BOOK NOOK REVIEW

The Tree Still Grows

September 5, 2008 at 11:39 a.m.

By Jill Williams

Tom and Willie Gillian began a life journey while they were young men in England. The cousins were very close and when Willie's indiscretion caused them to be roused from their homeland, they began a trek that would take them to America. Before they could begin their lives anew, they had to find their way through dangerous land to Londontown, and secure a voyage across the Atlantic. Once in America the cousins would part ways, each beginning a legacy of their own. Their paths would cross again in a few years, and joys and sorrows would be shared. Along the way they settle and begin families to carry on the Gillian name for generations to come.

The story starts out rather quickly, finding Willie getting himself into a predicament that will change the course of his young life. Instead of staying at home and following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Willie and Tom will have to leave home without notifying anyone and without having packed anything for the journey. Luckily the cousins are seasoned fighters and can defend themselves against the ruffians they will encounter along the way.

At a pivotal point early in their adventure, Willie and Tom decide to bring two young people with them. A brother and sister who were living in slave-like conditions before Willie and Tom came along. Unable to leave them in their predicament, the Gillian cousins rescue them from a terrible existence, and protect them as they continue their travels. Eventually one will part ways, the other becoming an integral part of the Gillian's quest to settle in the New Land.

This book, while interesting, is quite long. The generations of Gillians that are described at length have a lot of merit, but other generations are not as descriptive and therefore, we don't connect with their struggles. The best parts of the book are those in which we are invested in the main characters of Tom and Willie Gillian. After that, there's less emotional connection with the characters. Nevertheless, it's an interesting family tree and decent first novel by this author.

The author was born in 1922 in a small Kentucky town, the sixth of twelve children. He worked in the office of Naval Intelligence, and spent four years as a medic in World War II. The author's articles and short stories have appeared in newspapers and magazines, and this is his first full-length novel.

Jill does laundry for a 7 year old who thinks he's too old for toys, a 5 year old gymnast, a 5 year old niece who has joined the family, and a 3 year old computer whiz. She also occasionally irons her husband's suits. In between loads, Jill loves to read.