Customer Reviews

The Blue Orchard: A Novel

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Through a series of circumstances a poor white country lass becomes a nurse and is employed by a black doctor who performs abortions. The human tale is one thing, based on the life of the author's grandmother; but this is also the history of Harrisburg, Pa., from the '20s through the '50s. It is exceedingly well researched and beautifully written. Any awards it wins--and there should be many--are well deserved. I wondered as I read how this would play outside of Central Pennsylvania, and I am happy with the other reviews printed here. I live a block from where the doctor's office stood and, at the age of 73 (45 of them in this same house) I am familiar with most of the locations and historic events described. It was an eerie read for those reasons, but what an achievement for Mr. Taylor. I thank him for the experience.

It's sometimes difficult to choose the next book to read -- BUT -- choose this one! Books nowadays are usually critiqued to sell so anything can be printed on the covers and who really knows who is writing the reviews on Amazon. I have been steered wrong by many a 5-star rating. This one is a gem. I could not put it down and went away each time I left it with much to ponder. The main character is fascinating and the more that is revealed about her, the more she intrigues. At many points in the story I was driven to think for awhile about my own
convictions and was forced to wonder what would I have done in the same circumstance. I'm glad it took a relatively long time to write and research as the finished story is superb and all the more endearing for having been based on the life and times of a real woman. Thank you Mr. Taylor for a marvelous book; my only regret is that I've finished reading it...

After reading such a fantastic - literally, a masterpiece of fiction - written by this first time author actually leaves me speechless. Suffice to say, I was not expecting the absolute jolt of the subject matter or the poetic writing style that I received the minute I read the very first page.

In this absolutely riveting story, which the author bases on his grandmother's life, we meet Verna Krone. Verna is a young girl who was pulled out of school early to care for her family. Her father was a lot older than her mother and was quite ill, so Verna was enlisted to make some money so that the family wouldn't starve. She was sent to work as a housekeeper and general all-round worker at the Wertz farm which was a four hour journey across the mountain from her home. She didn't mind Mr. and Mrs. Wertz at first; they were "plain-folk" even though they lived in a large brick house and had food on the table. The strange part was that Mrs. Wertz always seemed like she was "mourning the girl she used to be," and Verna had no idea why she was always so sad. Unfortunately, Verna found out, and her time with them grew frightening when Mr. Wertz decided there were other "things" she could do in his household...for his special enjoyment.

We follow Verna as she goes from job to job, trying to outrun the fact that Mr. Wertz had given more to her than just wages. After her situation was "taken care of," Verna ended up working at a roadhouse for an extremely nice man who would never take advantage of a girl so young. Unfortunately, that man, through various choices, ended up leaving her to her own devices and Verna ended up working in a variety of odd-jobs throughout Pennsylvania. At one point in the story, she finds herself desperately in love with a man named Charles. He is kind to her and treats her well. As Verna awaits the birth of their child, she also awaits the proposal from Charles, who ends up to be completely opposite from the man Verna thought he was.

Eventually Verna finds herself going to a school to get her nurses' license. After all, she's an extremely hard worker and she knows that no matter what she needs to do or how hard the pressures will be that come with the medical profession, she is strong enough to achieve the skill necessary for a better life for her and her family. She ends up working for a doctor who is quite the hero. This man is the Vice Chairman of the Republican Party; he's the leader of the African American YMCA; and, has lived a life that is filled with tribute dinners and testimonials for all the hard work that he's done throughout his lifetime in order to make peoples' lives better. Verna becomes a part of the Dr's practice, which helps women deal with their unwanted pregnancies. Now the Dr. is an upstanding member of the community, yet when the political arena "turns" the Doctor becomes a threat. Verna gets caught in the middle and finds herself standing trial for "illegal surgical procedures."

There's so much to say about this book that I would most likely be able to fill ten notebooks with all I have to say. What readers should know up front is that the writing style and the words are absolutely beautiful and thought-provoking. For some, the story will create anger; others will nod their heads. But this is not a Roe v. Wade manifest; this is a book about a woman who was a strong survivor of a great many painful life experiences. One of my favorite lines was when one of the characters - a suitor for Verna's hand - said that there was no substitute for character and that you never know where you'll find character out there in the world. There was also a line that focused on the fact that in life we are always being warned not to get lost, but it's in the risk of the unknown when we are truly and completely alive. Absolutely beautiful lines such as these hit me square between the eyes. This is a powerful story full of love, heartbreak, redemption - everything that makes up a human life. I recommend all readers to pick this up and experience a writer who took a very personal journey into the unknown, and discovered humanity at its worst and at its finest.

Amy Lignor, (...) Reviewer

"The Blue Orchard" tells the true story of Dr. charles Hoyt crampton, a black doctor, and his white nurse, Verna Krone. Excluded from practice in the white hospitals, he serves the black population of Harrisburg, not only with medicine but with pride and dignity. The learned doctor delivers the black vote to the Republican machine leader, Harvey Taylor. Dr. crampton is also the area's leading abortionist. It's a sad and unfortunate tale documenting bigotry and betrayal along with Harrisburg history in the first half of the 20th century. Regardless of your position on abortion, it is a tale worth reading.

The Blue Orchard is set in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1920's to the late 1950's, the fictionalized story of Verna Krone, who was the author's grandmother. This is a remarkable story and a remarkable woman's story, with a tragic secondary character, Verna's employer, the once influential Dr. Crampton, who was a black physician with status across the as-yet-unbroken color line. The first chapters are the familiar story of a destitute and exploited rural girl's thorny path to education and a paying job. When Verna begins to work as a nurse for Dr. Crampton, she becomes first person witness to southern-style race relations north of the Mason-Dixon Line and the timeless winking partnership between big money, local police and politicians. Her rise to respectability and Dr. Crampton's ability to deliver political and financial aid to his own oppressed community are based on the nature of his medical practice. Competent white doctors of that era neither treated venereal disease nor performed abortions. Dr. Crampton was a physician who left moral judgments to his patients, and therefore became the one to whom "respectable" professionals referred such cases. Judges, high school athletes, wealthy college boys and big name Washington politicians with girlfriends "in trouble" all came because they knew him to be a thorough and compassionate professional. Initially, I read The Blue Orchard for the hard-times, hard-luck woman's story and for the evocative dark Depression-era detail. As Verna gets an education, money, respectability and marriage, the story becomes a political tell-all, with emphasis on Harvey Taylor's Republican machine. Beyond the heroine's personal struggle, this novel is an enthralling meditation on race relations, the low status of women, and enduring political and social hypocrisy. Highly recommended.

"The Blue Orchard" is very rare - a literary, lyrical, vividly rendered novel told through a fascinating dramatic story that also has a strong moral consciousness and soul. I couldn't put it down.

After being burned out from Grad school, I had not picked up a book to read for enjoyment in over two years. I'm not a particularly fast reader, but I enjoyed reading a couple of books per month prior to my studies. A few weeks ago I decided to get back into the reading routine, and after a few recommendations from friends I decided upon reading Blue Orchard partly because it was based in the city I had moved to a few years ago. The mistake I realize I may have made is that the next book I pick will have to be quite extraordinary to not seem like a comparative disappointment.

There are other reviewers who can do much better justice than I in illustrating what the highlights/message of the book are, so I would encourage you to read them to get a better sense...but here is my spin:

The book is very dense with detail. Not quite to a Tolstoy extreme, but detailed enough to give the reader a close familiar bond with the main characters as well as being able to give a feeling of both place and time throughout the various parts of the book. The main character Verna represented for me the young tough stalwart I always imagined my grandmother may have been in her younger days growing up in depression era/wartime Scotland, while Dr. Crampton was the type of man that I would give the time of day for, if only to glean one of his many insightful words of wisdom.

The racial & political background that was Harrisburg society in the years the book was set was fascinating to learn. It may not have been quite so intriguing to me had the author not researched the subject so thoroughly. This ultimately felt like it gave me a solid foundation of knowledge which allowed me to better understand many of the tough decisions that were made by the characters, especially those that may have appeared counter intuitive to their well being had I not been privy to such details.

Great book. One that will be re-read over the balance of my life as I am quietly confident this book will grow with me and offer me new insights as I continue to grow as a person.

Although a novel, the author has based this on the true story of his grandmother, Verna Krone. If you google her name, you can learn a little about what happened when she and Dr. Crampton were arrested. Read the book for the rest of the fascinating story. I was impressed with Verna in so many ways. Her ingenuity was extraordinary, and yet she was full of human flaw. She is the type of character many writers dream of creating, but to the author, and now to us, she is real. For anyone from the Central Pennsylvania area, the very accurate descriptions of the Harrisburg and surrounding areas are sure to be familiar. Also very interesting was the Harrisburg history portrayed. If you are interested in political history, particularly on the state and local level, this book won't disappoint. I was struck how fragile Dr. Crampton's lifestyle and reputation were. Although I realize part of it was because of his race (he was African American), it is likewise astounding that he ascended to the level he did, in spite of his race. It was like he was hanging by a thread...and Verna was hanging right there with him. I also think the book depicts a necessary historical perspective of abortion. Even if you don't agree with abortion, you may come away with an understanding of its existence, at least in that day and age. The author did an excellent job of sharing his grandmother's story and researched so well the history and background that elevates the story to another level. This book covers it all....human failure, success, agony, joys, hardships...in short, it is about life. Yet it also offers an intellectual historical perspective. I would highly recommend it for men, women, and even older teenagers.

this book grabs from the beginning. As a Central Pennsylvanian I was amazed at the detail and thoroughness of Mr. Taylor's book. Definitely recommended for book clubs.

I just loved this book. I had read about it in our local paper, "The Patriot-News" in Harrisburg, PA, and new I had to have it. My family grew up here and it's personal for me. Even though it is a novel, it was based on facts that I remember or heard through my parents. So many of the places are real and still exist today. It is well written and as you read, you feel part of the time and can see it in a movie in your head. I'm lending it out now but will read it again. I read 2 to 3 books a week and this one is a real winner.