'A haunting and epic debut with shades of Steinbeck' [GRAZIA] about a makeshift family in the untamed American West. Includes Reading Group Notes.
'A haunting and epic debut with shades of Steinbeck' [GRAZIA] about a makeshift family in the untamed American West. Includes Reading Group Notes.
Amanda Coplin was born in 1981 in Wenatchee, Washington, a town famous for its orchards. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota and now lives in Minneapolis. THE ORCHARDIST is her first novel.
This is a powerful, wonderfully written first novel.
*THE TIMES*
Coplin's rendering of place invites comparison with William
Faulkner's recreations of Mississippi.
*TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT*
Amanda Coplin follows the path of American epic naturalist writers
such as John Steinbeck in her beautifully written debut, in the way
she tracks the movement of communities and examines the
relationship between people and their environment...From brooding
long over deceptively simple ingredients, Coplin has created a
psychologically complex novel of considerable emotional power.
*INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY*
The Orchardist is a powerful, finely crafted novel.
*FINANCIAL TIMES*
Amanda Coplin's The Orchardist is a haunting and epic debut with
shades of Steinbeck.
*GRAZIA*
An utterly enthralling, heart-breaking story.
*EASY LIVING*
I was still thinking about this moving tale, set in early 20th
century America, days after reading it. A reclusive man lives alone
until two pregnant, feral girls ask for help. As he lets them in,
stories of love, loss and revenge unfold. If you like emotional,
historical fiction, you'll love this.
*ESSENTIALS*
A powerful moving novel.
*WOMAN & HOME*
This is a story about love, often intensely moving but far bigger
than your common or garden tear-jerker and gorgeously
written...There are echoes of Silas Marner, as the lonely man and
the wild girls become an unorthodox family, but the outside world
can't be kept out, as strangers on a mission bring violence into
this Eden. The writing is vivid and poetic, with a strong sense of
emotional wisdom.
*SAGA*
A beautifully evocative story
*MARIE CLAIRE*
The prose is rich and slow, the book takes its time to immerse us
in the lives of the area's inhabitants. It's an immersive
experience, about how over years we shape our lives and the lives
of those we love and how every action has consequences, good and
bad.
*WE LOVE THIS BOOK*
This is a stylishly written debut novel of intense imagery and fine
storytelling.
*CHOICE*
Powerful, intense and deeply tender, The Orchardist by Amanda
Coplin is set in the American North West at the start of the last
century...An original and stunning story by a remarkable new
writer.
*RED ONLINE*
The first big debut of 2013 - and it's a corker. Set in a remote
part of north-western America at the turn of the 20th century,
reclusive William Talmadge has tended his beloved orchard for
years. His peace is disturbed by two young girls, pregnant and
desperate, needing help, and his decision to offer them shelter on
the farm will prove a brave one when armed men arrive to take the
girls back. What unfolds is a compelling story of survival in harsh
times - don't miss
*THE BOOKSELLER*
There is a strong thread of melancholy running through the novel
but it is the great sweep of the landscape that lingers and
Talmadge, patiently tending his treasured trees as he watches the
world change around him.
*BOOKOXYGEN*
"The Orchardist" is engaging and enthralling. The reader wants to
turn each page quickly as the story develops, and wants at the same
time to dwell on the lyrical moments of sunshine, soil and love
*SEATTLE TIMES (USA)*
Amanda Coplin's somber, majestic debut arrives like an urgent
missive from another century. Steeped in the timeless rhythms of
agriculture, her story unfolds in spare language as her characters
thrash against an existential sense of meaninglessness. Confronted
by the stark reminder of mortality, one responds, "It didn't
matter" - a weary comment any of them might have made. Coplin's
saga of a makeshift family unmoored by loss should be depressing,
but, instead, her achingly beautiful prose inspires exhilaration.
You can only be thrilled by a 31-year-old writer with this depth of
understanding
*WASHINGTON POST (USA)*
Another debut generating buzz is Amanda Coplin's The Orchardist, a
novel set in the untamed American West in the early 20th century.
We think this well-crafted tale of a makeshift family whose lives
are shaped by love, violence, and an indelible connection to the
land is immensely affecting.
*PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (USA)*
His face is pitted, his skin oily, his nose bulbous, his ears
elephantine. What gives him a reason to live, his earthly salvation
from so many grievous human losses, are fruit trees. This is
William Talmadge, the unlikely hero of Amanda Coplin's first novel,
"The Orchardist," due Aug. 21. Digging a living out of the
hardscrabble fields of the Pacific Northwest in the early 20th
century, Talmadge is comfortable with his spare, solitary life. But
when two feral girls seek refuge with him, he is reluctantly drawn
into a crusade and a family. To describe the plot or characters in
more detail would undermine one of the many satisfactions of "The
Orchardist"-its surprises. But the soul of the book is its
landscape, the avenues of apple, plum and apricot trees that
produce not just fruit, but bowers in which to hide, branches from
which to drop.
*WALL STREET JOURNAL*
"Why are we born?" wonders Della, a question that haunts all the
characters. Coplin offers no answers, only the hard certainties of
labor and of love that is seldom enough to ease a beloved's pain.
Yet the novel is so beautifully written, so alive to the
magnificence of the land and the intricate mysteries of human
nature, that it inspires awe rather than depression. Superb work
from an abundantly gifted young writer
*KIRKUS REVIEWS (USA)*
There are echoes of John Steinbeck in this beautiful and haunting
debut novel set in early-20th-century Washington State.
*ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY (USA)*
The Orchardist is a stunning accomplishment, hypnotic in its
storytelling power, by turns lyrical and gritty, and filled with
marvels.
*NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (USA)*
Many contemporary novelists have revisited the question of what
constitutes a family, but few have responded in a voice as resolute
and fiercely poetic.
*NEW YORK TIMES (USA)*
The best first novel of 2012
*CHICAGO TRIBUNE (USA)*
a tender, rich, earthy novel...Coplin tells this story with a
sensitivity to the workings of the human heart that manages to be
rich with understanding while hardly ever courting condescension.
She knows that there are aspects to human motivation about which,
to borrow from Henry James, one should never say one knows the last
word. By resisting temptation, Coplin has written a novel that is
both wonderfully expansive and sharply focused.
*LITERARY REVIEW*
The novel, which often has an epic feel to it, brings to life a
fascinating era in American history and vividly depicts a unique
set of characters to tell a story that includes action and
excitement while at the same time exploring the soul of its
protagonist.
*THE EXAMINER (Ireland)*
The Orchardist is a good first novel that bodes well for Coplin's
future works.
*SUNDAY BUSINESS POST*
This accomplished debut novel by American writer Amanda Coplin is a
powerful and deceptively complex tale of sorrow, yearning and
humanity.
*BIG ISSUES IN THE NORTH*
The Orchardist is a good first novel that bodes well for Coplin's
future works.
*SUNDAY BUSINESS POST*
This accomplished debut novel by American writer Amanda Coplin is a
powerful and deceptively complex tale of sorrow, yearning and
humanity.
*BIG ISSUES IN THE NORTH*
Coplin's compelling, well-crafted debut tracks the growing obsession of orchardist William Talmadge, who has lived at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains since the summer of 1857, when he was nine. A loner shaped by the land he loves, Talmadge has carefully tended his orchard for nearly 50 years. His only real confidante is Caroline Middey, an herbalist, midwife, and natural healer. His orderly life is altered forever when two runaway girls, Jane and Della, arrive at the edge of his orchard, dirty, starving, and pregnant. A tragedy leaves Talmadge caring for Jane's baby, Angelene. Della has no interest in childcare or boring fruit picking and soon takes off with the horse wranglers who visit Talmadge's field every spring. Talmadge cannot accept Della's desire to leave the orchard, which in his mind strangely parallels the disappearance of his sister Elsbeth when they were children. Still tortured by Elsbeth's unexplained disappearance, he attempts to help Della in a way he couldn't help his sister, but this obsession leads Talmadge into increasingly dark terrain. VERDICT Coplin's lyrical style and forceful storytelling provide many unexpected twists before the poignant conclusion. A breathtaking work from a genuinely accomplished writer.-Donna Bettencourt, Mesa Cty. P.L., Grand Junction, CO (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
This is a powerful, wonderfully written first novel. -- Kate
Saunders * THE TIMES *
Coplin's rendering of place invites comparison with William
Faulkner's recreations of Mississippi. -- Lucian Robinson * TIMES
LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *
Amanda Coplin follows the path of American epic naturalist writers
such as John Steinbeck in her beautifully written debut, in the way
she tracks the movement of communities and examines the
relationship between people and their environment...From brooding
long over deceptively simple ingredients, Coplin has created a
psychologically complex novel of considerable emotional power. --
Rachel Hore * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *
The Orchardist is a powerful, finely crafted novel. -- Suzi Feay *
FINANCIAL TIMES *
Amanda Coplin's The Orchardist is a haunting and epic debut with
shades of Steinbeck. * GRAZIA *
An utterly enthralling, heart-breaking story. * EASY LIVING *
I was still thinking about this moving tale, set in early 20th
century America, days after reading it. A reclusive man lives alone
until two pregnant, feral girls ask for help. As he lets them in,
stories of love, loss and revenge unfold. If you like emotional,
historical fiction, you'll love this. * ESSENTIALS *
A powerful moving novel. * WOMAN & HOME *
This is a story about love, often intensely moving but far bigger
than your common or garden tear-jerker and gorgeously
written...There are echoes of Silas Marner, as the lonely man and
the wild girls become an unorthodox family, but the outside world
can't be kept out, as strangers on a mission bring violence into
this Eden. The writing is vivid and poetic, with a strong sense of
emotional wisdom. -- Kate Saunders * SAGA *
A beautifully evocative story * MARIE CLAIRE *
The prose is rich and slow, the book takes its time to immerse us
in the lives of the area's inhabitants. It's an immersive
experience, about how over years we shape our lives and the lives
of those we love and how every action has consequences, good and
bad. * WE LOVE THIS BOOK *
This is a stylishly written debut novel of intense imagery and fine
storytelling. * CHOICE *
Powerful, intense and deeply tender, The Orchardist by
Amanda Coplin is set in the American North West at the start of the
last century...An original and stunning story by a remarkable new
writer. * RED ONLINE *
The first big debut of 2013 - and it's a corker. Set in a remote
part of north-western America at the turn of the 20th century,
reclusive William Talmadge has tended his beloved orchard for
years. His peace is disturbed by two young girls, pregnant and
desperate, needing help, and his decision to offer them shelter on
the farm will prove a brave one when armed men arrive to take the
girls back. What unfolds is a compelling story of survival in harsh
times - don't miss * THE BOOKSELLER *
There is a strong thread of melancholy running through the novel
but it is the great sweep of the landscape that lingers and
Talmadge, patiently tending his treasured trees as he watches the
world change around him. * BOOKOXYGEN *
"The Orchardist" is engaging and enthralling. The reader wants to
turn each page quickly as the story develops, and wants at the same
time to dwell on the lyrical moments of sunshine, soil and love *
SEATTLE TIMES (USA) *
Amanda Coplin's somber, majestic debut arrives like an urgent
missive from another century. Steeped in the timeless rhythms of
agriculture, her story unfolds in spare language as her characters
thrash against an existential sense of meaninglessness. Confronted
by the stark reminder of mortality, one responds, "It didn't
matter" - a weary comment any of them might have made. Coplin's
saga of a makeshift family unmoored by loss should be depressing,
but, instead, her achingly beautiful prose inspires exhilaration.
You can only be thrilled by a 31-year-old writer with this depth of
understanding * WASHINGTON POST (USA) *
Another debut generating buzz is Amanda Coplin's The Orchardist, a
novel set in the untamed American West in the early 20th century.
We think this well-crafted tale of a makeshift family whose lives
are shaped by love, violence, and an indelible connection to the
land is immensely affecting. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (USA) *
His face is pitted, his skin oily, his nose bulbous, his ears
elephantine. What gives him a reason to live, his earthly salvation
from so many grievous human losses, are fruit trees. This is
William Talmadge, the unlikely hero of Amanda Coplin's first novel,
"The Orchardist," due Aug. 21. Digging a living out of the
hardscrabble fields of the Pacific Northwest in the early 20th
century, Talmadge is comfortable with his spare, solitary life. But
when two feral girls seek refuge with him, he is reluctantly drawn
into a crusade and a family. To describe the plot or characters in
more detail would undermine one of the many satisfactions of "The
Orchardist"-its surprises. But the soul of the book is its
landscape, the avenues of apple, plum and apricot trees that
produce not just fruit, but bowers in which to hide, branches from
which to drop. -- Cynthia Crossen * WALL STREET JOURNAL *
"Why are we born?" wonders Della, a question that haunts all the
characters. Coplin offers no answers, only the hard certainties of
labor and of love that is seldom enough to ease a beloved's pain.
Yet the novel is so beautifully written, so alive to the
magnificence of the land and the intricate mysteries of human
nature, that it inspires awe rather than depression. Superb work
from an abundantly gifted young writer * KIRKUS REVIEWS (USA) *
There are echoes of John Steinbeck in this beautiful and haunting
debut novel set in early-20th-century Washington State. *
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY (USA) *
The Orchardist is a stunning accomplishment, hypnotic in its
storytelling power, by turns lyrical and gritty, and filled with
marvels. * NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (USA) *
Many contemporary novelists have revisited the question of what
constitutes a family, but few have responded in a voice as resolute
and fiercely poetic. * NEW YORK TIMES (USA) *
The best first novel of 2012 -- Alan Cheuse * CHICAGO TRIBUNE (USA)
*
a tender, rich, earthy novel...Coplin tells this story with a
sensitivity to the workings of the human heart that manages to be
rich with understanding while hardly ever courting condescension.
She knows that there are aspects to human motivation about which,
to borrow from Henry James, one should never say one knows the last
word. By resisting temptation, Coplin has written a novel that is
both wonderfully expansive and sharply focused. -- Matthew Adams *
LITERARY REVIEW *
The novel, which often has an epic feel to it, brings to life a
fascinating era in American history and vividly depicts a unique
set of characters to tell a story that includes action and
excitement while at the same time exploring the soul of its
protagonist. -- Jennifer Lafferty * THE EXAMINER (Ireland) *
The Orchardist is a good first novel that bodes well for Coplin's
future works. * SUNDAY BUSINESS POST *
This accomplished debut novel by American writer Amanda Coplin is a
powerful and deceptively complex tale of sorrow, yearning and
humanity. * BIG ISSUES IN THE NORTH *
The Orchardist is a good first novel that bodes well for Coplin's
future works. * SUNDAY BUSINESS POST *
This accomplished debut novel by American writer Amanda Coplin is a
powerful and deceptively complex tale of sorrow, yearning and
humanity. * BIG ISSUES IN THE NORTH *
Ask a Question About this Product More... |