The Orchard

I cannot rightfully describe how much I love this book. Preface: I listened to this as an audiobook.

For starters, Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry is an incredible writer. Each time I pressed play I felt like I was right there with the characters. Everything felt so tangible and real, it was beautiful. The way the characters are composed and put together are just as good. I fell in love with each of them, as if they were friends of my own. As a 20 year old American, I know absolutely nothing about Europe, yet alone Soviet Russia. History classes were poorly taught, and often acted as nap time for students like me who could skid by high school with A's and B's. I feel like, although a piece of fiction, I have learned more reading (well, I guess listening?) to this book than I have all history classes I've sat through. I never knew the Soviet Union was more than just Russia. I never knew it was happening during the 80's. I had never known what anyone had went through during those times, young or old.

Not only did I get to learn a lot in this book, but it felt all the more sentimental and genuine coming from someone who was there. I made sure to stay for the Author's Note, as other reviews had suggested, and by god was it worth it. I hope Kristina knows just how much I love and appreciate this piece of work. I will be reading, and maybe even watching, The Cherry Orchard someday, and I will be telling all my friends about this book. It tugged on my heart strings, had me gasping in the car, and googling all sorts of places and people during this time period. I will be thinking about Anya, Milka, Trifonov, and Lopatin for the next few weeks, and I will be thinking of Kristina, who had went through it all herself too.


TLDR: This book is awesome please read it rn if you love historical fiction and coming of age 5/5 stars
TW: rape, abuse