Good Reads: The Language of Flowers

While I was finishing the quilting on my Pineapple Blossoms quilt, I finished listening to my audio book, The Language of Flowers: A Novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.

Lately, I have been reading and listening to a lot of books that are crime or mystery novels so this was a bit different in a good way.

I was aware that in the Victorian era that flowers were suggested to have meaning.  This book brought the Victorian era to modern age.

Victoria, a misunderstood girl that has been bounced around in the foster system, comes to live with Elizabeth.  Elizabeth, a owner of a grape vineyard, who also lived a dysfunctional life growing up, isfilled with patience and understanding helping Victoria blossom.  Flowers and the language of them, becomes their connection.  Wounds from the past enter into the present and relationship between Victoria  and Elizabeth is put to a true test.

The book bounces between Victoria’s childhood with Elizabeth and present day where she is working at a floral shop.   Sadly, Victoria’s present day is filled with challenges that seem almost insurmountable.  Will she prevail?  Can she prevail?  Is the damage that was done to her a child too much to over come?

The book jumps chapters from past to present.  I always love this style as I believe the past does affect the present.  Fears and feelings of inadequacy that we had as children do follow us to adulthood.

I love that this book isn’t all sugar coated.  I love that the main characters are filled with flaws.  At times, I was frustrated with Victoria..at times I wanted to just give her a hug…at times I wanted to scream what are you thinking??

All is all, it was a good audio book that I would recommend.

Today I am hooking up with Patchwork Times’ Whatcha Reading?.  To see what others are reading, follow this link.