written in the 1950's, its message was ahead of it's time, inspiring readers to rediscover the harmonies of the countryside and prevent its wilful destruction.
The narrator, journeying by foot through the lower Alps, has his thirst assuaged by the well water drawn by the shepherd Elzeard Bouffier. Here begins the subtle parable which Giono weaves of the life-giving shepherd who chooses to live alone and carry out the work of God. Over forty years the desolate hills and lifeless villages which so oppressed the traveller are transformed by the dedication of one man. All with the help of a few acorns.
Giono's hope was to set in motion a worldwide reforestation program that would rejuvenate the earth.
The Man Who Planted Trees is a hymn to creation and a purveyor of confidence in man's ability to change his - indeed the world's - lot.
