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Review
'This powerful book explores forgiving the unforgivable.' --Star magazine
'This is a gripping, well-paced tale, compassionate without being mawkish.' --Guardian
'It's a deceptively simple plot, but look closely and you'll realise the skill that's gone into the construction. Ends tie up - but not too tidily. Events have their own momentum and the plot never seems contorted to accommodate a situation. It's a book which will bear rereading.' --The Bookbag
'The emotional fallout from the murder of a young boy 18 years ago is the subject of this perceptive debut, which should please Jodie Picoult fans.' --Waterstones Books Quarterly
'An absorbing rumination on the power of forgiveness.' --Choice
'If The Crying Tree doesn't make you cry, you have better control over your blubbing than I do. This is an astonishing debut novel.' --Richard Madeley, Woman's Own
If you enjoy reading Jodi Picoult, you'll love Naseem Rakha. These are big themes for a new writer but Rakha knows what she's doing... The Crying Tree is, quite simply, a terrific story.'
--Judy Finnigan, Woman's Own
'This is a gripping, well-paced tale, compassionate without being mawkish.' --Guardian
'It's a deceptively simple plot, but look closely and you'll realise the skill that's gone into the construction. Ends tie up - but not too tidily. Events have their own momentum and the plot never seems contorted to accommodate a situation. It's a book which will bear rereading.' --The Bookbag
'The emotional fallout from the murder of a young boy 18 years ago is the subject of this perceptive debut, which should please Jodie Picoult fans.' --Waterstones Books Quarterly
'An absorbing rumination on the power of forgiveness.' --Choice
'If The Crying Tree doesn't make you cry, you have better control over your blubbing than I do. This is an astonishing debut novel.' --Richard Madeley, Woman's Own
If you enjoy reading Jodi Picoult, you'll love Naseem Rakha. These are big themes for a new writer but Rakha knows what she's doing... The Crying Tree is, quite simply, a terrific story.'
--Judy Finnigan, Woman's Own
Product Description
A powerful and moving story about grief, hate and the capacity for forgiveness
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
81 of 84 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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This is a stunning book of great depth and tenderness. A family move across the USA hoping to build a new existence, but the son is shot dead in his own home. Soon after the killer is arrested, but spends many years on death row. Mother, father and sister are distressed, angry, and look forward to the day he dies, when justice can be seen to be done and revenge taken.
The years that elapse between sentencing and the planned execution take a heavy toll on the family, and each deals with it in different ways. As the years go by the feelings within each family member shift bit by bit, as do the relationships between them.
In a nutshell, that's about it then, with the odd surprising revelation along the way. If you're looking for a book packed with action, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a book with a variety of interesting characters who have depth and complexity, and who develop in an entirely convincing way then this is the right book for you.
Though there is much anger, frustration and loss recounted in the pages, there's also a haunting beauty. It asks penetrating questions about the nature of rules, of acceptance and authority, and what gives our life purpose.
Whilst struggling with difficult and weighty matters, the delightful prose remains delicate. Nowhere has the author allowed things to get bogged down, and a few carefully crafted images are often left to do the work other authors would require pages of description to accomplish. A novel that is thoughtful, literary and readable all at the same time.
The years that elapse between sentencing and the planned execution take a heavy toll on the family, and each deals with it in different ways. As the years go by the feelings within each family member shift bit by bit, as do the relationships between them.
In a nutshell, that's about it then, with the odd surprising revelation along the way. If you're looking for a book packed with action, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a book with a variety of interesting characters who have depth and complexity, and who develop in an entirely convincing way then this is the right book for you.
Though there is much anger, frustration and loss recounted in the pages, there's also a haunting beauty. It asks penetrating questions about the nature of rules, of acceptance and authority, and what gives our life purpose.
Whilst struggling with difficult and weighty matters, the delightful prose remains delicate. Nowhere has the author allowed things to get bogged down, and a few carefully crafted images are often left to do the work other authors would require pages of description to accomplish. A novel that is thoughtful, literary and readable all at the same time.
53 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I did not expect to like The Crying Tree. I am not fond of books that sound like they are made to tug the heart strings, so to speak. But, my friend insisted I read it. Infact, she poured me a wine, put me in her favorite chair and said she'd be back in an hour. An hour later, she found me so deep in the book, I was not willing to go out as planned. I had to know more. I had feel more. This author did an incredible job of putting me in the shoes of her characters. I could see the things they saw, and feel them as well, and it kept building in a way that left me with my mouth open, and tears running down my face. Usually I mark up my books, notes to my future writer self. Because this was my friends book, I could not do that. But words remain in my mind. Like the condemned man calling the experience of being forgiven both "pain and grace," or when the mother says to the overbearing sister that she has "no idea about the miles that lie between losing a son and finally letting him go." Naseem Rakha lets lose with so many beautiful analogies and descriptions that I couldn't list them here, but at no time are they over bearing or heavy handed. There is a quiet beauty in this book. And a reverence for life and its complicated ways. I simply could not, WOULD not put the book down until I had read each sentence. Now, I need to get my book group to read it, because it just begs to be talked about. I loved this book.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book based on the reviews on here and I can't say I am sorry that I did but neither can I say it completely gripped me. For me it was one of those reads that you vaguely enjoy on some level but it doesnt make you want to add the author to your list of must buy's.
The subject matter is emotive - the loss of a child is a terrible thing and the writer has done well in pulling you in to the family grief. However, I think my personal problem was that I didnt find the characters that likeable to begin with - the only one I really felt any empathy for was Bliss, the daughter left behind as the sole child of the family. HER grief and eventual need to move past it resonated with me. That character is the reason I give the book 3 stars and not 2.
Certainly I can understand why it has so many rave reviews - some people are going to "feel" this story more than others, it just didnt quite get there for me.
The subject matter is emotive - the loss of a child is a terrible thing and the writer has done well in pulling you in to the family grief. However, I think my personal problem was that I didnt find the characters that likeable to begin with - the only one I really felt any empathy for was Bliss, the daughter left behind as the sole child of the family. HER grief and eventual need to move past it resonated with me. That character is the reason I give the book 3 stars and not 2.
Certainly I can understand why it has so many rave reviews - some people are going to "feel" this story more than others, it just didnt quite get there for me.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An absolute blinder of a novel
This book is so good the story will live with you for a very long time. Every time you think you know where the story is going it takes another change in mood, emotion and... Read more
Published 22 hours ago by Mr. N. D. White
Boooooring...
This book could have been so good! But it truly wasn't. Boring, predictable, flat dialogue... So shallow I couldn't connect with any of the characters. Not a good read at all.
Published 17 days ago by LadyWindmill
A very touching story
I bought this book by mistake - pressed on the wrong item - but decided to go ahead with it. I have not regretted it. Read more
Published 23 days ago by cycammax
Grabbed my attention from the start
I found this book very emotive, it deals with a highly emotional subject extremely well. It caught at your imagination and grabbed your attention. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ells Bells
The Crying Tree
I enjoyed reading the The Crying Tree more than I had thought at first viewing. I found a lot of emotion in it as well as tension, suspense and then, as if falling gently, it often... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Fleur
slow but worth it
I did enjoy this book, however it required commitment which was rewarded in the long run. The idea of forgiveness remains with me
Published 1 month ago by jandap
Absolutely superb!
One of the best books I have read in a long while - would highly recommend. From the moment I started it, I found it very difficult to put down.
Published 1 month ago by J. Quayle
The crying tree
The best book I have read so far this year. When I started was not sure it was for me, American spellings and police background, however it was so well written and very thought... Read more
Published 2 months ago by sherry
Well written, keeps you guessing!
I found this book to be quite slow to begin with and did not grab my attention right away. However, a few chapters in I was really hooked! Read more
Published 3 months ago by hannah
What it means to be human...
This novel is so full of what it means to be human - our foibles, mistakes, fears, vulnerability, tenderness, intimacy, uniqueness ... Read more
Published 3 months ago by orangemumin
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