I was a bit intimidated to read a Richard Powers novel having heard people talk about The Overstory. In Book Chicks we’ve gone democratic for our picks (one per chick per year) and this was Hazel’s selection. That’s the beauty of a book club, eh? Read outside our comfort zone.

Happily, as with most books I read, I had no idea about the premise and was quickly swept into the story with the four compelling main characters from four vastly different backgrounds.

As I was reading the book, I was forming questions for our discussion … only to have a major plot twist make those questions irrelevant. We had a juicy discussion at our 30th anniversary meeting. What doesn’t this book cover? Friendship, technology, human nature, ethics, environment, mental illness, academia, art, creativity. And so many ways to interpret the title.

Great reading experience, great discussion. Highly recommend. 4.5 stars.