Review: The Merro Tree

[pameladlloyd]

I read this book a long time ago, back in the late 1990's, I think. It came up in one of the bittercon topics, so I thought I'd add it to my Goodreads page and share my thoughts here, as well.

The Merro Tree by Katie Waitman

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was an amazing book. It's been years since I read it, and I think my son took it with him when he moved out. A truly moving story of a soul-deep love that transcended boundaries, including those between species. A book my son once declared was the best he'd ever read. I recommend this highly.


View all my reviews.

Comments

[chupacabrito.livejournal.com]

Hi Pamela!
Thanks for the well-wishing, I'm now fully-recovered and back in fighting shape for the week ahead. I didn't realize what an active LJ user you are, I've been checking out your journal this evening (I also can't help but notice your avatars are extremely cool)!

Since I've started working, my formerly chief pastime of book reading has become something I only do if the book happens to relate to work (argh), and I've been telling myself to find something to read that isn't a: old or b: about marketing. I'm going to Borders tomorrow to get The Elements of Style as a good-bye present for our summer intern, so I'll pick this book up if I can.

By the way, are you a fan of the Gormenghast books by Mervyn Peake? And if so did you see the BBC TV series on PBS? I just read the first book a few weeks ago and was very amazed (despite being completely horrified to begin with). Just wondered what your thoughts on it might be!

Much love,

Elly

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Hi Elly,

I'm glad you're feeling ready for the new week. I've only been an active LJ user for a short time. I've really enjoyed the chance to interact with Real Life friends, as well as to make many more online friends around the world. (If I ever go to Australia, I'm going to have a blast meeting all my new-found friends.)

Thank you for your kind words on my icons/avatars. I've had a lot of fun picking them out and there are so-o-o many more that I think are cool.

I'm glad you're going to look for something to read that isn't work related. I think you need a bit of enjoyment in your reading life. Good luck on finding The Merro Tree, but I don't think it's in print any more. I reviewed it based on my 90s memory of it, because it's such an interesting book. I googled her and found a Wikipedia article that says she's only published one other book, The Divided, which I've never read. There's so little information about her, I wonder if the name is actually a pen name.

If you can't find one of hers, there are many, many cool books to choose from. If you haven't read any Bujold, she's wonderful. De Lint, I think you already know. Robin Hobb is also very good. Oh, and there are so many cool new authors, that I don't even know where to begin.

We watched some (all? I'm not sure how many were made) of the BBC Gormenghast series on DVD, which inspired me to pick up an omnibus edition of the three novels. I finished the first and started the second, but got distracted and haven't gotten back to it. The books are very, very strange, often disturbing, but also compelling. I think they must have influenced William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride.

Much love back at ya,
Pamela