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ebrood's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The start draaaaaaagged for me, and I found that none of the women seemed like people instead of cardboard cutouts for the protagonist to project onto. That said, I really liked the third act and always want to read more Jewish stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Minor: Cancer
averyzim's review against another edition
3.0
i loved learning about orthodox judaism, the main character’s exploration of faith, & his struggle with the contrast between his conservative upbringing & the more modern approach of his new friends. but i found it to be so pretentious it was distracting & i hated how the women were written.
richardpapenapologist's review against another edition
2.0
This is such a blatant rip-off of The Secret History that I’m honestly shocked anyone let it be published. I would’ve probably liked this a bit more if I knew more about Judaism — the book doesn’t hold your hand whatsoever in that regard. That’s fine, maybe it’s just not written for me, but it didn’t help.
There are a few things about this that I genuinely liked. Ari and Evan were interesting to pose as two sides of the same coin, and if we weren’t constantly reminded of it by the (mostly pointless) set of side characters, I would’ve enjoyed reading about their relationship far more. The author seems to have forgotten how effective subtlety can be here. I found Ari by far the most interesting character, with Evan second, although his dialogue so often crossed the boundary into unrealistic for a teenager that he ended up annoying me most of the time.
As for the rest: if anyone call explain to me the point of Oliver’s inclusion in this book, I’d be grateful. Noah and Amir were slightly less pointless. I think. I’m still not sure.
This author cannot write women, let’s put that out there. Sophia was so poorly written it was painful, and none of the female characters here were much better. It was clear that, with Ari and Sophia, the author was aiming for a dynamic similar to Richard and Camilla in TSH (I don’t think comparisons with TSH are ever fair to the book being compared to it, but put the name on your book’s jacket and you can only expect it) but didn’t actually understand Sophia well enough to portray her through Ari’s lens. In the end he settles for Sophia blatantly telling Ari that he has misunderstood her. Subtlety was not a strength in this book.
I actually quite enjoyed the plot itself. I related to Ari, his struggle with and loss of his faith, his feeling totally out of depth around his new friends, who hold these extravagant and increasingly insane parties. I could actually believe that the teenage cast of this book were so hellbent on throwing their lives away for the sake of alcohol and drugs — they’re teenagers. I enjoyed Evan’s insane stunts, even if the thinking behind them was unintelligible at some times and just annoying at others.
I really, really wanted this book to work for me. But here we are!
There are a few things about this that I genuinely liked. Ari and Evan were interesting to pose as two sides of the same coin, and if we weren’t constantly reminded of it by the (mostly pointless) set of side characters, I would’ve enjoyed reading about their relationship far more. The author seems to have forgotten how effective subtlety can be here. I found Ari by far the most interesting character, with Evan second, although his dialogue so often crossed the boundary into unrealistic for a teenager that he ended up annoying me most of the time.
As for the rest: if anyone call explain to me the point of Oliver’s inclusion in this book, I’d be grateful. Noah and Amir were slightly less pointless. I think. I’m still not sure.
This author cannot write women, let’s put that out there. Sophia was so poorly written it was painful, and none of the female characters here were much better. It was clear that, with Ari and Sophia, the author was aiming for a dynamic similar to Richard and Camilla in TSH (I don’t think comparisons with TSH are ever fair to the book being compared to it, but put the name on your book’s jacket and you can only expect it) but didn’t actually understand Sophia well enough to portray her through Ari’s lens. In the end he settles for Sophia blatantly telling Ari that he has misunderstood her. Subtlety was not a strength in this book.
I actually quite enjoyed the plot itself. I related to Ari, his struggle with and loss of his faith, his feeling totally out of depth around his new friends, who hold these extravagant and increasingly insane parties. I could actually believe that the teenage cast of this book were so hellbent on throwing their lives away for the sake of alcohol and drugs — they’re teenagers. I enjoyed Evan’s insane stunts, even if the thinking behind them was unintelligible at some times and just annoying at others.
I really, really wanted this book to work for me. But here we are!
tinamayreads's review against another edition
3.0
THE ORCHARD by David Hopen is a coming of age novel about Ari, a devout Jewish teenager, during his senior year in high school. I liked how each chapter was a month in the school year starting in August and ending in June however I felt this book was a bit too long. It was interesting to read about Judaism and the writing seems especially poignant and thoughtful but at the same time trying very hard. The majority of the plot felt boring to me. At the end I just didn’t feel satisfied with any of the resolutions.
.
Thank you to Ecco Books via NetGalley for my advance reader’s e-proof!
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Thank you to Ecco Books via NetGalley for my advance reader’s e-proof!
merrilywereadalong777's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
oh lord, so many feelings and questions. I haven't read any of the other reviews on here but as soon as I finish writing this i'm sure I will spend the next hour or so perusing through my fellow goodreaders thoughts (particularly curious to read some of the spoiler filled thoughts) It's definitely an infinitely discussable book. I really loved how the first half of the book is this really beautiful endearing coming of age/fish out of water story. A sort of UNORTHODOX meets SKINS/EUPHORIA with this hero who I really fell in love with. You really get the sense that Ari is the kind of kid that you would just pass in the hallways and maybe write off as a "boring"kid but getting in his head was a good reminder that inside every kid there is like this deep ocean of conflicting thoughts feelings and emotions that just slowly brew and simmer leading us up to a pretty mesmerizing final third of the book. I really loved that when we get to the point where s**t has really hit the fan plot wise, the story just GOES and there's no stopping it and I definitely devoured the last 150 pages in one roller coaster sitting. And it helps that we spend so much time in the earlier half just getting to know and fall in love (and hate) with each of these characters.
I will add myself amongst those that really didn't have a f****ng clue what they were talking about when the deep philosophical discussions randomly popped up and there were definitely a few points where this book seemed to disconnect with the characters and their story a bit and felt like the author was rearing his head in and throwing us into some kind of intense philosophical debate class and I was just lost. There are many parts in the discussions that I just simply didn't understand and eventually after the third or fourth time it happened just gave up trying to follow the ideas presented. That being said, I don't think it really threw me off that much from enjoying the book and ride these characters are going on.
It definitely sparked some feelings in me, in the best ways a book can I suppose. It REALLY upset and frustrated me when the characters continually allowed themselves to just make stupid self destructive, self sabotaging decision after decision, I feel like I could write an entire essay on this book about how Sophia f****g Winters is the true evil villain of this book (really...i can't say enough words about how much i HATED this character) I really wish we had spent some more time maybe in Evan's head just so I could maybe feel a smidge of sympathy or empathy for his character.
Idk..there were things but really overall...i f-ing loved this book and especially these characters. I was really sad finishing it and saying good bye to them.
oh lord, so many feelings and questions. I haven't read any of the other reviews on here but as soon as I finish writing this i'm sure I will spend the next hour or so perusing through my fellow goodreaders thoughts (particularly curious to read some of the spoiler filled thoughts) It's definitely an infinitely discussable book. I really loved how the first half of the book is this really beautiful endearing coming of age/fish out of water story. A sort of UNORTHODOX meets SKINS/EUPHORIA with this hero who I really fell in love with. You really get the sense that Ari is the kind of kid that you would just pass in the hallways and maybe write off as a "boring"kid but getting in his head was a good reminder that inside every kid there is like this deep ocean of conflicting thoughts feelings and emotions that just slowly brew and simmer leading us up to a pretty mesmerizing final third of the book. I really loved that when we get to the point where s**t has really hit the fan plot wise, the story just GOES and there's no stopping it and I definitely devoured the last 150 pages in one roller coaster sitting. And it helps that we spend so much time in the earlier half just getting to know and fall in love (and hate) with each of these characters.
I will add myself amongst those that really didn't have a f****ng clue what they were talking about when the deep philosophical discussions randomly popped up and there were definitely a few points where this book seemed to disconnect with the characters and their story a bit and felt like the author was rearing his head in and throwing us into some kind of intense philosophical debate class and I was just lost. There are many parts in the discussions that I just simply didn't understand and eventually after the third or fourth time it happened just gave up trying to follow the ideas presented. That being said, I don't think it really threw me off that much from enjoying the book and ride these characters are going on.
It definitely sparked some feelings in me, in the best ways a book can I suppose. It REALLY upset and frustrated me when the characters continually allowed themselves to just make stupid self destructive, self sabotaging decision after decision, I feel like I could write an entire essay on this book about how Sophia f****g Winters is the true evil villain of this book (really...i can't say enough words about how much i HATED this character) I really wish we had spent some more time maybe in Evan's head just so I could maybe feel a smidge of sympathy or empathy for his character.
Idk..there were things but really overall...i f-ing loved this book and especially these characters. I was really sad finishing it and saying good bye to them.
blob_99's review against another edition
4.0
3.5. This would have been a 4 or even a 5 if it was a bit shorter. There were too many parts that seemed to stall out in the middle and later seemed unnecessary.
rachfinke's review against another edition
4.0
This book will entice young readers like to dabble in “the big questions” and enjoy the teachings of Socrates, Hegel, Kierkegaard and more. The book also admittedly leans towards being pretentious in this way, yet somehow remains accessible through its it’s charming and well crafted characters. You need not be Jewish or familiar with the Torah to enjoy it or grasp what insight Hopen seeks to implore upon his readers. There is much wisdom to be taken from this book; it is a true coming of age story that is ambitious and complicated in a way that would make J.D. Salinger take notice.
In terms of diversity, it is not by any means a novel that’s written for everyone. Yes, it features a religiously observant protagonist and his very Jewish community. But the story’s cast of main characters are teen boys that turn to the usual throng of male philosophers and writers for guidance and reassurance. The few female characters are love interests and serve as foils to their boyfriends or male counterparts. There is one Hispanic character, but his race is really a superficial detail and does not really add much to this incredibly white narrative.
Lastly, I do question this book’s length—did the story need to be 500 pages long? Or could Hopen had said all that he needed to say in a story that was maybe 350 pages? For me, a great portion of the novel ran over covered ground in terms of themes and overall messages.
In terms of diversity, it is not by any means a novel that’s written for everyone. Yes, it features a religiously observant protagonist and his very Jewish community. But the story’s cast of main characters are teen boys that turn to the usual throng of male philosophers and writers for guidance and reassurance. The few female characters are love interests and serve as foils to their boyfriends or male counterparts. There is one Hispanic character, but his race is really a superficial detail and does not really add much to this incredibly white narrative.
Lastly, I do question this book’s length—did the story need to be 500 pages long? Or could Hopen had said all that he needed to say in a story that was maybe 350 pages? For me, a great portion of the novel ran over covered ground in terms of themes and overall messages.
molly_n's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5