#amanda coplin

[the-hearth-and-the-wild]

There was the creek, endlessly clattering, and the main room of the cabin, smelling, no matter how much it was aired out, of beeswax and old paper. There was the smell of the shed, of damp wood and sun. The smell of earth and grass, the leagues of forest, after a rain. The smell of cornbread in the oven. The crows in the yard, the glossy midnight of their backs. The interminable chores, both large and small, that constantly, rightly, occupied her. The bright and silent stars at night, so close you felt you could walk into them. The cacophony of birds at dawn.

-Amanda Coplin, The Orchardist

[kvotheunkvothe]

What the Fuck Am I Reading: The Orchardist

Let me start by saying Amanda Coplin’s The Orchardist is a well-written, intriguing novel. But it’s somewhat hard to pin down exactly what it’s about. I suppose it’s about stewardship: over one’s land, but also over the people in one’s life. I say “stewardship” in deference to the fact that both the land and some people may be under one’s control, but your duty to them is not to rule--rather, it’s to nurture, but to eventually give them up. The main character is an older man who has lived most of his life in solitude on his orchard who suddenly finds himself looking after two extremely pregnant young girls running away from their former life. The novel thankfully doesn’t wallow in what they went through, but there is also no doubt left in the reader’s mind. The whole book takes place over the course of about a decade and a half. Nothing comes easily--there aren’t really any heroics, and most of the characters continuously suffer years upon years with things unspoken between them. And the ending is rather sad. But I’m glad I read it.

[macrolit]

The Orchardist, Amanda Coplin Harper Perennial Olive Edition

[the-hearth-and-the-wild]

She dreamed of them: the horses in the field. She dreamed of horses in the mountains at dusk. She dreamed from the perspective of a horse running in a valley of dry grass, searching for yellow mountain daisies to eat. The chevron of the herd. The screaming on the high passes with other mountains in the background.

-Amanda Coplin, The Orchardist

[macrolit]

Okay, I’ve never seen this before, but most of the current Harper Perennial Olive Editions are on sale at Amazon! Usually these go for $10 each (a good price anyway), but these titles are on sale: So Big, Edna Ferber  -- $7.26 How to Be a Woman, Caitlin Moran -- $5.93 The Orchardist, Amanda Coplin -- $5.93 The Space Between Us, Thrity Umrigar -- $5.93 Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy -- $7.33 These are some of the most beautiful books you’ll ever see! Harper Perennial releases eight new Olive Editions each year, and they are only available for one year. These ones will be available until about September, but as you can see, a few of them are already sold out. Get these ones while you can! (Here are some of the older editions still available.) A note if you plan to purchase

[happilylostinwords]

Featured Cover Fridays #1: "The Orchardist"

Featured Cover Fridays #1: “The Orchardist”

Thanks to the lovely, incredible Mandy at Devouring Books for the idea to talk about book covers that caught, catch, and will catch my eye! I needed something for Fridays, she suggested this, I looked at my shelves, and suddenly I had a list of 18+ covers I want to talk about! Go check out her blog!

Featured Covered Friday…

First, a little summary of the story… borrowed from Goodreads, as…

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[freoduwebbe]

In certain seasons, in certain shades, memories alighted on him like sharp-taloned birds:  a head turning in the foliage, a lantern light flaring in another room.

Amanda Coplin, The Orchardist

[macrolit]

The Orchardist, Amanda Coplin FYI--this is 1 of 8 Harper Perennial Olive Editions that comprise our current giveaway. Check it out! :D