Customer Reviews

Golden apples

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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Anyone who's ever visited the Gulf side of Florida, away from the sights of Orlando has seen the wonderful "hammocks" or wooded swampy areas that cover the more rural side of the state. The twisted trees, saw palmetto, draped in Spanish moss are evocative of a time when Florida was a wild land populated by farmers, ranchers and fishermen.

Rawlings writes the story of two orphans Luke and Allie, living in the hammock and how they survive the difficulties of scratching out a living on the land. The story then takes a turn to add drama by mixing the country orphans with wealthy landowners and their own difficulties.

This is one of Rawling's more rare novels, and her ability to evoke the natural world is as sharp as it is in "The Yearling." The story is a good novel, but I especially love it because when I drive through the citrus growing areas of Florida, the scenery comes alive through Rawling's description.

I was very happy with this copy that I bought for my father. For it's age, it was in great condition. My 87 year old father was thrilled and read it right away.

Rawlings didnt care for GOLDEN APPLES, she called it 'Interesting trash, not literature.' But I think it's her best writing.

It's not a happy, hopeful book. It's full of despair and sadness. It begins at the funeral of Luke and Allie Brinley's parents, and the kids are abandoned by virtually everyone, to make it on their own.

I had been under the impression that the book is a gothic romance, but it isnt. What it is is a relentless struggle for all of the characters.

I'm surprised it's out of print.