My Quick Take: I found this to be an ultimately interesting and satisfying read, though it had a changeable nature!
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I haven’t read Catton’s 2013 Booker Prize-winning The Luminaries, but her new novel was getting a lot of buzz so I was excited to give it a try. How could I not want to, given that Stephen King said, “As a multilayered, character-driven thriller, it’s as good as it gets.” Okay! And it seemed right up my alley: an eco-thriller that promised environmental issues and scares.

New Zealand’s Birnam Wood is a grassroots environmental collective that farms on private and public land, harvesting food for donation and sale. On the sly, leaders Mira and Shelley guerrilla garden as well, planting in spaces without permission. Former member Tony reappears, and challenges their political stance, and then an even more risky deal presents itself in the form of a Libertarian billionaire.

The beginning of this novel started quite slowly. It was well written and interesting, but it required a lot of effort from my brain, which is fine. There were long pages of character backstories. Catton’s characters began debating politics at length, and even though I’m moderately well versed in some of the political issues around the Left and Right, I wasn’t sure I was smart enough to know how much this was satire, and how much Catton meant this to be taken at face value. Essentially, though, I think it was satire, and quite fascinating.

I settled in for an interesting but long ride. However, the book is a bit of a chameleon. At about the 50% mark, things really picked up. Here was the thriller bit! The pace quickened, and I realized the first half of political talk and character exploration had neatly set up the second half. I was quite riveted. I couldn’t wait to finish the last bit–in a good way. It’s not horror or a classic thriller by any means, but it has those elements and is quite smart about it. I particularly liked the ending and the very last sentence: so much to contemplate!

What happens when you make a deal with the devil? Do the ends justify the means? What’s a woke guerrilla gardener to do? You’ll have to read it to find out…

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for a digital copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Between having to verify meanings of so many words in such complicated sentence structures and dealing with unlikeable characters, this was a struggle to complete reading, much less reviewing.

If you are looking to increase your vocabulary and think in more complicated thought patterns, you will probably enjoy this novel.

The subject matter is even heavy - eco terrorism by a wealthy high tech businessman who uses others to camouflage his activities, including using Mira Bunting a horticulturist and activist who believes every bit of earth should be growing food for the world.

Set in New Zealand, where growing seasons are opposite those in North America, was a challenge that I enjoyed.

Delighted to include this title in the March edition of Novel Encounters, my regular column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction, for the Books section of Zoomer magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

Out darn spot! This book reaffirms that no matter the context, Eleanor Catton is an exquisite writer. Birnam Wood is long, but doesn’t drag and is able to explore imagery and character development in-depth without compromising the pace. It’s a very intriguing story, that felt like a bit of a bibliophiles dream. It was very philosophical and introspective without being overly cerebral. It felt like a practical philosophy book.

The story of Birnam Wood, closely parallels Shakespeare’s Macbeth and reminds us that “Absolute power corrupts, absolutely”. I’m still in shock from just how quickly the end of the book escalated, snowballing into the perfect storm.

I have nothing but the highest praise for Birnam Wood. From its complex characters to its beautiful writing and perfectly executed plot, there’s something for everyone in this political thriller/tragedy. In addition, it’s just a ton of FUN! A must read.

Birnam Wood is a philanthropic gardening group who sometimes breaks the law. Robert Lemtoine is a billionaire with no scruples. When Lemoine offers the group money with no strings attached they have to take it, but is it a good thing or does Lemoine have an ulterior motive. The characters are not people you would love and your opinion of them changes as the story progresses. While I had worked out multiple endings as I read, nothing prepared me for the ending Ms.Catton presented. A little slow to start I quickly found myself wrapped up in their story and didn't want to stop. An excellent read for readers of mystery and literature alike.
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