Verna Krone leaves school after eighth grade to help her family get by. She’s sent to help out at a farm, where the master of the house leers at her and she misses her family regularly. She doesn’t stay long, though, and through a series of jobs moves herself up in the world until she makes a connection that enables her to become a nurse. Verna sees her true purpose in life as helping people and somehow she ends up helping a well-respected black doctor perform abortions, a profession that at this point in history could never lead to anything good.
This book was incredibly compelling for me from beginning to end. We find out right at the start that Verna is helping the doctor with his abortions, then head back into the past to learn about her life and how she got there. Hers is really a very sad story of a woman constantly used and mistreated by men, which makes her hard and often unyielding – it’s no wonder she wants to help other women get out of their mistakes. She has enough bad relationships to make anyone wary of men.
I loved that this was essentially a true story rewritten in fiction. Part of me wondered if it would have actually been better as non-fiction, but I think it did its job really well. It does contain a number of little messages within; first and foremost that money isn’t really all that brings happiness. I think that, for most people, this is pretty obvious, but Verna was poor for so long that she truly thought money would solve her problems. It also focuses a lot on local politics towards the middle and end and the level of corruption was extremely depressing. I know these political machines existed to gain votes, but that doesn’t always make them easy.
The novel also deals with racial politics, especially at the end. Because Verna is white, she receives natural advantages, even when she’s poor. This is contrasted drastically with the doctor, who is black, and they have a number of uncomfortable interactions where the reader can simply feel the prejudice between them, the wrongness of it, and a desire to eradicate it.
Taylor’s choice to write the story in first person made Verna as a character very easy to feel close to despite her faults. I kept hoping for her life to get better, for her to learn a bit more about the good side of life, but she’s constantly battered on all sides. I did wish that we could have known a little more about the older Verna, when she became the author’s grandmother. Instead it ends just before that. But I think it’s a good sign that I was eager for more, to see how Verna kept on changing and growing as a person even into old age.
The Blue Orchard is a fascinating book that explores many issues of its time effectively and compelling. It’s the perfect historical fiction choice for those interested in a variety of aspects of postwar American life and I’d definitely recommend it.
I am an Amazon Associate. I received this book for free from the publisher for review.
I am so happy when run across books that I have never heard of before and they sound so good!
Nicole´s last post …Lost- by Jacqueline Davies – Book Review
I’m absolutely dying to read this one! It takes place where I live — Harrisburg, PA. I heart the author speak on Saturday evening about his novel, his grandmother and the city of Harrisburg and it was fascinating!
Julie P.´s last post …Review- Heaven
Never heard of this one but it sounds compelling!
Stephanie´s last post …The Sunday Salon
I snagged a copy of this one and I am so interested in reading it– for the topic, because it takes place in Pennsylvania, and because everyone who reads it has praise for it.
Beth F´s last post …Review- All Mortal Flesh by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Oh, great review, Meghan! I’ve never heard of this one, but it sounds excellent! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Aarti´s last post …CSN Review Coming Soon
This sounds so good – I love that it tackles a controversial subject in such a great way. I’m adding it to my wish list.
Wonderful review! It reminds me a little bit of a cross between Maise Dobbs and The Kitchen House, though the issues are different. I would love to read this one, and think that it sounds like something that would really intrigue me. I am off to look it up and see how long I will have to wait!!
zibilee´s last post …On Folly Beach by Karen White – 416 pgs
It sounds terrific….what time period is it set in?
Michele@ A Reader’s Respite´s last post …The Acquisitions Department
I thought this was just a little too long, especially at the beginning when it was just crappy job after crappy job, but once she is in the Doctor’s employ I really, really enjoyed it.
Jen – Devourer of Books´s last post …Still Missing by Chevy Stevens – Book Review
I had never heard of this book, but it does sound really interesting. Thanks for the great review, I’ll add it to my wishlist!
kay @ Infiniteshelf´s last post …Review – Lipstick Apology
Wow talk about an interesting and unique story line. I can honesty say that I’ve never really heard about a book quite like this one. And I’m definitely interested in getting my hands on a copy: it seems like this book covers a lot of history and intense character development. Great review!
Jennifer´s last post …Review- Enchanted- Inc
Interesting. My work is also set on a farm, and one of my few regrets about it is that I wish I had written in more older characters, for the very reason that you say.
Shelley´s last post …Welcome
Sounds like it covers a lot of ground. I’ll keep this one in mind.
Anna´s last post …Review- Eva’s Cousin by Sibylle Knauss