Helpful Score: 1
The Maytrees is a dense, lyrical book written in the style of the Beat poets, about a couple of bohemians who meet in Provincetown in the 1950s. Annie Dillard bounces around in time, flashing forward to the ends of the couple's lives, then back to their childhoods. Her well-read characters are as familiar with Greek philosophers as with friends living down the street, yet know how to keep a beach shack in good repair and fish for nearly anything. There's not much plot to it, but it's a beautifully written meditation on love, life, and dying. I listened to this book on CD, and I'm ordering a paperback copy so I can read it again and take my time.
I found it hard to get into. The writing style is that of a poet, which Ms. Dillard is, so it was difficult to deal with the style. It was also depressing, which, I guess, many real life type experiences are. I would not recommend it for those who read for escapism, but would definitely recommend for those interested in the social commentary.
A big fan of Dillard, this was not my favorite of her writings. I much prefer her non-fiction prose.
I wanted to like this book, but I just didn't. Nothing much happened, the characters' motivations were inscrutable, and I found Dillard's language to be unnecessarily obscure.
