Julia Butterfly Hill

I don't normally read memoirs, and I didn't particularly expect to enjoy this one, but I was reading Richard Powers' Overstory and could tell that one of his main characters was based on Julia Butterfly Hill, so I decided to skim her memoir.

This turns out to be a profoundly moving and inspiring story. Hill spent 738 days in a tree, educating herself about the logging industry and activism so that she could prevent the tree from being cut down. Dealing with life in the tree was actually the show more easiest of her hardships - she became a major figure in the media, and a lot of her days were spent talking on her solar-powered cellphone to the media, lawyers, and representatives of logging companies. Through all of this, she maintained a strong belief in a higher power, in the ultimate goodness of humanity, and in the power of love to solve all problems. It's hard to read this book and not be inspired to go fight for a cause. I wish more people had the moral strength and clear vision that Hill has. show less

A lot of Hill's prose is of the amorphously spiritual variety. And that's okay because that's who she is and (to me, anyway) she never comes across as insisting you share in that vision. I find the more important aspect of her writing the insistence on the need for empathy; to see each other as living individuals rather than cardboard cut-outs. Only then can meaningful dialog occur. And without meaningful dialog, everything will continue to deteriorate.
I'm giving the book 3 stars because, as show more a book it is written only moderately well, in spite of the compelling story. But I would encourage you to read it, nonetheless. It is relatively short, so your time investment will be small. show less

I gave this Book 5 stars not for writing style, but for content. Ms. Hill has written a book that is accessible for younger people and tells a very strong story. There are flaws in the writing style, but her story is inspirational. Everyone should do something worthwhile in their life, she did it and she wrote her story. Bravo for her

An interesting memoir that helps one to understand what drives extreme activism. One can only admire the author's tenacity and commitment to the cause of protecting an ancient redwood named Luna and the surrounding forest. Not unexpectedly, this book makes the lumber companies out to be monstrous villians, but does also highlight those loggers and eventual steel workers who come around to treat her humanely and/or suppor the cause. At times the writing felt unpolished, but that did keep the show more memoir in her voice, which is clearly the more important consideration. show less