The literature world doesn’t come without its quirks, with many beloved books often finding themselves in the middle of a controversy. And one of the most talked-about books is a classic children’s novel that has also been voted as one of the “best books ever” by Goodreads.
Published in 1964, The Giving Tree was written by American author Shel Silverstein. The story tells the tale of a selfless and loving apple tree who would be visited each day by a little boy. Over time, the boy would become more demanding with the tree.
The novel is one of the most polarizing in history, with many people remaining divided over its plotline and themes. While some consider the relationship between the tree and the boy to be a kind and nurturing portrayal of unconditional parental love, others deem the book to be sexist and demeaning, with critics arguing that it normalizes abusive relationships.
Over the years, The Giving Tree has been challenged, with some instances even resulting in it being banned from certain schools and libraries. In 1988, a library in Colorado banned the book from its premises.
However controversial it may be, the book has a loyal following who will recommend it to kids and adults alike.
“We all know and love Shel Silverstein for his whimsical poems, but The Giving Tree is both one of the saddest and most hopeful stories ever told,” one Goodreads reviewer wrote. “Pure and utter genius, this one is.”
“I learned how to read by reading this book, and whenever I return to it, it feels like coming home… just like the boy returning to the tree,” another said.
Besides having a lot of influence over the world of books, The Giving Tree also became an inspiration in the music universe.
In 2013, the Plain White T’s released a song directly inspired by the famous book.
“The song is about a long relationship that I was in and, like a lot of relationships, it felt unbalanced,” guitarist Tim Lopez, told the Chicago Tribune of the song, which shares the same name as the novel. “I felt like in the end I was giving all that I had while she was taking what she could and not giving in return. This is what reminded me of the children’s book. By the time we fell apart I really felt decimated, that I had nothing left to give to her or anyone else for that matter.”
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