Scan barcode
A review by salgalruns
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
5.0
I loved, loved, loved this story and it was just the type of read that I needed! It sucked me in from the very beginning and I couldn't let it go. I've been wandering the house connected to my iPad to read it, reluctant to get to work or to other appointments as a result!
The book goes back and forth between present day, where Veronica is 18 years old to past, where she is 10. She was raised through the foster care system, in a combination of group homes or placed into foster homes. The bulk of the "past" storyline takes place when she is placed with Elizabeth, who is on the path to adopting her permanently. Elizabeth is responsible for seeing past the hurt, past the anger, and recognizing the true child within. She feeds Veronica's voracious appetite (which continues into adulthood, I might add), and also takes it upon herself to educate her instead of sending her to school. She teaches her the ins and outs of farm life, from harvesting grapes to understanding the language of flowers.
Without giving too much away, the language of flowers (the meaning behind each one) is the link for Veronica. It is the connection to Elizabeth, the connection to Grant in present time, and the path to employment and a successful career (we hope) for her. Through this, we see the determination and drive towards something meaningful and good in her life. We also see that it provides her with a way to express herself more safely than words.
The characters are so rich in this story - I feel like I know them all and like I would recognize them on the street. I want to sit down and make them dinner and talk for hours about anything. I want to spend more time with my mom, with my daughter, and let them know how important they are to me. The connection of family is so strong, even though every character in this story has suffered extreme heartache as a result of family. It makes you appreciate the connections you DO have in your life and recognize the beauty that exists.
Sometimes books just talk to us and at certain times in our lives are more poignant than others. I am an "in betweener" - I have my kids and my parents around, but it's often tough with schedules to get everyone connected. This weekend, as my daughter graduates from college, I will have everyone all together. I think it will come with an appreciation for all the blessings that I've been given in my life. As a result, the simple things that Veronica struggled with, I have often just taken for granted. Thank you to Vanessa Diffenbaugh for her words that made me THINK and bring to light just how special family is.
The book goes back and forth between present day, where Veronica is 18 years old to past, where she is 10. She was raised through the foster care system, in a combination of group homes or placed into foster homes. The bulk of the "past" storyline takes place when she is placed with Elizabeth, who is on the path to adopting her permanently. Elizabeth is responsible for seeing past the hurt, past the anger, and recognizing the true child within. She feeds Veronica's voracious appetite (which continues into adulthood, I might add), and also takes it upon herself to educate her instead of sending her to school. She teaches her the ins and outs of farm life, from harvesting grapes to understanding the language of flowers.
Without giving too much away, the language of flowers (the meaning behind each one) is the link for Veronica. It is the connection to Elizabeth, the connection to Grant in present time, and the path to employment and a successful career (we hope) for her. Through this, we see the determination and drive towards something meaningful and good in her life. We also see that it provides her with a way to express herself more safely than words.
The characters are so rich in this story - I feel like I know them all and like I would recognize them on the street. I want to sit down and make them dinner and talk for hours about anything. I want to spend more time with my mom, with my daughter, and let them know how important they are to me. The connection of family is so strong, even though every character in this story has suffered extreme heartache as a result of family. It makes you appreciate the connections you DO have in your life and recognize the beauty that exists.
Sometimes books just talk to us and at certain times in our lives are more poignant than others. I am an "in betweener" - I have my kids and my parents around, but it's often tough with schedules to get everyone connected. This weekend, as my daughter graduates from college, I will have everyone all together. I think it will come with an appreciation for all the blessings that I've been given in my life. As a result, the simple things that Veronica struggled with, I have often just taken for granted. Thank you to Vanessa Diffenbaugh for her words that made me THINK and bring to light just how special family is.