Theresa Weir gives us something to ponder in her novel The Orchard. Never having anything of her own, Theresa is elated when local (& handsome) apple farmer, Adrian, proposes. She envisions life on the orchard to be something lovely -something akin to home. Since she has no idea about home or being a wife, she has a hard time acclimating. Her mother in law is a bit of a cold fish and makes it known that Theresa isn't a welcome addition to the family. Adrian even shuts her out, preferring his mom's home cooking to Theresa's attempts, eating dinner at his family home instead of with his new wife.
In frustration, Theresa decides to run away. She doesn't get very far before she totals her car and has to call Adrian to pick her up...which turns out to be the best thing that could have happened for their marriage. After that, he is more receptive to Theresa. Things change.
But what is interesting about this novel is like on the apple orchard: the people that generationally work the orchar, the making of hybrid apple trees, how difficult it is to go organic, how easy it is to use pesticides. The use of pesticides was really eye opening; people who drove to the orchard to have fresh apples had no idea what they were eating - they thought they were getting nature's best directly from the source. Fascinating.
The novel is based on Theresa's own experiences, which gave it authenticity. Lots of food for thought.
In frustration, Theresa decides to run away. She doesn't get very far before she totals her car and has to call Adrian to pick her up...which turns out to be the best thing that could have happened for their marriage. After that, he is more receptive to Theresa. Things change.
But what is interesting about this novel is like on the apple orchard: the people that generationally work the orchar, the making of hybrid apple trees, how difficult it is to go organic, how easy it is to use pesticides. The use of pesticides was really eye opening; people who drove to the orchard to have fresh apples had no idea what they were eating - they thought they were getting nature's best directly from the source. Fascinating.
The novel is based on Theresa's own experiences, which gave it authenticity. Lots of food for thought.
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