The tree books..

When I was younger I remember reading several wonderful books that opened up a new world to me (lucky for me I still sometimes discover these kind of books nowadays but there is nothing like the classics).

The main one I wanted to mention was 'The Faraway Tree'. Here is a synopsis. I think it used to scare me.

"The Faraway Tree series is a popular series of children's books written by Enid Blyton. The stories revolve around an enchanted wood where a gigantic magic tree grows, which is discovered by three children, living nearby. At the top of the tree is a ladder which leads the children to a magic land. It is a different place every time they visit, because the land can "move on" from the top of the tree and make way for a new land. The children are free to come and go, but they have to leave before the land "moves on" or they will be stuck there until the hole comes back and they can get down the ladder at the top of the tree."

They dont really make stories like that anymore. While we are on the topic of trees, another one I remember reading (maybe a little later) was 'The Giving Tree'. This one is more to make you think. Different people take it different ways. Synopsis.

"The story is a short moral tale about a relationship between a young boy and a tree in a forest. The tree and the boy become best friends. The tree always provides the boy with what he wants: branches to swing from, shade to sit under, apples to snack on, branches to build a house. As the boy grows older and older he requires more and more of the tree. The tree loves the boy very much and gives him anything he asks for. In the ultimate act of self-sacrifice, the tree lets the boy cut her down so the boy can build a boat in which he can sail. The boy leaves the tree, now a stump. Many years later, the boy, now an old man, returns and the tree says "I have nothing left to give you". The boy replies that all he needs is a quiet place to sit and rest. The tree happily obliges."

Anyone remember reading those? And we could analyse the tree's choices but we'll leave that for another day.