The Life of an Oak: An Intimate Portrait Book

A jackdaw story of the oaks.

That is to say, easily distracted.

Glenn Keator wants to tell the story of oak trees--and I want to hear it--but he keeps getting distracted by peripheral issues. A lot of the book gets in the weeds of basic biology, which may or may not be interesting, if you don't already know it, but really is tangential to the main storyline here.

It's a pity, because Keator clearly knows his stuff, and has traveled extensively.

Indeed, one of the two best parts of the book is a series of vignettes of places he's been, and the oaks he's scene--it nicely presents the diversity of the group. The other good bit is the (relatively) brief section in the middle on oak evolution and biology; this is constantly interrupted by lessons in botany, but when he dwells on the interactions with other organisms--particularly jays and gall wasps, but also pigs--that's good stuff. The book needed more of it, especially at the beginning, where it would have served as a better organizing device for his discussion.

The real draw here is the art, by Susan Bazell, which simultaneously evokes the classic botanic drawings of the 17th and 18th centuries while being modern, and using a pastel family of colors. Really, really nice.

All in all a fine resource--though probably dated now--but not something to sit down and read.