Book 9 "The Man Who Planted Trees"

Title: The Man Who Planted Trees
Author: Jean Giono
Publisher (level): IBC Publishing (5)
Summary:
The story is like memorials of a young man’s journey about a man who achieved a really magnificent work there. The narrator says at first; “For a human character to reveal truly exceptional qualities, one must have the good fortune to be able to observe its performance over many years. If its guiding motive is unparalleled generosity, if it is absolutely certain that there is no thought of recompense and that, in addition, it has left its visible mark upon the earth, then there can be no mistake.” He was taking a long trip on foot over mountain heights, where the Alps thrust down into Provence. In the midst of unparalleled desolation, he found himself at a loss, and had run out of water the day before. With no other choice, he continued to walk to somewhere. However, he glimpsed in the distance a small black silhouette, and of course, started toward it. It was a shepherd and thirty sheep. The man took him to his cottage, and gave a drink from a very deep natural well, above which she had constructed a primitive winch. He was living there alone, only with his some seep. He had been planting trees in the barren. He did his works with the greatest care, for example, to select good seeds, and to plant them. The land he planted trees was not his. Moreover, he didn’t even know whose it was. He supposed it was community property, or perhaps belonged to people who cared nothing about it. Anyway, he continued to plant trees, and after some decades the dried up land recovered moisture on its surface. There were also streams again. Everything was changed by the man, compared the sight the narrator saw before.
Evaluation: 5stars
Words used in this book was a little too difficult for me, so I read this twice to understand roughly. Nonetheless, This story moved me at heart. It is written like a true story that the author experienced really, but it’s not. Originally it was asked to write about the most unforgettable person who the author had met ever by a publishing, but he didn’t so, and this is not a real memorial. However, this wonderful story caused a big sensation firstly in America, and it is translated to about ten languages now. Though it is not nonfiction, it tells us the wonderfulness of the human who does a real great achievement.