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A review by secretmagic
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
4.0
I loved 'The Language of Flowers'.
The text itself was simple, but the story was so complex. Vanessa Diffenbaugh powerfully depicts the troubled life of an eighteen year old girl emerging into adulthood with major insecurities about how to live. As a protagonist, Victoria fits the build of a flawed child; a person who was loved once and has lost hope because of it. Diffenbaugh takes us on a journey of discovery. Discovering hope, acceptance and most importantly forgiveness. Victoria struggles with the choices she's made in life, believing that once you've picked your path you are stuck with the result, a habit she picked up as a child by falsely learning flowers only have one meaning. 'The Language of Flowers' explores the idea that all paths (and flowers) have more than one meaning and Diffenbaugh shows that it is never too late to change your path.
I loved the alternating chapters between the past and present. We're given a hint in the very first chapter, that Victoria's future was almost secure in one of the foster homes she was placed in. However, as she exits the group home - a 'home' where children over the age of 10 are placed into when they've been removed from foster homes and are unlikely to be adopted - we can guess that an event occurred to disrupt the future she wanted. It is in these alternating chapters that the mysterious even is retold, and we find out where Victoria was happy and how it was ruined.
To see the passing of flowers between lovers unfolded within the novel was addictive. While I'd heard of the Victorian language of flowers before, it was not something I was familiar with. But watching Victoria express herself through floral arrangements, and begin to really believe in the flowers' meanings, made me appreciate the messages flowers can have so much more. It was also extremely tempting to use the Flower Dictionary at the back of the book to determine what secret messages were hidden in my back garden. (Unfortunately there is no Wattle in the dictionary, but I've got 'Protection' with my Eucalyptus)
Victoria's skill with determining a person's flower needs reminded me of Joanne Harris's 'Chocolat', it was like Vianne's "I know all your favourites" and I loved it.
4/5 stars. A Fabulous and emotional read.
The text itself was simple, but the story was so complex. Vanessa Diffenbaugh powerfully depicts the troubled life of an eighteen year old girl emerging into adulthood with major insecurities about how to live. As a protagonist, Victoria fits the build of a flawed child; a person who was loved once and has lost hope because of it. Diffenbaugh takes us on a journey of discovery. Discovering hope, acceptance and most importantly forgiveness. Victoria struggles with the choices she's made in life, believing that once you've picked your path you are stuck with the result, a habit she picked up as a child by falsely learning flowers only have one meaning. 'The Language of Flowers' explores the idea that all paths (and flowers) have more than one meaning and Diffenbaugh shows that it is never too late to change your path.
I loved the alternating chapters between the past and present. We're given a hint in the very first chapter, that Victoria's future was almost secure in one of the foster homes she was placed in. However, as she exits the group home - a 'home' where children over the age of 10 are placed into when they've been removed from foster homes and are unlikely to be adopted - we can guess that an event occurred to disrupt the future she wanted. It is in these alternating chapters that the mysterious even is retold, and we find out where Victoria was happy and how it was ruined.
To see the passing of flowers between lovers unfolded within the novel was addictive. While I'd heard of the Victorian language of flowers before, it was not something I was familiar with. But watching Victoria express herself through floral arrangements, and begin to really believe in the flowers' meanings, made me appreciate the messages flowers can have so much more. It was also extremely tempting to use the Flower Dictionary at the back of the book to determine what secret messages were hidden in my back garden. (Unfortunately there is no Wattle in the dictionary, but I've got 'Protection' with my Eucalyptus)
Victoria's skill with determining a person's flower needs reminded me of Joanne Harris's 'Chocolat', it was like Vianne's "I know all your favourites" and I loved it.
4/5 stars. A Fabulous and emotional read.