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.

What an odd story!

I tried but could not finish. What an odd, boring story! I can take odd but boring? The characters seemed like they were part of the Walking Dead. Not able to understand death, childbirth, reflections? Or the inability to recognize kindness? And for as far as I read, nothing really ever happened. No thanks!

The narrator did a good job. He was the most exciting part of this story.

Kept my attention…

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The character were were so well developed that I think I would recognize them. I enjoyed the story line so much. Great read.

Beautiful, rich, sweeping tale, not a fairy tale.

If you are able to get lost in a story, sink into the lull and cadence of Mark Bamhall's voice , you will love this story. I listen to books constantly and often think the narrator tells the story far better than any 'voice inside my head' and this is yet another example. This is my first listen to Bramhall and I will look for his others. I found the story refreshingly ambiguous regarding the darker aspects of human nature. If you enjoy the likes of Faulkner or Steinbeck, or Norman Maclean, you will love this one. Bravo Amanda Coplin, your sentences are poetry and your characters memorable. I haven't read anything nearly as elegant or absorbing since David Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars. An impressive first novel, compassionately written, and thankfully bereft of the modern temptation of wrapping up perfectly to make sure everyone gets what they deserve.

Touching story of caring, loss and damaged souls

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the description of the late 1800's in the Northwest US. The plot moved slowly for most of the book, but the characters pull you in. I really didn't want the story to end.

No real ending. slow moving. concept was good,

finished the book, but barely. premise was good, but it didn't really go anywhere. hoped della would have had a better story.

Excellent combination of voice and story

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed how the narrator's voice was warm and "earthy", like the elements of the story. Excellent performance.

Fabulous!

This book has moved into my top 10 ever. It is beautifully written. The characters were made 3 dimensional by their stunning development . Take your time and saunter along with this one.

Seems simple, yet is deep

Takes place in my "neck of the woods". It the story of a journey with trauma, and how the characters get through it.

Great story of compassion

I enjoyed the story and the characters. I would the descriptions and the depth of the characters.

Loved!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Orchardist to be better than the print version?

Not sure~haven't read the print

What other book might you compare The Orchardist to and why?

It was similar in many ways to The Orchard~family history, apples, multiple generations, great characters

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

Talmadge

If you could take any character from The Orchardist out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Angelica~I'd love to know what she thinks and feels and where she wants to be in life 10, 20 years from now.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the historical elements of this book and thought the reader was very good. His voice really captured the story and added to it.