GUEST WRITER BRAELYN MCCULLUM RECOMMENDS BIRNAM WOOD BY ELEANOR CATTON
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton is a captivating novel with an unforgettable cast of characters and a compelling story. It explores themes like idealism and corruption, while also delving into the topic of the power and influence of the rich. Through flowery language and vivid, elaborate imagery, Catton tells the story of Birnam Wood, an unofficial gardening group that grows crops on vacant or unused properties.
Readers are introduced to Birnam Wood’s ambitious and headstrong leader, Mira Bunting. Mira is on the lookout for a property that will suit the group’s needs, and she believes she’s found the perfect location. Only, someone else has their eye on the property, someone with a lot more money and power than Mira: charismatic (and eccentric) billionaire Robert Lemoine, who has plans to build his doomsday bunker on the property. After encountering Mira on the site, Lemoine offers to fund Birnam Wood’s endeavors and agrees to let them share the space with him. Mira agrees, and the group sets up camp on the property, eager to begin a new round of gardening. Everything seems to be going smoothly, until Mira begins to doubt whether the billionaire’s intentions with the property – and Birnam Wood – are what he says they are.
Birnam Wood’s story is told from multiple perspectives, each with their own distinct voice and personality. Through these perspectives readers get to watch everything unfold, from the first day on the new property to the group’s inevitable demise. Birnam Wood keeps readers invested in the story, introducing new twists and turns on every page that leave readers wondering “what’s next?”. Overall, Birnam Wood is a beautiful, thrilling novel, and it would make a fantastic addition to any reader’s bookshelf.
Braelyn McCullum is a grade eleven student at Leo Hayes High School. When she doesn’t have her nose in a book, Braelyn enjoys riding horses, listening to Taylor Swift, or hanging out with her dog, Louie.