The Language of Trees: A Novel

Image of The Language of Trees: A Novel
Author(s): 
Release Date: 
July 19, 2010
Publisher/Imprint: 
William Morrow Paperbacks
Pages: 
368
Reviewed by: 

“I could always heal the birds,” he admits. . . . Echo takes his hand, “Joseph says that birds are the only creatures that have blind faith. This is why they are able to fly.”

Ilie Ruby has crafted a magically moving novel comprised of disparate elements: a tragic childhood death, a kidnapped woman, American Indian (Seneca) ghosts and spirits, wolves that interact with humans, unrequited love, and a parent’s illness. This literary debut is also replete with dysfunctional families who, sadly, may represent normality in American life. Dysfunctional families are fueled by shame and secrets, and the secrets are kept until they must be divulged in order to save lives.

Two of the key characters in The Language of Trees are Grant Shongo and Echo O’Connell. Grant is a half-blooded Seneca with the power to cure sick and wounded birds and animals. He is also a person who cannot cure himself.

Then there’s Echo, who feels that she is lost in her life in spite of the fact that she’s true to herself. Echo is the one person in the story who is free, except that she’s not aware of it. And, except for Echo, the book is populated with characters that are haunted by the past—literally and figuratively—as they search for peace and redemption.

“Happiness is just as hard to get used to as anything else.”

The Language of Trees is written in a cinematic style. It begins slowly, and it takes the reader some time to absorb all of the many characters and to understand the personal issues affecting them all. There’s also more than a touch of mysticism and magic to the story. There are unique and spiritual events that will seem almost commonplace to those with even a trace of Native American blood. (The author demonstrates a great deal of respect for Indian folklore and beliefs.)

What is initially calm builds to a highly dramatic and satisfying conclusion. Coming to the final pages, I was reminded of the style of Pat Conroy in The Prince of Tides, which found me both excited and sad that the journey was about to end. As with Conroy’s novels, Ruby leaves us with a life’s lesson, which is that one must let go of the demons of the past in order to “not (be) afraid of the future anymore.” Once the nightmares of the past have been left behind, we are free to soar like birds.

At its conclusion, this novel has the power to transport the reader to a better place.

The Language of Trees is nothing less than masterful and transformational. Let’s hope that we will not have to wait too long for Ms. Ruby’s next novel.