The Language of Flowers

A Novel

By: Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Narrated by: Tara Sands

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past.

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 grief, 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 18 and emancipated from the system, Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. Soon a local florist discovers her talents, and Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But a mysterious vendor at the flower market 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.

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)

©2011 Vanessa Diffenbaugh (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“As a foster care survivor, I feel a kinship with Victoria Jones as she battles loss and risk and her own thorny demons to find redemption. Vanessa Diffenbaugh has given us a deeply human character to root for, and a heart-wrenching story with insight and compassion to spare.” (Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife)

"The Language of Flowers is a primer for the language of love. Vanessa Diffenbaugh deftly gathers themes of maternal love, forgiveness and redemption in an unforgettable literary bouquet. Book clubs will swoon!" (Adriana Trigiani, author of Very Valentine and Don’t Sing at the Table)

“A deftly powerful story of finding your way home, even after you’ve burned every bridge behind you. The Language of Flowers took my heart apart, chapter by chapter, then reassembled the broken pieces in better working condition - I loved this book.” (Jamie Ford, author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet )

Interesting kept me guessing.

I likedmany aspects of the book. at times it was a bit comfusing, back and forth but all and all a good read.

Helpful Insight into Trauma Mindset

I read this book on the recommendation of another foster system worker. I did find it to be fairly accurate to the type of attitudes/behavior we encounter in the foster system from children who have had many placements (the distrust, anger, acting out and self-sabotaging) as well as how that trauma can cause them to make similar life choices later on (such as abandoning their own children, etc.) So I do think it’s helpful to understand the emotions driving the behavior.

Apart from that, the story was also mildly interesting and the language of flowers served to show how empowering it can be to provide traumatized children with a means of communicating their emotions.

I personally did not care for the narrator’s voice at all and found it hard to sit through the entire book (I would have preferred to read it). But she did put effort in to try and do different voices for the characters.

Overall 6/10 probably

Couldn’t put down

Such a realistic portrayal of foster care and the kids living in care and how hopeless so many kids are just because of circumstance that they had no control over.

Good Enough

I did not like the narrator’s voice. It was grating. I didn’t like how she tried to make characters sound different.
The story was okay. I feel like this story has been told before, many times.
The book was hard to get into, and some parts went on too long. It got better near then end.
I also read the book because just listening to the narrator was not enjoyable.

Loved It!

I loved the story.I work with foster kids and really felt that Victoria portrayed the emotions experienced by "some" foster kids. I thought the narrator sounded like a young adult which made it seem like Victoria was talking to me. When I was younger I was very interested in the language of flowers and it was fun to revisit it.

Flawed heroine, that you fall in love with

Well done book, with the lead character so flawed, you start off feeling sorry for her, then with one bad decision after another, you start to want to yell at her. The author does a superb job getting into the psyche of the character where you can almost understand why she is making bad decisions. I found this the most interesting part of the story. The story of mother and child and falling in love are all done well but not as unique as the lead character. I would definately recommend as a very good read/listen.

Language of flowers!

Who knew flowers each had words attached with meaning! Intriguing gripping story. A young orphaned girl struggles to love.

One of my favorite all time books

This is one of my favorite all-time books. A beautifully told story about a young troubled girl who finds her way through the language of flowers. If you love flowers, and love a good love story, you’ll love this book.
Audible 20 sweepstakes entry

Heartwarming and suspenseful

Excellent book!! Heartwarming and suspenseful. A great story of courage, love and heart ache. This book gives me hope for mankind.

Very drawn out!

This book was just ok. Very wordy and drawn out. The flower references were interesting but makes you dislike certain ones due to the supposed meaning.