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The Walnut Tree
'It's time to break out of the shell.'
Ambitious, young, ‘would-be’ journalist Carrie Langford is impatient to be free from her boring, sterile life at the newspaper. Can she escape the guilt that is daily forced upon her by her troubled mother?
A chance encounter with a stuttering young farmer and his father, 'staring' old man Wilson, transforms her life and the lives of those around her as she discovers a different way of living on the farm; the unforgettable; the unexpected; the unwanted.
Events spiral out of control with devastating consequences and, through it all, the mysterious, sad looking tree, standing alone in the corner of the Wilson’s orchard, reaches out to Carrie ‘in a gentle and pleading sort of way’ – but why?
881 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2015
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17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 14, 2015
I don't know what I was expecting when I began to read this book. what I got was a captivating and compelling novel that I simply was drawn to every spare minute I had. From the first moment the young farmer literally bumped into Carrie, her life would change forever. This story unfolds at a steady pace over a number of months but it has such depth, I felt apprehensive and an uneasiness of what would happen.
It is a story of opposites, pure love but the temptation of lust, happiness and cruelty, how the world sees you and what goes on behind closed doors. There is also The Walnut Tree and its mystical presence.
I loved how Carrie sees Mr. Pike, Mr. Wilson and herself, the writing is so visual. The newspaper articles were brilliant. I could also imagine myself running down to the shop every week just to buy the paper to read the "Twentieth Century Land Girl " feature.
Caroline Wedd has delivered a belter of a book with her debut novel and I am looking forward to her second book in 2016
It is a story of opposites, pure love but the temptation of lust, happiness and cruelty, how the world sees you and what goes on behind closed doors. There is also The Walnut Tree and its mystical presence.
I loved how Carrie sees Mr. Pike, Mr. Wilson and herself, the writing is so visual. The newspaper articles were brilliant. I could also imagine myself running down to the shop every week just to buy the paper to read the "Twentieth Century Land Girl " feature.
Caroline Wedd has delivered a belter of a book with her debut novel and I am looking forward to her second book in 2016
February 1, 2016
Although I ploughed my way through this book, I have to say I did not give up as something compelled me to read to the end to see what developed in the strange relationship between Carrie and Jon, the would-be journalist and the farmer's son.
I feel bad giving this only two stars but from the outset I found the style of writing difficult to cope with. There was a sub text going on throughout which was the thoughts of the characters and then on occasion, there was a page entitled dear reader which I could not understand the purpose of, although I guessed that possibly it was the newspaper article, but this was not entirely clear at all. There was another thread running through the story about a friend of the main character and her life of domestic violence at the hands of her drunk husband and again, I failed to see the relevance of this thread as it had no bearing on the main story.
The story was slow and did not warm up until right at the end but at 96%, the part about the police report (and I am being careful not to put any spoilers here), you could see the outcome and what was going to be the case. And it was!
This book took me a long time to read. It is on my kindle and was extremely lengthy although nothing much was happening. There may have been a message within but I seem to have missed it if there was. There was a certain something about it as I did want to get to the end, but it was hard work doing so.
I apologise for the bad review, but I have to be honest. Apparently there is a sequel coming out and I hope it will be faster moving and without the sub texts!
I feel bad giving this only two stars but from the outset I found the style of writing difficult to cope with. There was a sub text going on throughout which was the thoughts of the characters and then on occasion, there was a page entitled dear reader which I could not understand the purpose of, although I guessed that possibly it was the newspaper article, but this was not entirely clear at all. There was another thread running through the story about a friend of the main character and her life of domestic violence at the hands of her drunk husband and again, I failed to see the relevance of this thread as it had no bearing on the main story.
The story was slow and did not warm up until right at the end but at 96%, the part about the police report (and I am being careful not to put any spoilers here), you could see the outcome and what was going to be the case. And it was!
This book took me a long time to read. It is on my kindle and was extremely lengthy although nothing much was happening. There may have been a message within but I seem to have missed it if there was. There was a certain something about it as I did want to get to the end, but it was hard work doing so.
I apologise for the bad review, but I have to be honest. Apparently there is a sequel coming out and I hope it will be faster moving and without the sub texts!
February 6, 2016
I would like to thank Tracy at TBC and Caroline Wedd for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest and open review.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading this. I didn't expect such an enthralling story.
I started reading this just before I went to bed and only put it down when I dropped my kindle. (Luckily there was no damage!)
Caroline Wedd's description of the countryside was so realistic I found myself transported there.
Carrie is a "real" person and at times she made me laugh out loud.
This is more than just a love story. It explores relationships and the depth of feelings.
I look forward to learning more about the developing relationship between Carrie and John.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading this. I didn't expect such an enthralling story.
I started reading this just before I went to bed and only put it down when I dropped my kindle. (Luckily there was no damage!)
Caroline Wedd's description of the countryside was so realistic I found myself transported there.
Carrie is a "real" person and at times she made me laugh out loud.
This is more than just a love story. It explores relationships and the depth of feelings.
I look forward to learning more about the developing relationship between Carrie and John.
January 17, 2016
I can't describe how much I loved this book.
When I started it I thought it was odd, strangely written with barely drawn characters.
Suddenly I was gripped, I found myself thinking about it all the time, dreaming of the places and people.
It's a lovely story, but beautifully told, the language pulled me in and captivated me.
When I started it I thought it was odd, strangely written with barely drawn characters.
Suddenly I was gripped, I found myself thinking about it all the time, dreaming of the places and people.
It's a lovely story, but beautifully told, the language pulled me in and captivated me.
January 19, 2016
This review is from: The Walnut Tree (I was kindly sent this book via THE Book Club in exchange for an honest review)
The instant this book was liberated from it's jiffy-bag I loved it! Read hundreds of paperbacks over many years, and this one looked to be 'right up there'! Shiny, smooth, easy to read print on bright white pages that felt cold and new against my skin, - oh yes, I'm a touchy sniffer! The cover was mesmerizing. Was she actually kissing a tree? Ah, not simply a tree. On closer inspection, a face was nuzzling the neck of the blonde black-robed woman, an 'arm' wrapped around her waist. Can't wait for the journey! It was a gentle start. Rural setting, nice sunny day, country lanes, farmer in Land Rover with dodgy electrics trundling along at a gentle pace meets impatient young woman eager to escape the tedious bind of her office job, when crunch, two strangers collide. This leads to her needing to contact the family of said gormless farmer, and what an odd lot they are! For some bizarre reason, Carrie, the main character, is drawn to the trio of men who inhabit the farm, so much so, she feels the need to ask her boss, the editor of the local newspaper where she's employed, if she can work voluntarily at the farm with a view to creating a weekly column, 'Land Girls' in the hope of boosting sales of the rather lacklustre sounding rag. I'm baffled over the gravitational pull she feels towards them? The father and farm owner is hardly welcoming, choosing to allocate to her the s***ty(literally)jobs, clearly in the hope she'll fail miserably and leave them in peace. Then there are his sons. Good twin, bad twin. The good she falls in love with, the bad she instantly despises, and yet often has trouble knowing which brother is which. We soon learn however, it's the walnut tree in the orchard that's the major player in the pulling power stakes, as she's handed a walnut by the old farmer soon after arriving. Carrie 'lives in her head' throughout the story. We know when this is happening as it's written in italic, and, I have to say, I struggled with what was going on in her head, and the narrative, which was often repeated throughout the book. Now I've never ever considered myself the 'Agony Aunt' type, but this rural jaunt through the lives of these characters has brought out my inner boss! Must be the fresh air?... Dear Carrie, For goodness sake, change your life! Move out of your family home immediately! Your mother treats and speaks to you like you are a naughty child. You are twenty two! Your father, shamefully, stands by helplessly listening and does absolutely nothing! You hate your job. Your boss is a buffoon. Your best friend is a lily-livered mouse who chooses to allow her bullying domineering husband to abuse her on a regular basis, while you, - yes you Carrie Langford, her supposedly best friend, do nothing about it, - opting instead to ignore her black eyes, bruised and broken body and permanent state of anguish. Yup some friend you are! The man of your dreams is a nice but dim spineless wonder who actively stands by while his own brother leers/fondles/sexually harasses you at every opportunity. Oh Carrie Carrie. stop living in your head, - stop talking to walnuts and sort out your life! Granted, the conclusion see's the resolution of the many ongoing family issues, but my goodness it was a long time coming! I'm left feeling a little furrow-brow'd, and maybe that was the purpose? - to leave me confused and wondering?.... If so, I salute you Caroline Wedd!
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The instant this book was liberated from it's jiffy-bag I loved it! Read hundreds of paperbacks over many years, and this one looked to be 'right up there'! Shiny, smooth, easy to read print on bright white pages that felt cold and new against my skin, - oh yes, I'm a touchy sniffer! The cover was mesmerizing. Was she actually kissing a tree? Ah, not simply a tree. On closer inspection, a face was nuzzling the neck of the blonde black-robed woman, an 'arm' wrapped around her waist. Can't wait for the journey! It was a gentle start. Rural setting, nice sunny day, country lanes, farmer in Land Rover with dodgy electrics trundling along at a gentle pace meets impatient young woman eager to escape the tedious bind of her office job, when crunch, two strangers collide. This leads to her needing to contact the family of said gormless farmer, and what an odd lot they are! For some bizarre reason, Carrie, the main character, is drawn to the trio of men who inhabit the farm, so much so, she feels the need to ask her boss, the editor of the local newspaper where she's employed, if she can work voluntarily at the farm with a view to creating a weekly column, 'Land Girls' in the hope of boosting sales of the rather lacklustre sounding rag. I'm baffled over the gravitational pull she feels towards them? The father and farm owner is hardly welcoming, choosing to allocate to her the s***ty(literally)jobs, clearly in the hope she'll fail miserably and leave them in peace. Then there are his sons. Good twin, bad twin. The good she falls in love with, the bad she instantly despises, and yet often has trouble knowing which brother is which. We soon learn however, it's the walnut tree in the orchard that's the major player in the pulling power stakes, as she's handed a walnut by the old farmer soon after arriving. Carrie 'lives in her head' throughout the story. We know when this is happening as it's written in italic, and, I have to say, I struggled with what was going on in her head, and the narrative, which was often repeated throughout the book. Now I've never ever considered myself the 'Agony Aunt' type, but this rural jaunt through the lives of these characters has brought out my inner boss! Must be the fresh air?... Dear Carrie, For goodness sake, change your life! Move out of your family home immediately! Your mother treats and speaks to you like you are a naughty child. You are twenty two! Your father, shamefully, stands by helplessly listening and does absolutely nothing! You hate your job. Your boss is a buffoon. Your best friend is a lily-livered mouse who chooses to allow her bullying domineering husband to abuse her on a regular basis, while you, - yes you Carrie Langford, her supposedly best friend, do nothing about it, - opting instead to ignore her black eyes, bruised and broken body and permanent state of anguish. Yup some friend you are! The man of your dreams is a nice but dim spineless wonder who actively stands by while his own brother leers/fondles/sexually harasses you at every opportunity. Oh Carrie Carrie. stop living in your head, - stop talking to walnuts and sort out your life! Granted, the conclusion see's the resolution of the many ongoing family issues, but my goodness it was a long time coming! I'm left feeling a little furrow-brow'd, and maybe that was the purpose? - to leave me confused and wondering?.... If so, I salute you Caroline Wedd!
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January 18, 2016
The Walnut Tree follows young journalist Carrie's experiences as "the twentieth century landgirl" for a year. As part of her budding journalist career, Carrie uses a chance encounter with a young farmer to write her own column in her hometown's newspaper. She learns hands-on farming work and important life lessons.
This was not a book I read in one sitting, it was more like a gentle stroll through the countryside. Caroline Wedd perfectly sets the surroundings and detailed descriptions of situations, threads used to tie together characters' experiences and some very tough topics, wrapped in a gentle soft narrative, made this a book that will stay with you. On the surface, this seems to be a straight forward novel about a young woman falling in love with a less than suitable (in her mother's view) young man. The book conveys the complexity of relationships, the depth of bonds and intensity of feelings beautifully. The pace picks up towards the end, you will find yourself gripped and entangled in Carrie's world and the people who live in it.
I was very pleased and excited to see that Caroline Wedd will share more of Carrie and Jon's story in a second book this year.
This was not a book I read in one sitting, it was more like a gentle stroll through the countryside. Caroline Wedd perfectly sets the surroundings and detailed descriptions of situations, threads used to tie together characters' experiences and some very tough topics, wrapped in a gentle soft narrative, made this a book that will stay with you. On the surface, this seems to be a straight forward novel about a young woman falling in love with a less than suitable (in her mother's view) young man. The book conveys the complexity of relationships, the depth of bonds and intensity of feelings beautifully. The pace picks up towards the end, you will find yourself gripped and entangled in Carrie's world and the people who live in it.
I was very pleased and excited to see that Caroline Wedd will share more of Carrie and Jon's story in a second book this year.
January 19, 2016
Received via TBC
This book did not immediately grab my attention, rather I felt I got to know, and care, about the characters as the book progressed. I ended up feeling extremes of emotion for different characters and literally wanting to shout at some via my kindle. I felt there were some questions left about some characters that maybe deserve a story of their own...? Indeed we were perhaps only seeing the beginning of the journey that some of our characters were on. Carrie and her friends and family each have their own demons to face and we get the sense that they are finding their way, sometimes together and sometimes on their own.
The book did make me think about the impact of the family set up and how we may allow our past to dictate our future. An intriguing read, I would certainly read more about these characters and by this author.
This book did not immediately grab my attention, rather I felt I got to know, and care, about the characters as the book progressed. I ended up feeling extremes of emotion for different characters and literally wanting to shout at some via my kindle. I felt there were some questions left about some characters that maybe deserve a story of their own...? Indeed we were perhaps only seeing the beginning of the journey that some of our characters were on. Carrie and her friends and family each have their own demons to face and we get the sense that they are finding their way, sometimes together and sometimes on their own.
The book did make me think about the impact of the family set up and how we may allow our past to dictate our future. An intriguing read, I would certainly read more about these characters and by this author.
January 12, 2016
I received this as an arc from the book club (tbc) in exchange for an honest review.
Ambitious, young, 'would be' journalist Carrie Langford is impatient to be free from her boring, sterile, life at the newspaper. Can she escape from the guilt that is daily forced upon her by her troubled mother?
OMG. Wow. Absolutely fantastic read.
CNPID.
I loved the story and the characters.
Carrie made me laugh. She is my favourite character.
Some of the things she said.
This is a lovely feel good read.
It brightened up my week.
I loved the ending too.
I even couldn't put it down and ended up going to sleep at 2 am.
Even though I had to take kids to School.
This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. 5 * although this definitely would be a 10 *.
Ambitious, young, 'would be' journalist Carrie Langford is impatient to be free from her boring, sterile, life at the newspaper. Can she escape from the guilt that is daily forced upon her by her troubled mother?
OMG. Wow. Absolutely fantastic read.
CNPID.
I loved the story and the characters.
Carrie made me laugh. She is my favourite character.
Some of the things she said.
This is a lovely feel good read.
It brightened up my week.
I loved the ending too.
I even couldn't put it down and ended up going to sleep at 2 am.
Even though I had to take kids to School.
This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. 5 * although this definitely would be a 10 *.
January 15, 2016
Received book from the book club (tbc) superbly written book, characters are brought to life by authors great descriptions of them. Loved it and looking forward to next one
February 7, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I tried to love this book as I though the storyline had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, I just couldn't really get into it. I found it slow-going, the inner dialogues unnecessary and a bit confusing. I kept on reading it hoping that the pace will pick up and I was also curious to see what happens to the characters, but I ended up skim reading it. I can understand why many people gave this book a high rating. It does have some characters you really warm up to and feel for, and the description of life on the farm and the love of animals is entertaining as well. If you like reading about scenic settings with complicated characters and relationships it is the right book for you. It just wasn't for me.
I tried to love this book as I though the storyline had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, I just couldn't really get into it. I found it slow-going, the inner dialogues unnecessary and a bit confusing. I kept on reading it hoping that the pace will pick up and I was also curious to see what happens to the characters, but I ended up skim reading it. I can understand why many people gave this book a high rating. It does have some characters you really warm up to and feel for, and the description of life on the farm and the love of animals is entertaining as well. If you like reading about scenic settings with complicated characters and relationships it is the right book for you. It just wasn't for me.
February 6, 2016
I was given this book to read in return for an honest opinion. This was one of a very few books I couldn't finish. I didn't enjoy the style of writing. I couldn't get to grips with all the thoughts in the main characters head, and then the chapters entitled Dear reader. I read over half the book but I was really waiting for something more interesting to happen than the usual mucking out and milking.
January 20, 2016
An enjoyable read, which left me wanting so much for the main character, Carrie. I think another read of the book, would help me to understand some of the flow between the spoken and unspoken word. Got a bit confusing at times. An extraordinary amount of personification too. Everything was alive! I would recommend it though.
February 23, 2016
Firstly, I'd like to thank Helen Boyce and TBConFB for allowing me to read this book in return for this review. I'm sorry to say I just did not get on with it. I found it really quite hard to follow, and kept losing the thread. What I did love, was the way the setting for the book was described, and I thought there was a meaningful connection between the main characters. Just not my thing!
October 19, 2022
Carrie is bored in her career as a journalist. When a road accident introduces her to a mysterious farm, she decides to volunteer and write about being a farmer. But the farm has a mysterious aura and Carrie wants to get to the bottom of it.
I liked the way the story went but felt the "baddies" were too one dimensional which for me took away from the depth of the story.
I liked the way the story went but felt the "baddies" were too one dimensional which for me took away from the depth of the story.
January 21, 2016
I think this is a really difficult review to write. This book drove me mad in places with its repetition, I found it much too long and ended up skipping some of it (something I very rarely do). But on the other hand I wanted to keep reading, it find out the outcome and I was glad I finished it. As a farmer's daughter I loved the farming descriptions and I thought her calving scene and plucking shed were both excellent and took me back 30 years. The scene with the new born lamb was gorgeous and again exactly as I remembered it. In conclusion I would say I loved the down to earth parts and really didn't enjoy the 'voices in the heads' and repetitive descriptions.
November 28, 2015
Wonderful book - the story lines are brilliantly described, and once you've started reading it's very hard to put down - always makes you want to read the next section! Several stories in one, but all of them written so well - you must read it!!
March 18, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I don't know how to explain it but I was drawn into it from the beginning. Looking forward to reading more from Caroline Wedd.
Loved it!
Loved it!
May 13, 2016
Captivating
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this first novel. Liked the style of writing. Was sad to leave the characters behind so looking forward to reading the sequel.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this first novel. Liked the style of writing. Was sad to leave the characters behind so looking forward to reading the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews