Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Book Review: The Language of Flowers

After a summer's hiatus, the Book Review Club is back to regular monthly meetings!  Just in time, too, as the hot summer kept me indoors most days--especially when the A/C went out--and I spent just as much time reading as gardening. In addition to my favorite genre of mysteries, I read several other books that I want to share with you in the coming months.  Today's selection, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, is not a gardening book, by the way, but a bestselling novel that I highly recommend for everyone to read.

Victoria Jones is not an easy young woman to like.  Having just been emancipated from the foster care system and living in a group home for an adjustment period, she has a short time to get her act together and find a job to help pay the rent.  But Victoria makes no attempt to find a job and eventually finds herself homeless, living in a city park, where she plants a small garden.  Defiant and unable to relate to anyone, flowers provide the only happiness in her life.

Purple Coneflower--"Strength and Health" *

Eventually, she manages to find a job at a local florist where she begins to create special floral arrangements, not based on color or design so much as on the meanings of the individual flowers.  The owner realizes what a talent Victoria has as customers return, specifically asking for an arrangement from Victoria to cure various heartaches or to spice up their love life.

Yarrow--"Cure for a broken heart"

One day Victoria meets a boy from her past, and she is forced to confront a secret trauma from her childhood.  Eventually, she must decide whether she can open her heart enough to share her life with another person.

Zinnia--"I mourn your absence"

The novel alternates between the present and the past, scenes from Victoria's childhood.  Although not a mystery, the reader wonders what is this terrible secret that Victoria has harbored for the past ten years?  And why did Elizabeth, the foster mother who taught her about flowers and seemed to be the only person that Victoria ever cared for, give her up?  I kept turning the pages to find out.

Lilies symbolize majesty, but a daylily represents coquetry.

The Language of Flowers is an impressive debut novel: an interesting story line, well-developed characters, a plausible ending, and thought-provoking themes. Vanessa Diffenbaugh was herself a foster mother and a teacher for disadvantaged children;  her experience no doubt helped to create the authentic characters of this novel.

Cosmos--"Joy in Love and Life"

Anyone who has been involved in the education system or in social services has met a Victoria somewhere along the way.  I know I often wondered when I had a student like this in class, what makes this child so hateful, so unresponsive to kindness and sincere offers of help?  Diffenbaugh’s description of Victoria’s experiences in the foster care system—some of them horrible (though she doesn’t dwell on graphic details, thankfully)--helps to make sense of these kids and makes one want to reach out to them again.  But Victoria’s story does have hope—that the power of unconditional love can eventually touch even the hardest of hearts.

* The meanings of flowers given here are taken from the glossary at the end of the novel.  The interpretation of various flowers, however, differs from source to source.
  

Disclaimer:  No compensation of any kind was received for this review.  I review only books I like and think others would enjoy reading;  I either purchase my own copy or, as in the case of this book, check them out from my local library.  
 
To see what others are reading this month, check out more reviews at Barrie Summy's.

20 comments:

  1. Hmmmmm I need a good read right now. Thanks Rose.

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  2. Lisa, Another book I think you would enjoy is "The Forgotten Garden." My book club just finished reading it, and I loved it.

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  3. I just finished my book last night and will be going to the library. Will see if this one is there....sounds great. thanks for a nice review.

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  4. THis sounds like a very rewarding book. I will look for it at my library. Thanks.

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  5. Hi, Rose! I'm Nadezda and glade I found your blog! I love your daylilies, very pretty color.
    Nadezda
    http://northern-garden.blogspot.com/

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  6. It sounds like a really good book. I plan a trip to the bookstore this week so will have to look for it.

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  7. Thanks for this review. This sounds like a great book. I will have to look for it.

    Love the photos that you used!

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  8. How funny: I assumed it would be a gardening book but the theme is part of the novel. I agree that a mystery in a non mystery book keeps me reading. Your interesting review was even better for the gorgeous flowers, especially the lilies before the black background. Nice to have you back to reviewing!

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  9. I read that one, too, and enjoyed it. I did a review on it, too. I'm not sure I agree with all the meanings. ;-) But it was a fun book and a good story, and I learned some new things about plants and flowers.

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  10. The weather has cooled and turned rainy here so a good read is in order. Thanks for the wonderful review.

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  11. This really does sound like a good read. While was reading the post I was thinking just what you said at the end about knowing someone like Victoria.

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  12. Read that one - loved it, but did not like reading about the harsh conditions in foster care. But, as you pointed out - they were kept to a minimum, non-graphic or I would have just skimmed that part.

    Haven't read the Forgotten Garden, but will look for it. Thanks!

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  14. It sounds a very absorbing and thought provoking book Rose. I have so many books still to read though that I just daren't buy any more at the moment. The stack/dangerous, wobbling tower by the bed needs definite attention!

    I love the photos you illustrated your post with especially the pretty Cosmos which is one of my favourite Summer garden flowers and the stunning one of the lilies. Also of course the one with my favourite 'British' butterfly, it always surprises me to see the Red Admiral on American blogs :-)

    So sorry to miss commenting on your last post. I am really struggling with blogging at the moment :-( I have just read and enjoyed it though, a really delightful garden and your enthusiasm for it was very obvious. I loved the creative use of an old toolbox, what a clever idea :-)

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  15. Sounds like something I'd like. I'll have to see if our library has it.

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  16. This is a wonderful book with a character that I loved. It is also a lovely theme - the messages our bouquets can carry.

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  17. That is going on my book list! Thanks for your comment on my blog.
    I love Zinnias and now I know what they represent!

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  18. Sounds very good and I do love your photos!

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  19. Hi Rose, Well your review has me hooked! I am dying to know why Victoria's foster mother gave her up. Was it something Victoria did? I guess I will have to read the book if I want to find out.
    I like the premise behind the title as well. It is rare to use the language of flowers to send a message these days.

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  20. Thanks all for visiting; I hope if you do read the book, you enjoy it as much as I did. A confession about the photo of the lily--I took it a year or two ago in the shade garden, the shade resulting in the dark background. I just got lucky:) The cosmos are from this summer, though, one of my favorite old-fashioned flowers. I was glad to know they had such a happy meaning.

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