The Language of Flowers

De: Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Narrado por: Tara Sands

The Victorian language of flowers was used to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it has been more useful in communicating feelings like 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 eighteen, Victoria 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 meeting a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realise what's been missing in her own life, and as she starts to fall for him, she's forced to confront a painful secret from her past, and decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness. The Language of Flowers is a heartbreaking and redemptive novel about the meaning of flowers, the meaning of family, and the meaning of love.

©2011 Vanessa Diffenbaugh (P)2012 Random House US

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A moving and beautifully written portrayal of the frailty - and the hardiness - of the human spirit." ( Sunday Telegraph)

"It has the right ingredients – a quirky plot device (the Victorian notion that flowers represent emotions), troubled heroine, hidden back-story, childhood trauma. It is entertaining, and, at times, quite addictive. These are all marvellous things for a debut (or any novel for that matter)." ( Sunday Times Culture)

A beautiful saddening and surprisingly happy tale

Overall, the story was a beautiful tale of an unloved little girl who found her way in the world through the love of flowers. I think the reason why she enjoy the language of flowers so much was because no one would be able to understand it just like she has felt so misunderstood her whole life. Everyone except for one person. Her person. The story could be seen as quite intense and quite saddening but for me it is more about how through meeting the right people and being in the right environment any person can blossom into who they are meant to be. Victoria even though compared to a lot of other people is quite odd in her behaviour. It is understandable why she behaves and reacts to situations the way she does due to her upbringing. The way we see the world and how we live our lives are cultivated by the situations and reactions of others around us. We can learn from other peoples my steps but also show people that love can be unconditional and even if you think you are unlovable that is just not the case when you are seen through someone else’s eyes. I think the story ended away that was true to who Victoria was and it wasn’t just a straightforward happily ever after. I really love the authors writing style and the back-and-forth of the story between her childhood and the moment she according to the government became an adult. I hope when people read the story they get a new appreciation for flowers and bring back an old tradition that creates a more meaningful exchange between two people.