A new Wisconsin-based novel debuted recently, and from the looks of it, may do very well on the mass market. \Orchard-a novel,"" by Larry Watson, takes place in our very own Door County, Wis., and most of the colorful description in this book probably comes from Watson's 25-year stint as a professor at the nearby University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
??The story is set in the 1940s, and revolves around four main characters. Sonja Skordahl is a Norwegian immigrant who came to America in search of a new life and new dreams. She married Henry House, who owns an apple orchard-but as time passes, she becomes bored with the mundane life she is leading and begins to crave change and excitement. Henry is what can only be described as a ""cold fish,"" unable to drum up any passion for his wife or children. His only passion seems to be his horse.
??Nearby live Ned Weaver, a famous painter, and his wife, Harriet. Weaver has brought several women to his studio under the pretense of modeling for him, but rumor has it he does a lot more than paint the women. Harriet pretends not to notice his cheating, but occasionally yearns for the strength to divorce him, which she never seems to find.??
??Enter the conflict-Sonja and Henry's son dies. Nobody is quite certain what caused the accident. All they know is he came out of the barn one day, had a seizure and fell down. There is speculation that Henry's horse may have had something to do with the death, and the horse is soon vilified again after Henry falls from it and is injured.
??Because his injuries leave Henry unable to work, Sonja agrees to model for Weaver to help make ends meet. In posing for the artist, Sonja seems to come to peace with herself and embarks on the voyage of self-discovery and reflection that seem to be a staple of all modern literature. However, her husband begins to feel jealous of the bond between Sonja and Weaver, and he demands she stop modeling, but she refuses. This refusal pits the two men against each other in an undeclared war.
??While this book is well-written, it is dark and depressing. Watson is obviously a gifted writer with a knack for drawing a reader into the story, but the content may occasionally be a bit dramatic, and once in a while, clich??d. While the story is smoothly told, the reader can become confused with all the jumping around in time (even going into the future, which was minorly discomfiting) and flashbacks. However, those who are able to follow the plot will discover this book is a very enjoyable, thought-provoking read.
