From the bestselling author of Montana 1948 comes the explosive story of an artist, his muse, and the staggering price they pay for their ch...
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reviews
Jan 24, 2010
Jbsfaculty
rated it: 
From Booklist:
This is a story of a talented but egotistic painter and the lives he touches in Door County, Wisconsin. When Sonia House, wife of an apple grower, agrees to pose for Ned Weaver, she unwittingly puts in motion a chain of events that leads to tragedy. Accustomed to having affairs with his models, the philandering Ned finds that his attraction to Sonia goes much deeper. Watson vividly captures the special self-centeredness of the artist, whose "capacity for generosity, hones More...
This is a story of a talented but egotistic painter and the lives he touches in Door County, Wisconsin. When Sonia House, wife of an apple grower, agrees to pose for Ned Weaver, she unwittingly puts in motion a chain of events that leads to tragedy. Accustomed to having affairs with his models, the philandering Ned finds that his attraction to Sonia goes much deeper. Watson vividly captures the special self-centeredness of the artist, whose "capacity for generosity, hones More...
Jun 18, 2010
Linda
rated it:
A meditation on art, the artist, and the muse, influenced or inspired by the story of Andrew Wyeth and his numerous paintings of his long-secret model Helga.
What is interesting in this case, is that the author considers what the woman model thinks, and suggests that Sonja finds something independent in the role which neither the artist nor her husband imagines, as each thinks he possesses her in some way.
I liked his description of the process of an artist looking, and go More...
What is interesting in this case, is that the author considers what the woman model thinks, and suggests that Sonja finds something independent in the role which neither the artist nor her husband imagines, as each thinks he possesses her in some way.
I liked his description of the process of an artist looking, and go More...
Jul 22, 2008
Marian
rated it: 
Orchard takes place in Door County WI. It is the story largely of Henry and Ned. Henry is an orchard owner in love with his wife Sonja and they are suffering through the death of their son while trying to raise their daughter June. Ned is a contemptible but overtly talented artist who abuses those around him at will, including his perpetually victimized (though inherently complicit) wife Harriet. Ned hires Sonja to pose for him, and she does at length --- testing her marriage and to the auth
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Oct 02, 2011
Patty
rated it:
This is a really good book, so different than anything else I have read in a very long time. Sonia's love and dependence on lead to marriage. Henry loves and adores Sonia. Complicated events bring Sonia, without Henry's knowledge, to pose for Ned, a famous artist. As the story progresses so do the relationships, especially those of Sonia, Henry, Ned and his muse and wife Harriet. As Sonia develops and strengthens, the others experience uncertainty, discomfort,anger and jealousy.
Aug 07, 2009
Marvin
rated it: 
The same fine writing & sense of place as Montana 1948 set only slightly later (the 1950s) among the year-round residents of Door County, Wisconsin. The story--about a couple who own an apple orchard and who lose a child, after which the beautiful mother agrees to pose nude for a local artist of international renown--is less plausible (especially the ending) & less compelling. It's a story of love, grief, jealousy, art, & local color.
Oct 24, 2011
Laura
rated it:
A very slow moving story. Sonja and Henry suffer the tragic loss of their son. Ned an obsessive artist solicits Sonja to be his model. Harriet, Ned's wife is well aware of past sexual attraction between Ned and his models. Henry suffers the humiliation of the townspeople knowing his wife is posing nude. A complicated story because of the chronology of the story, the difficult characterization and the implausibility of certain character's actions. I need at least one likable character in a st
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Jan 19, 2008
Jessica
rated it: 
I read this book about a year ago, and I'm glad those dark days are behind me. I disliked every character in this book. "Please, please, kill each other off," I begged as I read. I won't give away the ending, but let's just say that I wished I could've grabbed that loaded gun myself and fired off a few rounds. I didn't even like the bar owner's sleazy wife (and I usually tend to like overtly lascivious characters -- at least they give books some color) nor did I like the couple's d
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Aug 18, 2011
Keely
rated it:
I loved reading this and couldn't put it down. It's not a happy book and the characters are not likeable but I loved the way it unfolded and thought the writing was amazing. Will definately try to find more from this author having read this and Montana 1948. Now, on to a happy book.
Nov 12, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book, probably because it was different than what I have been reading. I liked the story line and some of the characters. Again, the male characters are frustrating which I suppose is true in life. I don't believe I will ever understand their way of thinking.
Jun 28, 2009
Mom
rated it:
At least 4 tragic characters caught in their own selfishness too consuming to see the needs of each other - with tragic outcome... Not a very easy book too complete as you want to scream at each of the characters... what are you doing??
Nov 17, 2009
Ingrid
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I had some extra time this week and got this reading out of the way for book club. It wasn't my favorite book, but it will be a great book for discussion. Lots of things to talk about!
Nov 29, 2009
Susan
rated it:
Narrated by George Guidall. Did not like this book as much as I liked Watson's "Montana 1948." Had a hard time getting through this one.
Nov 28, 2010
Brandy
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This is one of my favorite books of all times. Beautifully told, you are taken into and become part of this amazing story.
Nov 25, 2008
Maria
rated it:
this novel talks about a lady called sonja, how she went through alot of promblems to help her family
Feb 25, 2009
I tried about six times, but just wasn't able to really get into this book.
Aug 03, 2011
Linda
rated it:
I so believed these people were REAL that I stopped reading the book because of the total manipulation taking place between the 2 couples - the 4 individuals. It was so sad that the loss of the child kept impacting everything. I enjoyed the author in Montana 1948, but the Door County book was too much. And I could not locate any of the actual places in Door County - it was all fictional.
Aug 30, 2007
Johnsergeant
rated it:
Listened to audiobook from Recorded Books.
Narrated By: George Guidall
Acclaimed writer Larry Watson, author of the best-selling Montana 1948 (RB# 94966) and winner of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, is at the peak of his storytelling powers with this searing portrait of obsession and betrayal. In Wisconsin during the 1950s, orchard keeper Henry is enraged when his wife Sonja poses nude for world-class painter Ned. As both men fight to possess Sonja, their jea More...
Narrated By: George Guidall
Acclaimed writer Larry Watson, author of the best-selling Montana 1948 (RB# 94966) and winner of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, is at the peak of his storytelling powers with this searing portrait of obsession and betrayal. In Wisconsin during the 1950s, orchard keeper Henry is enraged when his wife Sonja poses nude for world-class painter Ned. As both men fight to possess Sonja, their jea More...
Oct 26, 2007
Jeanne
rated it:
An egocentric artist finds as his latest model the beautiful wife of a local apple picker. The couple have recently lost a young son and are experiencing the usual confusion and grief. Will the marriage survive, or will the artist make yet another conquest? Or will the woman, objectified most of her life, decide to strike out on her own?
The prose is magnificent.
The prose is magnificent.
Feb 18, 2009
Maureen
rated it:
Picked for bookclub last month. I had already read this one a while back. Strange characters and situations.
Jul 11, 2008
Kate
rated it:
This is a beautifully quiet yet seething and agonizing book about the tension between what you know, what you think and what you think you know. It's the story of two people who grow apart, and two others who stay apart, while seeming to grow together.
I highly recommend this book!
I highly recommend this book!
Oct 05, 2008
Jude
rated it:
I don't think Larry Watson is as besotted with his guys as James Waller is with his transparent fictionalizations of himself, but a fine performance by George Guidall couldn't keep me listening, so i'll never know how well he actually does by his female characters.
Jul 07, 2010
Laura
rated it:
I had a difficult time understanding the female characters, Harriet and Sonja. Sonja's motives are eventually revealed toward the end, but I couldn't understand why Harriet stayed with such an awful husband. The men seem overly sexed, which gets annoying fast.
Jan 27, 2008
Julie
rated it:
One of the highest compliments I can render to any novel is that it reminds me of Wallace Stegner's later work and for me, this one does.
