"I can't remember the last time I read a book I wish so much I'd written. Treeborne is beautiful, and mythic in ways I would never have been able to imagine...I can't say enough about this book."—Daniel Wallace, national bestselling author of Extraordinary Adventures and Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions An Honorable Mention for the Southern Book Prize One of Southern Living' s "Best New Books Coming Out Summer 2018" and one of Library Journal 's "Books to Get Now" Janie Treeborne lives on an orchard at the edge of Elberta, Alabama, and in time, she has become its keeper. A place where conquistadors once walked, and where the peaches they left behind now grow, Elberta has seen fierce battles, violent storms, and frantic change—and when the town is once again threatened from without, Janie realizes it won't withstand much more. So she tells the story of its people: of Hugh, her granddaddy, determined to preserve Elberta's legacy at any cost; of his wife, Maybelle, the postmaster, whose sudden death throws the town into chaos; of her lover, Lee Malone, a black orchardist harvesting from a land where he is less than welcome; of the time when Janie kidnapped her own Hollywood-obsessed aunt and tore the wrong people apart. As the world closes in on Elberta, Caleb Johnson's debut novel lifts the veil and offers one last glimpse. Treeborne is a celebration and a reminder: of how the past gets mixed up in thoughts of the future; of how home is a story as much as a place.
"I can’t remember the last time I read a book I wish so much I’d written. Treeborne is beautiful, and mythic in ways I would never have been able to imagine...I can’t say enough about this book."—Daniel Wallace, national bestselling author of Extraordinary Adventures and Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions
An Honorable Mention for the Southern Book Prize
One of Southern Living's "Best New Books Coming Out Summer 2018" and one of Library Journal's "Books to Get Now"
Janie Treeborne lives on an orchard at the edge of Elberta, Alabama, and in time, she has become its keeper. A place where conquistadors once walked, and where the peaches they left behind now grow, Elberta has seen fierce battles, violent storms, and frantic change—and when the town is once again threatened from without, Janie realizes it won’t withstand much more. So she tells the story of its people: of Hugh, her granddaddy, determined to preserve Elberta’s legacy at any cost; of his wife, Maybelle, the postmaster, whose sudden death throws the town into chaos; of her lover, Lee Malone, a black orchardist harvesting from a land where he is less than welcome; of the time when Janie kidnapped her own Hollywood-obsessed aunt and tore the wrong people apart.
As the world closes in on Elberta, Caleb Johnson’s debut novel lifts the veil and offers one last glimpse. Treeborne is a celebration and a reminder: of how the past gets mixed up in thoughts of the future; of how home is a story as much as a place.
"Wedged between the bluffs and the river for which it's named, there's a small and all-but-forgotten town. Janie Treeborne lives on an orchard at the edge of Elberta, Alabama, and in time, she has become its keeper. A place where conquistadors once walked, and where the peaches they left behind now grow, Elberta has seen fierce battles, violent storms, and frantic change--and when the town is once again threatened from without, Janie realizes it won't withstand much more. So she tells the story of its people: of Hugh, her granddaddy, determined to preserve Elberta's legacy through his art; of his wife Maybelle, who shook the town when she became its first female postmaster, then again when she died a sudden and mysterious death; of her lover Lee Malone, a black orchardist and musician harvesting from a land where he is less than welcome; of the local legend Ricky Birdsong, who scored touchdown after touchdown, only to run headlong into tragedy; of the time Janie herself kidnapped her own Hollywood-obsessed aunt and tore the wrong people apart. As the world closes in on Elberta, Alabama--a fictional land equal parts Macon and Macondo--Caleb Johnson's debut novel lifts the veil and offers one last glimpse. Treeborne is both a celebration and a reminder: of the difficulty of untangling the past from the future, and of how home is a story as much as a place"-- Provided by publisher Wedged Between The Bluffs And The River For Which It's Named, There's A Small And All-but-forgotten Town. Janie Treeborne Lives On An Orchard At The Edge Of Elberta, Alabama, And In Time, She Has Become Its Keeper. A Place Where Conquistadors Once Walked, And Where The Peaches They Left Behind Now Grow, Elberta Has Seen Fierce Battles, Violent Storms, And Frantic Change--and When The Town Is Once Again Threatened From Without, Janie Realizes It Won't Withstand Much More. So She Tells The Story Of Its People: Of Hugh, Her Granddaddy, Determined To Preserve Elberta's Legacy Through His Art; Of His Wife Maybelle, Who Shook The Town When She Became Its First Female Postmaster, Then Again When She Died A Sudden And Mysterious Death; Of Her Lover Lee Malone, A Black Orchardist And Musician Harvesting From A Land Where He Is Less Than Welcome; Of The Local Legend Ricky Birdsong, Who Scored Touchdown After Touchdown, Only To Run Headlong Into Tragedy; Of The Time Janie Herself Kidnapped Her Own Hollywood-obsessed Aunt And Tore The Wrong People Apart. As The World Closes In On Elberta, Alabama--a Fictional Land Equal Parts Macon And Macondo--caleb Johnson's Debut Novel Lifts The Veil And Offers One Last Glimpse. Treeborne Is Both A Celebration And A Reminder: Of The Difficulty Of Untangling The Past From The Future, And Of How Home Is A Story As Much As A Place-- Caleb Johnson. In the tradition of Daniel Wallaces Big Fish and Amanda Coplins The Orchardist comes a debut novel of an unusual family who have made their home at the margins of an unusual place. Janie Treeborne lives on an orchard at the edge of Elberta, Alabama, and in time, she has become its keeper. A place where conquistadors once walked, and where the peaches they left behind now grow, Elberta has seen fierce battles, violent storms, and frantic changeand when the town is once again threatened from without, Janie realizes it wont withstand much more. So she tells the story of its people: of Hugh, her granddaddy, determined to preserve Elbertas legacy at any cost; of his wife, Maybelle, the postmaster, whose sudden death throws the town into chaos; of her lover, Lee Malone, a black orchardist harvesting from a land where he is less than welcome; of the time when Janie kidnapped her own Hollywood-obsessed aunt and tore the wrong people apart. As the world closes in on Elberta, Caleb Johnsons debut novel lifts the veil and offers one last glimpse. Treeborne is a celebration and a reminder: of how the past gets mixed up in thoughts of the future; of how home is a story as much as a place.
