The orchardist book discussion

Overall, we agreed that coplin possesses many fine gifts as a writer. The orchardist 2012 is a novel by american author amanda coplin set in the pacific northwest at the turn of the 20th century. Im with you although, i didnt find it as awful in this book as i have in other books where you read along and you think wait a minute, was that. So it is with talmadge, the man at the center of amanda coplins lyrical first novel, the orchardist.

This post will serve as an anchor point for any further analysis or comment. The orchardist by amanda coplin book club discussion questions. 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. A lyrical portrait of life and death in the orchard. The man who owns and largely operates the orchard, william talmadge, is a many of forty who has led a difficult life. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. One day, two teenage girls appear and steal his fruit from the market. 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.

Bonnie jo campbell, author of national book award and nbcc award finalist for fiction, american salvage the orchardist is a stunning accomplishment, hypnotic in its storytelling power, by turns lyrical and gritty, and filled with marvels. Amanda coplins debut novel, the orchardist, takes place in the pacific northwest, a land of dusty rural outposts, ancient forests, and cold deserts. 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. Participants are asked to read the entire book before the scheduled session. The characters are well developed, the time period is very evident, and the need the characters have for family is front and center. You belong to the earth, and the earth is hard, 9yearold talmadge heard from his mother, who brought him and his sister elsbeth to washington in 1857 to cultivate an apple orchard after their father was killed. The orchardist amanda coplin, 2012 harpercollins 448 pp. Nearly everybody in the book compels your admiration, either for their courage or for the heavy work they do, all the time and without complaint, even when wicked men are hunting them.

Orchardist definition of orchardist by the free dictionary. Apr 25, 20 we recently completed our discussion of amanda coplins the orchardist. This months book discussion is the orchardist by amanda coplin. Interview with amanda coplin about the orchardist stet. 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.

This stunning debut novel was my book clubs selection for this month. Set against the rugged beauty of washington state at the turn of the twentieth century, amanda coplins debut novel. 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. 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. 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. This book, the orchardist will join my short list of favorites. At the turn of the 20th century, reclusive orchardist william talmadge tends to apples and apricots as if they were loved ones. William talmadges life is a quiet one, tending his apple and apricot. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. At the turn of the twentieth century, in a rural stretch of the pacific northwest, a reclusive orchardist, william talmadge, patiently tends to his apples and apricots. The orchardist is a historical novel by amanda coplin. Grazia an utterly enthralling, heartbreaking story.

Here are a few questions to consider before joining us on the walking book group this saturday, july 29. Amanda coplins debut novel, the orchardist, is one such book. Oliver wolcott library the orchardist by amanda coplin book. 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. Coplinas characters are deeply rooted in the mystery of the. The orchardists daughter karen viggers 9781760630584. The orchardist by amanda coplin book club discussion. She tells of these places and what they mean to the characters as she tells the story. The orchardist is a powerful, finely crafted novel. A lyrical portrait of life and death in the orchard amanda coplins first novel follows talmadge, the titular orchardist, who doesnt stray far from his fruit trees but trouble comes to him in.

A novel by amanda coplin harper but della wont be freed from her futile quest for vengeance, and talmadges attempt engulfs everyone he cares for. 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. This weekss sos book club pick is the orchardist by amanda coplin. Before i sold the book, however, i worked mostly as an adjunct. Suzi feay financial times amanda coplins the orchardist is a haunting and epic debut with shades of steinbeck. The setting is an orchard and the surrounding areas of washington state in the early part of the 20th century. Wally lamb, new york times bestselling author of the hour i first. We recently completed our discussion of amanda coplins the orchardist. Easy living i was still thinking about this moving tale, set in early 20th century america, days after reading it. I did edit out offtopic remarks, that sort of thing, but its otherwise a transcript of the meeting. Book excerpts are provided by the publisher and may contain.

The orchardist, by amanda coplin the washington post. Set in early20thcentury washington state, coplins majestic debut follows a makeshift family through two tragic decades. In this debut novel, set at the turn of the last century, a solitary, mournful. Oct 11, 2016 in the orchardist, amanda coplin shows us whats unknowable. Aug 23, 2012 a lyrical portrait of life and death in the orchard amanda coplins first novel follows talmadge, the titular orchardist, who doesnt stray far from his fruit trees but trouble comes to him in. I will make an attempt to summarize the general view of this work, although i cant speak for everyone. We begin in 1900, in the fruit orchard of william talmadge, on a farm his mother founded years before in oregon country by leading her children north and then west, west and then north, as if drawing toward a destination already envisioned.

The new york times bestselling novel that is historical fiction at its besta haunting story about a makeshift family in the american west that follows in the grand literary tradition of william faulkner, marilynne robinson, michael ondaatje, annie proulx, and toni morrisonnow available in a limited olive edition. 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. However, she took some time out of her schedule to discuss how her life. Oliver wolcott library the orchardist by amanda coplin. 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. Any added accountsdata will be deleted on a regular basis while in devtest phase. As a debut novel, the orchardist stands on par with charles fraziers cold mountain. In a secluded valley in northwest america at the turn of the 20th century, an ageing orchardist named talmadge lovingly nurtures his trees. The setting and characters actually, every element are pitchperfect. A historical novel about a solitary orchardist who provides shelter to two runaway teenage girls in the untamed american west at the turn of the 20th century and the dramatic consequences of this action.

Events reading with michael mcgriff and diane raptosh tsunami books, 2585 willamette st. The national book foundation names amanda coplin one of their 5 under 35 authors for 20. The henna artist opens a door into a world that is at. The new york times bestselling novel, the orchardist, marks the engaging and enthralling seattle times debut of writer amanda coplin. Coplins understanding of abuse and the lasting effects of fear and loss on the individual psyche are deeply resonant. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. A stunning accomplishment, hypnotic in its storytelling power, by. 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.

Courtesy of the publisher karen viggers is an author who is new to me but the cover of the orchardists daughter captured my attention so we got it on the book club list and a selection of members have been reading the book. A stunning debutthe orchardist is a poetic book, but its strength doesnt lie solely in its language. Discussion of the orchardist by amanda coplin wnbacharlotte. First published in 2012, the book follows what happens when a lonely elderly man lets new people into his life.

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. A haunting and epic debut with shades of steinbeck grazia about a makeshift family in the untamed american west. Set in the early years of the 20th century in the golden valleys and granite hills of chelan county in northcentral 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. Orchardist definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Our thursday evening book discussion group will be discussing the orchardist by amanda copin. In the orchardist, amanda coplin shows us whats unknowable. I picked it originally because it takes place in a part of the northwest i am very familiar with.

At the turn of the 20th century in a rural stretch of the pacific northwest, a reclusive orchardist, talmadge, tends to apples and apricots as if they were loved ones. Set in the early years of the 20th century in the golden valleys and granite hills of chelan county in northcentral 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 morning. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the orchardist. The orchardist wins the 2014 readers choice award at the oregon state book awards. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy.