People In The Trees is the 2013 debut by American novelist Hanya Yanagihara. It is a retrospective account detailing the life story of esteemed scientist Abraham Norton Perina and the events that led to his eventual arrest. The story has a fantastic premise that is both original and unique and discusses very universally relevant themes; that of man’s obssession with eternal youth and the corrupting effects of capitalism.

But that, unfortunately is where all the pros end. In its attempt to evoke the authenticity of a real life edited transcript, it comes off as very dull as a result. I also had a problem with the heavily congested syntax throughout which is a shame as there were admittedly bits of prosaic magic in this read.

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