"Birnam Wood really makes you think about a lot of things that are going on right now."

One Book One Campus

Daniela Grochalová studies Psychology and Literature at ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ College Utrecht. Two years ago, she came from Slovakia and is now entering her third year. As part of her summer internship, she collaborated with her teacher Agnes Andeweg to write a reading guide for Birnam Wood, the selected book for One Book One Campus 2025. Book clubs can use the reading guide to stimulate discussion.

Daniela op een pad met het boek Birnam Wood in haar handen. Op de achtergrond staan groene struiken.
Daniela Grochalová with Birnam Wood

How did working with Agnes come about? 

I registered for a summer course I was very excited about, a course in which you learn to make documentaries. Very last minute, it was cancelled. Agnes was my teacher at the time, she taught Shared Reading. She mentioned she was looking for someone to work on a Research Guide for One Book One Campus. I took the opportunity because I love reading books and sharing thoughts about them.

Birnam Wood really makes you think about a lot of things that are going on right now.

What did you think of Birnam Wood? 

It is a book I would not normally read. Usually, I do not read political fiction as I am more interested in psychological books, but I was very happy that Birnam Wood came my way. It felt kind of intellectual, there are dialogues about topics that are important to me as well. It was hitting the right spot, and it even made me more political. 

When you get through the first part with the introduction of the characters and descriptions of nature, the pace suddenly picks up. Because, although the book is about politics, it is also a gripping thriller. I finished it one morning and – at the end, everything happened so quickly, that I started sweating. The dramatic ending is very on point. I really liked it.

At the end, everything happened so quickly that I started sweating.

The book is kind of similar to a play. The way Eleanor Catton introduces her characters feels a bit distant, but she also takes deep psychological dives. It is a very specific narrating style I have not come across before. 

Has reading Birnam Wood awakened your political awareness? 

I think it strengthened it. When I was young, I was led to believe that it was too complicated for me to understand. But coming to UCU made me realise how important and fascinating politics are, it sparked my interest in politics.  

In Birnam Wood you will find a lot of political conversations. For instance, the book offers an insightful critique of capitalism. It is true, we live in a late capitalist society, but the book does not provide solutions. However, that is understandable because the answers are hard to find. 

But the book deals with other issues too. 

Yes. Climate change, wealth inequalities, and power dynamics, for instance. Eleanor Catton clearly dislikes what is happening in the world right now. For example, millionaires coming to New Zealand and buying the land to benefit from it and in this way damaging the local community. Robert Lemoine, the multimillionaire in the book, is extremely powerful but he does not use his power to change things for the better. You could ask yourself: why not? 

So, the book really makes you think about a lot of things that are going on right now. One Book One Campus is a cool initiative. Not only do you read a good book, you also get a chance to discuss the book with others! 

*Do you prefer the Dutch translation? Order .