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 )

Absolutely outstanding!

A very interesting story which kept me engaged and sad when I had to close the app and do something else. It is one of those stories that makes you think about the characters and their experiences even after the pages are closed. ADDED BONUS-if you have even the slightest interest in flowers, your mind and imagination will have a blast. Mine sure did!

A Foster Kid's Fairy Tale

From a broken childhood in foster care, the main character manages to get a job that pays a living wage, score an apartment in San Francisco, and start a business all without a hitch. During her years as a foster kid, she sets a fire in her favorite foster mom's vineyard - the foster mom is blamed for abusing her.......After getting pregnant, she gives birth in her apartment. Feeling overwhelmed she abandons the baby in the father's bedroom 60 miles away. When she is ready, she rejoins her family - the baby, the baby's father and her favorite foster mom......oh, and the baby's father and her favorite foster mom have several millions of dollars in land......not my favorite type of tale. Well performed.....

Human challenges

Through the historical Victorian language of flowers, Ms Diffenbaugh weaves a compelling tale of the challenges of learning to connect with other human beings despite a lack of good models. She pulls us in to see how hard it is to be human when love has failed to bloom in the hard soil of selfmistrust and fear. The bountiful harvest is possible however and hope triumphs in this coming of age new classic.

Really works up emotions!

Honestly this book kept making me angry... But I enjoyed it no less. Well written & good story. The knowledge you gain about flowers is interesting too.

lovely

what a beautiful story so amazingly didn't with such description I loved every minute of it

beautiful and hopeful

Amidst the beauty of the message that flowers convey, we listen to one more sad story of a girl who suffered abandonment and mistreat during her childhood.The story of her past alternates with her story in the present in which you will probably many times feel your chest tight.

One of the things i liked most was the realistic point of view of the author on motherhood and also that in spite of everything it is not very predictable so you keep going,( not able to quite figure out the outcome).

True resiliency is the ability to recover or not lose your soul after difficult times. To me this book well enough written and read is about that.

Wonderful story great new author!

I have listened to both of Vanessa's books and was pleasantly entertained by her amazing stories! This one is touching and seems so personal that even though it is fiction, it feels like Vanessa gifted the world process of herself and her personal story.

I enjoyed the story from beginning to end

Where does The Language of Flowers rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top ten!

What did you like best about this story?

It hooked me right away and kept my interest all the way through

Which scene was your favorite?

When she came down to be with him at the end

fantastic! Couldn't wait to finish it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would! recommend it. I liked how it talked about the different meanings of flowers and how these different characters used them in giving messages to others.. Watching a homeless girl go through so much hurt and pain and then turn her life around.

What did you like best about this story?

That everyone needs to be loved and accepted.

Which scene was your favorite?

When she left the group home but before leaving left each girl a specific flower to send them a message of what she thought of them.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes, had a hard time turning it off.

Great Listen!

Any additional comments?

Really enjoyed this one. Interesting subject. Narrator pleasant. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because it wasn't completely amazing. But would definitely recommend.