Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
While listening to this book was a little bit hard to keep up with the timeline switches. I would realize a sudden switch had happened (main character child back to adult) when I heard the voice change but not always immediately. I wish there had been a better defined switch. Not hard to understand once I realized, though. Sad topics shed light on the glaring need for more social workers, mental health services and oversight for foster kids. The flower definitions is really a smaller part of this story that manages to weave generations together.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am not sure how to rate this book.
"The Language of Flowers" is a story about a woman who falls victim of a failed foster system as a young child. As a result,the protagonist suffers from a detachment disorder and has tremendous difficulty with any type of intimacy. ("I don't like to be touched.")Her fears of rejection are so toxic that she unwittingly sabotages every opportunity to develop meaningful,long-lasting relationships. While living with a woman who intends to adopt her at the age of 10,Victoria develops a keen appreciation of flowers and the meanings assigned to each flower in the Victorian tradition. She becomes facinated by the natural world and discovers that she is able to use the language of flowers as an effective vehicle of expression. It is a beautiful story and Diffenbaugh's prose is magnificent. Her descriptions of flowers and food is sensuous and her compassion for society's discarded children and the importance of family is heartfelt.
However,I felt that the author's allusion to flowers was a little heavy handed starting with the protagonist's name,Victoria. The group home where Victoria lives as an adolescent is called The Gathering House. At one point in Victoria's courtship with a young man who also knows the language of flowers, Victoria explains," I'm more of a thistle-peony-basil kind of girl." Really? Maybe it's me but at times I felt like I was being hit over the head with a sufficatingly heavily-scented bouquet.
Victoria eventually finds her niche in society and is able to rise from the ashes to live happily ever after with her own true love. This ending felt contrived and things came together hastily and a little too neatly for my liking. The stark reality of growing up in a thorny foster care environment ends like a fairy tale.
Despite my criticism, I do recommend this novel. It is a beautiful story and it does have its merits. I loved the discussion and descriptions about the many types of flowers and I felt that Diffenbaugh gave an accurate and sympathetic portrayal of what many foster children experience. I obviously have mixed feelings about the book. Maybe I just need to stop and smell the roses. (Sorry, I couldn't resist inserting that last comment.)
"The Language of Flowers" is a story about a woman who falls victim of a failed foster system as a young child. As a result,the protagonist suffers from a detachment disorder and has tremendous difficulty with any type of intimacy. ("I don't like to be touched.")Her fears of rejection are so toxic that she unwittingly sabotages every opportunity to develop meaningful,long-lasting relationships. While living with a woman who intends to adopt her at the age of 10,Victoria develops a keen appreciation of flowers and the meanings assigned to each flower in the Victorian tradition. She becomes facinated by the natural world and discovers that she is able to use the language of flowers as an effective vehicle of expression. It is a beautiful story and Diffenbaugh's prose is magnificent. Her descriptions of flowers and food is sensuous and her compassion for society's discarded children and the importance of family is heartfelt.
However,I felt that the author's allusion to flowers was a little heavy handed starting with the protagonist's name,Victoria. The group home where Victoria lives as an adolescent is called The Gathering House. At one point in Victoria's courtship with a young man who also knows the language of flowers, Victoria explains," I'm more of a thistle-peony-basil kind of girl." Really? Maybe it's me but at times I felt like I was being hit over the head with a sufficatingly heavily-scented bouquet.
Victoria eventually finds her niche in society and is able to rise from the ashes to live happily ever after with her own true love. This ending felt contrived and things came together hastily and a little too neatly for my liking. The stark reality of growing up in a thorny foster care environment ends like a fairy tale.
Despite my criticism, I do recommend this novel. It is a beautiful story and it does have its merits. I loved the discussion and descriptions about the many types of flowers and I felt that Diffenbaugh gave an accurate and sympathetic portrayal of what many foster children experience. I obviously have mixed feelings about the book. Maybe I just need to stop and smell the roses. (Sorry, I couldn't resist inserting that last comment.)
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a nice story.
Nice book. Easy to read. The whole story was driven and told by the main character.