Vanessa Diffenbaugh

"The story of a woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own past"--Provided by publisher.

A Novel

The Language of Flowers

Discovering the symbolic meanings of flowers while languishing in the foster-care system, eighteen-year-old Victoria is hired by a florist when her talent for helping others is discovered, a situation that leads her to confront a painful secret from her past.

Peggy Walker

This was a fascinating book to read. It has interesting insights into attachment disorder, the many flaws in the foster care system,the importance of nurturing self-love and self-esteem....and oh yes....a dictionary of the language of flowers. I had a vague knowledge that certain flowers had come to symbolize certain emotions when given to another person, but the complexity of the "language" contained in giving a flower in Victorian times was quite new and fascinating to me. It all becomes more complicated when it turns out that different flowers actually had different meanings depending on who put the various dictionaries together. It makes me want to plant a new garden....and wait for more books by this author. Highly recommended.

Ana Paula

I have been suddenly filled with the need to memorize every flowers' meaning.

The only reason this book isn't getting 5 stars is because it's a tiny bit predictable, but the emotions I felt whilst reading... I honestly couldn't put the book down.

There's love, fear, sadness, grief amongst so many other emotions; it truly is a wild amazing ride that I can't recommend enough.

This is a very beautiful, book for the ages novel. It met all my expectations and gave me that feeling I havent encountered in a book for quite a while now. 

The heroine is amazing. Victoria gave me a glimpse to why orphans behave the way they do, and the her situation gave me so much insight on how hard their lives really are. Victoria is a strong, brave person and its inspiring how she had nothing, with the thought of her flowers the only thing keeping her alive. She a tough person to figure out, and she's indifferent and cold, but her vulnerability just tugged at my heartstrings. 

But what I really loved about this book was the language of the flowers. This was a unique factor in this book. The secret messages she shares with Grant and Elizabeth striked me as beautiful. The modern civilization has forgotten this art that used to be a means of communication in the Victorian era. 

Again, reading this was an amazing experience. Its one of those very touching stories about love, hope, disappointments and reconciliations. Its one of those books where the story lingers after the last sentence.

I adore this book and have reread it many times over... I have always wanted a guy to use the index at the back to make me a bouquet

Ashleigh Terrell 

Ofelia

Una rosa è una rosa è una rosa.

« Non mi fido, come la lavanda.
Mi difendo, come il rododendro.
Sono sola come la rosa bianca, e ho paura. 
E quando ho paura, lascio che la mia voce siano i fiori.»

Non credevo mi sarebbe piaciuto così tanto, ed invece è davvero molto piacevole da leggere. Victoria è cresciuta senza una vera famiglia, non è in grado di comunicare l'amore che prova senza in linguaggio dei fiori che, tra parentesi, avrei voluto vedere utilizzato un pò di più durante il libro. 
Carino il dizionario per interpretare i significati dei fiori, quando non vengono subito spiegati dai personaggi, alla fine del libro anche se ammetto che per decifrare il significato dell'enorme mazzo che Victoria regala ad Elizabeth nel finale c'ho messo parecchio e mi sono anche un pò persa.
I personaggi sono tutti piuttosto "veri", nessuno è idealizzato (tranne forse Elizabeth, che con l'eccezione del mancato perdono alla sorella subito dopo che le aveva soffiato l'amore è lo stereotipo della perfezione e bontà) e tutti hanno dei pregi ma sopratutto molti difetti. La protagonista stessa è ben lontana dalla perfezione, io mi sono trovata a distaccarmi da lei parecchie volte ma comunque a capirla.
Bel libro comunque! decisamente vale a pena di leggerlo.

«Come si chiama?» chiesi.
«Hazel», rispose Grant. Era un nome femminile, ma anche il fiore del nocciolo: riconciliazione «Ho pensato che un giorno ti avrebbe riportato da me.» 
Ero tornata. Forse non era troppo tardi, dopotutto.

Mandy Kirkby

A beautiful gift book celebrating the forgotten language of flowers. "A flower is not a flower alone; A thousand thoughts invest it"All over the world, flowers are an integral part of human culture whether it is the perfect table centre for a wedding, a beautiful bouquet for a birthday, a message of thanks, or to pay one's respect at a funeral. But, while everyone knows that red roses signify love, few may realise that an entire language of flowers exists with every bloom, folliage and plant having a particular emotion attached, be it hazel for reconcilliation, wisteria for welcome or ivy for fidelity. This unique language was created by the romantic early Victorians who carefully planned every bouquet and posy so as to deliver a desired message. Bringing the language to a new generation, this beautifully illustrated miscellany contains fifty profiled flowers, a dictionary searchable by emotion, and ideas for creating bouquets and arrangements for specific occasions. This gift book is a novel present that any flower lover will want to own.

A Miscellany

Conosco un ciglio dove il timo selvatico fiorisce,
crescon le margherite e reclinano il capo le viole,
coperto da un padiglione di fin troppo rigoglioso caprifoglio,
con dolci rose muschiate e roselline di macchia.
Colà, fra i fiori, Titania dorme talvolta di notte,
cullata da musiche e danze.

Holly Klein

One of my favorites, I will always love this book.

Ana V. 

This was a very interesting book about a foster kids who runs away and with the help of a kind woman starts to work in her flower shop. I wish the kindness and trust that the owner reflects towards the girl would be real. It seems too hard to believe one might take in a kindness and retribute with loyalty and honesty nowadays.

Another aspect if the meaning the author gives to the flowers and colors.

Becky

This book was quite simply beautiful. It was heart wrenching and heart warming. It held a true understanding of human nature and u lived every minute I spent reading it. I simply couldn't put it down

Allyson Marrs

A beautiful, frustrating, gutting read. As difficult as Diffenbaugh writes Victoria, I never once hated her. I felt like I was supposed to, but all I could do was sympathize with her anger and wait for her to realize she was her own destruction. 

I truly loved the theme of this book. The idea of the language of flowers is fascinating and it worked seamlessly with this story and the many arcs. I think everything in this book was perfectly done, and I'll definitely be reading it again.

b.andherbooks

Sorry book. You were elegantly written and had beautiful prose that I found enchanting (and thus two stars instead of one).

Too bad the story frustrated the hell out of me. I often wanted to fling this book across the room as each highly unlikely event played out, especially Renata and her amazing, judgment free, and oh so helpful Russian family. Good thing Renata was willing to take Victoria on to work at her flower shop under the table JUST as Victoria was most desperate for money. Good thing Renata had a sister with a spare room she was willing to let out to a STRANGER for next to nothing. Good thing Renata had a mother who practices midwifery on the side. I was waiting for a hot Russian brother to come and sweep Victoria off her feet, but instead we had BEST MAN IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD - Grant. Again, I just don't buy it. Victoria sucks. She had a rough go of it, yes, but so many of the things she did were simply unforgivable (to me) or just so bad that I think it would have taken far longer for her to ultimately find salvation. And for all the horrible feelings this book made me go through, that it had a happy ending really ticked me off.

So, again, sorry book. You were not for me.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness. Look for special features inside. Join the Circle for author chats and more. Praise for The Language of Flowers "Instantly enchanting . . . [Diffenbaugh] is the best new writer of the year."—Elle “I would like to hand Vanessa Diffenbaugh a bouquet of bouvardia (enthusiasm), gladiolus (you pierce my heart) and lisianthus (appreciation). In this original and brilliant first novel, Diffenbaugh has united her fascination with the language of flowers—a long-forgotten and mysterious way of communication—with her firsthand knowledge of the travails of the foster-care system. . . . This novel is both enchanting and cruel, full of beauty and anger. Diffenbaugh is a talented writer and a mesmerizing storyteller. She includes a flower dictionary in case we want to use the language ourselves. And there is one more sprig I should add to her bouquet: a single pink carnation (I will never forget you).”—Washington Post "A fascinating debut . . . Diffenbaugh clearly knows both the human heart and her plants, and she keeps us rooting for the damaged Victoria."—O Magazine "Diffenbaugh effortlessly spins this enchanting tale, making even her prickly protagonist impossible not to love."—Entertainment Weekly

Chelsea White

Very thoughtful book, and incredibly researched (in regards to the meaning of different flowers). I really enjoyed this book and essentially devoured it because I thought it was so good. The plot is interesting and moves at a good pace, in a way that makes sense and reveals information at just the right moment. I really appreciated how this book is a celebration on doing what makes you uncomfortable or that which you think you cannot do, and overcoming great odds and obstacles to become so you really are.

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 expresssing 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 realise 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.

Elad Schulman

very beautiful novel, though Victoria wasn’t the most lovable character at times. The entire third part of the novel was very difficult for me to read, but I knew it would get better.

"I used the same flowers again and again: a bouquet of marigold, grief; a bucket of thistle, misanthropy; a pinch of dried basil; hatred. Only occasionally did my communication vary."The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey what words could not, from declarations of admiration to confessions of betrayal.For Victoria Jones, alone after a childhood in foster care, it is her way of expressing a legacy of grief and guilt. Believing she is damaged beyond hope, she trusts nobody, connecting with the world only through message-laden bouquets.But when a mysterious man at the flower market responds in kind, Victoria is caught between fascination and fear, and must decide whether she can open herself to the possibilities of happiness... and forgiveness. Heartbreaking and uplifting, The Language of Flowers is a redemptive story about the meaning of flowers, the meaning of family, and the meaning of love.

Caitlin Berger

I realized I'm pretty bad at writing reviews because sometimes I can't put my thoughts into words properly (which is why I'm a musician). Anyways. I'll still attempt them. This book was a masterpiece, truly. A work of art. The story really captured my interest. It was a bit slow to get into but after the first few chapters there was a good rhythm to it and I didn't want to put it down.
Something I really enjoyed about this novel was how the author stripped away superficial details that we see in almost all books nowadays, things like always commenting on people's looks, or talking about the media, just little things that aren't essential to the plot but that every author sticks in somewhere. This book just had the core of the characters hearts and personalities. The author really included things that were essential and nothing more, which is what made it such a captivating read, though it may sound like the opposite. I just liked the simple narrative; it spoke to me more directly than many other novels I've read.
Also, I loved learning about the language of flowers and all their meanings. I am 10000% going to think differently about flowers now. I'm always gonna be looking up their meaning if I read about them in a book or if someone offers them to me. Truly interesting and unique.
So basically this book was amazing. Though I can't relate to the actual plot line of the book, the messages spoke to me and I think will stick with me. Forgiveness, the willingness to let yourself experience happiness even when you think you don't deserve it...anybody and everybody could find something to relate to in this novel. These types of books are the best; the ones that, when you strip away the storyline and get to the message, you find it is a universal one and one worth remembering.

Anaïs

Talia Loredo 

Sophie Kurland

"The story of a woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own past"--

The Language of Flowers A Novel

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