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 )

great story

Great story of love and triumph. A family is a family is a family. Wonderful summer read.

Heartbreaking and Beautiful

I didn't know what to expect with this story, but I have loved this story that is both a commentary on the failing system set up to take care of unwanted children and the broken people who do or don't care for them and a story of a girl trying to figure out how to live and love when she has experienced little of either. The story is pulled along by a little mystery of how characters and events are connected.

It's really a great listen.

Complete

This is the most well-developed book I have read in a long time it just felt complete when I finished. She grew she changed and at the end I truly felt like this girl's life I've come full circle, sometimes books leave you hanging at the end and you are wondering the whole time well what happened? But in this book there is a great ending.

I rarely read novels unless I feel some resonance

Would you listen to The Language of Flowers again? Why?

Liked it so much I read it twice!

Any additional comments?

I rarely read novels unless I feel some resonance with the story line. One lesson I learned from my own tortured life is that that when abandoned, the Universe provides what I call “earth angels” to enable survival and — if circumstances permit — the thriving of the soul.

Could this be true of Victoria, as well? I just had to find out. How could someone so thoroughly let down by the system as Victoria possibly trust anyone — ever — again? How could she find the conviction to engage in the challenges of living a “normal” life? Could Victoria survive without flashing back to some horrid event — some perceived “proof” of failure — to slap her down one more time? Could she ever live as a contributing member of the community without sabotaging everything she ever touched? Can someone who feels misgivings for humanity ever learn to grow, then to love, and even to set down roots? Could she ever feel understood and loved by another?

At the age of eighteen, Victoria was cast out of family services as homeless and jobless. The Language of Flowers was the only true and pure thing Victoria had in her life. Could she communicate in the world of flowers and build a life for herself?

Vanessa Diffenbaugh brilliantly portrayed a true-to-life story of a girl utterly let down by a failed system. Victoria had to feel her way along using the only language she knew to surround herself with special souls whose imperfectly perfect ways enabled her development and growth to love where her own mother could not — and to become grounded much like moss — without roots.

Very interesting

I do not read fiction normally, I found this book very entertaining as the psychological aspects of being loved and being open to receive it show here.

I am thankful for such a short but complete perspective and character development

Depressing and frustrating character

Every turn in this book the character self sabotages and blows up everything around her. It’s beyond frustrating to read and not enjoyable.

Fantastic!

Beautifully written - an amazing book. Highly recommend! The Audible version was great all around. So creative.

Loved this story

So heartfelt and real. I fell in love with the characters from the very beginning! A must read!

Second time reading this book!!

I read the this story the first time in a paper back and this second time through audible and it was even better than the first time reading it.
This incredible moving story left such an impression in my heart especially since I am a florist and I too have a story about the language of flowers and the impact it has had in my life. I would read it again and highly recommend it!!

Just beautiful! Best book read in a long time!

If you could sum up The Language of Flowers in three words, what would they be?

moving, eloquent, beautiful

Who was your favorite character and why?

Victoria - she was self aware, honest and flawed. While I didn't always like her, I loved hearing her self analysis and awareness.

Was there a moment in the book that particular moved you?

Every moment in this book moved me.

Any additional comments?

I could not have loved it more. It was the best book I've read in a very long time. The topic did not draw me, but a friend recommended it, and I am now ready to start it from the beginning and read all over again.