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The Orchard
The Orchard | David Hopen
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review
janeycanuck
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Pickpick

I 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

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 9mo
39 likes1 comment
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rather_be_reading
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Book 57

41 likes1 stack add
blurb
erinreads
The Orchard | David Hopen
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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

Catsandbooks Omg I actually bust out laughing at your kitty's silly face! 😂 what a cutie! 3y
kspenmoll Too cute! But yes, our cats sometimes attempt to interupt our reading lives! 3y
Prairiegirl_reading Adorable! If cats weren‘t so cute no one would put with their attitude. 🤣🤣 3y
ChaoticMissAdventures Pay attention to the poor poor baby!! 😹😹 3y
ravenlee “LOVE MEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!” 3y
71 likes5 comments
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erinreads
The Orchard | David Hopen
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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?

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akfreeborn
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Mehso-so

This 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?

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Suet624
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Pickpick

A 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.

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Suet624
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Book haul today from two libraries (curbside pickup) and my monthly NYRB book subscription. The Lockwood is the first Camp ToB 2021 selection. Sure, I got the Large Print edition. (It was my only option.) 😀 Harjo, just because. And @AmyG I found the Orchard! It‘s a great day!

kspenmoll 🙌🏻🙌🏻 4y
AmyG Some did not like The Orchard. So let me know what you think! 4y
LeahBergen I‘ve had this Molly Keane for ages. 👍🏻 4y
52 likes3 comments
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AlizaApp
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Pickpick

Like 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.

Suet624 Yup, that ending was a bit convoluted. 3y
30 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Kappadeemom
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Chill Saturday with my doggo and books #dogsoflitsy

Nute Looks like a perfect moment!😊 4y
45 likes1 comment
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Kappadeemom
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Last day camping 🔥❤️🔥❤️

39 likes1 stack add
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Chelsea.Poole
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Mehso-so

I 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.

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Chelsea.Poole
The Orchard | David Hopen
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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.

JennyM Hope everyone dried off quickly 😀 4y
Cathythoughts Gorgeous pics ❤️ 4y
103 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ErikasMindfulShelf
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Pickpick

One of those books you know you‘re going to like from the first page. I definitely hope David Hopen writes more books. 4 stars.

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Jas16
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Mehso-so

The 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.

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Sara_Planz
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Hearing great things about this one so digging in now that the weather has finally turned slightly chilly here in Houston.

28 likes1 stack add
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Liberty
The Orchard | David Hopen
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🎉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? 📚❤️📚

Graciouswarriorprincess I love those shoes! I keep looking at them online. 4y
93 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Well-ReadNeck
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Panpan

Well, 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

Hooked_on_books Wow, that sounds horrible 🤮 4y
80 likes1 comment
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KarenUK
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Mehso-so

At 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⬇️

KarenUK As the group of friends begin to fracture and Evan, their charismatic and troubled leader begins to push more boundaries, the story gets really scattered. I had such high hopes for a book compared so favorably to Donna Tartt‘s ‘The Secret History‘ (which happens to be my favorite book). Sadly I just felt disappointed. There were just too many similarities to that story‘s themes and plot points, without ever reaching it‘s brilliant heights. 3.5⭐️ (edited) 4y
Cinfhen Much better review than I could muster. It felt semi autobiographical and a bit unpolished, right🙂 4y
KarenUK It was a poor rip off of Donna Tartt....WAY too many similarities without the chops to pull it off.... @cinfhen 4y
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LeahBergen Well, that‘s disappointing. 😕 4y
Cathythoughts Oh no 😬... I had high Secret History hopes. 4y
batsy @Cathythoughts Same! Looks like Donna Tartt continues to reign in this particular genre 🙂👑 4y
Cathythoughts @batsy You know I think she always will .... so I‘m going to stop getting excited about “ secret history vibes “ in future 😁. I think I‘ll try The Goldfinch again sometime 4y
KarenUK I have to stop falling for those ‘Secret History‘ blurbs.... always disappointing! 🤦‍♀️ @ batsy @cathythoughts @leahbergen 4y
42 likes8 comments
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Cinfhen
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Mehso-so

This 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

Cinfhen I know you‘re enjoying it @KarenUK so it could totally be my current mood!!! I‘m just glad I FINALLY finished a book🎉😁 4y
TrishB And you still have a great view ❤️ 4y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 4y
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KarenUK @cinfhen liked the starting set up, but the deeper in I‘m getting the more I totally agree.... The Secret History comparisons gave me WAY too high expectations and it‘s just OK for me... also in a bit of a reading slump this week! 🤷‍♀️ 4y
kspenmoll I have the same cover for my kindle😄 4y
Cinfhen And I think @AmyG does too @kspenmoll 💙💙💙 4y
Cinfhen It was a drudge reading the book @KarenUK and because I know the tale of Rabbi Akiva, I guessed the ending of the book when I saw the title The Orchard... we can discuss in person xxxxxxxx 4y
AmyG I DO have this cover! And yes...this book has gotten tons of buzz. So I say...wow (that you‘re not feeling it). 4y
Megabooks Enjoy the beach!! 😘😘 4y
Cinfhen The beach was SO NICE @Megabooks @TrishB but the book was not my favorite @AmyG 😫 4y
83 likes10 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Megabooks Woo hoo!! Enjoy it! 4y
82 likes1 comment
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Starting this one today...

#Netgalley

Cathythoughts Exciting! I have this stacked ... 4y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders @Cathythoughts it sounds like it's going to be a hit! Fingers crossed! 🤞 4y
Cinfhen It‘s on my WATCH LIST too @Cathythoughts 4y
29 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Liberty
The Orchard | David Hopen
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Pickpick

This 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.

KVanRead You had me at Secret History 😍 4y
Cathythoughts Stacking with serious intent 👍🏻 4y
Read-y_Picker @KVanRead Same 🥴🥴 4y
97 likes25 stack adds3 comments