A commanding debut and a poignant coming-of-age story about a devout Jewish high school student whose plunge into the secularized world threatens everything he knows of himself.
Ari Eden’s life has always been governed by strict rules. In ultra-Orthodox Brooklyn, his days are dedicated to intense study and religious rituals, and adolescence feels profoundly lonely. So when his family announces that they are moving to a glitzy Miami suburb, Ari seizes his unexpected chance for reinvention.
Enrolling in an opulent Jewish academy, Ari is stunned by his peers’ dizzying wealth, ambition, and shameless pursuit of life’s pleasures. When the academy’s golden boy, Noah, takes Ari under his wing, Ari finds himself entangled in the school’s most exclusive and wayward group. These friends are magnetic and defiant—especially Evan, the brooding genius of the bunch, still living in the shadow of his mother’s death.
Influenced by their charismatic rabbi, the group begins testing their religion in unconventional ways. Soon Ari and his friends are pushing moral boundaries and careening toward a perilous future—one in which the traditions of their faith are repurposed to mysterious, tragic ends.
Mesmerizing and playful, heartrending and darkly romantic, The Orchard probes the conflicting forces that determine who we become: the heady relationships of youth, the allure of greatness, the doctrines we inherit, and our concealed desires. (synopsis taken from goodreads.com)
When Aryeh (Ari) Eden leaves ultra Orthodox Brooklyn for Modern Orthodox Florida, his whole world is turned on its head. He's introduced to parties, girls, pushing boundaries and being encouraged to do that and so much more. For the first time in Ari's life, he has friends and places to go but its not what he thought it was going to be. When Evan starts coming up with ideas for the group to try, Ari realizes that this new life might not be all that he thought it would be. Especially when he starts to lose a lot.
I am beyond in love with this book. When I started it I wasn't sure if I was going to love it because I haven't read many books that fall under literary fiction. But I am so beyond glad that I read this one and that I own a copy of it, I spent majority of my time reading this book with a pen in my hand so that I could underline different quotes and write my notes in the margins. I finished it on a Thursday and I couldn't sleep because I was thinking of this book, certain moments keeping me up late at night.
This was the first time I read a book where I was able to understand and grasp the philosophy that was being referenced. I loved that there were lines written in Hebrew and I loved just how Jewish this book was.
When I was reading this book, I read it through three different lenses. I read it as someone who comes from the same background as the friends that Ari meets when he moves, as someone who is a Judaic studies educator and as someone who works in community inreach. By working in community inreach, that means I work with kids who are similar to Ari and his friends, teens who are looking to grow in their Judaisim and their connection to G-d.
The characters in this book are all different yet very similar at the same time. Ari, Evan, Noah, Amir and Oliver are all smart boys who are curious as to why they are doing what they do. They are thirsty for knowledge and also physical pleasure. They are trying to understand the world they live, and trying to find out if they truly believe in this or it's something they have been told they have to believe in.
I loved this so much. The way it takes different aspects of being Jewish and Jewish religon and culture and bring them to life. The writing is beautiful, creating vivid imagery. The characters are well developed.
My favorite characters are Ari, Ari's mother, Noah, Amir and Kayla. They all add so much to the story. Oh! I also love Amir's mom.
I know this review is pretty limited with what I am saying but I feel like if I add more I might end spoiling a lot and I want everyone to read this. If you like literary fiction, dark academia and books that make you think I highly recommend this one!!
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