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The Orchardist

Amanda Coplin

Start date: October 1, 2014

Finish date: November 30, 2014

Discussion: Group Book Discussion

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What Members Thought

Jan 30, 2014 Doreen rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook

Talmadge, an apricot and apple grower in the state of Washington, lives a life of solitude in harmony with the land. His life is disrupted by the arrival of Della and Jane, two teenaged sisters who have escaped a life as sexual captives. Gradually the two are brought into his home until their sadistic master appears. Violence ensues. Talmadge is left to care for Della and her daughter Angelene.

The theme of loss is central. Talmadge lost his entire family; the mysterious disappearance of his tee Talmadge, an apricot and apple grower in the state of Washington, lives a life of solitude in harmony with the land. His life is disrupted by the arrival of Della and Jane, two teenaged sisters who have escaped a life as sexual captives. Gradually the two are brought into his home until their sadistic master appears. Violence ensues. Talmadge is left to care for Della and her daughter Angelene.

The theme of loss is central. Talmadge lost his entire family; the mysterious disappearance of his teenaged sister was especially traumatic for him. His decision to help Della and Jane can be seen as a way of creating a family; perhaps he is hoping that someone helped Elsbeth as he helps the two girls. Della suffers loses of her own; her way of dealing with loss is to seek vengeance even though that path may destroy her.

Talmadge emerges as the hero. He is not perfect; his lack of communication, for example, causes unnecessary problems, and he makes mistakes in his attempts to help Della. He is, however, eminently admirable. He is a good man who tries to protect those whom he has brought into his life. He never gives up trying to rescue Della as she continues to be pursued by her demons. And just as he nurtures his fruit trees, he nurtures Angelene. The tragedy is that it is not possible to protect people from themselves or to heal a damaged spirit like it is possible to protect or heal a damaged fruit tree.

Talmadge is not the only memorable character. The herbalist Caroline Middey and Clee, the mute Nez Perce, emerge as worthy friends. Della is feral and damaged, yet sympathetic. In personality, Angelene becomes the daughter Talmadge never had.

I purchased this novel as an audiobook; I listened to it only when I was driving a considerable distance so I actually listened to it over a period of about four months. Normally in such circumstances, I would have difficulty remembering events and characters, but that was not the case. The book had an almost hypnotic effect on me, and I had no difficulty being drawn into its world every time I listened.

Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
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Nov 06, 2012 Elle rated it did not like it

Shelves: audiobook

It is hard to explain why this missed that mark for me. It was good writing but, there was so much detail it just droned on, and on, and on, and on. It was boring but, don’t let that dissuade you. If you like dull tedious minutia, with depression (dead/missing sister, raped girls hanging themselves or falling to their deaths, lengthy incarcerations), this could be the book for you.

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Feb 20, 2014 Judy rated it it was ok

Shelves: fiction

I actually read only two-thirds of this book. While it moved along pretty well in the beginning, by the middle of the book I had lost interest in the characters. Della seemed so badly damaged that it was impossible to even empathize with her. The plot just stopped moving along.

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Feb 06, 2013 Patricia O'Donnell-Gibson rated it really liked it

I could never forget the main character, Talmadge. A quiet man with decency and honesty. A man who took a chance, who could not let 2 young girls fend for themselves. I loved the story, even though it is not a particularly happy one. It is real and hard sometimes, but there is love underneath the human frailties.

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Aug 06, 2013 Kara Fitzjarrald rated it really liked it

Shelves: 3rd-tuesday-book-club, best-of-the-best-lists-2012

I tend to like books better if I discuss it. I think the discussion makes me appreciate the author's work more. This was no exception. It is a beautifully written story set in Washington state. The characters are well thought out. The setting is well thought out. The author was 33 when this book was published and had been working on it for 8 years. Or since she was 25. Or a quarter of her life. The maturity in the writing for such a young author is astounding. ...more

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Sep 17, 2013 Debbie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club-book-vault-tuesday-night

I only wish Goodreads allowed for 3.5 stars. I felt very torn by this novel. It was beautifully written with complex characters but the plot seemed to drag on and on. I am happy that I read it, but cannot enthusiastically recommend to anyone.

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