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bkbailey8521's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
4.5****
From the book jacket - Sonja Skordahl came to America from Norway looking for a new life. Instead, she settled in Door County, Wisconsin, and married Henry House – only to find herself defined by her roles as wife and mother. Destiny lands Sonja in the studio of Ned Weaver, an internationally acclaimed painter. There she becomes more than is model and more than a mere object of desire; she becomes the most inspiring muse Ned has ever known, much to the chagrin of the artist’s wife. When both Ned and Henry insist on possessing Sonja, their jealousies threaten to erupt into violence – as she struggles to appease both men without sacrificing her hard-won sense of self.
My reactions
This is a lovely, character-driven gem of a novel. The four central characters – Sonja and Henry House, and Henrietta and Ned Weaver – share a desire to be recognized, and the frustration of being overlooked or disregarded.
Well, maybe not Ned, who is a misogynistic narcissist who believes he can behave any way he wishes as long as it is for the greater glory of art. I really disliked Ned, but loved how Watson wrote him. Henrietta, in contrast, seemed rather passive/aggressive in her approach to her marriage and relationships with the other characters. She truly did not understand Ned or his behavior, so evident by her final act / offer to him.
Sonja was a mystery. Clearly in pain and unable to find solace with her husband, though I do wish she had tried harder to break through his wall of silence. And speaking of Henry … What a complex man! I was conflicted about my feelings for him – liking and admiring him on one hand; disgusted and disappointed in him on the other.
As in the other novels by Watson that I’ve read, Orchard is written with a strong sense of time and place. Of course, I am very familiar with Door County, Wisconsin, so that may have some bearing on my reaction. Still, set in the 1950s, I think the rural vs tourist-centered nature of the place really comes across, as does the isolation of winter or the glory of summer.
From the book jacket - Sonja Skordahl came to America from Norway looking for a new life. Instead, she settled in Door County, Wisconsin, and married Henry House – only to find herself defined by her roles as wife and mother. Destiny lands Sonja in the studio of Ned Weaver, an internationally acclaimed painter. There she becomes more than is model and more than a mere object of desire; she becomes the most inspiring muse Ned has ever known, much to the chagrin of the artist’s wife. When both Ned and Henry insist on possessing Sonja, their jealousies threaten to erupt into violence – as she struggles to appease both men without sacrificing her hard-won sense of self.
My reactions
This is a lovely, character-driven gem of a novel. The four central characters – Sonja and Henry House, and Henrietta and Ned Weaver – share a desire to be recognized, and the frustration of being overlooked or disregarded.
Well, maybe not Ned, who is a misogynistic narcissist who believes he can behave any way he wishes as long as it is for the greater glory of art. I really disliked Ned, but loved how Watson wrote him. Henrietta, in contrast, seemed rather passive/aggressive in her approach to her marriage and relationships with the other characters. She truly did not understand Ned or his behavior, so evident by her final act / offer to him.
Sonja was a mystery. Clearly in pain and unable to find solace with her husband, though I do wish she had tried harder to break through his wall of silence. And speaking of Henry … What a complex man! I was conflicted about my feelings for him – liking and admiring him on one hand; disgusted and disappointed in him on the other.
As in the other novels by Watson that I’ve read, Orchard is written with a strong sense of time and place. Of course, I am very familiar with Door County, Wisconsin, so that may have some bearing on my reaction. Still, set in the 1950s, I think the rural vs tourist-centered nature of the place really comes across, as does the isolation of winter or the glory of summer.
blaarrosir's review against another edition
2.0
This is definitely not one of my favorite books. It's interesting, but I don't think I'll read it again.
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