Perennials

By: Julie Cantrell

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Eva - known to all as Lovey - grew up safe and secure in Oxford, Mississippi, surrounded by a rich literary history and her mother's stunning flower gardens. But a shed fire, and the injuries that it caused, seemed to change everything...especially when her older sister, Bitsy, blamed Lovey for the irreparable damage.

Bitsy became the cheerleader. The homecoming queen. The perfect Southern belle who could do no wrong. All the while, Lovey served as the family scapegoat, always bearing the brunt when Bitsy threw blame her way.

At 18, suffocating in her sister's shadow, Lovey turned down a marriage proposal and fled to Arizona - a place as far from Mississippi as she could find.

In time, she became a successful advertising executive and a weekend yoga instructor, carving a satisfying life for herself, free from Bitsy's vicious lies. But now that she's turning 45, Lovey is feeling more alone than ever and questioning the choices that have led her here.

When she gets a call from her father insisting that she come home three weeks early for her parents' fiftieth anniversary, Lovey is at wits' end. She's about to close the biggest contract of her career, and there's a lot on the line. But despite the risks, her father's words, "family first", draw her right back to the red dirt roads of Mississippi.

Lovey is welcomed home by a secret project - a memory garden her father has planned as an anniversary surprise for her mother. As she helps create this sacred space, Lovey begins to rediscover her roots, learning to live perennially in spite of life's many trials and tragedies.

Years ago, Lovey chose to leave her family and the South far behind. But now that she's returned, she's realizing things at home were not always what they seemed.

Southern Living Magazine Pick for Most Anticipated Books for Fall. Redbook Magazine Pick of 20 Must-Read Books by Women.

©2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Lovely Story of Flowers and Family

As a gardener, I loved this story of flowers, family, friends, and the fears that we all have deep inside.
A book that reminded me that we need to look to the choices we all make it life and how they are not just for us but also how they effect others. Good book and good life lessons.

couldn't stand the poor me victimy main character

The main character (45 and unmarried but wants to be) is a complete victim. Yeah, she had some bad things happen to her (don't we all) and her sister is a witch with a capital B who for no reason I could figure out wants to destroy her sister's life. And there's the fact that her "lovely" parents always side with the horrible daughter (for no reason I could discern), and while the reason why Bitsy the horrid sister was always trying to bring Lovey down is "explained" near the end, said reason was so very pedestrian. And Lovey just takes it her entire life. She's also a somewhat of a doormat in most areas of her life--even at work where she's very successful.

Then there was the weird religious stuff. "Chief," Lovey's father is constantly telling religious stories or speechifying in general. Everything has to be a lesson. The weird story of Judas, who somehow seems to be the silver lining in sending Jesus off to be crucified is presented to Lovey twice as...some way she's supposed to make up with her sister, who she's been trying to have a decent relationship with her whole life. I didn't get it. Especially when, in one breath he says it's his fault that he never stood up for her but she's supposed to fix her relationship with Bitter Bitsy.

And the mother, syrupy sweet who refused to talk about anything negative or if she did, it had to be turned into a positive thing.

Characters were one-dimensional and men were either evil or angelic.

I read Cantrell's Into the Free and really enjoyed it, but this made my want to grind my teeth.

Flowers, the deep south, and a complicated story

As a flower lover and someone who loves the deep south, this book had me from the start. The story is moving and as someone who recently experienced a deep loss this story really resonated with me. A wonderful, moving story and beautiful performance.

A must read!!

I have bought copies of this book for several friends now! Keep your tissues handy while you read or listen to it! Absolutely wonderful!

Memory Garden = Memory Lane

Perennials was a walk down memory lane with the trip to Jackson and the Welty home visit. The detailed accounts of the Faulkner grounds, the gardens of the mother’s home, and the meaning of each of the flowers made listening a joy. The accent of the reader was also authenticity performed which is much appreciated. I highly recommend the story!!