What's 'People Among Trees' about, and who is the author?

People Among Trees is a debut novel by Hanyu Yagi, a Japanese author known for her thought-provoking writing style. The book explores themes of identity, community, and the human condition through a unique narrative voice.

Is 'People Among Trees' a dense and challenging read?

Yes, the book's size and scope can be overwhelming, but the writing is engaging and immersive, making it worth the effort.

What are the main themes of the book?

The book explores themes of identity, community, family, and the human condition, raising important questions about the nature of truth and reality.

Is the book suitable for all readers?

No, the book deals with complex themes and has a slow pace, making it more suitable for readers who enjoy literary fiction and are willing to invest time and effort.

Can I relate to the characters in the book?

The book has well-developed characters, particularly Emiko, who struggles with relatable issues and has a rich inner life.

What's the author's writing style like?

Yagi's writing is vivid and evocative, making it easy to visualize the settings and characters, but some readers might find it too lyrical or flowery.

Is the book available in different formats?

Yes, the book is available in paperback and possibly other formats, but I read the paperback version published in 2018.

Can I recommend this book to others?

Yes, if you're a fan of literary fiction and are willing to invest time and effort, you might appreciate Yagi's writing style and the book's thought-provoking themes.

A Mixed Bag: 'People Among Trees' by Hanyu Yagi

Name: Mixed Feelings After Reading 'People Among Trees' - A Debut Novel by Yagi
Item: People Among Trees
Rating: 4
Author: victoriaJ

Hello everyone!

I had no idea who Hanyu Yagi was until I stumbled upon her book, but it turns out she's a pretty well-known author, thanks to her second novel 'A Little Life' that got translated and published, and her debut novel 'People Among Trees'.

The book caught my eye in the library. It was a bit bigger than the others on the shelf, and it really stood out. I decided to take a closer look, flipped through the pages, read the blurb, and I was hooked. I ended up reading the whole thing, and I have to say, my interest remained until the very end, but the book left me with some mixed feelings.

So, what's this book about, and what did I like and dislike about it?

A Little About 'People Among Trees'

I read this book in the paperback version, published in 2018, but written by the author back in 2013. As I mentioned earlier, the book is a bit bigger than the others, and it looks quite substantial, but surprisingly, it's not as dense as I thought it'd be.

people in the tree hanyu yanagihara reviewsWith the big font and plenty of whitespace, I could've easily condensed the book to a smaller size. I guess the publisher thought the larger format would be more appealing. I also noticed that 'A Little Life' has the same layout. I'm not sure if I'll read the second book, but I have to say, the author has piqued my interest.

The cover has a quote from the author of the novel 'A Small Life'. It might give you the impression that the author wrote 'A Small Life' first and then 'People Among Trees'. But that's actually the opposite. The author's debut novel wasn't well-received at first, and she was kind of an underdog. However, thanks to her continued writing, even the debut novel eventually gained recognition.

from the author of 'A Small Life'

I took a look at the back cover, and there are a ton of glowing reviews from various media outlets, along with a green background description of the novel. I checked them out, and the description of the novel really piqued my interest in what's going to happen on the pages, and the critics' reviews only added fuel to the fire.

people among trees hanyu yanagihara reviewsThe cover also has a note stating that the book is intended for readers 18+ years old. Given that the book discusses pedophilia, that's fitting. Plus, there are some pretty disturbing and shocking descriptions of everyday life, not graphic violence or anything like that. It's just the normalcy of it all that's unsettling.

The book has 480 pages, but don't let that size intimidate you – the font is large, and there are plenty of empty spaces. The binding is well-done, the pages are dense with a slight yellowish tint, and I didn't spot any typos. There are no illustrations in the book.

What's This Book About?

From the blurb:

I have to say, I was blown away by Hanaya Yagi's debut novel, People Among the Trees. Although it was her second book, Little Life, that brought her international fame, her first book received rave reviews from top publications, praising her unique and original voice in American literature.

I recently read People Among the Trees and was struck by the story of Dr. Norton Perina, a young doctor who joins a scientific expedition to a remote Micronesian island in 1950. There, he encounters a tribe with a mysterious secret – a unique form of longevity that's almost like eternal life. The implications of his research are groundbreaking and could revolutionize medicine, opening up new possibilities for humanity. However, as he delves deeper into the tribe's world, he realizes that bringing this 'miracle' to civilization comes with a heavy price, blurring the lines between heroism and crime.

people among the trees hanaya yagihara reviewsDr. Perina's journey is at the heart of the book. In 1950, he sets out with other researchers to a remote island, where they stumble upon a tribe living in complete isolation. The tribe's way of life is so far removed from our own that the researchers are both fascinated and perplexed.

But it's the results of Dr. Perina's research that truly capture the reader's attention. He discovers that these people possess a secret to longevity, one that's not just a few extra years of life but a truly remarkable extension of their lifespan.

For centuries, people have been on a quest to uncover the secrets of eternal life and longevity. They've conducted all sorts of research, and when Norton shared the results of his studies, people flocked to this island in droves. But what did it all lead to? What was hiding behind this promise of longevity? What kind of lifestyle did this wild tribe lead? And all the rest – you can find out by reading the book.

I'll move on to my own impressions of the book, but first, I want to mention that this book by the author is a work of fiction, created through the power of imagination and talent. However, the main character, Norton Perina, is based on a real person whose image, in a way, inspired the author to write this novel.

people among the trees hannya yanagihara reviewsThis real-life person was a scientist who won the Nobel Prize and was later accused of child molestation:

Based on the life of Daniel Carleton Gajdusek, Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine in 1976, who was accused of child molestation in 1996.

For me, moments like these, where characters are based on real people or where the book is inspired by real events, are a plus. So if you're interested in books like this, you might want to give this one a try.

My Impressions of the Book

I've got to say, this book left me with mixed feelings, but it's not because the author did a bad job or anything. The reason I'm feeling this way is that it tackles some really heavy and serious topics, like pedophilia, child abuse, and exploitation. I was completely convinced that none of that stuff was real, but the ending just hit me like a ton of bricks.

Now, considering how that crazy tribe on the island was behaving and their rituals and traditions, I can see why the author might have wanted to recreate one of those rituals. Don't get me wrong, that doesn't excuse the guy's actions, and in today's society, he's basically a perpetrator.

What really gets my goat is that Perina's actions indirectly led to the island being overrun with people, which ultimately led to its downfall. But when you're doing research like this, there are always consequences, and he was just a catalyst for other people's actions. There are plenty of other disasters and catastrophes out there caused by other people, so I don't think it's fair to single him out.

people among trees hanaya yanagihara reviewsMy attitude towards Perina was all over the place. On the one hand, I was appalled by the way he treated the mice – he'd just crush their heads and then study their dead bodies. On the other hand, I was inspired by his decision to go to the island. He was fearless and willing to take risks, which made him seem pretty bold and determined to me.

I have to admit, at first I was a bit put off by some of Norton's actions, but as the story went on, I started to see a different side of him. When he went after the turtle and one of the dream walkers, using their naivety to his advantage, I was really upset. But, of course, my outrage didn't faze him – I was just left to watch as he continued on his path through the story.

However, all those negative feelings started to fade away as I saw how much Norton cared for the kids he'd taken under his wing. Those poor kids were starving, malnourished, covered in sores, and in desperate need of medical attention – especially Viktor, who he initially didn't even recognize as a child, but eventually got sorted out. And I thought to myself, 'Wow, this guy's a real stand-up guy, taking care of all these kids.'

He put his heart and soul into it, too – he clothed them, fed them, got them into school, and eventually even college, which was what they'd always wanted. I have to say, I developed a lot of respect and admiration for the main character. Not many people would take on a responsibility like that, especially not with 43 kids under their care. Norton Perina was a complex person, to say the least – some of his actions inspired me, while others left me feeling repelled. He was determined, driven, and decisive, but also had a pretty blurry line when it came to morality, which ultimately led him to where he was at the end of the story.

People among the trees of Hanyang Yanagihara reviewsI have to admit, the ending of the book caught me off guard. I was hoping it wouldn't be about him, but what's done is done. Although the resolution left me with a bad taste, I still enjoyed the author's work.

The author has a beautiful writing style and does a great job of keeping you engaged, even though the book is written in a documentary-style format. The story is told from Perina's perspective, as he writes to his friend who asked him to tell his life story. The first hundred pages or so are more of an introduction to the main event, and it's not until Perina finally sets off for the island that the story really takes off. The author describes some of the events on the island in vivid detail, and some of the scenes are downright disturbing – so much so that I'd advise readers with a strong stomach to steer clear.

The narrative is interspersed with comments from Perina's friend, Ronald Kubodera, who edited Perina's memoirs. The larger text is Perina's writing, while the smaller text is Ronald's commentary.

The book tackles some heavy themes, including pedophilia, child abuse, scientific research into the secrets of longevity, the rise and fall of a people, and child custody. As a result, I found myself thinking about all sorts of things after finishing the book. On the one hand, I admire certain aspects of Perina's character and some of his actions, but on the other hand, I wouldn't want to emulate him – some of his decisions just don't sit right with me.

What I Loved About This Book is the realistic style of storytelling, tackling tough topics, and a complex main character who's based on a real person. I also appreciated the descriptions of traditions and daily life of an isolated people.

What I Didn't Love was the slow and dragging introduction. I was expecting a more action-packed adventure novel, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

The Verdict

I enjoyed reading 'People Among Trees' by Hanayo Yagi. It was engaging, and packed with detailed descriptions of the island and the community that lives there. It was fascinating to learn about their way of life. However, the lengthy introduction did get a bit tiresome at the start.

I hope this review will be helpful to you.

Check out my reviews of other books:

Sunshine Smiles. Alexandra Zaskalato

The Guardian of the Water. Charles Martin

The Lavender Ribbon. Birch Heather

Letters from the Island of Skai. Jessica Brockmole

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