The Language of Flowers

by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is a moving story of hope and forgiveness, and an international bestseller.

The Victorians used flowers to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. For Victoria Jones, flowers and their meanings are her only connection to the world – although for her, they are most useful in expressing feelings such as grief, mistrust and solitude.

After a childhood in the foster care system, Victoria – now eighteen – has nowhere to go, and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. When her talent is discovered by a local florist, she discovers her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But it takes a meeting with a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realize what's been missing in her own life. As she starts to fall for him, though, she must confront a painful secret from her past – and decide whether it's worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

• ISBN10: 023076181X
• ISBN13: 9780230761810
• Publish Date: 18 August 2011 (first published 1 January 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Mantle
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is a stunning debut novel that will forever change the way you look at flowers. Diffenbaugh weaves a tale about love, faith, endurance and one woman’s battle to overcome her troubled past.

The story takes place in San Francisco and centers on protagonist Victoria Jones. Victoria has grown up in the foster care system and has now become emancipated. Diffenbaugh slowly peels back the petals in Victoria’s present and past life, giving us a glimpse of the dynamics that make up this complicated young woman. Told in Victoria’s voice, we see her struggle to communicate with the world around her. It is through flowers that she is able to express herself. Yellow roses mean jealousy, winter cherry signifies deception, and starwort gives welcome.

As a young adult, Victoria finds employment at a flower shop, and using the language of flowers begins to communicate with others. News of her gift, spread and soon people are coming to her for flowers. She meets a young man, who patiently tries to communicate to her through flowers. Their romance is bittersweet and will not leave the reader untouched.

As we journey through Victoria’s past, we learn how she came to communicate with flowers. When she was ten years old, she was taken into the home of Elizabeth. Victoria suffering from a life spent in a myriad of foster homes and facilities is detached, doesn’t like to be touched and trusts no one. She fully expects Elizabeth to reject her. Elizabeth opens up her home and slowly shows her the meaning of love. She teaches Victoria the language of flowers. It is through flowers that Victoria begins to communicate and forms her first bond with another human.

As the tale weaves back and forth between the past and present, answers are slowly revealed as to why Victoria is on her own and no longer with Elizabeth. The story will captivate you, as you are swept up in this heart-breaking, truthful tale. Diffenbaugh brings voice to human tragedy, our failed foster-care system and the hearts ability to endure and overcome.

I highly recommend The Language of Flowers to everyone. The novel is beautifully written and the transition from past to present is seamless. I am adding Vanessa Diffenbaugh to my list of must read authors. This novel would be perfect for a book club and an excellent gift for the reader on your list.

I want to thank netGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing this ARC, in exchange for my unbiased review.