Need to know what people’s opinions of “The Giving Tree” are.
Thanks.
I’m a pretty intense person. During law school, I studied almost non-stop; I was married, so it was fairly easy to focus and, for once, I didn’t have to work during the academic year. My best friend at that time (non-spouse) was this guy who was an easy-going goofball type (very smart, sub-3:10 marathoner, FWIW:). He used to take me to play ping pong when I started to wig. We talked on the phone so much it started to bug my husband. Anyway, on my birthday in my second year, he gave me The Giving Tree and inscribed it with the following: “May you always keep life in perspective.” Even though I don’t think he intended it, I always believed the story was a commentary on our friendship – I was the boy and he the tree. That book affected me profoundly and, I think, has made me a better friend to others and hopefully a better parent. To this day, it still hurts me to read it (and I have it here right on my lap).
Wow, thanks for sharing that, Amy.
I’m asking because my brother-in-law recently brought my old copy of the book out here from my parent’s house in NJ. Mrs. Vitus had never read it before, and after reading it to our son, was shocked. I think she was expecting a more “traditional” children’s book.