The Orchardist - Amanda Coplin Review

Title: The Orchardist
Author: Amanda Coplin
Genre: Fiction; Historical
Goodreads Rating: 3.75/ 5 stars
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 448 (Paperback)
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Published: March 5, 2013 (Original publication: January 1, 2012)

Summary: At once intimate and epic, The Orchardist is historical fiction at its best, in the grand literary tradition of William Faulkner, Marilynne Robinson, Michael Ondaatje, Annie Proulx, and Toni Morrison. In her stunningly original and haunting debut novel, Amanda Coplin evokes a powerful sense of place, mixing tenderness and violence as she spins an engrossing tale of a solitary orchardist who provides shelter to two runaway teenage girls in the untamed American West, and the dramatic consequences of his actions.

"And that was the point of children, thought Caroline Middey: to bind us to the earth and the present, to distract us from death. A distraction dressed as a blessing: but dressed so well, and so truly, that it became a blessing."

This debut novel by Amanda Coplin, blew me out of the water. And, I'm amazed that this book only has a 3.75/5 stars rating on Goodreads. Books like "The Orchardist" are the books that are deserving of buzz and praise. I can't say that I've read a book about the human existence and loneliness, that was written this well and beautifully. I'm grateful for good friends, who recommend fantastic books.

"Somewhere along the way he had forgotten to remember her, he had forgotten to constantly call her back from the distances she was always intent on pursuing."

Coplin addresses a few themes in "The Orchardist", but the primary themes are the human experience, loss, and loneliness. The reader is faced with three generations that are forced to play out these themes, in varying ways. I won't elaborate on how those themes are portrayed for each generation - for each character, because I don't want to spoil the plot and the conflicts. But, I will say that loneliness, vulnerability, varying degrees of love, existential dread, obsession, and fear of abandonment are accurately and painfully portrayed through the beautiful, unforgiving wilderness and the unrelenting characters. The silent strength that was a slow burn for each character, linked everyone's struggles. Through these linked struggles, lives became intertwined. And instead of clinging to one another as a means of withstanding the sharp pain of memory and the weight of their struggles, the characters pushed one another away. By refusing to be vulnerable of their own accord, the characters were unaware of how vulnerable they made themselves by hiding from the world and from love.

"And then she woke and there were no men and no horses, there was no orchard and orchardist and child, there was no fruit and no sky, no wet - smelling air; only emptiness. There was no time. There was no wilderness to lose oneself inside. She touched her face in the dark; she had her self. But then, she thought, her self was nothing. She was nothing. Why are we born? She thought. What does it mean to be born? To die?"

Existential dread, is something that everyone experiences in life - typically more than once. Most people refer to it as a sense of hopelessness or being purposeless. To not have a purpose, an identity, or a reprieve from loneliness, is the equivalent of being suffocated by a bleak existence. This existential dread is highlighted in the lives of Talmadge and Della. The more I think about it, the more I wonder which is more important: a purpose or someone who loves you and who allows you to love them? Or is our unifying purpose: to love and to be loved? But, then the question arises: is there enough love in the world to fill up a broken spirit? If there is, I believe that The Orchardist would have been given an alternate ending. While this ending broke my heart, and left me feeling a bit uneasy, the book wouldn't have been as poignant or unforgettable if it hadn't ended the way it did.

The writing is beautiful and the flow of the plot is in tune with the development of the characters. There were points where the book was slow, but those points were typically devoid of character growth. The surrounding wilderness is enticing but unpredictable, a wonderful symbol for the complexity of love.

I can't wait to see what Coplin comes out with next!

"Jane had warned her: children come to displace. They live on earth after you are gone, and forget you."

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded.

My social media:

Goodreads

- A

Book Haul

Happy Monday!

This past weekend, I bought a few books that have been on my radar for a while. So yes, my bookshelves are losing space at an alarming rate. At this point, I'm pretending that I don't need to invest in another bookcase - which is a blatant lie.

This past weekend, I also decided that I'm going to invest more of my time and my creativity into my blog and my Goodreads account because a) blogging is a passion of mine, b) blog work is something that I'd like to be able to incorporate into my career, and c) Goodreads is an amazing community that I'd like to grow into while applying that growth to my own blog, as well.

I also hope that you all like the aesthetic/layout changes that I made to my blog, over the weekend. The minimalistic aesthetic vibes wonderfully with my personal tastes. While the aesthetic is minimalistic, I wholeheartedly plan on continuing to give the content on this blog, depth and qualities that will generate thought provoking conversation.



Title: What Happened to Goodbye
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: Young Adult; Romance; Contemporary; Women's Fiction; Chick Lit
Goodreads Rating: 3.97/ 5 stars
Pages: 402 (Paperback)
Publisher: Speak
Published: April 9, 2013 (Original publication: 2011)

Summary: Following her parents' bitter divorce as she and her father move from town to town, seventeen-year-old Mclean reinvents herself at each school she attends until she is no longer sure she knows who she is or where she belongs.

Sarah Dessen is the author who made me fall in love with contemporary novels and romance novels. I'm a romantic, but a romantic who has zero tolerance for puppy love; toxic NA love; instantaneous love; and most YA love centric novels. But, Dessen isn't your typical YA author. She possesses a wonderful amount of depth and insight, that she isn't afraid to utilize. Dessen also doesn't sugarcoat anything. She's honest and authentic; particularly when it comes to love. Obviously, (I hope it's obvious, anyways) no one and no relationship is perfect. But our imperfections shouldn't keep us from experiencing the beauty and joy of love and being in love, and everything in between.

I'm ecstatic to be getting back into Dessen's work and to be revisiting her novels that were and are the highlights of my contemporary and romantic reading. I'm also incredibly disappointed that I most likely won't be able to meet Dessen on her 2017 summer book tour/promotion for her upcoming release, Once and for All . For any of you that may be interested, here is a link to the dates, times, and locations for the book tour: Dessen book tour 2017 .




Title: Anansi Boys
Author: Neil Gaiman
Series: American Gods #2
Genre: Fantasy; Fiction; Urban Fantasy; Mythology; Science Fiction; Humor; Adult; Contemporary
Goodreads Rating: 4.0/ 5 stars
Pages: 368 (Paperback)
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Published: January 22, 2008 (Original publication: 2005)

Summary: God is dead. Meet the kids.

Fat Charlie Nancy’s normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn’t know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother. Now brother Spider is on his doorstep—about to make Fat Charlie’s life more interesting . . . and a lot more dangerous.

Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors - the man is ridiculously talented. I read the first book in this series, American Gods, about three years ago. Although it was confusing at times and somewhat all over the place, it was a fantastically engaging read. It was an instant page turner because you were dying to find out what else Gaiman had up his sleeve.

The second that I got wind of American Gods being adapted by Starz for a TV series, I wanted to reread American Gods and finish the series. The TV series is only three episodes in and Starz has already signed it on for a second season. So far, the show is fantastic. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season will play out. The second episode, "The Secret of Spoons", introduced viewers to the god, Anansi. It was a phenomenal performance by Orlando Jones. It left me on the edge of my seat, dying to see more of Jones.

I believe that watching the show and reading the book simultaneously would be the easiest way to best understand and retain the material. I highly recommend reading the series and checking out the show! Here is a link to the trailer for the show: American Gods .

Title: Everything I Never Told You

Author: Celeste Ng

Genre: Contemporary

Goodreads Rating: 3.77/5 stars

Pages: 292 (Paperback)

Publisher: Penguin Books

Published: May 12, 2015 (Original publication: June 26, 2014)

Summary: Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet . . . So begins this debut novel about a mixed-race family living in 1970s Ohio and the tragedy that will either be their undoing or their salvation. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee; their middle daughter, a girl who inherited her mother’s bright blue eyes and her father’s jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue—in Marilyn’s case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James’s case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the center of every party.

When Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together tumbles into chaos, forcing them to confront the long-kept secrets that have been slowly pulling them apart.

I've been wanting to check this book out for a while now, and not because of the buzz it's been generating. I'm always on the hunt for books that will serve as a personal compass for my journey towards better understanding myself. I'm a firm believer in books coming into our lives for (generally) unknown reasons at particular moments. And many of those books will allow us to better know who we are and what we want and need in life.

Title: In a Dark, Dark Wood

Author: Ruth Ware

Genre: Mystery; Fiction; Thriller; Suspense

Goodreads Rating: 3.64/5 stars

Pages: 352 (Paperback)

Publisher: Scout Press

Published: April 19, 2016 (Original publication: 2015)

Summary: Sometimes the only thing to fear…is yourself.
When reclusive writer Leonora is invited to the English countryside for a weekend away, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. But as the first night falls, revelations unfold among friends old and new, an unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a haunting realization creeps in: the party is not alone in the woods.

The mystery/crime fiction/ thriller/suspense scene has been doing a superb job of holding my interest. One of my top favorite bloggers, Abby, the blogger behind Crime by the Book , recommended this book a while back, and I'm finally getting around to it.

Title: Macbeth

Author: William Shakespeare

Genre: Plays; Fiction; Classics; Literature; Theatre; Tragedy

Goodreads Rating: 3.88/ 5 stars

Pages: 336 (Paperback)

Publisher: Barnes and Noble Shakespeare

Published: January 25, 2007 (Original publication: 1606)

Summary: The only Shakespearean tragedy that has a villain as its hero, Macbeth presents a stark and disturbing view of the psychology of wickedness and guilt. The editor, Jesse M. Lander, draws on the early modern literature of witchcraft and demonology to provide an illuminating context for the play.

When you're a fan of Shakespeare and you have to create a power point about Shakespeare and his work, and then present said power point in a literature course, you're bound to want to read more Shakespeare - on your own time.

Title: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Author: Betty Smith

Genre: Classics; Historical; Fiction

Goodreads Rating: 4.24/5 stars

Pages: 493 (Paperback)

Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics

Publication: January 18, 2005 (Original publication: 1943)

Summary: The American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century.

I  finally purchased this beloved classic.

I have yet to purchase the following book, but I plan on doing so in a bit. It's a new publication by a budding author, that you can purchase from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. It is available as both an e-book and in paperback format.

Title: Strange Fate

Author: Jessica Miller

Series: The Guardians #1

Genre: Romance; New Adult; Paranormal; Fantasy

Goodreads Rating: 3.89/5 stars

Pages: 436 (Paperback)

Publisher: Self-published

Published: January 31, 2017

Summary: Olivia thought she was doomed to spend eternity in purgatory. A punishment worse than death for saving an innocent that was destined to die. Stopping death was against the rules and breaking those rules had consequences. The higher powers decided to give Olivia a second chance to redeem herself with a new charge, little did she know this particular charge would truly make her work for her redemption and lead her back to the person she risked her life to save.

Oliver had everything going for him. A girlfriend he cared for deeply, a best friend who was following him to college and the chance to start his life. That was until one night he ran into the girl he’d been dreaming about since he was five. The beautiful blonde who saved his life thirteen years ago. Oliver can’t believe she’s real and can’t seem to stay away from her, but their reunion isn’t coincidental. Fate has brought them back together for a reason. There is a war brewing between good and evil and destiny has chosen the only two people who can keep the balance and save the world from self-destruction.

Will Oliver and Olivia be able to stop the world from diving into darkness or will they be too blinded by their own inner demons to survive what fate has in store for them?

Sounds like the best of both worlds for the reader who loves a side of romance with his/her paranormal and fantasy reads. Miller is highly appreciative of honest and thorough reviews. If you do check this book out, don't forget to hop onto Goodreads, Amazon, and/or Barnes and Noble's website, and leave a review!

Let me know if you spotted any favorites or any books that you've been looking forward to reading.

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded.

My social media:

Goodreads

- A