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45 pages 1 hour read

The Orchard Keeper

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1965

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Book Brief

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Cormac McCarthy

The Orchard Keeper

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1965
Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Tennessee • 1940s

Publication Year

1965

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Orchard Keeper is set in a small Tennessee mountain town between World Wars and follows young John Wesley Rattner, whose father, Kenneth, is killed by bootlegger Marion Sylder. Unaware of each other’s identities, John and Marion form a friendship. Loner Arthur Ownby harbors Kenneth's body. The narrative explores the interconnected lives and themes of wilderness chaos, cyclical violence, and modernity’s encroachment.

Mysterious

Dark

Gritty

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

3.8

12,513 ratings

53%

Loved it

35%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The Orchard Keeper by Cormac McCarthy is celebrated for its rich, evocative prose and profound exploration of rural Southern life. Critics praise McCarthy's ability to craft vivid, atmospheric settings. However, some find the narrative's complexity and ambiguous plot challenging to follow. Overall, it is esteemed for its literary depth but may not appeal to all readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Orchard Keeper?

A reader who would enjoy The Orchard Keeper by Cormac McCarthy is likely to appreciate richly atmospheric prose, Southern Gothic themes, and complex, morally ambiguous characters. Fans of William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying and Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood will find similar depth and dark, immersive storytelling.

3.8

12,513 ratings

53%

Loved it

35%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Character List

John Wesley Rattner

A young boy grappling with the absence of his father, Kenneth, as he navigates the challenges of growing up in Red Branch while seeking guidance from the people around him.

A solitary old man who has retreated into a life of isolation in the mountains, living with his dog Scout and seeking to avoid the encroachment of modern life.

A criminal who makes his living bootlegging whiskey, forming a complicated relationship with John Wesley Rattner while grappling with his own identity and actions.

A criminal whose death leaves a lasting impact on those around him, including his son John, who must contend with the void left by Kenneth's absence.

Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Tennessee • 1940s

Publication Year

1965

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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