Orphan Train: A Novel
A # 1 New York Times Best Seller, Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a little-known but historically significant movement in America’s past—and it includes a special PS section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more. Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.
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Community Reviews
I enjoyed this book. I really think it deserves about 3 1/2 stars but went with 4 because the history of the orphan train was so interesting. Very quick to read and really enjoyable.
I read this for a book club and found it an engrossing book. Although the relationship between Molly and Vivian appeared a bit forced at times overall it worked for me. I especially enjoyed reading Vivian's story as I love historical fiction.
Another fabulous historical fiction read! And of course I love the fact that the author got her inspiration from a book about Jamestown ND, my home state! Lovely book that I couldn't put down!
What I Liked: A historical fiction page turner focusing on a little known practice of sending abandoned children from East Coast cities to new families in the Midwest. What I Disliked: Although the book is well written, it is confusing that Vivan's story is 1st person narrative but Molly's story is 3rd person narrative.
Story: 3.75
Writing: 3
Learning: 3
Characters: 3
Overall Entertainment: 3.5
Book club, my recommendation. I read this book in about 1.5 days, a very quick read that kept my interest. While overall it is a Hallmark channel plot and ending, it generally delivers in the entertainment area (don't all those Hallmark movies?). I found the topic of the orphan trains interesting and new, I had never heard of them before. I found "Vivian's" story more interesting than Molly's, the present-day sections where parts that I just got through in order to get back to the orphan story. The writing was intelligent, but not deep, but also not detractingly sloppy or sappy. There are many topics that are touched on in a cursory manner. I would recommend this book to most of my other reader friends if they wanted a quick and compelling read, nothing that was going to knock their socks off, something that could be read on vacation.
Writing: 3
Learning: 3
Characters: 3
Overall Entertainment: 3.5
Book club, my recommendation. I read this book in about 1.5 days, a very quick read that kept my interest. While overall it is a Hallmark channel plot and ending, it generally delivers in the entertainment area (don't all those Hallmark movies?). I found the topic of the orphan trains interesting and new, I had never heard of them before. I found "Vivian's" story more interesting than Molly's, the present-day sections where parts that I just got through in order to get back to the orphan story. The writing was intelligent, but not deep, but also not detractingly sloppy or sappy. There are many topics that are touched on in a cursory manner. I would recommend this book to most of my other reader friends if they wanted a quick and compelling read, nothing that was going to knock their socks off, something that could be read on vacation.
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