Love, Like Apples - a beautiful story of a puppeteer’s life.

Tiller Loomis and his older brother Smith grew up in the small Appalachian town of Sawyer, Tennessee, where they worked at the family's apple orchard. With a mother who died in childbirth and an alcoholic father, Smith became a powerful influence on Tiller. His brother's death in Vietnam devastated him. Still in his teens, Tiller met Hobart and Eula Fulcher performing in a church, which led him to learn the art of puppetry. In 1977, Tiller moved to New York City to join a new PBS show called Imagine Nation. The show was created to speak to teens in an innovative way, tackling challenging subjects through the use of puppets. In the present day, Tiller, now a poet and woodworker, is invited to participate in a documentary about Imagine Nation. During Tiller's interview, he shares his poignant story along with the tales of the unique and creative group of people from the show, including its founder, Joel, a former priest, and Julie, who immediately captured his heart, even though she was dating Sam, the show's head writer. 

Love, Like Apples by Jeff Zentner is a beautiful story that worked its way into my heart. The interview format was very effective and withheld a secret worth waiting for. Set against the backdrop of NYC, Zentner vividly captured the excitement and the grittiness of the 1970s, highlighting major events and issues of the time period. It's a simple story that was both heartbreaking and hopeful. 

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted advance.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Adult Fiction | Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: November 3, 2026.

Please "like" this post if Love, Like Apples sounds like a book you’d enjoy reading. I'd love to know. Scroll below the photo and click on the red outlined heart on the lower right-hand side of the page. Comments can also be left below.