Overall Opinion and Thoughts about Orphan Train

Discuss the July 2016 Book of the Month, Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.

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Prisaneify
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Re: Overall Opinion and Thoughts about Orphan Train

Post by Prisaneify »

Glad to hear that the majority of the people found some value in the book and enjoyed it! Looks like there's a bit of history here to be learned. I've got so much on my plate at the moment so I'll have to wait a little while to read it but it sounds really good!
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Post by Steffania »

Hi!

Does it have any connection with The girl from the train movie?
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Post by gali »

Steffania wrote:Hi!

Does it have any connection with The girl from the train movie?
No connection at all!
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Post by Amh73090 »

I loved this book from the start due to the story line. While I don't agree with some of the things that took place in the book I found it to be extremely interesting. Would I read it again? Probably.
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Post by Elaine5 »

I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know about the orphan trains before reading it and found it a fascinating subject to learn more about. I agree with those who said they enjoyed the flashback narrative most but I did really liked Molly in the present day story line. Niamh was the best part of the book for me. She was a character to get attached to!
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Post by Heidi M Simone »

Elaine5 wrote:I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know about the orphan trains before reading it and found it a fascinating subject to learn more about. I agree with those who said they enjoyed the flashback narrative most but I did really liked Molly in the present day story line. Niamh was the best part of the book for me. She was a character to get attached to!
There's definitely a connection that the reader makes with Niamh! I think it is because we started to learn about her life when she was young and kind of grew up with her. It makes a big difference, especially comparing it with Molly's story when we just got small bits of her in her teenage years.
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Post by elanger333 »

I read this book last year and really enjoyed it. As much as I liked Vivian, I really thought that Molly was more relatable. Maybe that's because I was more like her when I was younger? Maybe it was predictable, but I think that because the characters were so endearing - and horrible (Grotes), that I wanted to read it, just to see how they turned out. I guess if I was going to rate it, maybe four stars.
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Post by falloutlunartic »

I started reading this when it first came out but I gave up on it. I don't remember exactly why, but I was wondering if I should give it another shot? I don't like a lot of profanity and I don't know if Orphan Train is an exception to ones like that.
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

falloutlunartic wrote:I started reading this when it first came out but I gave up on it. I don't remember exactly why, but I was wondering if I should give it another shot? I don't like a lot of profanity and I don't know if Orphan Train is an exception to ones like that.

I don't recall very much profanity. If there was, it didn't detract from the story.
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Post by TrishaAnn92 »

I thought it was slow, but maintained a steady pace into a world not many people think about. I really enjoyed it.
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Post by Kia »

I absolutely loved this book. 4 out of 4 stars! I do agree that the ending was just a little too neat though.
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Post by ebeth »

I am about half way through the Orphan Train book. I must say I never gave it much thought about how people would treat orphans. It sickens me the way they were talked down to when it is not even their fault they are in the situation in the first place.
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Post by MarisaRose »

Overall, "Orphan Train" was quick, easy, enjoyable read. I rated the book 3 out of 4. I enjoyed the characters, the juxtaposition of the past and the present, and the information about the orphan trains (of which I did not know existed prior to reading this book). However, I did find the book was a little to "nice." I think there should have been more emphasis on the difficulty and hardships both characters endured. After going through these tragic events, I think everything ended up a little to neat and nice for my taste - this gave me the feeling the novel wasn't really "real".
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Post by AK413 »

I felt like the relationship between Molly and Vivian was a bit predictable, but still one of those feel good predictable moments that you would have been upset about if it didn't happen! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although it was a bit unnerving to see the way those children were treated and to know that the behavior wasn't fictional. But that's why it was an important read, and not just an enjoyable one.
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

AK413 wrote:I felt like the relationship between Molly and Vivian was a bit predictable, but still one of those feel good predictable moments that you would have been upset about if it didn't happen! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although it was a bit unnerving to see the way those children were treated and to know that the behavior wasn't fictional. But that's why it was an important read, and not just an enjoyable one.

It was predictable but I would have been disappointed if they hadn't developed their relationship like they did.
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