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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was verrrrry long. But SO beautifully written. And the ending left me with a smile on my face, which is all I ask for in a book :).
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such a conflicted rating.... the book ends of this novel were captivating, beautiful, engrossing, absolutely brilliant and the middle felt like the dog of the ages. Young Alma and her father's story were phenomenal then we see Alma become stuck in her life then her marriage then her dissolution of said marriage THEN it picks back up as she's traveling and we see such remarkable character growth that I felt she was a real person.
Like 18 hours into the 22 hour audiobook Alma FINALLY gets to give a blow job and I just DIED I literally sat back in a stupor that Gilbert would have the audacity to just shove that in there (literally) and then move on. Insanity. I love her.
Like 18 hours into the 22 hour audiobook Alma FINALLY gets to give a blow job and I just DIED I literally sat back in a stupor that Gilbert would have the audacity to just shove that in there (literally) and then move on. Insanity. I love her.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This book is a vibe.
Not much happens, but a lot happens. It is historical fiction as a setting, but the main characters are invented.
It takes place in the 1800s and follows the life of a woman, the daughter of a wealthy botanist, who does research in her own right. It is about her research and her relationships.
It was a lovely read. While the book covers a lot of travel and exciting things, it does so so slowly that it feels like it is about nothing and everything at the same time. I enjoyed the writing style.
Not much happens, but a lot happens. It is historical fiction as a setting, but the main characters are invented.
It takes place in the 1800s and follows the life of a woman, the daughter of a wealthy botanist, who does research in her own right. It is about her research and her relationships.
It was a lovely read. While the book covers a lot of travel and exciting things, it does so so slowly that it feels like it is about nothing and everything at the same time. I enjoyed the writing style.
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved this. I wasn't sure what to expect as the author of Eat, Pray, Love (which I enjoyed as a traveler, but was very different from fiction). I would have assumed this was written a long time ago. Deep, well-spoken, vibrant characters. Fascinating story that takes a few turns as the character ages. Hope to read again and would absolutely recommend!
The spirit of adventure and ambition is alight in this novel that spans a lifetime. From England, to America, and to Tahiti, this story encompasses so many characters and facets of human nature.
Alma Wittaker is born to a botanical explorer, Henry Wittaker, who rose from poverty in England to become one of the wealthiest men in Philadelphia. Not only is Alma surrounded by the brilliance of her father, but her mother is of equal intelligence as she is raised with a vast library and an array of dinner guests at her parent's estate who stimulate her mind. As Alma grows so does her love of botany. While her adoptive sister, Prudence, and their friend, Retta, marry and start families, Alma remains unmarried and instead cares for her father. However, after Alma has established herself as a botanist and written scientific works on her love of moss, a man comes into her life as she nears fifty years old. Ambrose Pike is an artist who brings orchids to life with his skills and is employed by Alma's father to draw the extensive collection of botanicals on their family property. Alma falls in love with Ambrose, though it is after their marriage that she begins to realize what kind of man she married is not what she expected. This novel was heavily detailed in both scientific knowledge and thriving characters. The differences between Alma and her adoptive sister Prudence was astounding and yet how they interacted or acted together was realistic for their individual personalities. I liked the rough nature of Henry Wittaker and the no nonsense nature of Beatrix, his wife and Alma's mother. And while I thought it was a little odd to have the happenstances with Ambrose and the life he eventually led, it at least wrapped up well and concluded for Alma. And while Alma led a remarkably long life, I also felt like it sprawled out a bit for me. The detour to Tahiti was important in the long run, but by that point I was starting to lose steam on this novel. In the grand scheme of things though, it was a beautifully written novel, it was just a little long for me.
I know a lot more about moss than I ever thought I would from this novel, that is for sure. I also adored the realistic characters with all their flaws and triumphs. It was detailed and written wonderfully, though such a long lifetime as that of Alma left me as tired a she by the end.
Alma Wittaker is born to a botanical explorer, Henry Wittaker, who rose from poverty in England to become one of the wealthiest men in Philadelphia. Not only is Alma surrounded by the brilliance of her father, but her mother is of equal intelligence as she is raised with a vast library and an array of dinner guests at her parent's estate who stimulate her mind. As Alma grows so does her love of botany. While her adoptive sister, Prudence, and their friend, Retta, marry and start families, Alma remains unmarried and instead cares for her father. However, after Alma has established herself as a botanist and written scientific works on her love of moss, a man comes into her life as she nears fifty years old. Ambrose Pike is an artist who brings orchids to life with his skills and is employed by Alma's father to draw the extensive collection of botanicals on their family property. Alma falls in love with Ambrose, though it is after their marriage that she begins to realize what kind of man she married is not what she expected. This novel was heavily detailed in both scientific knowledge and thriving characters. The differences between Alma and her adoptive sister Prudence was astounding and yet how they interacted or acted together was realistic for their individual personalities. I liked the rough nature of Henry Wittaker and the no nonsense nature of Beatrix, his wife and Alma's mother. And while I thought it was a little odd to have the happenstances with Ambrose and the life he eventually led, it at least wrapped up well and concluded for Alma. And while Alma led a remarkably long life, I also felt like it sprawled out a bit for me. The detour to Tahiti was important in the long run, but by that point I was starting to lose steam on this novel. In the grand scheme of things though, it was a beautifully written novel, it was just a little long for me.
I know a lot more about moss than I ever thought I would from this novel, that is for sure. I also adored the realistic characters with all their flaws and triumphs. It was detailed and written wonderfully, though such a long lifetime as that of Alma left me as tired a she by the end.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes