This novel is set largely in the area of Traverse City, Michigan, on a fruit farm near Tom Lake, in the 80s to the present. One of the two narrators is from New Hampshire, and after a brief stint as Emily in a star role in Our Town, in New York , moves to the farm. There are allegorical references to Checkoff’s The Cherry Orchard on the real cherry orchard.
Long on dialogue with many superlative exclamations, and short on plot, the impoverished life of the farmers, mostly would-be actors, is detailed. One true movie star and Hollywood director, becomes a lover of one narrator, but he is far from alone. The numerous infatuations and infidelities with or without the benefit of a marriage certificate make it confusing and there is some uncertain paternity. But all the conflicts of the disappointed characters is resolved without much violence, and absolutely no reference to any religious beliefs on the part of the characters.
The heavy drinking culture of the acting world is described realistically as the disappointed hopeful actors eke out an existence on a fruit farm. One dramatic accurate scene is when a heavy-drinking actor collapses from a variceal bleed just after delivering his lines as George in Our Town. He is taken to the hospital where he is treated with an esophageal Blakemore tube anchored in place by a football helmet. Been there, done that.
Much like Patchett’s earlier novel The Dutch House, this story is loaded with pathos and sentimentality, that does not appeal to me.
Like the reviewers online, you will either love this story or be very disappointed. I am in the latter category as there is nothing whatsoever profound about it, and not even much redeeming humour.
5/10
The Passionate Reader 