Hatchards

(Paperback)

by Veerle Van den Broeck

Reading Tree: My Encounters with Trees felt unexpectedly meditative. What I first assumed would be a quiet collection of reflections on trees slowly unfolded into something far more intimate: a wandering, stubborn, deeply personal travelogue through remote parts of Japan, guided by an elderly woman who repeatedly pushes beyond her limits in pursuit of remarkable trees. Aya Kōda writes with the spirit of someone slightly rebellious. Again and again, she embarks on difficult journeys toward isolated sugi (cedars), hinoki, ancient pines, forests near volcanoes, or landscapes scarred by landslides, often relying on the kindness of accidental travel companions to get there. What fascinated me most was that her obsession is never limited to trees alone. Volcanoes, erosion, storms, collapsing mountainsides — the instability of nature clearly captivates her just as deeply. What makes the book special is the way Kōda looks at trees. She genuinely seems to prefer them over people, and I loved that. The trees are never passive scenery; they become personalities with moods, emotions, dignity, and even stubbornness. She appears to read trees, maybe even better than she reads humans? And the moments of human connection in the book work best when she meets people who share that same sensitivity toward the natural world. Her writing made me slow down. There’s very little dramatic plot, yet the book creates a strong sense of movement and contemplation at the same time. It often feels like walking quietly beside someone whose lifelong fascination has sharpened the way she sees the world. This is not simply a book about trees. It’s about obsession, aging, movement, and the strange emotional lives we project onto landscapes.

This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.

(Paperback)

by Alan M

'Just as people bear their own personal histories, so do trees. Each tree has a unique story carved into its body: how old it is, whether it has managed to come this far unscathed, or whether, by contrast, there has been hardship on its journey to the present day.' I first came across this book when it featured in Wim Wenders' film 'Perfect Days'. Now, I could spend 20 pages on why *everyone* should see this film, its central performance, the sheer joy and beauty in life and nature and, of course, the best film soundtrack ever. But this is a review of 'Tree', so I will just hope that people find the film and enjoy it. This English translation of 'Tree' is timely and important. As we continue to destroy our environment in the name of progress, it is a call to arms, a meditation on nature and some of the most important but often ignored features that we all see every day: trees. This is a nature book, but it's also a personal journey for Aya Koda as she travels around Japan, locally and farther afield, to try and see as many different kinds of trees that she can. In doing so she discovers tales of survival and destruction, of the people who give their lives to protecting trees or, indeed, deal with them once they have been cut down or died. And in doing so Koda muses on aspects of her own life and family as she gets older and finds comfort in old, gnarled trees that have distinct personalities and life stories. Trees outlive humans; take a walk in your local park or venture out into the country. They are observers, watching us humans as we thrash about trying to live and prove ourselves. Trees will outlive us, shrugging their shoulders as we disappear and just getting on with the job of being a tree. This book has opened my eyes to nature again. It is a gentle but powerful exploration of a life lived with a love of nature but without the sciencey sort of stuff. I would be hard-pressed to identify different species of tree, I'll be honest, but I want to now. And to return to 'Perfect Days' which plays so much with light reflected through trees and the quiet moments it allows us, so too does Koda embrace this, finding it mesmerising and a true escape. I can't recommend this book enough - it has changed the way I look at nature, and I hope that it finds an audience. 5 stars.

(Paperback)

by Katy Wheatley

This is a stunning little volume. Koda writes from her old age about trees that have been meaningful to her throughout her life. Each short chapter focuses on either one tree or one type of tree. Sometimes the meanings she derives are linked with personal memories, sometimes it is the emotion that the trees evoke in her. She has a very anthropomorphic relationship with nature and it is this which I find so fascinating. I thought it might be too cute but it wasn't at all. It was charming.