Review – Audiobook: The Roots of the Olive Tree by Courtney Miller Santo

The Roots of the Olive Tree
by Courtney Miller Santo
Narrated by Karen White

Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Harper Audio
Publish Date: August 21, 2012
Format: Audio, 10 hours | 35 minutes
Audio Listening Level: Intermediate – Advanced
Rating: 4 of 5

Five generations of firstborn Keller women live together in a house on an olive grove in California’s Sacramento Valley. The oldest at 112 is Anna. She doesn’t look or act her age and is determined to become the oldest person in the world.

Dr. Hashmi, a geneticist, discovers the family and wants to study them to find the secret to both their longevity and their slower aging process. He believes there is a longevity gene, and that it may have been passed on through each of the women. Anna is not interested in genetic research or understanding the secrets of her aging. Unlocking the mystery of her age would also reveal family secrets she would prefer remain hidden. As Dr. Hashmi begins exploring the family’s history, we discover that each of the women has their own secrets, secrets that they have concealed from one another.

This is a rich, multilayered story presented in five sections, each part from the point of view of one of the women. I like the use of this technique. It allows the reader to better understand the relationships between these strong, independent women; and the women are definitely in charge in this family. The men, while not insignificant, are mostly in the background and have a few secrets of their own.

I listened to the audiobook and while I enjoyed it, I would only recommend the audio to seasoned audiobook listeners because of the complexity of the plot, the changing points of view, and the use of flashbacks in the story. Karen White’s pleasant voice and tone made for a nice listening experience. It was easy to know when Anna was speaking because of her Australian accent but there were only slight variations in the voices of the other women. If you do listen to the audio, write down the names and birth order of the women for reference, it will enhance the listening experience. Maybe I’m a little slow, but it took me half the book to remember who was who in the large Keller family.

One of the reasons I wanted to read this book is that I am fascinated by the idea of a longevity gene, one that allows advanced age with good health. I’ve always been interested in science, genetics and biology, but this has an even more personal reason for me. My grandmother is 102 years old, looks and acts 30 years younger, and still lives independently in her own home. She worked until she was 95! She is a super-ager. My great-grandmother also lived to be over 100 and there are others in the family that lived well into their 90s. I often wonder if it’s genetic or if it’s the Mediterranean diet/lifestyle they brought with them from Tuscany.

Overall, an enjoyable story and a book I recommend. I did have one slight issue with the ending, or rather lack of a conclusive ending. There was an epilogue, a glimpse into the year 2017, which I listened to three times and still felt unsatisfied and with questions left unanswered. Maybe it was just me, because I wanted to know more. Maybe there will be a sequel.

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Source: Review copy.
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