The splendid and the vile proves a gripping tale of. Shy and reserved, he doesnt know how to make friends because he doesnt get out much. 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. The book comforts me and tells me im doing alright, just like a fairy tree mother would. At the turn of the 20th century in a rural stretch of the pacific northwest, a gentle solitary orchardist, talmadge, tends to apples and apricots. Coplins understanding of abuse and the lasting effects of fear and loss on the individual psyche are deeply resonant. Praised by critics for its portrayal of early twentiethcentury america, the book won both the 20 american book award and the 20 washington state book award for fiction. The orchardist book by amanda coplin 10 available editions. First published in 2012, the book follows what happens when a lonely elderly man lets new people into his life. The orchardist april cc book club selection college. His face was as pitted as the moon, coplin writes of her late19thcentury protagonist, a wellmeaning orchardist named.
Rather, the narration takes one so much deeper into the experience than if one read the book oneself. We recently completed our discussion of amanda coplins the orchardist. The september 2020 issue of the orchardist, published by horticulture new zealand. Coplin offers no answers, only the hard certainties of labor and of love that are seldom enough to ease a beloveds pain. The book reads like a novel, and even though everyone hopefully knows how the war ultimately ended, he keeps the reader turning the pages with his gripping prose. Coplin describes in beautiful, supple prose how della defies convention by learning to ride, and her subsequent life as a horsewoman, before her. In her stunningly original and haunting debut novel, amanda coplin evokes a powerful sense of place, mixing tenderness and violence as she spins an. Amanda coplins debut novel, the orchardist, is one such book. The orchardist, by amanda coplin, and more the new. I did edit out offtopic remarks, that sort of thing, but its otherwise a transcript of the meeting. The orchardist is an engrossing pageturner the kind of book that makes it nearly impossible to quit reading in order to attend to the readers actual real life.
I just had to chalk it up as not my cup of tea and try to engage with my book club members as respectfully as i could while still statinmore not really. Book club discussion notes on the orchardists daughter scroll to bottom of link to download notes the orchardists daughter. Summary at the turn of the twentieth 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. At the turn of the twentieth 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. This study guide consists of approximately 45 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the orchardist. Amanda copin book discussion manchestermanchester city libraryn. The orchardist the orchardist audiobook, by amanda coplin. Discussion of the orchardist by amanda coplin this is a novel set in the west about a hundred years ago about a man, talmadge, who takes in two pregnant teen sisters, jane.
William talmadges life is a quiet one, tending his apple. At the turn of the 20th century, in a remote stretch of northwest america, a solitary orchardist, talmadge, tends to apples and apricots as if they were his children. Then two feral, pregnant girls and armed gunmen set talmadge on an irrevocable course not only to save and protect but to reconcile the ghosts of his own troubled past. What this book does have going for it is its simplicity well, as simple as you can get when youre learning to. The backyard orchardist isnt the prettiest book youll ever see with glossy photos and fancy fonts. Wonderfully and carefully written book about the life of a gentle fruit farmer, whose life unwittingly intertwines with a great deal of tragedy. Grazia an utterly enthralling, heartbreaking story. A gentle man, hes found solace in the sweetness of the fruit he grows and the quiet, beating heart of the land he cultivates. I will make an attempt to summarize the general view of this work, although i cant speak for everyone. Set against the rugged beauty of washington state at the turn of the twentieth century, amanda coplinas debut novel, the orchardist, introduces readers to william talmadge and his lovingly cultivated orchards of apples and apricots. Jo 1862, uxp zfbst bgufs uifjs npuifst efbui, uif psdibse. Amanda coplin more than exploits the dramatic possibilities of this maxim in her debut novel, the orchardist. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Bonnie jo campbell, author of national book award finalist, american salvagewithin this world are compelling characters and their equally compelling stories.
Suzi feay financial times amanda coplins the orchardist is a haunting and epic debut with shades of steinbeck. William talmadge is an orchardist who is 40 years old when the novel begins. Our april cc book club selection is the orchardist by amanda coplin. Some thought that she was the cook at the michaelson house. The orchardist is a historical novel by amanda coplin set between the 1890s and early 1900s in the pacific northwest where an orchard owner attempts to care for two young runaway teenage prostitutes and their baby. Our book club just finished our discussion of the orchardist and we. Easy living i was still thinking about this moving tale, set in early 20th century america, days after reading it. The orchardist is a powerful, finely crafted novel. Coplinas characters are deeply rooted in the mystery of the. Some books you read and they are action filled and tension overflows every scene, and you jump from one wild and crazy problem or excess of emotion to another.
Set in the early years of the 20th century in the golden valleys and granite hills of chelan county in northcentral washingt it is a rare read that cuts through the surface noise of daily life and becomes the one sound you can hear clearly, like a church bell on a still winter. At the turn of the twentieth century, in a rural stretch of the pacific northwest, a reclusive orchardist, william talmadge, tends to apples and apricots. William talmadges life is a quiet one, tending his apple and apricot. This time we had more people 6 plus i recorded it so i apologize. Review of the orchardists daughter by matthew da silva the happy antipodean click here for an article from the riotact by genevieve jacobs about the writing of the orchardists daughter. This weekss sos book club pick is the orchardist by amanda coplin.
He is one of the principal characters of the novel, and is distinguished by his kind, gentle nature, by his ability to nurture, and by his sense of loss. Set in the untamed american west, a highly original and haunting debut novel about a makeshift family whose dramatic lives are shaped by violence, love, and an indelible connection to the land. The orchardist, by amanda coplin, and more the new york times. Book discussion polk public librarypolk public library. That is the case with this recording of the orchardist. A haunting and epic debut with shades of steinbeck grazia about a makeshift family in the untamed american west. 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 provide. Aug 23, 2012 the orchardist is a stunning accomplishment, hypnotic in its storytelling power, by turns lyrical and gritty, and filled with marvels.
Its the early 20th century story of two pregnant runaway girls, the old man who befriends. The implacable hand of fate, and the efforts of a quiet, reclusive man to reclaim two young sisters from their harrowing past, are the major forces. I carry the backyard orchardist with me every early spring into the orchard while i prune, just to make sure im getting it right. Afternoon book club events newcomers club of greater. The orchardist by amanda coplin book club discussion questions. Its a basic text with no frills and no pretty pictures, just simple but clear pencil drawings. So, an interesting author, and the orchardist s daughter is an interesting, enjoyable book. In the 1850s, following the death of his father in a mine in the oregon territory, talmadge, his mother, and his.
The man who owns and largely operates the orchard, william talmadge, is a many of forty who has led a difficult life. A lyrical portrait of life and death in the orchard npr. The story begins with a boy and sister following their mother north of the silver mining camp where his father was killed to an isolated valley. 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.
Talmadge, a solitary orchardist, has farmed his land alone for decades, until a pair of sisters turns up and becomes his makeshift family, bound by the shared experience of tragedy, the land, and ultimately fate. Still others thought that she was jane and dellas mother. This is the next installment of the wnbac ggr book club discussion notes. Coplins characters are deeply rooted in the mystery of the american west, and she brings them together, like the. The orchardist september 2020 by horticulture new zealand. One day, two teenage girls appear and steal his fruit at the market. A stunning debutthe orchardist is a poetic book, but its strength doesnt lie solely in its language. Amanda coplins first novel follows talmadge, the titular orchardist, who doesnt stray far from his fruit trees but trouble comes to him in the. Set against the rugged beauty of washington state at the turn of the twentieth century, amanda coplins debut novel, the orchardist, introduces readers to william talmadge and his lovingly cultivated orchards of apples and apricots. The book is set in the pacific northwest during the early 1900s. Home the light between oceans discussion guide libguides.
Ive read amanda coplins debut novel,the orchardist, two times now, and i. The orchardist amanda coplin, 2012 harpercollins 448 pp. Coplins characters are deeply rooted in the mystery of the. In the orchardist, amanda coplin shows us whats unknowable. This novel has several themes, such as how child sexual abuse affects the victims, how nature and nurture affect the land as well as people and the effects limited communication and reclusiveness on others lives. Discussion of the orchardist by amanda coplin wnbacharlotte. 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.
A stunning debut the orchardist is a poetic book, but its strength doesnt lie solely in its language. This stunning debut novel was my book clubs selection for this month. The setting and characters actually, every element are pitchperfect. Set in the late 19th century, the orchardist revolves around an aging. Uifz ufoefe uif usfft boe cz uif gpmmpxjoh tvnnfs xfsf bcmf up tfmm gsvju up ofbscz njofst. I just had to chalk it up as not my cup of tea and try to engage with my book club members as respectfully as i could while still stating my opinions. Sep 28, 2012 the orchardist is an engrossing pageturner the kind of book that makes it nearly impossible to quit reading in order to attend to the readers actual real life. Mar 05, 20 a site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. The story begins with a boy and sister following their mother north of the silver mining continue reading. The thing i use this book for the most is the pruning information. Orchardist definition is an owner or supervisor of orchards. The orchardist is a historical novel by amanda coplin.
As a debut novel, the orchardist stands on par with charles fraziers cold mountain. Amanda coplins debut novel, the orchardist, takes place in the pacific northwest. Share your videos with friends, family, and the world. Print word pdf take our free the orchardist quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your. In her stunningly original and haunting debut novel, amanda coplin evokes a powerful sense of plac. The orchardist, by amanda coplin this stunning debut novel was my book clubs selection for this month. The orchardist is beautifully written and stunning debut novel by amanda coplin. Apr 05, 2019 how wonderful that a novelist who writes strongly australiacentric books does so well in france. The orchardist, by amanda coplin the washington post.
Book summary at the turn of the twentieth 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. Coplin displays a dazzling sense of craftsmanship, and a. The orchardist by amanda coplin book club discussion. The orchardist by amanda coplin about the book 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. Orchardist definition of orchardist by merriamwebster. This is why i listen to audio books at their best, audiobooks are not just the convenience of listening while doing other things. Amanda coplins writing is the kind that youre supposed to luxuriate inits poetic, her observations are surprising, its. Nov 04, 2020 the orchardist is a historical novel by amanda coplin set between the 1890s and early 1900s in the pacific northwest where an orchard owner attempts to care for two young runaway teenage prostitutes and their baby.
Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. This post will serve as an anchor point for any further analysis or comment. Apr 25, 20 we recently completed our discussion of amanda coplins the orchardist. The orchardist book portland public library bibliocommons.
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