Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book. 1. If you added another “ring” to the Greenwood family story, what time period and environmental challenges would your character face? 2. Jake contemplates adopting a child at the novel’s conclusion. Which Greenwood family values might this child embrace or reject? 3. Imagine writing a letter as Jake to her unknown biological grandfather. What would she say about Greenwood Island and her decision to protect it? Need more inspiration for your next meeting? <a href="https://www.supersummary.com/resources/#book-club-resources" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Browse all of our Book Club Resources</a>

Creative Engagement

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death. Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book. 1. What effect did the novel’s ring-like structure, moving from 2038 to 1908 and back again, have on your understanding of the connections between generations of the Greenwood family? 2. Did you find the novel’s perspective on human environmental impact ultimately optimistic or pessimistic? What specific moments shaped your interpretation? 3. How does Christie’s exploration of environmentalism compare to other works with similar themes, such as Richard Powers’s <a href="https://www.supersummary.com/the-overstory/summary/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Overstory</a>, which also examines humanity’s relationship with forests across time?

General Impressions

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism. 1. Trees function as both witnesses and participants in the human stories throughout the novel. What purpose does this dual portrayal serve? 2. What insights does the nested narrative structure provide about how family histories shape individual lives? 3. The book repeatedly shows family forming through intention rather than biology. Which “found families” in the novel most effectively challenge traditional definitions of kinship? 4. Literary artifacts connect characters across time throughout the novel. What significance do objects like Euphemia’s diary hold within the larger narrative? 5. How effectively does Christie use death as a recurring motif to emphasize the value of family legacies and connect generations of Greenwoods? 6. The environment serves as both setting and character throughout the novel, similar to Daniel Mason’s approach in <a href="https://www.supersummary.com/north-woods/summary/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">North Woods</a>. What distinguishes Christie’s portrayal of the human relationship with nature?

Literary Analysis

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences. 1. Consider Everett’s transformation from a loner to a protective father figure. When have you experienced a shift in perspective about responsibility, and what prompted it? 2. What objects or documents have altered your understanding of your family story in ways similar to Jake’s discovery of Euphemia’s diary? 3. Which character’s relationship with the natural world most closely aligns with your own experience, and why? 4. Willow rejects her inheritance to live according to her environmental principles. What values would you be unwilling to compromise, even at significant personal cost? 5. The novel suggests that families resemble forests, with individuals supporting each other while maintaining their distinctness. Which aspects of this metaphor resonate with your family experience?

Personal Reflection and Connection

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes. 1. In what ways does the fictional Great Withering reflect or diverge from current climate concerns and conversations? 2. Which historical period’s environmental attitudes, as portrayed in the novel, struck you as most relevant to contemporary views on nature? 3. The novel spans multiple economic upheavals, from the Great Depression to Jake’s future with crushing student debt. What commentary does this offer about evolving class structures and financial burdens across generations?

Societal and Cultural Context

Literary Area of Study

Canadian Literature

Values & Ideas

Challenging Authority

Community Book Clubs

Community Reads

Book Events

Earth Day

Relationships

Family

Nature Versus Nurture

Power

Natural World

Science & Nature

Michael Christie

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore Greenwood and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Greenwood Summary and Study Guide

Background

Greenwood Background

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section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “2038” - Part 4: “1934”

Part 1-Part 4, Chapter 23

Greenwood Part 1-Part 4, Chapter 23 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “1934”

Part 4, Chapters 24-46

Greenwood Part 4, Chapters 24-46 Summary & Analysis

Part 5: “1908” - Part 6: “1934”

Part 5-Part 6, Chapter 70

Greenwood Part 5-Part 6, Chapter 70 Summary & Analysis

Part 6: “1934”

Part 6, Chapters 71-95

Greenwood Part 6, Chapters 71-95 Summary & Analysis

Part 7: “1974” - Part 9: “2038”

Parts 7-9

Greenwood Parts 7-9 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Greenwood Character Analysis

theme

Themes

Greenwood Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Greenwood Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

Greenwood Important Quotes with Page Numbers

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Essay Topics

Greenwood Essay Topics

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personalReflectionAndConnectionContent

societalAndCulturalContextTitle

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creativeEngagementTitle

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Book Club Questions

Greenwood Book Club Questions