Artie 7.5 - 7.5 - In possible club violation due to unwritten 6-month window of reading infraction.
Picked because he identifies with so much that it had to offer, PNW history, the geography of the Wenatchee area and the time period. Artie wrote of Talmadge, "A man of quiet tenacity," and he was so pleased with the phrase he wonders if it's actually his. Miles asserts cut and paste. He also identified with Talmadge's work in the orchard and finds that since he's retired he approaches the work much like Talmadge did. Get something done everyday. Artie saw the meat of the story being Talmadge demonstrated the best characteristics of Man, yet his circumstances became worse, and that's the way life is sometimes. We are happiest when we give to others without expecting anything in return, and that's what Talmadge was doing. Good book. Good read. Good story.
Michelle 5 - 5.5
Wouldn't have taken this to the beach. She found the writing amazing, but sometimes predictable and often slow. She would have liked it shorter. The setting reminded her of Stubborn Twig. She felt sorry for Talmadge and the loss of his sister and thought he was replacing his sister with the girls. Della drove her crazy. No love or thanks from her. She was the selfish one, not Talmadge (Artie mentioned Talmadge was leading a somewhat selfish life before the girls came along). Angelene was at times a typical teenager but she developed daughter/father type relationship Talmadge. She liked her relationship with Carolyn Middey. Overall, Michelle just wanted to be done and was excited when she got to the end.
Letitia 7 - 8
This was Letitia's second time reading the book and she had a hard time deciding whether or not to because it's an ordeal. She liked it, but it's such an experience: nothing fast, powerful descriptions that drip with imagery, and great characterization. Going through a second time she thought it was so well done she had to keep on going. She found everyone to be so reticent, so she appreciated Caroline Middey's point of view. She figured Talmadge was working so hard with the girls because of the sister he lost. She found the character's inner conversations well-done. Della reminded her of Calamity Jane. Della sought out danger, at first sensing her her sister in the wildness of the horses, and when this was tamed, sought out thrill and risk of death in the next adventure, from wrangling to plotting a jailhouse murder. She found it very understated, beautifully written, and she liked the second time through better than the first.
Carolyn 7 - 7
Panicked when she saw how long it was and 80 pages in thought to herself, "Oh, how depressing," but she liked it. She thought Talmadge was gentle, patient, kind and longed for a family, which he found to a degree. He was very committed to the orchard and Della. It was hard for him to make good decisions because he only ever lived in the present. He second guessed himself a lot and tried to make his bad decisions right by rescuing Della, who was disappointed by everyone. She wondered why Talmadge and Caroline Middey never got together. Sandy thought Ms. Middey was pining for the Indian princess who's painting she kept over her bed. Angelene was an old soul but maybe that's because she was raised by such a kind man. She liked it when Angelene got her own patch of orchard.
K'Lynn 8 - 8
Found this an emotionally draining read which might have had something to do with the fact that she was recovering from surgery and had the time to read it properly. She thought about Della a lot. The story wasn't flawless, for example she wasn't clear what happened to Della's baby, but noted it was the author's first novel. She loved how the story moved from character to character and found this point of view writing masterful. The author captured how two people experience the same situation and walk away with different experiences. She was very good at comparing what character's said to what they didn't say. In many ways it was a story about memory and the emotional fallout of trauma. The descriptive writing gave a sense of place to such a degree that she felt like she could see the orchard and taste the apricots. Talmadge was a gentle soul with love in his heart but couldn't express it. Della's character development was excellent. She was searching for danger ever since Jane jumped off the tree limb. It was a unique story. She loved it, even the cover. Good pick.
Becky
Noted the different perspectives that Talmadge and Della brought to the story. Della told Talmadge to go away the first time he visits her in jail. For Talmadge, words mean everything, and he did what she said. Della, recalling this moment later in the story, told him, "those were just words, they don't mean anything." Becky found it a slow paced story that suited the era and characters. This was her second reading as well and she appreciated it more the second time through. Whatever it was that Della had lived through, she would never be able to love or trust anyone again. And Talmadge couldn't give up on anyone because, as Caroline Middey said, family are people who are there for you.
Sandy
Could envision the smells and scenes which almost made up for the slow pace. She thought it was well written and didn't find it difficult to read. She found it hard to believe that Della never got raped or beaten in all her riding with horse gangs. She suspected Michaelsen had something to do with Talmadge's missing sister and liked that this was never resolved. Wondered why he ever wanted Della? She wouldn't describe Talmadge as tenacious, but thought he had a laser focus. He was determined he was going to save her. Reminded her of the story, Alaska Child. Sandy plagiarized Amazon with this: Apples and apricots grew so well in the orchard, but the people did not.
Miles
Thought the writing flowed and was easy to immerse oneself into it. The tone, atmosphere and setting were all fantastic and blended congruently with the characters. He thought the story was somewhat lacking in its realism, opting for a mood over plot. For example, he noted that when two women get together, especially sisters, they are going to talk. These sisters didn't and he found this odd. Miles wanted a conclusion to Talmadge's missing sister and found this mystery a beautifully set up plot point which drove Talmadge's character. With Michaelsen being such a lightning rod character, it was disappointing he wasn't a bigger presence. Great mood pick, but it didn't carry the book for him.
Me 5 - 5.5
I really liked the beginning with Talmadge's family trekking across the state. I liked the descriptions of the area and PNW in general. I found parts gripping. The hanging. Della living in horse camps, the early appearances of Michelson. Ultimately it was too long and sometimes verged on sappy or sermonizing to me. The internal dialogue of characters frustrated me with their constant questions. Would it have been better if Talmadge said this or that? Done this or that? Lots of questioning. After repeated use of this device I found myself wishing the author would just pick an answer and write.
Next book: Tan Twan Eng - The Gift of Rain
Comments