Official Review: THE ORCHARD: selected stories

EmunahAn · Post by **EmunahAn** » 02 Mar 2019, 04:17

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "THE ORCHARD: selected stories" by Ira Sumner Simmonds.]

4 out of 4 stars

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In THE ORCHARD: selected stories, Ira Sumner Simmonds brings out the extraordinary in simple moments. The collection contains real-life stories that have some surprising twists. In the first story, Paul’s blooming orchard, located in Valley Views on the island of Saint Kitts, attracts unexpected intruders. The troops of monkeys teach him a thing or two about the behavior of the cunning primates. The story, “Peter’s Performance,” features a young boy whose insolence reveals much more about his background than his teacher originally imagined.

The stories contain an authenticity that makes them memorable. Most of the experiences are ordinary but through creativity, the author reveals the learning points in each of them. I liked the surprising elements contained in the collection. From the unexpected behavior of the juvenile female monkey in the story, “The Orchard,” reading about a family’s activities from a dog’s perspective in “Jeremy” and the unexpected opera in “Backyard Overture,” all the stories possess captivating aspects.

I also liked that the characters are well-developed in each story. Since the stories are short, the author minimizes the number of characters in each of them. This gives each main character sufficient space in the accounts and ensures only the details that help move the plots forward are included.

The author also incorporates humor in the collection which makes the stories even more captivating. In the story, “Tower Flight 222” two passengers whose flight has been delayed engage in an interesting conversation. One of the passengers constantly tries to engage another even though the other one is clearly not interested. The revelations of the chatty passenger contain entertaining bits about her life. The story “West Indian Hot Sauce” contains similar funny incidences.

The collection also includes many heartfelt moments that are emotional and powerful. Such moments include a story about a mother with Alzheimer’s disease.

I would have preferred that the stories contain similar themes since this would have connected them to each other even more. The same style of writing is maintained throughout which ties the accounts together but the disparity in the themes impedes the collection’s cohesiveness.

THE ORCHARD: selected stories by Ira Sumner Simmonds is very well edited and I did not identify any errors. It was a delightful read and readers who love short stories packed with emotion and humor will love reading it. Readers who prefer longer fictional narratives may not enjoy it. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.

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THE ORCHARD: selected stories
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InStoree · Post by **InStoree** » 05 Mar 2019, 07:56

The Orchard resembles a candy shop where the readers have the chance to choose any sweet they desire. I think I'll have one of each. I bet each story has its own lesson. Thank you for your review, Emunah!

Post by **kandscreeley** » 05 Mar 2019, 08:43

Every once in a while, I enjoy a collection of short stories. Sometimes you only have time for a small bit at a time, and something like this is perfect. I love the humor included, and I think I'd like to read about the chatty person travelling! Thanks so much.

Rose Harebate · Post by **Rose Harebate** » 06 Mar 2019, 04:42

Authentic stories, coupled by humor and well developed characters make this book a good read. Thanks for a great review.

Amanda Stueve Pense · Post by **Amanda Stueve Pense** » 06 Mar 2019, 16:43

It seems like a wide variety of topics is covered in this collection. I appreciate that you were able to pick out a theme of "the extraordinary in simple moments." I am currently caring for my grandfather and it's a really special thing when you find something meaningful in the most simple moments.

Did I see correctly that this was posted in non-fiction? Are the stories all true? How did the author find them?

Chrystal Oaks · Post by **Chrystal Oaks** » 09 Mar 2019, 12:50

You've convinced me; I want to read this book of short stories. It will be a welcome break from novels and long-length stories. Thanks for the refreshing review!