The Orchardist

By: Amanda Coplin

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

At the turn of the 20th century, in a rural stretch of the Pacific Northwest, a reclusive orchardist, William Talmadge, tends to apples and apricots as if they were loved ones. A gentle man, he's found solace in the sweetness of the fruit he grows and the quiet, beating heart of the land he cultivates. One day, two teenage girls appear and steal his fruit from the market; they later return to the outskirts of his orchard to see the man who gave them no chase. Feral, scared, and very pregnant, the girls take up on Talmadge's land and indulge in his deep reservoir of compassion.

Just as the girls begin to trust him, men arrive in the orchard with guns, and the shattering tragedy that follows will set Talmadge on an irrevocable course not only to save and protect but also to reconcile the ghosts of his own troubled past.

Transcribing America as it once was before railways and roads connected its corners, Amanda Coplin weaves a tapestry of solitary souls who come together in the wake of unspeakable cruelty and misfortune. She writes with breathtaking precision and empathy, and in The Orchardist she crafts an astonishing debut novel about a man who disrupts the lonely harmony of an ordered life when he opens his heart and lets the world in.

©2012 Amanda Coplin (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

Starts with a bang, fizzles slightly

I would recommend this listen with a few caveats. I thought this book started out very well - I was extremely interested in the characters and the story line, and at one point even gasped out loud as a plot point was revealed. But after that point - about 1/3 of the way thru, the story itself seemed to run out of gas, as if the author had come to the climax of the story too early. Then I began to get frustrated with some of the characters, who fell into predictable patterns - Talmadge was always "confused; Della always "didn't understand," Angeline was always "quiet" and "watching." It got somewhat boring, always knowing how the characters would act and react. That said, I loved the writing which was very moving and poetic. And the narrator was superb, really involved with the emotional lives of the characters without being overly dramatic. I would love to read Coplin's next work as I think she shows great promise as a writer. She just had a bit of difficulty with this first effort.

It's Certainly Epic!!

What did you love best about The Orchardist?

It's a peaceful historical story involving a family of mostly people that stay are joined out of like for each other rather than blood.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Orchardist?

The story spans more than seventy years and four generations....there are many.

Which character – as performed by Mark Bramhall – was your favorite?

Poor Mark didn't get to "act out" many characters for none of them were "talkers" He did do a fine job telling the sory.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

14 hours worth....not possible. It was reallly long. Pleasant...yes.

I am not overly happy with the ending. I don't necessairly need a happy story but, somewhere in an epic that spans generations something positive is necessary to recount.
After a lifetime of strife, hardship and toil of the protaganist, the author went on to relay the demise of his lifelong work - years after his death..... I am not understanding the necessity of that.

Not a romance but a story filled with love

Talmadge, the orchardist, is a quiet man who attracts the loyalty and trust of people in need. In need of companionship, in need of protection, in need of acceptance. His tenderness toward the plants in his care foreshadows his future relationships with the people who cross his path. The narrator has chosen the perfect voice for this awkward, reserved person - gravelly, soft-spoken, halting. And yet he renders the women very convincingly as well. This is a heartbreaking yet life-affirming story of bravery and survival in the harshest of circumstances. Well done.

One of my all time favorites

Overall story, narration and production are just excellent. Several characters with limited, deprived childhoods come together as chosen family, and it’s beautifully described. I’ve been an Audible member for close to 15 years at 2 books per month and this goes into my top ten list.

Worth The Time !

Ambling and slow the story meanders through the fruit trees in the orchard, ripens, falls to the ground and mesmerizes in its unfolding. The narrator is well suited for the role and his nearly monotone pitch with perfectly placed inflections held my attention in a surprisingly steady way.

While the story's pace is slow and methodical the messages beneath the words are haunting, quick and unforgettable. I did not want this story to end. But the characters are so unforgettable they remain in the air long after the credits are over.

Great story, beautifully written and read

Where does The Orchardist rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The book is so beautifully written you can almost smell the apples on the trees. The narrator was excellent for Talmadge's voice, you could feel the character's connection to the land and his inner turmoil.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Orchardist?

Talmadge walking through the orchard, he simply takes in the beauty of nature and the joy of growing things.

Which character – as performed by Mark Bramhall – was your favorite?

Talmadge

Outstanding first novel

Epic tale about western US at the turn of century. Intriquing use of isolation.

Best and most authentic oration

...on any Audible book I have listened to so far. Solid story that kept me interested. No shortage on heartbreak!

Excellent Book

If you could sum up The Orchardist in three words, what would they be?

a great read

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Orchardist?

description of the apple-growing area of Washington in the early 20th Century

What does Mark Bramhall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

the drama of the writing

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

can't say without it being a spoiler

Any additional comments?

Well written with a very interesting story.

Good Man

Loved the narrator's voice in this audible book about the life of an orchardist and his interactions with several women. Kept my interest in wanting to know what would happen next with the sisters that became central to the protagonist's life.