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catherar22's review against another edition
2.0
If you’re looking to find out how to make a houseplant love you, I’ll save you the time of reading this book (which has very little to say on that topic) and let you know that the author has a masterclass online devoted to the topic. Imagine my disappointment, reading through until the last two chapters of the book where Oakes actually has this quote, “..leaves turn yellow when they have a magnesium deficiency. No magnesium, no green—a subject more for my Houseplant Masterclass than for this book.” Houseplant masterclass you say? Don’t tell me I’ve been reading an advertisement for a $179 class all along!
Sadly, I cannot imagine why this book was titled “How to make a houseplant love you: cultivate green space in your home and heart” if it is intended as anything more than a drawn out advertisement for this class. It is full of information on why plants are wonderful, why you want them in your life, why millennials are amazing and can’t live without them, why you need plants to cure depression, and on and on. There are even testimonials to how amazing plants are. And then, when she should be getting to the good stuff (Yes! Yes! How do I make this amazing place for plants in my life?!). She tells you about this GD masterclass. What. A. Waste. Of. Time.
Two stars because it was well researched and there’s a ton of information (albeit information I wasn’t looking for from a book with this title).. but other than that, I’m just really annoyed. I still want to know how to make a houseplant love me and I don’t want to shell out almost $200 to find out.. onto another book for that I suppose. Recommendations anyone?
Sadly, I cannot imagine why this book was titled “How to make a houseplant love you: cultivate green space in your home and heart” if it is intended as anything more than a drawn out advertisement for this class. It is full of information on why plants are wonderful, why you want them in your life, why millennials are amazing and can’t live without them, why you need plants to cure depression, and on and on. There are even testimonials to how amazing plants are. And then, when she should be getting to the good stuff (Yes! Yes! How do I make this amazing place for plants in my life?!). She tells you about this GD masterclass. What. A. Waste. Of. Time.
Two stars because it was well researched and there’s a ton of information (albeit information I wasn’t looking for from a book with this title).. but other than that, I’m just really annoyed. I still want to know how to make a houseplant love me and I don’t want to shell out almost $200 to find out.. onto another book for that I suppose. Recommendations anyone?
adah_'s review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
2.75
queerandweird's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful research, well-written, heartfelt and informative. It bugged me how many blurbs from social media were there, easily half the book is quotes from other people I was not very interested in. She also uses the last sections of the book to plug her master gardening class, but that's the game I suppose. Otherwise, it's highly recommended by this intermediate gardener and environmental activist. I adore the thought Summer puts into how a plant thrives, what their needs are and how they communicate those needs; it's beautiful and shows her honest empathy which we all grow along with the plants we keep alive around us.
ericawrites's review against another edition
3.0
Oakes' meditation on plants has some lovely writing and sentiments about looking differently at plants and how we humans interact with them. However, she seemingly always keeps the reader at arm's length. Oakes shares more about the struggles of others (through submitted takeaways from other plant enthusiasts) than anything of herself to connect with the topic. I don't think she needed some tell-all, but even the brief parts about her struggle to move from country to Brooklyn were somewhat shallow.
bradfordhigdon's review against another edition
3.0
Not as much substance as I was hoping for. Most of it was fairly obvious, or at least beginner, information, but there were a few interesting nuggets dispersed throughout. Was hoping this would be more of the same vein as what I assume her MasterClass is, but it was pretty bare bones.
togasauress's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Love her channel so I picked up her book. The book gives just a bit of perspective. I found I enjoyed the Audiobook a bit more than text.
annm1121's review against another edition
3.0
The book is okay. I like the concept and some of the "to-dos" are interesting. She is trying hard to push an agenda that having plants cures depression. Basically every single outside quote is about this and it gets boring. She uses the scientific names for plants so I think that keeps some readers (like myself) at an arm's length.
bookmystique's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5