The Language of Flowers
Diffenbaugh, Vanessa. The Language of Flowers. 2011. (Fiction Diffe.V)
With a title like The Language of Flowers, you might expect something sappy -- and there are a few moments in this lovely novel when it seems to be veering in that direction. In each instance, though, author Vanessa Diffenbaugh pulls it back from the brink of the cliched and sentimental. The Language of Flowers is the story of Victoria Jones, a young woman who has aged out of the foster care system and is living on her own in San Francisco. Victoria's one positive foster care placement was at age nine with Elizabeth, who taught her to speak the "language of flowers," which was primarily used by the Victorians to express romantic interest and love. Victoria primarily uses it to express anger. The novel alternates between scenes from Victoria's year with Elizabeth and scenes from her life as a struggling young adult, first homeless, then making a living as a florist with a gift for helping customers express their emotions even as she tries to smother her own. The Language of Flowers explores love, self sufficiency, and forgiveness in a unique and engaging way.
Genevieve G.
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