The Orange Tree

by Mildred Walker, Carmen Pearson (Editor)

As in Chekhov’s play The Three Sisters , the characters in Mildred Walker’s Orange Tree search for meaning and happiness in their often uneventful middle-class lives—and yet from such a seemingly ordinary premise, subtle and defining drama ensues. Editing Walker’s last novel, which the author reworked for nearly two decades, Carmen Pearson has found indications that the Chekhov play had in fact been a template that Walker contemporized in The Orange Tree . The novel centers on two families living in Boston in the 1970 an older couple, Tiresa and Paulo Romano, and the newlyweds Olive and Ron Fifer. The fragile state of the older woman’s health and the younger woman’s marriage brings these two couples together in their separate and quietly desperate isolation, producing a combination of insight and compassion that only the finest story can evoke. In The Orange Tree , Walker explores the relationships between men and women and offers an absorbing commentary on literature, writing, education, middle-class life, and the nature of friendship and of death.

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Mildred Schemm Walker (May 2, 1905 – May 27, 1998) was an American novelist who published 12 novels and was nominated for the National Book Award. She graduated from Wells College and from the University of Michigan. She was a faculty member at Wells College from 1955 to 1968. Walker died in 1998 in Portland, Oregon.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[S Sande · Rating 3 out of 5]

So different, this book, from others I've read by Mildred Walker. Has been likened to reading a play and I would agree. Once again she skillfully puts forth perspective on common life. A truly poignant story.

[Leah Darrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as Winter Wheat, didn't love the conclusion, but as beautifully written as Mildred Walker's work always is.

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book blurb states:
"The novel centers on two families living in Boston in the 1970's: an older couple, Tiresa and Paulo Romano, and the newlyweds Olive and Ron Fifer. The fragile state of the older woman's health and the younger woman's marriage brings these two couples together in their separate and quietly desperate isolation, producing a combination of insight and compassion that only the finest story can evoke. In The Orange Tree, Walker explores the relationships between men and women and offers an absorbing commentary on literature, writing, education, middle-class life, and the nature of friendship and death."

The Chekov play "Three Sisters" is important thematically to this novel, the two couples even attend the play. But it is a mistake to see this book as somehow updating the play. The two share themes, but the novel is a different thing.

The third female character of any thematic relavance is the oddly named Gumshoe. But she rarely appears or is mentioned, and functions as Olive's symbol of her own unrealized dreams and potential.

The main characters are the two couples: Tiresa and Paulo, and Olive and Ron. The viewpoint characters are Tiresa and Olive. We see the unfolding events in third-person filtered through their eyes and thoughts. The book is very much their story.

Tiresa is a professor of literature, and much of her thought is formed and expressed through the literature she has read. She and Paulo are both very cultured and become the friends and mentors to their young neighbors, the Fifers. Tiresa though, has a lingering illness which slowly becomes worse.

Olive cares about her husband but is quietly resentful of his rushing her into marriage at a young age, and the sublimation of her dreams for his. Both her observation of her the marriage of Tiresa and Paulo, and letters from her friend Gumshoe, make her question her life choices.

Ron cares about her, but is controlling and neglectful in a passive aggressive manner. For example, he decides what she will have to drink and orders for her, and after a mild argument, he casually tells her to make him a coffee and bring it to him.

Paulo is likewise educated, and a writer. He reads his work to Tiresa who helps him edit. They are completely compatible as a couple, and their scenes together likely reflect something of the relationship between Walker and her husband. Also, their impressions and observations of their young friends as filtered through their own experience and education are one of the novel's highlights.

The novels themes are explored and discussed but, fittingly, we are not given absolute answers. As with much if not most literary writing, this is what used to be referred to as a 'slice of life story'. We drop into the lives of the characters at some point in their lives, live with them for a period of time, observe their thoughts and actions, then at some point we simply leave them, and their lives, the implication is, would go on, as do ours.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Mildred Walker's books and I had some trepidation about this one because it was completed by her biographer and issued posthumously. In the preface, Carmen Pearson, the biographer said that she found four versions of this book among Walker's papers and used the best parts of each. I shouldn't have worried because I loved every minute of it wiith well developed characters and plausible situations. The first few chapters read like quirky Anne Tyler book but later chapters build to a moving conclusion. The only sad thing is now I have read all her books.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not as good as her others that I have read, but it was a breath of fresh air compared to the last few books I've read.

[Cheryle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as "Winter Wheat" which I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Candy]

2 reasons- the intro bored me and told me someone else really wrote this, and the print is really small, hard on my eyes.