pickI see why this is compared to the Secret History. I liked the little bits of philosophy, religion, etc. that were peppered in through Ari's lessons but it did get to be a bit too heavy b the end. And while the book isn't light be any stretch of the imagination, it gets REALLY intense & dark at the end, which makes for a page-turner but also kinda leaves you feeling like you've been punched in the face.
My Jan #BookSpin
When you‘re just trying to do a little reading in bed but your ding dong of a cat has other plans. 🤦🏼♀️ At least she‘s cute (even when being the biggest ding dong)! #catsoflitsy
Fun fact: This is only the fourth book by a male author I‘ve read all year. Also, I know this one has gotten a lot of mixed reviews here, but I am absolutely loving it so far! Although I‘m just about halfway through and apparently the ending is when it gets all crazypants?
so-soThis book started strong with a high schooler thrown into a different culture and I am glad I finished it but it was all too ambitious. The author wanted to address religion, philosophy, Orthodox lifestyle and school/teenage struggles along with grief, mental illness, drinking/drugs, class and sexuality. What I was left with was an unbelievable plot with nonexistent parenting. Why do coming of age books always have parents with no clue?
pickA senior in high school moves from an ultra-Othodox Brooklyn school to a extremely wealthy Jewish Academy in Florida. It‘s a story of teenagers exploring their faith and breaking traditions. The author incorporates some deep religious theory/questions in the midst of a story of high school angst. Could have been shorter but I enjoyed it.
pickLike if Donna Tartt‘s The Secret History was set an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva high school in southern Florida. The ending was a little nuts for me, but in the first 2/3 of the book I saw my own high school experience reflected in a novel as I never have before.
so-soI read this because of the Secret History comparison, but I my have finally learned that epic books cannot (& should not) be replicated. This certainly had some similar vibes, a comparable setting, and a cast of characters to bring to mind SH. Ari, good guy, meets a group of friends at his new Jewish HS in FL, typical teenage things ensue for a coming of age story. Not sure I needed the length.
Somewhat enjoyable, but can‘t fully recommend.
My family and I headed to the creek today. The boys wore their waders while I listened to this #audiobook. Things were going well until they weren‘t—my youngest fell in 🤦♀️
This book, not sure. Seems that my mind keeps trying to make this Secret History-like but not sure it is. Still figuring out how I feel.
pickOne of those books you know you‘re going to like from the first page. I definitely hope David Hopen writes more books. 4 stars.
so-soThe book started off well as a fish out of water coming of age story as Ari starts to navigate a new school that is far from the Orthodox one he left behind and inexplicably becomes friends with the popular crowd. Then the plot gets more ambitious with a lot of religious philosophy and the journey of a character that I might have loved in another author‘s hands but just fell flat for me here.
Hearing great things about this one so digging in now that the weather has finally turned slightly chilly here in Houston.
🎉IT‘S NEW BOOK DAY!🎉 I have a few shiny books to show you today, including THE ORCHARD, my favorite book of the year! 🏆 There MANY MORE that I am excited about today, including Rebel Sisters, A Promised Land, Lord The One You Love is Sick, Super Fake Love Song, A Demon-Haunted Land, The Bright and Breaking Sea, and My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton. What are you excited to read? 📚❤️📚
panWell, this was certainly appropriate for 2020. A bunch of privileged white boys who abide no rules and are awarded time and again spite of their appalling behavior. The female characters were completely one dimensional. #ARC #Netgalley
so-soAt first I really enjoyed this story of Ari‘s journey from strict Orthodox Brooklyn life to the affluent suburbs of Miami. Ari loses his way, as he tries to fit in and struggles to navigate this alien world of drugs, girls, parties and academic competition. As he becomes part of an elite group of students, cherry-picked to be involved in complex philosophical and moral discussions with a respected Rabbi, I found the book goes a bit off the rails⬇️
so-soThis book is getting lots of buzz but I‘m not feeling it 😑 the last 20% was somewhat redeeming but I thought this book really dragged. It was also VERY HEAVY on Jewish philosophy and Talmudic Study, which I‘m not sure is universally appealing 🤷🏼♀️The Secret History vibes are WEAK. #MoreMehThanYeah #NetGalley #BookSpin
pickThis book knocked my brain‘s socks off! @jessicaesquire said “It‘s like if Chaim Potok wrote The Secret History.” And I said, “GIMME.” Y‘all know how much I love The Secret History. And while there have been many books compared to it, this is the first I believe WORTHY. It is a brilliant bildungsroman about a young Jewish man who is moved from ultra-Orthodox Brooklyn to a wealthy Miami suburb. The novel is absolute genius. MARK THIS ONE DOWN NOW.
The Orchard | 
