The Orchard by Beverly Lewis is a touching Amish tale. It is well-written with relatable characters. We get to know Ellie Hostetler and her family. Ellie along with her twin brother, Evan and their parents are the central characters. We follow them as they go about their day to day lives during the Vietnam War. Evan gets a low number is the draft lottery. He failed to register as a conscientious objector, so Evan is soon drafted and sent off to war. The Hostetler's live in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania which has a close-knit Amish community. Everyone is praying for Evan to return home safely and return to the fold. Ellie loves her family orchard. If she had been born a boy, Ellie would inherit the orchard she loves. Instead, Evan is the one who stands to inherit the farm, but he is not sure that is the path he wishes to go. There are several subplots. I like how everything worked together. The point-of-view switched between Ellie and her father, Lyle. The Orchard is a good book, but I did not find it as engaging as this author's previous novels. The biggest problem was the pacing which was leisurely (you know the 90-year-old woman with the walker who slowly goes across the road while you are waiting to turn rightâthat is the pace of this book). It took quite a while for the author to set the stage (introduce the characters, the orchard, etc.). I admit that I did some skimming to get through it (laundry days, all the meals, letter writing). I wish there had been some editing (take out about a hundred pages). I like the characters strong faith. They know that God is watching out for them, and they are firm believers in the power of prayer. I did feel that the author captured how people felt about the Vietnam War and conscientious objectors. The Orchard has a good ending, but I do feel that Evan's story is incomplete. The Orchard is a tender Amish tale with apple picking, pretty peach blossoms, Vietnam war woes, a tender romance, and powerful prayers.
Review of The Orchard
This was a good story about humility, rebellion, meekness, forgiveness, and strong family relationships that can only be found
in a family who loves Jesus and who thinks habitually on the words of God in the bible. I liked all of the characters, but the ones who
were most meaningful to me were Sol Bontrager, Ellie, and Dawdi Hezekiah. They were the glue that held the family together, in my opinion.
The dad, Lyle Hostetler, was a Godly man, who was a great example of perseverence and of truly adhering to the verses:[5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. He was stretched beyond the limits of any parent, at one point in the story, and yet
he still didn't let his trust and faith in Jesus waver. He was a memorable example of what Godly men should be like.
I appreciate the professional and expert writing style of Beverly Lewis. I've read many of her books, and she did a good job of telling of the attitudes and social
evils of the Vietnam War era in America in an eye-witness type viewpoint. War protestors and war supporters were both represented accurately. I was in high school
during the war, and I do recall the same events, and the tv news showing the horrors of the war, and violence against pacifists, and against soldiers.
I highly recommend this book, it is several storylines in one, and all will keep the reader interested.
This was a good story about humility, rebellion, meekness, forgiveness, and strong family relationships that can only be found
in a family who loves Jesus and who thinks habitually on the words of God in the bible. I liked all of the characters, but the ones who
were most meaningful to me were Sol Bontrager, Ellie, and Dawdi Hezekiah. They were the glue that held the family together, in my opinion.
The dad, Lyle Hostetler, was a Godly man, who was a great example of perseverence and of truly adhering to the verses:[5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. He was stretched beyond the limits of any parent, at one point in the story, and yet
he still didn't let his trust and faith in Jesus waver. He was a memorable example of what Godly men should be like.
I appreciate the professional and expert writing style of Beverly Lewis. I've read many of her books, and she did a good job of telling of the attitudes and social
evils of the Vietnam War era in America in an eye-witness type viewpoint. War protestors and war supporters were both represented accurately. I was in high school
during the war, and I do recall the same events, and the tv news showing the horrors of the war, and violence against pacifists, and against soldiers.
I highly recommend this book, it is several storylines in one, and all will keep the reader interested.
