Comments on: The Crying Tree?

By: Lindsay Todd

Lindsay Todd — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:37:18 +0000

Jennifer, I didn’t know about your response to “I’ll Love you Forever” but also cry every time I read it. I had a whole room in tears at my brother Scott and his wife Bronwen’s baby shower. Liam used to think it was hilarious the teenagers room was so messy. The Giving Tree never did it for me either.

By: Em's sobbing brother

Em's sobbing brother — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:12:59 +0000

Em –

You’d better sleep with a copy of the “Giving Tree” under your pillow until I get over this one.

Speaking of songs that make you cry…
1. “I’m So Happy That I Can’t Stop Crying” by Sting. If you’ve never heard it, make it a point.

2. Anything by the BackYardigans.

Love, Your Little Brother

By: becky

becky — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:26:29 +0000

Oh, boy. My son’s only 1 and I haven’t bought a copy of The Giving Tree yet. It’ll probably make me cry. I cry at everything. Including Puff the Magic Dragon.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:44:08 +0000

Beth, you’ve reminded me – my kids have also had to take the book out of my hands and finish reading. It sounds like you didn’t reach that point but I definitely have.

By: Beth

Beth — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:32:04 +0000

I always liked The Giving Tree, though I always thought of it as a book that’s really more for adults than children. The boy IS self-centered as he begins to grow up (and away), but I think he understands in the end and values the tree enough to come back and be with it(kinda like kids as they grow up). If you’re looking for a kids chapter book that puts a lump in your throat, try Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (or Loser, by the same author). My daughter offered to read the end of the book for me…I could barely get the words out.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:41:35 +0000

Puff is a song….that’s a whole other blog post – Songs That Make You Cry.

By: penrise

penrise — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:51:24 +0000

how about Puff the Magic Dragon? Does that one make you cry when Little Jackie Paper came no more…?

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:17:17 +0000

“How Do I Love You” was the other one my family talked about over dinner as turning on the spickets. Mel – thats so great you cry at the Lorax. How green of you! Of course, I now will not be able to read Pat the Bunny without sobbing because I am overly sensitized to the whole teary thing. Jeff – I think you should read the book to your divorcing clients — and sob while doing so! I think that might help them get back together.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:12:08 +0000

Like Mindful Mama, I was never very keen on The Giving Tree either. And as an English major, I’m mortified to admit I never saw the symbolism, I just thought the boy was a brat. Here are the books that made me cry during read-aloud sessions: Charlotte’s Web, the last Harry Potter book (when Dobby died, I sobbed), and even though it’s completely manipulative, “I’ll Love You Forever.”

By: mindful mama

mindful mama — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:44:48 +0000

Before I had kids, I hated this book. The misogynistic nature of the boy taking and the tree being the willing victim bothered me even as a child. I remember asking my mom why the boy would treat the tree so badly if he loved her. It seemed like the theme wasn’t love, but selfishness.

Then I had kids. It is sobering to realize how much I parent like the tree, always giving, even to my own detriment, not including my own needs in the equation… being the tree is something I struggle against, knowing that I am not a renewable resource either. If I lose too much of myself, I won’t be able to be the person (and parent) I was meant to be.

The one that gets me is How Do I Love You…” For if I started counting now, until forever more, as big as that last number was, I would love you plus one more.” I can’t even type it without tearing up!