The Education of Little Tree
£4.48
My favourite book ever - This book had a profound impact on me when I first read it a few years ago, and is one I go back to and re-read regularly. Not only is it everything that other reviewers have said, but it s also sweetly funny, because of the innocent way the child (Little Tree) interprets the - sometimes unpleasant - actions of the adults around him. Reading it as an adult was a memorable experience, but I would suggest that giving it to a child would also be money well spent, as it deals sensitively with the issues of prejudice, love, life and death. If I had to live on a desert island, this would be the book I d take with me. As another reviewer said - I don t know why, it just is.
Entertaining yet perplexing! - My aunt gave me this book when I was at university - seems about a million years ago now, and I have read it countless times. Along with the novel Little Big Man by Thomas Berger it is one of my two personal bibles . I have used excerpts and stories from the book in my professional capacity in working with children in young people in imparting lessons about tolerance, understanding, respect, individuality and love.In brief the book, tells the story of a little boy - Little Tree - who following the death of his parents goes to live with his Cherokee grandparents in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina during the Depression of the 1930 s. While living with his grandparents he learns lessons about living at peace with the world around him, natural and man-made, and most importantly receiving a realistic education about the Way of the world and not some new-agey, noble-savage nonsense. Towards the end of the book Little Tree learns to adapt to the changes that are taking place and ultimately is capable of coping with the traumas he is faced with. This is thanks to the education he received from his grandparents.There are some great characters in the book such as Mr. Wine, Willow John, Pine Billy and the dogs of course, Ol Rippit, Blueboy and Maud.Given the gentle nature of the story I was therefore very suprised to find out that the author Forrest Carter, was someone high up in the Ku Klux Klan at some point, when you take into account the hatred and intolerance that that organisation is based on. The book is certainly against centralised Government (a feature of extreme right wing groups within the USA currently), yet confusingly makes a stand against anti-Semitism.Another reviewer for this book cites several Native American writers who have attacked Forrest Carter and his work, some of whom - Vine Deloria in particular - for whom I have the greatest respect. There are others who also attack the work such as Ward Churchill whose own stated Native American ancestry is doubted by other Native Americans. All I can say is read this book and enjoy it, but read it alongside others. Look up books by Vine Deloria, Winona LaDuke, Suzan Harjo, Sherman Alexie and Elizabeth Cook-Lynn.
Breathtaking - Emotionally gripping and philosophically enlightening, this book pulled me along in such a way that I looked forward to every second I spent within it. This could be a manual for living in a way that respects those who value all aspects of life and believe in the cycle of existence. On the other hand it could be the most simplistic and beautiful little story you could read. Read it and love it.
Imaginative but flawed - The Education of Little Tree is a fascinating story, brilliantly written, and beautiful in its rendition of the landscape and people of the mountainous region in which it is set.The real-life story of the book has been interesting, to say the least. Although presented as autobiography, the author was in fact not Native American. This fact is documented in numerous places on the internet, in the fantastic book God Is Red: A Native View of Religion by Vine DeLoria, Jr, and also in the writings of Gerald Vizenor (Dean of Ethnic Studies at the University of Berkley, california) and Ward Churchill. An interesting analysis of the story behind the book can be found in the book Going Native by Shari M. Huhndorf.It is important to remember this fact when reading the book. The Education of Little Tree has been the subject of hate campaigns, but can be more usefully read as an attempt by a white writer to comprehend the world of the Native American - even going so far as to pretend he was Cherokee himself. the author s background is fascinating and well worth the research.
BEST BOOK EVER - As soon as I had a copy of The Education of Little Tree I then could not put it down. This little book is about a journey through life, through the eyes of a little Cherokee orphan. Living in the mountains with his Cherokee grandparents, he is learning The Way . Sharing the journey with Little Tree is a beautiful and moving experience. It is also funny, sad, spiritual and an Education. The Education of Little Tree is a beautiful read and it is the only book that I never tire of reading. I have since bought copies as gifts as well as lending my own copy on many occassions. The story of Little Tree has appealed to my friends young and old and they too have bought copies as gifts. This is my most favourite book and I say a big Thank You to Forrest Carter for such a lovely little Treasure.