The Orchard: Selected Stories

By: Ira Sumner Simmonds

Narrated by: Charles Reardin

Length: 1 hr and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

The Orchard: Selected Stories, in this eclectic collection of short stories Ira Sumner Simmonds writes, among other things, about crop-raiding monkeys, a dog who loves to sail, a foul mouth middle-schooler, vacationing with elderly parents, coping with Alzheimer's disease, bird-watching and West Indian hot sauce.

©2019 Ira Sumner Simmonds (P)2019 Ira Sumner Simmonds

Sally A.

I thoroughly enjoyed “The orchard” short stories. They were intriguing, humorous, and sad at times. I found the stories captivating and they left me wanting more.

Beautifully written and beautifully spoken

I’m pleasantly warmed to have read and listened to these stories. Reading and hearing these stories painted similar yet excitingly different visuals in my mind. I highly recommend this book!

An Eclectic Delight!

Throughout this collection, I was pulled in by an engaging and erudite author’s voice. Even when narrating on behalf of a pet, recounting the challenges of traveling with an accidental companion, or relaying more personal challenges, Simmonds offers his audience an honest take with humor and kindness. There are a few surprises too in the category of “you can’t make this stuff up.”

A New Fiction Writer Now on Audible

I suppose everyone comes to the audio version of a book with certain hopes and expectations. Having already read the book, I certainly had mine -- and they were high, I thought Charles Reardin did a generally decent job of narrating the book, and I would highly recommend this title to any person, especially a really busy person who, nevertheless, wants to enjoy the work of an exciting new fiction writer. I would also add that I hope anyone who purchases this recording will be encouraged to read the book, if only for a few stories. Specifically, to read "My Oldman and the Sea" and "The Man" silently, in one's own voice, is to experience truly the lyrical, mournful beauty of those two stories. As for most of the other readings, Reardin's voice and pacing amply convey the irony, humor, and pathos one would expect on hearing them read aloud.

Entertaining short stories

The author’s charming stories draw on his experiences in his boyhood home of Saint Kitts and Nevis, his current home of Brooklyn, New York, and other in other locales. Tower Flight 222 is an especially amusing account of a much-delayed flight from Los Angeles to New York.

Life Experiences Captured in Short Stores

I totally enjoyed the author’s revelations of the various chapters of his life experiences. These held my attention throughout and brought back numerous memories. Excellent job Ira. Highly recommended.

Rivoting Listen!

This audio book creates explicit visuals that take you to locations be described and spoken about. The diction and clarity of the narrator is precise and exquisite. Takes you to a place where storytelling is supportive, comforting and intellectually stimulating!

Amusing, quick read, well written, well told.

Loved it, was able to adopt the mindset of the author. Great narration. A clever look at lifes experiences through different lenses.

Easy on the ears!

This is a very enjoyable listen! The stories all have a very real and relatable quality in the way they are written, and it translates well into an audio book as it gives the feeling of being with a live story teller relating true events as they happened. The narrator has a very smooth and soothing voice as well!

I enjoyed this book!

I enjoyed this book! Each chapter is a short story and each one has its own separate feel and subject. Simmonds includes a lot about nature and animals in his writing and each story has a warmth that resonates. One of my favorites is Chapter 4. This short story is written about from the point of view of the family dog and is cute and funny. Another story I enjoyed was Chapter 7 when Simmonds writes about the talkative woman sitting next to him on a flight from LAX to NYC. It is very relatable and I found myself wanting to know about that woman. This book is an easy, fun read and I recommend it.