I didn’t think I would like this book at first. I was afraid it would be dark and depressing, like something Oprah would select for her book club.
But the beauty of the prose encouraged me to read, and I’m so glad I did.
The premise
The Language of Flowers tells the story of an intriguing young woman named Victoria. She has lived her entire life in foster care, and at 18, she is “emancipated” into the “real world” without money, friends, or formal education. She has spent her life building a protective barrier between herself and other people, but she knows the language of flowers, and she uses that to overcome her fears and heal.
What I liked
The story opens with Victoria waking to a fire in her bed.
Standing in the middle of the room, I located the source… A neat row of wooden matches lined the foot of the bed… Watching them light, I felt a terror unequal to the size of the flickering flames, and for a paralyzing moment I was ten years old again, desperate and hopeful in a way I had never been before and would never be again.
I thought, Oh, no. This is going to be a book about abuse. Granted, the novel describes bleak situations in the foster care system, and Victoria has lots of issues. But, more importantly, her story is one of hope.
Here are the best parts:
- The author, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, cleverly weaves two plot lines together: one told by 10-year-old Victoria and one told by 18-year-old Victoria. The two stories accelerate to an intersection and climax that does not disappoint.
- Victoria is prickly, like thistle. (meaning: misanthropy) She’s so unemotional, she’s hard to like, but her perseverance inspires. I like inspiring characters.
- The prose is lovely.
- I enjoyed learning about flowers and their meanings. For example, sun flower means false riches, so Victoria hates it when brides choose this flower for weddings.
- It has a happy ending. I’m a sucker for those.
What I didn’t like
I don’t have much to complain about. At a few key points, I thought that the characterization wasn’t consistent. For example, a character does something that clearly adds to the tension of the story but the action doesn’t really fit the character.
Recommendation
The Language of Flowers is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It’s the perfect blend of bitter and sweet, and I encourage anyone who likes stories about rising above difficult circumstances to pick it up. There is darkness, but it doesn’t overwhelm.
Also, if you read about Vanessa Diffenbaugh on Goodreads, you’ll learn she has very interesting experience with foster care and helping underprivileged youth.
Have you ever started a book that you thought would be depressing but turned out to be a great read? Tell us about it! If you have read The Language of Flowers, what did you think of it?
Thanks for stopping by!
Julia
One of my favorite books this year. Most of it was amazing. I especially like the flower language too. I’ve read a couple of cozy mystery lately that refer to flower names and their meaning. I enjoy that.
It is one of my favorites too, Judy.
This sounds really good! Thanks for another great review. Some day I’ll catch up with my never-ending reading list!
I really liked this book, too, and the journey of Victoria. It was so interesting to learn about the floral symbology, too. (It also had a few points that were unbelievable to me, like her inability to recognize the boy and the baby part.)