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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
medium-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 received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. THE ALCHEMY OF FLOWERS is a contemporary reimagining of the concept of The Secret Garden as a somewhat mystical place of healing—is it magic? Is it a placebo? Is nature that wonderful and wild thing that can heal people in mysterious ways that hard human science cannot? The similarities between this novel and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel end at the paradisiacal garden and the gloomy chateau, and the protagonist’s journey of healing. At its core, THE ALCHEMY OF FLOWERS is Eloise’s own journey of healing from the pains of her past life brought about by her infertility and her intense desire to be a mother, and the festering resentment that the failure to do so created in her. She moves to Paris with little baggage (literal and metaphorical), works in an enchanting garden to make flowers grow out of merde, and forges strong relationships with the other employees of the garden along the way.
I sympathise with both Eloise and the author herself who faced the same challenges, but the execution fell short in a number of places for me. My main gripe, and one of personal taste, was with the almost insta-romance with Raphael that could have turned this into a romcom if not for all the tension, danger, and action about 90% into the story. Another thing that I wasn’t comfortable with was the phrasing of some of Eloise’s intrusive thoughts, one unforgettable example being her reaction to a picture of a woman in a war-torn country: “At least she had the chance to fulfill her biological purpose of life on earth. At least she wasn’t an evolutionary dead end.” Granted, that was just once, but it came across as bio-essentialist to me. The privilege was deafening.
This book is somehow classified as Fantasy, but I think the biggest fantasy in here was moving to another country and meeting your dream man in a dream situation that resolves all the problems you’d been grappling with back home (after many trials and tribulations, of course). The other fantastical elements are more ambiguous, things like: are there really healing properties in the garden, or is it just everyone’s collective imagination building up and maintaining that fantasy? Overall, it was just an okay book—I didn’t love it, and I didn’t dislike it. Laura Resau’s THE ALCHEMY OF FLOWERS will be published on 29 July
mysterious
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What an interesting fantasy realism book. As the cover can attest to, this book and its characters revolve around a garden of paradise where everything is ideal. Characters have gone there to escape their lives and start afresh so that they can heal from their past.
Our main character arrives to the garden after answering an advertisement for a job posting, heartbroken and stuck in her life. As the story progresses we understand the heartache that she went through and the obstacles she was unable to overcome in her old life. She forms new bonds and attractions and starts to feel better everyday. The only catch is she's also starts to feel suspicious. There are strange rules attached with this striking the perfect opportunity, and questions are not only unanswered but hostily shut down. There are many things to uncover in the garden of paradise. Peace Love and violence.
Our main character arrives to the garden after answering an advertisement for a job posting, heartbroken and stuck in her life. As the story progresses we understand the heartache that she went through and the obstacles she was unable to overcome in her old life. She forms new bonds and attractions and starts to feel better everyday. The only catch is she's also starts to feel suspicious. There are strange rules attached with this striking the perfect opportunity, and questions are not only unanswered but hostily shut down. There are many things to uncover in the garden of paradise. Peace Love and violence.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I had a very difficult time maintaining focus for the first 60%. Part of me wonders if I’m just not the intended audience. I can certainly see this book offering a kind of community for those struggling with fertility issues, but personally I think a book should offer you more. In short, it was a bit boring and pretty predictable.
I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I had a very difficult time maintaining focus for the first 60%. Part of me wonders if I’m just not the intended audience. I can certainly see this book offering a kind of community for those struggling with fertility issues, but personally I think a book should offer you more. In short, it was a bit boring and pretty predictable.
A very big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC!
The Alchemy of Flowers intrigued me from the blurb alone, and the novel as a whole completely delivered. As I read, I truly felt transported into seeing things through Eloise's perspective. It's hard to get that right in writing, but Resau manages it with ease.
I also thoroughly relished the refreshing narrative of womanhood and motherhood, the discussion that one needn't birth their own child to feel that strong maternal urge, or be a true mother. It was utterly beautiful, and I can only hope many women read this and feel comfort that their stories are being told.
The Alchemy of Flowers intrigued me from the blurb alone, and the novel as a whole completely delivered. As I read, I truly felt transported into seeing things through Eloise's perspective. It's hard to get that right in writing, but Resau manages it with ease.
I also thoroughly relished the refreshing narrative of womanhood and motherhood, the discussion that one needn't birth their own child to feel that strong maternal urge, or be a true mother. It was utterly beautiful, and I can only hope many women read this and feel comfort that their stories are being told.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a lovely read. The audiobook was beautifully read, full of emotion and the proper French pronunciation! Trying to escape from her past and infertility issues, Eloise takes a job at a secretive French garden enclosed within the walls of a private estate. There are rules that are to be followed if one wants to stay in Paradise. No gossiping. No leaving one’s room during dusk. No children allowed on the premises. This story mixes mystery, magic, the heartbreaking journey of infertility with found family and finding happiness again. I loved the characters and Eloise’s journey during her time in Paradise. A wonderful hug to those who have experienced a similar journey. Beautifully written and an impressive debut.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Such a wonderful read!
A well balanced mix of contemporary fiction and magical realism.
The characters were really beautiful and the plot was engaging and mysterious in the best way possible.
Would definitely read another adult work of fiction from the author.
A well balanced mix of contemporary fiction and magical realism.
The characters were really beautiful and the plot was engaging and mysterious in the best way possible.
Would definitely read another adult work of fiction from the author.