The Blue Orchard: A Novel by Jackson Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Set in the 50’s in and around Harrisburg, PA. This very well written book tells a good story and at the same time raises many questions about hotly debated topics in the news today. The protagonists are involved in providing what was at the time illegal abortions. Various aspects of the whole abortion issue are raised in the context of the story and can lead to some great discussion. A lot of the action also focuses on the political machine in power – again leading to inevitable comparisons with contemporary U.S. politics. The issues of racism and women’s roles are also explored.
The story begins in the midst of the Depression years and we get a glimmer of what life must have been like as we accompany the main characters in their struggle.
Very good characterizations are a hallmark of this book. All in all a great story and I highly recommend it.
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