I’ve previously railed against the abysmal choice made for 2018’s Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction. I’m still salty about that decision, but oh how deliciously, and fortuitously 2019’s Pulitzer Prize for fiction winner, ‘The Overstory’, redeems the Pulitzer committee's previous year’s nonsensical choice. Richard Powers’ ‘The Overstory’ is a premier example of work that defines exceptional contemporary literature. Where the writing is not only of the highest caliber, but carries an urgent message for our times. I finished it two months ago and in the time since, I've simply been letting it marinate and seep into my senses before finalizing my thoughts.'The Overstory' is not a flash in the pan, it is not a gimmick. It is what I believe will be considered a literary classic in the future, one which academics and thinkers of the age will refer to. This is a book that is both a teacher as well as a friend. It is a parent and it is spiritual guide. It is a force as monumental as the oceans, yet as humble as a mustard seed. What elevates this novel to this degree of profundity, an attribute that was a source of major delight of the book, is the sophistication to Powers’ writing style. A writing style that I like a lot. It’s scholarly without being affected, dense without being overwrought or preachy. Powers' prose is sumptuous and orchestral, leaving a textured cloud of complexity that hovers throughout the entire novel.Powers’ writing is also deeply enthralling, affording me the knowledge and appreciation for trees and foliage that goes beyond the greenery we see everyday. He displays beautifully and deftly, the symbiotic relationship between humans and trees - nature, to an extent; plus the necessary brotherly connection that must exist between these two entities. If you're paying attention to current events occurring domestically and abroad - the Amazon is on fire, the importance of combating climate change - you'll understand how timely and necessary a book such as this is. For every act we do to trees, to our surroundings, and to the earth at large - be it wilful malice, altruistic, or inadvertently - there is a consequence. The question then becomes: in the face of these consequences, what is humanity's role, duty, and responsibility in the grand scheme of things. Powers, without cajoling the reader to feel one way or the other, presents several possibilities.Truth be told though, amidst all this lush prose and didactic earth toned lessons, there is also a layer of inaccessibility, a fogginess to the writing that demands the reader’s attention at all times. By this I mean, 'The Overstory' does not spoon feed, nor does it coddle the reader. Rather, it challenges the reader to be alert, to pay attention as the stories unfold. The section labeled "Trunk" is a prime example, one which I deduce some readers are likely to find to be long winded and laborious. To be clear, the novel is not a difficult read, but it has a level of difficulty that though circuitous and busy, I think ends up being one of the book’s rewards.I plan to read ‘The Overstory’ again, the second time around more so to pick up the bits and pieces of treasures I may have missed the first time. There are plenty, each with a profound message for humanity, a message for the sustainability of the planet itself. Highly, highly recommended read, but take your time with it. Read some, let it marinate, read more, let that marinate, and so on. Make this a slow and steady read to get the most out of it. The literary rewards as well as the human rewards, are ripe and overarching. This is fruit with flavor that resonates and lingers long after completing it. Deserving of the Pulitzer Prize? ABSOLUTELY, without any doubt! 4.75 stars out of 5.