by Eleanor Catton
Reviewed by Linda:
In Eleanor Catton’s literary masterpiece / psychological thriller, Birnam Wood, named for Shakespeare’s mobile forest, is a guerilla group of New Zealanders who grow food on unused land, scavenging or stealing seeds and supplies, in order to bring food to the needy. The volunteers are led by Mira, a resourceful and brilliant young woman, and her faithful friend Shelley. Mira uses false identities and turns trespassing into performance art. She dreams of finding a wealthy sponsor to put Birnam Wood on solid financial footing. Then Mira crosses paths with an American billionaire who is preparing to build, in an isolated part of New Zealand, a bunker that will enable him to survive any catastrophe. They both need something the other has, and the consequences of their collaboration will keep you turning the pages, racing to get to the end.