readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
This book had been at the bottom of my to-read list for a long, long time—basically since I started keeping a formal list instead of just eyeballing my shelves and picking something at random every time I needed a new book. While I really like the organization factor of having a ready list of books that sound good, I don't love the strange phenomenon that causes titles that have been on the list for a while to lose their luster. The longer they languish there at the bottom, suffocating under the increasing weight of the shinier books I've heard about more recently, the less appeal they hold for me. I scroll right on past them, thinking, “No, not that one, it can't be that good or I'd have read it by now!”
Of course there's no logic to that kind of thinking. I'm glad I finally gave The Orchardist priority status because it's a great book. The fact that I first heard about it two years ago did nothing to diminish its quality. Obviously. Because that's not actually a thing outside of my crazy head.
In Coplin's debut novel, a man named Talmadge lives alone, tending his apple orchard in a secluded corner of the Pacific Northwest. After his father died in a silver mine, Talmadge and his mother and sister traveled on foot until they reached this idyllic valley. Now his mother and sister are gone, and Talmadge lives quietly, pruning the trees and selling his fruit at a stand in a nearby town.
One day, two girls who have been lurking around town steal some of Talmadge's fruit from his baskets. When they turn up again in his orchard, he finds himself leaving food out for them instead of chasing them off. Maybe it's because he still misses his sister, whom he hasn't seen for years. Maybe it's because the girls seem wild, desperate and alone. Maybe it's because they're both visibly pregnant, and even though he doesn't allow his thoughts to dwell on it, Talmadge knows it's evidence that they've suffered wrongs he can't fathom.
This isn't a clear-cut savior story, in which Talmadge opens his home and heart to the girls and they become a happy little family. No matter how generous or willing Talmadge might be, some damage can't be undone. Some people can't be saved. Sometimes all you can do is watch and pray as they try to save themselves, in their own halting, broken way.
Coplin's style reminded me a little of Cormac McCarthy's. As you might know, I've been campaigning for years to land a job as McCarthy's housekeeper/scullery maid/coffee fetcher, so that's high praise. Talmadge, a man of intense solitude encasing a broken, grasping heart, seemed like the kind of character McCarthy would write.
The Orchardist doesn't deserve to be at the bottom of anyone's list.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
Of course there's no logic to that kind of thinking. I'm glad I finally gave The Orchardist priority status because it's a great book. The fact that I first heard about it two years ago did nothing to diminish its quality. Obviously. Because that's not actually a thing outside of my crazy head.
In Coplin's debut novel, a man named Talmadge lives alone, tending his apple orchard in a secluded corner of the Pacific Northwest. After his father died in a silver mine, Talmadge and his mother and sister traveled on foot until they reached this idyllic valley. Now his mother and sister are gone, and Talmadge lives quietly, pruning the trees and selling his fruit at a stand in a nearby town.
One day, two girls who have been lurking around town steal some of Talmadge's fruit from his baskets. When they turn up again in his orchard, he finds himself leaving food out for them instead of chasing them off. Maybe it's because he still misses his sister, whom he hasn't seen for years. Maybe it's because the girls seem wild, desperate and alone. Maybe it's because they're both visibly pregnant, and even though he doesn't allow his thoughts to dwell on it, Talmadge knows it's evidence that they've suffered wrongs he can't fathom.
This isn't a clear-cut savior story, in which Talmadge opens his home and heart to the girls and they become a happy little family. No matter how generous or willing Talmadge might be, some damage can't be undone. Some people can't be saved. Sometimes all you can do is watch and pray as they try to save themselves, in their own halting, broken way.
Coplin's style reminded me a little of Cormac McCarthy's. As you might know, I've been campaigning for years to land a job as McCarthy's housekeeper/scullery maid/coffee fetcher, so that's high praise. Talmadge, a man of intense solitude encasing a broken, grasping heart, seemed like the kind of character McCarthy would write.
The Orchardist doesn't deserve to be at the bottom of anyone's list.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
ponderinstuff's review against another edition
5.0
The Orchardist is not a book for everyone, but I loved it and thought it was a work of genius. This author was able to capture the intangible, inexpressible ‘sense of place’ that is often felt by those rare human beings who value solitude and nature. Amanda Coplin knows. She gets it.
There is an unusual feeling of expectancy that permeates The Orchardist - not in the way that a thriller puts you on edge and makes your nerves tighten and your heart pound. This is a wholly different feeling of uneasy expectancy that is unlike anything I've ever come across in other books.
This is a measured and impeccably-paced book. It moves slowly, steadily, constantly, inexorably toward an elusive . . . something.
There is an unusual feeling of expectancy that permeates The Orchardist - not in the way that a thriller puts you on edge and makes your nerves tighten and your heart pound. This is a wholly different feeling of uneasy expectancy that is unlike anything I've ever come across in other books.
This is a measured and impeccably-paced book. It moves slowly, steadily, constantly, inexorably toward an elusive . . . something.
fleurs24's review against another edition
3.0
This book was captivating at first and held promise of a hightened climax and resolve. However, once I made it to the midway point and beyond, it was a semi-struggle to make it through. I finished, hoping there would be some resolve to everyone's same questions, but alas, it ended on a quiet note.
cluckingbell's review against another edition
3.0
It started off promising, but soon enough ground to a halt and never recovered, becoming the literary fiction equivalent of Hank and Boomhauer et al. standing around going, "Yep." "Mm-hm." The all-storylines-wrapped-up-neatly resolution actually left some big questions, which did not seem intentional. It also would have been nice to see a deeper characterization of the landscape itself, if only to provide a stronger sense of place. Coplin is clearly a talented writer, and Mark Bramhall was a great selection to read the audiobook, but I doubt I'll remember anything past the first third of the novel a month from now.
Spoiler
(mostly by characters' deaths, but still)yuliapgrlv's review against another edition
5.0
Throughout the whole novel I was in awe by Della, but even towards the end of the book I didn't manage to figure her out - nor was I given an opportunity to - and so, feel quite ambivalent about this character. But the other three, Talmadge, Angelene, and Caroline Middey, have absolutely captured my heart. I have the utmost respect for all three of them. And the orchard is still quite vivid in my memory: "but when she dreamed about that place, it was the orchard out of her childhood, the apricot orchard looming in the sunlight, the horses roiling in the field, woodsmoke and coffee in the air..."
This book is definitely going to be one of the highlights of my 2014 Reading Challenge.
This book is definitely going to be one of the highlights of my 2014 Reading Challenge.
brandiburns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
orygunn's review against another edition
3.0
More of a 3.5 than 4. Wonderful descriptions of a part of the country I love (PNW).
kitkat2500's review against another edition
I enjoyed the first half and then had to stop. The plot slowed down and I just couldn’t stay with the melancholic undertone. We’re still not out of the pandemic and life is too short to stay depressed.
brock111's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good story. The author kept me guessing how events would eventually turn out. At times I was disgusted with the format. There were other times when I just wanted to shake the main characters and tell them to just say what they were thinking-communicate!!! But then I remembered I don't always do that and it is difficult at times.