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c_harrison86's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
carolefort's review against another edition
5.0
I have just finished reading Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin, translated from the French by Hildegarde Serle and I wish I had the time to start reading it all over again. This is the most beautiful book to come out of my TBR pile this year. Violette Toussaint lives in a little house in a cemetery in Bourgogne in France. She is the caretaker of this cemetery and she tends it with love and pride. Her world revolves around the tending of the graves and the care of the aggrieved. Her friends are the people who cross her path there. So far, it doesn’t seem like much of a story but it is so lyrical, so touching, so sad and so rewarding. This is the life of a young woman who goes through some of life’s most tragic events and attempts to keep her head and her heart in the right place throughout. It is a Sunday afternoon kind of read. I recommend it to all. Thank you to Europa Editions and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
slibourel's review against another edition
5.0
Fresh Water for Flowers is about loss and grief, but also about how a seed of hope can blossom into a garden of life affirming promise of happiness. The characters are well drawn, if somewhat surface level. But that fits the, at times, bleak tone and tenor of the novel.
Taking place over around 35 years, the story plays out in a nonlinear manner. We begin with Violette living a quiet life as a caretaker for a cemetery, with her only real companions being a lonely priest, three charmingly eccentric gravediggers, an abandoned pup and a multitude of abandoned cats. The theme of abandonment, and acceptance of abandonment, is evident in Violette's past and her present. She works through her grief in her garden, her notes on the funerals she has witnessed over her 20 years as the cemetery's caretaker, her care for the pup and cats and priest and gravediggers, and her generosity of time and compassion for the grieving family and lovers of the deceased interred in the graveyard.
Violette's story plays out with flashbacks and intertwines with other characters. It can be a bit cumbersome to read, and I thought some sections dragged, but Valérie Perrin still manages to keep the tension. Note that the book was written in French, but the translation seems to maintain the integrity of the original French telling. Overall 4.5 stars, with a small loss for bogging down occasionally.
Taking place over around 35 years, the story plays out in a nonlinear manner. We begin with Violette living a quiet life as a caretaker for a cemetery, with her only real companions being a lonely priest, three charmingly eccentric gravediggers, an abandoned pup and a multitude of abandoned cats. The theme of abandonment, and acceptance of abandonment, is evident in Violette's past and her present. She works through her grief in her garden, her notes on the funerals she has witnessed over her 20 years as the cemetery's caretaker, her care for the pup and cats and priest and gravediggers, and her generosity of time and compassion for the grieving family and lovers of the deceased interred in the graveyard.
Violette's story plays out with flashbacks and intertwines with other characters. It can be a bit cumbersome to read, and I thought some sections dragged, but Valérie Perrin still manages to keep the tension. Note that the book was written in French, but the translation seems to maintain the integrity of the original French telling. Overall 4.5 stars, with a small loss for bogging down occasionally.
kabbw's review against another edition
4.0
beautifully written. The time/point of view and other changes were a bit jarring but eventually I got the gist of it
emusings's review against another edition
4.0
This was a book group book, far from the usual genres I like to read...it was good, held my attention. I don't like it, though, when books jump timelines, like this one did...but the book was good enough that I stayed with it.
sueivany's review against another edition
4.0
There is a lot of grief in this novel, but there is also so much hope. It’s beautifully crafted, with moments of hope woven into the tragedies of Violette’s life. I loved the way flowers, gardens, and growing things were almost characters in the story.
shanna_banana_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This is a gorgeously written, profoundly moving book. The characters and plot are so nuanced and rich. The multiple character perspectives were so well done and the dramatic parts felt very natural and real. It is a raw and heartbreaking story but also very hopeful.
tex2flo's review against another edition
5.0
Charming, so very French
Emotions overflowing. Dualities all over the place—mostly the life and death cycles. But, love and hatred. Light and dark. Summer and winter.
Two people hating the same name. Lovers and spouses. Passionate and calm action. Very French—everyone smoking and tobacco as a comforting aroma.
It will be good to have a book club discussion. There’s a lot there there.
At least one good translated name Crunchy-Oldie.
Emotions overflowing. Dualities all over the place—mostly the life and death cycles. But, love and hatred. Light and dark. Summer and winter.
Two people hating the same name. Lovers and spouses. Passionate and calm action. Very French—everyone smoking and tobacco as a comforting aroma.
It will be good to have a book club discussion. There’s a lot there there.
At least one good translated name Crunchy-Oldie.
rgodleski's review against another edition
5.0
This book was such a delight. Rich, moving, heart wrenching and existential. Violet take us on a journey that is eye opening and difficult but beautiful nonetheless. This one will stay with me!