◊ Paperback: 292
pages
◊ Genre: Fantasy
◊ Publisher: BookBaby
(April 27, 2018)
◊ Language:
English
◊ ISBN-10: 0988418150
◊
ISBN-13: 978-0988418158
SYNOPSIS:
Once
upon a time, Samuel Swerling, a World War II veteran and inventor, decided to
build a park. It would be filled with trees trained to grow in such a way that
children could easily climb them. To this end, he bought two acres of land,
hired Alonso Hannah, a one-armed arborist, and began to turn his dream into the
reality.
After
five years, Alonso and Sam had created a small, privately-owned park in a big
publicly-run city. Sam married Ghita, bought an apartment across the street
from his park, and had five children.
People
fell in love at the Samuel Swerling Park. Painters painted pictures; dogs
chased balls; pretty girls basked in the sun; and time stood still. Most of
all, though, children did what the park had been built for them to do: They
climbed trees.
The
narrator of this book is one of Sam's climbing trees. He thrives on human
contact, and in his long and happy life, he has had few disappointments.
Lately, however, he is being subjected to life-threatening injuries by Jarvis
Larchmont, a power-hungry politician who was thrown out of the park for
bullying when he was twelve-years old.
Time
passes. Sam’s grandchildren, particularly Esther Swerling, are now in charge of
the park. Esther is young, beautiful, and like her grandfather, an inventor.
She is also ferociously protective of her heritage. When a hurricane floods the
area, she and her family provide food and shelter for those seeking refuge from
the storm. At the same time, Jarvis Larchmont is put in charge of the
Department of Parks.
Still
bitterly resentful at having been thrown out of the park as a child, he joins
forces with Eco-terrorists to destroy Sam's creation. Suddenly, our narrator
and his fellow climbing trees are separated from people. Separated from all
that they know and love. Separated from children. They
cry...and they begin to die.
Then
Esther, her friends, and her family organize. And they fight back.
Today –
Arbor Day – is a most fitting time for me to share my thoughts on author Shelly
Reuben’s latest release, MY MOSTLY HAPPY LIFE: An Autobiography of a
Climbing Tree.
In Reuben’s
new book, which also hits bookstands today, her narrator for this fascinating
tale is a tree. She gives readers a unique perspective of a tree’s life in a
park and how we humans interact with them.
This is not a supernatural story where the tree talks to people, but a story
where readers get to know the tree’s feelings and outlook on life in the park.
This story
is filled with highs and lows, sorrow and happiness, and a whimsical outlook
that will have you smiling despite yourself. Reuben has a exceptional way of
bringing the tree to life as a narrator.
Reuben’s
writing is entertaining and captivating. She pulls you into the story and makes
you feel you’re in the middle of the action. The story flows smoothly and at a
good pace. It holds you spellbound until the very end.
I have
never come away from any of Reuben’s writing without feeling more relaxed and
uplifted than when I started reading. Her writing is refreshing and
intoxicating leading you to see a more fanciful side of life.
Illustrations
by Ruth McGraw enhance the story. McGraw’s beautiful drawings highlights this
amazing adventure Reuben takes readers on. Don’t be surprised after you read
this delightful story if you start looking at trees in a whole new light.
My Mostly
Happy Life: An Autobiography of a Climbing Tree by Shelly Reuben, BookBaby,
@2018, ISBN: 978-0988418158, Paperback, 292 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me
by the author. However,
receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are
completely my own and given honestly and freely.
Thanks for stopping by today. Do stories make you
stop and think of how we as humans interact with other creatures and even
objects? Did you have a climbing tree you enjoyed as a youngster?