Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. The orchardist book club kit hennepin county library. A gentle man, hes found solace in the sweetness of the fruit he grows and the quiet, beating heart of the land he cultivates. We try to provide as many as we can an in a timely manner on our discussion questions page, but most of the time discussion questions arent even available for books until it comes out in paperback. Bonnie jo campbell, author of national book award finalist, american salvagewithin this world are compelling characters and their equally compelling. The orchardist by amanda coplin book club discussion. 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. But just as they begin to trust him, men arrive in the orchard with guns, leading. The orchardist summary 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. I will make an attempt to summarize the general view of this work, although i cant speak for everyone. The setting is an orchard and the surrounding areas of washington state in the early part of the 20th century. 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. 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.
His movements as he inspects his trees, grafts a branch, fixes coffee are slow and deliberate, wellsuited to the pace of life in. 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. William talmadges life is a quiet one, tending his apple and apricot trees, selling his produce in town. 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. 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 stillmorenot really. I look forward to their thoughts while i wait for the opportunity to pick this one up. The orchardist is published by horticulture new zealand for commercial fruit growers. 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 by amanda coplin book club discussion questions. 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. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. Oliver wolcott library 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 and della, and then raises their child, angeline, on his orchard. Bay aire book club each month from november to march, the bay aire book club meets to discuss a book selection.
A stunning debutthe orchardist is a poetic book, but its strength doesnt lie solely in its language. 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. The setting and characters actually, every element are pitchperfect. Experts, researchers and growers who all have a sound, indepth technical knowledge of their industry write our content. 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. 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 time we had more people 6 plus i recorded it so i apologize. 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 stillmore not really. When two skittish pregnant girls appear on his homestead, solitary orchardist talmadge who carefully tends the grove of fruit trees he has cultivated for nearly half a century vows to save and protect them. At the turn of the 20th century, reclusive orchardist william talmadge tends to apples and apricots as if they were loved ones. Orchardist by amanda coplin 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. I did edit out offtopic remarks, that sort of thing, but its otherwise a transcript of the meeting. This weekss sos book club pick is the orchardist by amanda coplin. The new york times bestselling novel, the orchardist, marks the engaging and enthralling seattle times debut of writer amanda coplin.
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. How would you describe william talmadge, the title character of the orchardist. This post will serve as an anchor point for any further analysis or comment. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. The characters are well developed, the time period is very evident, and the need the characters have for family is front and center. 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. At the turn of the 20th century in a rural stretch of the pacific northwest, a reclusive orchardist. 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. Here are a few questions to consider before joining us on the walking book group this saturday, july 29. 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. One day, two teenage girls appear and steal his fruit from the market. Then two feral, pregnant girls and armed gunmen set. Discussion of the orchardist by amanda coplin wnbacharlotte. The orchardist 2012 is a novel by american author amanda coplin set in the pacific northwest at the turn of the 20th century.
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. Oliver wolcott library the orchardist by amanda coplin book. Book club discussion notes on the orchardists daughter scroll to bottom of link to download notes the orchardists daughter. The orchardist, by amanda coplin 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. She tells of these places and what they mean to the characters as she tells the story.
Coplins understanding of abuse and the lasting effects of fear and loss on the individual psyche are deeply resonant. Acpl online book club walking book group the orchardist. Overall, we agreed that coplin possesses many fine gifts as a writer. The orchardist reading guide book club discussion questions the orchardist by amanda coplin literary fiction this is one of those books that when you finish the last page, you think wow. A thrilling debut novel about how far well go to protect. In a secluded valley in northwest america at the turn of the 20th century, an ageing orchardist named talmadge lovingly nurtures his trees. I picked it originally because it takes place in a part of the northwest i am very familiar with. Set in early20thcentury washington state, coplins majestic debut follows a makeshift family through two tragic decades. We recently completed our discussion of amanda coplins the orchardist. 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. It is the only monthly publication in new zealand reaching all levypaying fruit growers. As a debut novel, the orchardist stands on par with charles fraziers cold mountain. Buy a cheap copy of the orchardist book by amanda coplin.
Amanda coplins debut novel, the orchardist, is one such book. This is the next installment of the wnbac ggr book club discussion notes. Amanda coplin 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. The discussion is usually held on thursdays at lunch time and we meet at different restaurants or order in a lunch to the recreation hall. The orchardist book club recommendationsdiscussion. A middle aged man who owns an apple orchard in early twentieth century pacific northwest takes in two runaway.
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. Hes lived in harmony with the land for most of his. The man who owns and largely operates the orchard, william talmadge. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Any added accountsdata will be deleted on a regular basis while in devtest phase. The orchardist amanda coplin, 2012 harpercollins 448 pp.
In the orchardist, amanda coplin shows us whats unknowable. This book, the orchardist will join my short list of favorites. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. The orchardist, by amanda coplin the washington post. This stunning debut novel was my book clubs selection for this month.
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