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bookyarncafe's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Death and Mental illness
Minor: Vomit, Infidelity, Alcohol, Classism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
kelly_e's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Title: The Garden of Small Beginnings
Author: Abbi Waxman
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: May 2, 2017
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Funny β’ Emotional β’ Relatable
π S Y N O P S I S
Lilian has been a single mother for three yearsβever since her husband died in a car accident. She's settled into a routine, but has been feeling overwhelmed with being underwhelmed. When Lilian gets assigned to a vegetable gardening class to help with a new book illustration project, she recruits her kids and sister to join her. Lilian shows up at the Los Angeles botanical garden feeling completely out of her element. But she'll meet a patient instructor and a cast of quirky gardeners; a community will help her discover that into every life a little sun must shine, whether you want it to or not.
π T H O U G H T S
The Garden of Small Beginnings was recommended to be by a close bookish friend, and I was immediately intrigued by the grief and gardening aspects (two topics that hold significant space in my life). Unfortunately, it left me with very mixed feeling.
While I wanted to love this book, the sarcastic tone and candid writing style as it relates to grief didn't sit well with me. It all felt a little too lighthearted for the content. I appreciated the inclusion and open dialogue on grief and finding a way to move through, but I just felt like it was handled with as much care as it could have been, leaving a bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach.
My favourite aspect of this novel was the parallel between grief and gardening. It was an extremely clever plot device utilized by Abbi Waxman to move the plot forward. As an avid green thumb, the gardening tips at the beginning of each chapter were not lost of me. I became more interested to see what advice would come next, than I did in the development of the story. It's a reminder of how plants and nature can teach us so much about life.
This was a light-hearted read with real and relatable characters. What I took away from reading it, is the importance of community in grief, and how friendships can come from the most unlikely of places. If you're looking for a heartfelt exploration of grief, this is not the book for you.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ green thumbs
β’ readers who enjoyed Evvie Drake Starts Over
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"In many ways, turnips are the unsung heroes of the root crop universe. They don't have the ad budget potatoes have, or the glamorous appearance of carrots, but they shouldn't be underestimated. They're high in vitamins and minerals, low in sugar, and taste delicious roasted, caramelized, or mashed with a pound of butter."
"Humans have been growing food for themselves since the dawn of time. Indeed, many plants have developed a dependence on us, just as some plants require digestion by birds to activate their seeds. We do our part by planting seeds in healthy soil, watering them, weeding them, and leaving them in peace. They return the favor by growing fruits and seeds and flowers that we like to eat."
"I hadn't expected vegetables to become such a major feature of my life, but that's the thing with plants... they grow to fill the available space."
Author: Abbi Waxman
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: May 2, 2017
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Funny β’ Emotional β’ Relatable
π S Y N O P S I S
Lilian has been a single mother for three yearsβever since her husband died in a car accident. She's settled into a routine, but has been feeling overwhelmed with being underwhelmed. When Lilian gets assigned to a vegetable gardening class to help with a new book illustration project, she recruits her kids and sister to join her. Lilian shows up at the Los Angeles botanical garden feeling completely out of her element. But she'll meet a patient instructor and a cast of quirky gardeners; a community will help her discover that into every life a little sun must shine, whether you want it to or not.
π T H O U G H T S
The Garden of Small Beginnings was recommended to be by a close bookish friend, and I was immediately intrigued by the grief and gardening aspects (two topics that hold significant space in my life). Unfortunately, it left me with very mixed feeling.
While I wanted to love this book, the sarcastic tone and candid writing style as it relates to grief didn't sit well with me. It all felt a little too lighthearted for the content. I appreciated the inclusion and open dialogue on grief and finding a way to move through, but I just felt like it was handled with as much care as it could have been, leaving a bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach.
My favourite aspect of this novel was the parallel between grief and gardening. It was an extremely clever plot device utilized by Abbi Waxman to move the plot forward. As an avid green thumb, the gardening tips at the beginning of each chapter were not lost of me. I became more interested to see what advice would come next, than I did in the development of the story. It's a reminder of how plants and nature can teach us so much about life.
This was a light-hearted read with real and relatable characters. What I took away from reading it, is the importance of community in grief, and how friendships can come from the most unlikely of places. If you're looking for a heartfelt exploration of grief, this is not the book for you.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ green thumbs
β’ readers who enjoyed Evvie Drake Starts Over
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"In many ways, turnips are the unsung heroes of the root crop universe. They don't have the ad budget potatoes have, or the glamorous appearance of carrots, but they shouldn't be underestimated. They're high in vitamins and minerals, low in sugar, and taste delicious roasted, caramelized, or mashed with a pound of butter."
"Humans have been growing food for themselves since the dawn of time. Indeed, many plants have developed a dependence on us, just as some plants require digestion by birds to activate their seeds. We do our part by planting seeds in healthy soil, watering them, weeding them, and leaving them in peace. They return the favor by growing fruits and seeds and flowers that we like to eat."
"I hadn't expected vegetables to become such a major feature of my life, but that's the thing with plants... they grow to fill the available space."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
death of partner, depressioncassielaj's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
5.0
This is just my favorite book π€·π»ββοΈ Not much else to say
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Medical content, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual content
jamiejanae_6's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Blood, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Medical content and Mental illness
Minor: Bullying, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
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