The Giving Tree

A lovely and touching little book.

It's a great book to show to your friends on what may happen to them when they don't set boundaries.

A children’s tale glorifying an abusive relationship with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer

Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” is often celebrated as a classic of children’s literature, yet, reading it now, I struggle to see the appeal. Where contemporaries in the genre – such as Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are” – bring subtext, wit, and magic, Silverstein’s approach here is relentlessly didactic.

The narrative, centring on a boy’s lifelong (abusive) relationship with a perpetually self-sacrificing tree, bludgeons the reader with its message of unconditional giving to the point of tedium. “The Giving Tree” has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

The story’s moral simplicity feels not only outdated but, frankly, rather joyless. One leaves the tale with a sense of manipulation, not enlightenment. This might suffice for those in search of finger-wagging parables, but for those yearning for depth or nuance, there are far better options in the children’s canon.

One star out of five.

Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam

This was interesting and strangely sad. I feel like this could be interpreted a lot of different ways. Personally, though, I feel like it's just a commentary on society - i just think that most people have been both the tree and the boy at one time or another.... I mean i know i have. I kinda think this story could also be a lesson but idk how to put it into words

okay weno it's giving paulo coelo ft the oz como era lo de dr seuss... (LMAOOO ERA THE LORAX) so yeah the lorax ass book

entonc de tri dio y el boi ricifved so it's so bitifol

As a book that is an evoker of emotions, this is excellent. As a book that is a carrier of communication, it is not even good.

The relationship between the boy and the tree is deeply unhealthy. The revelation of how unhealthy it is comes along with much sadness, so the book does indicate that.

But then, the ending, and especially the last page, spoil everything. The whole point of the book seemed to be that one should not just take and take and take from love, and it even showed the tree to be unhappy at one point, supporting that.

But then the last page voids all consequence and destroys the message. Is it about unhealthy relationships? The love of a mother for her child? The human exploitation of nature? In no case is the message any good.

I read this on the bus from Planet Word, my mom having purchased a copy. I liked it! Morose. My mom always had a copy of [b:Where the Sidewalk Ends 30119 Where the Sidewalk Ends Shel Silverstein https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1168052448l/30119.SX50.jpg 30518] around when I was growing up, so it was nice to revisit Shel, if only briefly.

Heartbreaking. Heart aching.
Beautiful.
Moving.
Incredibly sad and poignant.
Deeply touching and so desperately true.

Through out the book I could see my little self in the boy. Only asking for more and more and more of someone who would never ask for anything in return. I can't help but empathise with both, the tree and the boy.
It's clear as day that the boy is being selfish and returning to the tree to serve his personal agenda. However, what's making the boy come back to gets over looked. This is how regular people operate even in this day and age. We all are a slave to roti, kapra and Makaan.

Emotional and reflective.

Such a short & simple story, but the lesson lasts lifetime.

There's not much to say about this that hasn't been said. It's full of love and some sadness and it's perfect.

No. Just no.

Added 1/9-20

I saw the cover of this book, and was filled with rage once again, so I seriously dislike this book.

The boy was so damn selfish, self-centered, materialistic, whiny, demanding, entitled, manipulative, greedy, ungrateful a-hole, who didn't learn anything, and I can't see any reason to why the tree would love him. And I don't believe in self-sacrificing love. I don't believe we give our children the best possible start in life by obeying their smallest whims and treating them as little Caesars. Of course, children should be loved and “spoiled rotten”, but not like this. The boy reminds me of those a-holes, who live at home and terrorize their elderly parents and don't contribute in any positive way in anyone's life. And I can't stand the good but incredibly stupid tree dying to benefit the little piece of shit.

I was expecting : “Cut down my trunk and make a coffin” :D

Rereading this with my kids is just as fun as the first time I read it. Too many years in between the first read and the reread. Should have done this sooner.

Always makes me feel not quite right... Don't know why.

What a sad little story. :(

It's a little sweet on the surface, but after I thought about it, whether you interpret the story literally or representing parent-child bonds, I feel it conveys a bad message of selfishness.

I like Shel's other stuff, but I find The Giving Tree about the saddest thing I have ever read. The boy comes off as an uncaring gold digger that takes until there is nothing left to give to him.