Mini-reviews: By the Book and The Man Who Planted Trees

For my birthday my brother gifted me two wonderful Charlie Harper coloring books and The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono and illustrated with wood engravings by Michael McCurdy.

The Man Who Planted Trees is a short story about a man walking through a parched and barren land who finds refuge with a shepherd. Every day the shepherd took a hundred acorns and planted them during the day.

The valley without trees was barren

Over the years, the wanderer returned to this valley and observed the changes.

Giono's fable of how one man changed the face of the countryside is especially relevant today when articles tell us that by planting trees we can help alleviate the consequences of climate change.

The thriving valley reforested

I read By the Book by Julia Sonneborn just for fun. My husband read it through Bookish First and I read his copy.

Sonneborn's novel is a pastiche of Jane Austen themes and scenes and it was fun recognizing the sources. The main character Anne is a college professor struggling to get her book published in time to retain her job. Her college flame Adam Martinez shows up as the new college president. Is there any heat left? Meantime, renowned writer Rick becomes Anne's boyfriend, but he has a past she is unaware of. When he disses Austen as writing "old-fashioned chick lit" you know he is a loser!

By the Book is a romantic comedy that is a fast and fun read. There is a nod to contemporary issues with Adam's mother being an undocumented immigrant. A crisis revolves around plagiarism. Anne's best friend Larry falls for Jack, an actor suddenly propelled into fame from his role in a blockbuster film, Jane Vampire, based on Jane Eyre. Jack is in a sham marriage for appearances; will he break Larry's heart?

It's a great summer read for 19th c fiction fans.