Powerful tale set in rugged Tasmania

The Orchardist’s Daughter

ALREADY being called one of the most anticipated books of this year, The Orchardist’s

Daughter is a captivating story about finding freedom and independence, set in the beautiful ruggedness of Tasmania.

Author Karen Viggers has a few novels under her belt already, such as The Stranding,

The Grass Castle and the bestselling The Lightkeeper’s Wife which was also set in Tasmania, on Bruny Island.

Viggers doesn’t disappoint with her new novel, told from three points of view.

Seventeen-year-old Miki lives with her older brother Kurt behind the takeaway shop they bought after they lost their parents and family farm in a fire 18 months ago.

She longs to spend time outside in her beloved bush and make connections in their small logging town, but the controlling Kurt keeps her locked up inside with strict rules in place, supposedly for her safety.

Leon has recently arrived in town for a new job, eager for a fresh start away from his parents on Bruny Island but finding it difficult to settle in except for a budding friendship with young Max.

Max, the third and final point-of-view, is the son of a local couple with a sometimes challenging family dynamic, and his chapters provide a fresh view of the story and its world with the child’s perspective he has.

The characters in The Orchardist’s Daughter – from the narrators to those with smaller parts to play – are all refreshingly real and, for the most part, not stereotyped.

Towards the start of the novel, Miki is in the most danger of being a flat, stereotyped character with her homeschooling and family’s religion named for creating the isolation she has experienced, her social awkwardness and old-fashioned conservative clothing choices.

However, character development as the story flows erases the danger of those stereotypes.

Viggers describes the Tasmanian surrounds with such skill that the reader can almost see it, and it is clear from her writing that she has an understanding and love for creatures – possibly her veterinarian background coming to the fore.

Overall, The Orchardist’s Daughter is an enjoyable read and empowering story, and will possibly live up to its expectation as one of the best books for 2019.

VIGGERS DESCRIBES THE TASMANIAN SURROUNDS WITH SUCH SKILL THAT THE READER CAN ALMOST SEE IT, AND IT IS CLEAR FROM HER WRITING THAT SHE HAS AN UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE FOR CREATURES...

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