Lovely Language Enhances This Story

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book will hold your interest from start to finish. As I told a friend, it's good, but it's not what I'd call a happy book--not quite grim, but not really hopeful either.

The author uses some lovely language:

"In certain seasons, in certain shades, memories alighted on him like sharp-taloned birds".

Or consider this, about how we talk to each other

"He considered those times in life when he uttered words to a person. . . he wished he had never uttered, or had uttered differently, or he thought of the times he remained silent when he should have spoken as little as a single word."

Now there's something for all of us to thing about.

In a way, this captures the essence of the story - Talmedge, the orchardist, is always hesitating to take action, or to speak, and then wishing later that he had reacted differently.

Angelene, Talmedge's "adopted" daughter says this about poetry:

"poems--that seemed crafted to relay some secret, and even more than that, some secret about herself. . . what was available for her to know? What secrets did the world hold? Which secrets would be revealed through the soil, and which through words?"

And this description of darkness:

"The darkness was almost beautiful. It was wet-black and rich, smelled of soil."

The story itself is of the man who owns the orchard, Talmedge, and his accidental, but intentional decision to help two young pregnant girls. Angelene is the daughter of Jane, but Della, Jane's sister takes up much of the story. These girls were damaged through a relationship with a man who had no scruples. Talmedge tries to care for and protect them, but, as noted above, often hesitates instead of taking action, and then, has regrets.

When Talmedge does decide to act, it doesn't exactly work in his favor.

I would describe this book as sad, but true to life. The characters find beauty each day,but don't always claim it for their lives. Something for all of us to think about as we go about our days.


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