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.

Incredible Story!

For me, everything about this book was A+! The details of the story made it so realistic. The characters are complex and likable. The narrator was perfect. I read the book about 5 years ago and listening to it was even better. I wish she had another book out to read.

Enjoyable, touching and beautiful

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of an orchardist (imagine that) in Central Washington at the turn of the 20th century. Spanning some 40-ish years, you learn more about Talmadge, how he lives is mostly solitary life, and how two young girls had a great impact on him. The author is adept at creating empathy with the characters and feeling the deep emotions each experiences.

I especially enjoyed the book because I know the area, the small towns where the story takes place, and I could envision the scenes as the author described them.

The audio version has excellent narration and was well worth the listen.

Marvelous . so beautifully written!

Beautifully written. well read. i seldom give 5 stars all around, but this is a beautiful book.

Haunting

A haunting story, spare and evocative. Not a happy story though, but a good listen nonetheless.

A journey.

This took me on a journey. I didn't think I was getting attached to the characters but now they are living in my subconscious. the the tires and quality of light just became real. sometimes too real, and we all die. but in the meantime, we can choose how deeply we will live.

Life is mundane

This story went too slow for me. What I got out of it was that all in all you live day to day. The same routine from season to season with maybe some diversions but what does it matter in the end. The narration saved this book. It was just not for me.

Good book

The narrator was a little slow sometime and and I wanted him to speed up...but overall it was a great book and I would listen to it again. Thank you

Great Book

Wonderful story, very very descriptive. Characters were well developed. Enjoyed. Did think the book was a tad to long.

Too good.

I have no idea how I will ever find anything to listen to after this beautiful book and performance. I have been listening to it while harvesting for the last few days. It has kept me moving and distracted from back pain. I’d come back to our tent and sit in front of our heater and listen more. Living in Oregon the descriptions of the Pacific NW is so spot on. Not romanticized, but stark and painful at times.

Great narration

I enjoyed listening to this story. The narrators voice was rich and multilayered like the story itself. Transported me to another place and time.