Writing was lovely but rarely have I ever felt every single sentence unfurl so slowly. It isn't the kind of book you race through, but the slowness is part of its charm.

A quietly powerful novel set in rural eastern Washington in the early 1900s. Talmadge is a gentle man who generally keeps to himself, tending his fruit orchard. One day two pregnant teenage girls appear on his land, and his decision to shelter them has long-lasting repurcussions. Though there are a number of troubling incidents and disturbed inviduals in this book, there is a pervasive quiet lyricism in the descriptions of the land as well as the characters. This moving novel reminds me of Kent Haruf's "Plainsong" in both subject matter - pregnant teenager(s) sheltered by rural bachelor farmer(s) - and the quiet strength of the writing style(though Haruf's writing is more spare than Coplin's). This book also calls to mind Margaret Atwood's "Alias Grace" in its strong literary style and subject of dark domestic crime. Coplin's book feels more redemptive, though. I strongly recommend this novel for fans of literary historical fiction.

An amazing, beautifully written debut novel. The story takes place in the Pacific Northwest in the turn of the 20th century, a reclusive orchardist Talmadge, comes across two heavily pregnant young girls, Jane and Della, as they steal fruit from him in the market. Rather then pursue them, he freely allows them to take off with his fruit. Thus inviting the girls to steal from him further. The girls then begin appearing in his orchard where he continues to care of them from afar, leaving meals for them on his porch, and preparing beds in an abandoned cabin. He learns of the abuses from which they’ve escaped (which explains their strange, elusive behavior), and due to a personal tragedy of his own, Talmadge then assumed some sort of responsibility for the well being of the girls, despite their unwillingness to approach him. His decision to care for these girls brings conflict to him and his life for years to follow. The characters in The Orchardist are among some of the most interesting, complex, and gripping characters that I’ve ever come across. Once I got attached to them I could not put this book down, I just wanted to know what would happen to them, I wanted to see them end up ok. This book was so intriguing and mesmerizing, that even reading about the redundant details about planting trees, and preparing saplings became interesting. The author made regular daily chores and details flow like poetry.

Beautiful writing but tooooo long.

Very magnetic. Pulled me right in to place, story, and mainly characters. I easily became a part of the book, not just a reader.

The Orchardist is a beautifully poetic, heart rending, but painfully slow-moving depiction of the devasting consequences of childhood loss and abuse. In this remote Washington State landscape in the late 1800's, such damage is irredeemable, even with the deepest and gentlest of love, and life is hard, drab and full of longing.