Scan barcode
A review by missashleyann
Half-Blown Rose by Leesa Cross-Smith
5.0
Can a fiction inspire like a self-help book?
There are points in Half-Blown Rose that are magical. Those moments are inspiring yet tangible; bits of ah-ha and ponderous oh’s that are enjoyable, applicable and relevant for any age reader. I want to write my memories, I want to muse on weekly colors, I want weekly flowers and friend dinners; I want to live in Paris.
Maybe that last one isn’t as easily attainable as the rest.
The reasons I want to do these things are hidden in the lines of Leesa Cross-Smith’s unique storytelling. It is an organized stream of consciousness so the reader has few questions on backstory but doesn’t get lost in Vincent’s train of thought. I struggle with following scenes drawn out by inner monologue and that never happened with Cross-Smith at the helm; she always brought me back to the right moment so I never missed a thing. Side characters were thusly given the same depth and understanding as the strangers in our own lives versus cursory mentions to fill a plot hole. Mr and Mrs Laurent - one of the greatest love stories barely told! Paris was beautiful and full of character and characters that Cross-Smith effortlessly brought to life.
Vincent and her family are marvelous. Her friends are flawed and wonderful. Loup is too good to be true (perhaps the only flaw, and yet - maybe I’m just suspicious of all the goodness). Vincent is raw and empathetic and powerful and imperfectly human, and I am honored to have gone on this journey with her. I may never forgive you, Leesa Cross-Smith and I’m sure you know why!
I told my mom this book will be staying on the shelf. Treasured, dog eared and ready to be reread again when I need to feel inspired - the first non-fantasy keeper for me! I’ll recommend it, I’ll even buy it as a gift, but my copy will stay with me as comforting as pain au chocolat when I need it most.
There are points in Half-Blown Rose that are magical. Those moments are inspiring yet tangible; bits of ah-ha and ponderous oh’s that are enjoyable, applicable and relevant for any age reader. I want to write my memories, I want to muse on weekly colors, I want weekly flowers and friend dinners; I want to live in Paris.
Maybe that last one isn’t as easily attainable as the rest.
The reasons I want to do these things are hidden in the lines of Leesa Cross-Smith’s unique storytelling. It is an organized stream of consciousness so the reader has few questions on backstory but doesn’t get lost in Vincent’s train of thought. I struggle with following scenes drawn out by inner monologue and that never happened with Cross-Smith at the helm; she always brought me back to the right moment so I never missed a thing. Side characters were thusly given the same depth and understanding as the strangers in our own lives versus cursory mentions to fill a plot hole. Mr and Mrs Laurent - one of the greatest love stories barely told! Paris was beautiful and full of character and characters that Cross-Smith effortlessly brought to life.
Vincent and her family are marvelous. Her friends are flawed and wonderful. Loup is too good to be true (perhaps the only flaw, and yet - maybe I’m just suspicious of all the goodness). Vincent is raw and empathetic and powerful and imperfectly human, and I am honored to have gone on this journey with her. I may never forgive you, Leesa Cross-Smith and I’m sure you know why!
I told my mom this book will be staying on the shelf. Treasured, dog eared and ready to be reread again when I need to feel inspired - the first non-fantasy keeper for me! I’ll recommend it, I’ll even buy it as a gift, but my copy will stay with me as comforting as pain au chocolat when I need it most.