The Orchardist

By: Amanda Coplin

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

“[A] mysterious, compelling, elemental novel….In The Orchardist, Amanda Coplin shows us what’s unknowable.”
—Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of National Book Award finalist, American Salvage

“Within this world are compelling characters and their equally compelling stories. The Orchardist is an outstanding debut.”
—Ron Rash, New York Times bestselling author of Serena and The Cove

“Coplin is a masterful writer, the teller of an epic, unvarnished tale that sits comfortably with other novels in the tradition of great American storytelling.”
—Wally Lamb, New York Times bestselling author of The Hour I First Believed

At once intimate and epic, The Orchardist is historical fiction at its best, in the grand literary tradition of William Faulkner, Marilynne Robinson, Michael Ondaatje, Annie Proulx, and Toni Morrison. In her stunningly original and haunting debut novel, Amanda Coplin evokes a powerful sense of place, mixing tenderness and violence as she spins an engrossing tale of a solitary orchardist who provides shelter to two runaway teenage girls in the untamed American West, and the dramatic consequences of his actions.

An Unsentimenal Look at the Power of Relationships

What made the experience of listening to The Orchardist the most enjoyable?

The lyrical way in which the author writes about the American West on the brink of modernity, on the brink of losing its agricultural way of life as the 20th century barrels toward the orchard.

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

The way Talmadge, a very solitary man, unfolds the hard layers of his personality and opens his long dormant heart to the possibility of forging new relationships with Della and Jane.

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

I think it would have to be his slow, deliberate voice. He was always steady, never getting carried away with the emotion of the language which really painted a very specific picture of the main character for me.

Any additional comments?

I fell in love with this book. The author's prose, her descriptions of the landscape and its people were so beautiful that I could fully imagine the orchard in my mind's eye. I liked the slow development of the plot as this really allows you to come to know the characters, to wonder about their motives, to form relationships with each of them. This book is meant to be savored rather than devoured as you contemplate Talmadge's quest to create "family" despite the trouble it invites into his life.

Superb. Well-crafted and beautifully written

Would you listen to The Orchardist again? Why?

yes-it is a book club choice and I would listen again just before the meeting. I enjoyed the Narrator’s voice a lot-it met the needs of the characters and then some.

What did you like best about this story?

the honesty of the characters-they were true to life with out being perfect or all bad

What about Mark Bramhall’s performance did you like?

the performance was outstanding-I would listen again just to hear the pitch perfect performance

Any additional comments?

The book was wonderful and I look forward to more from this author.

Holy smokes, I loved this book.

What an incredible story and a wonderful telling. I showed up every day at work crying from listening on the way in. A great listen.

The Voice

Would you listen to The Orchardist again? Why?

Yes, I will - just to experience a voice (Mark's) that matches the character so well!!!

Have you listened to any of Mark Bramhall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Any additional comments?

I usually enjoy 'reading' a book rather than listening, but my job requires long driving hours, so I have been 'listening' to books. This is one I am so thankful I 'listened' to instead of read. The voice of the narrator, Mark Bramhall, added such depth to the characters. WELL done!!! Love this book!!!

Warm, engaging. Hard to get my work done because I didn't want to stop listening.

I loved the narrator's voice and delivery, and he was perfect for this book. He reminded me of some old, wise, kind farmers I knew in Indiana, who didn't talk much, but lived generously and graciously, like the main character, Talmadge. The plight of the sisters who are featured in the book shows that some hurts may never go away, but God bless the people who try to give them comfort on their weary way.