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The Language of Flowers

by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (Goodreads Author)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 42,606 ratings · 7,580 reviews

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 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 flowe...more

Paperback, 352 pages

Published April 3rd 2012 by Ballantine Books (first published August 23rd 2011)

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Dec 04, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: those who liked "Raw Blue" by Kirsty Eagar

Recommended to oliviasbooks by: Nomes

Shelves: contemporary_fiction, e-version, problem-focused, debut, adult-fiction

The elegantly worded The Language of Flowers made me invest quite a lot during the first chapters, but gambled all my affection away later on. I will try to explain how this unceremonious drop around the middle of the story came to pass after introducing Victoria to you.

There is nothing victorious about Victoria apart from the fact that she survived to see her eighteen's birthday. Even social worker Meredith sees her only as a failure she personally doesn't deserve. A dark blotch on her white s...more

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Sep 03, 2012 jo mo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dramarama, young-adult, tough-heroine, 2011, adoptee-or-orphan, flowers-plants-gardens, artsy-character, read-in-german, own, all-time-faves, 2011-faves, abuse, family, oddities, reviews, make-scrapbook, 5-stars, re-reads, made-into-movie, new-adult, crushworthy-boys

4.75/5

Flowery book jacket

edit: being made into movie ♡

"for eight years i dreamed of fire. trees ignited as i passed them, oceans burned. the sugary smoke settled in my hair as i slept, the scent like a cloud left on my pillow as i rose. even so, the moment my mattress started to burn, i bolted awake. the sharp, chemical smell was nothing like the hazy syrup of my dreams; the two were as different as indian and carolina jasmine, separation and attachment. they could not be confused.

standing in the middle of the

...more

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May 29, 2012 Aryn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, won-in-giveaway, fiction, chick-lit

I received this book from Goodreads Giveaways.

After my recent horrendous experience with The Rose Labyrinth, which had me wanting to claw my eyes out after four sentences, it was wonderful to come across a novel with such a graceful writing style that was apparent from the first page.

For eight years I dreamed of fire. Trees ignited as I passed them, oceans burned. The sugary smoke settled in my hair as I slept, the scent like a cloud left on my pillow as I rose. Even so, the moment my mattress

...more

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Jan 28, 2013 AnneOK rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to AnneOK by: Kristen Howell

Shelves: 2012-reads

Can't remember when I've read and enjoyed a story as much as Victoria's. She stole my heart from the beginning and I only grew to admire and love her more with each page. There were times when I wanted to shake her and yell at her to wake up and get a grip. Just when I thought she wouldn't, she did just that. Amazing story of survival, love, and strength. The flowers add so much depth and feelings to this story that I was enthralled by it all. Just an amazing and wonderfully well written book wi...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Kara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-contemp, annoying-protagonist, books-about-books, california, favorites, for-review, i-cried, own, the-tough-stuff, romance, i-learned-something

Not too many books have made me cry this year. That's not a normal thing as I am usually an emotional person who cries fairly easily. But not this year. Perhaps it's because I've toughened up and become desensitized, I don't know, or perhaps it's because I've gotten pickier and liked much less of what I have been reading this year. But this book. OH, this book. It had me on the floor with the Kleenex *cough* toilet paper *cough*, rolling around like Nancy Kerrigan screaming, "Why, why?" before I...more Not too many books have made me cry this year. That's not a normal thing as I am usually an emotional person who cries fairly easily. But not this year. Perhaps it's because I've toughened up and become desensitized, I don't know, or perhaps it's because I've gotten pickier and liked much less of what I have been reading this year. But this book. OH, this book. It had me on the floor with the Kleenex *cough* toilet paper *cough*, rolling around like Nancy Kerrigan screaming, "Why, why?" before I had closed the last page.

Victoria, you were one hard-to-like protagonist. There were times when I wanted you to be real just so I could slap you and tell you what an idiot you were being. There were moments--few and far between--when I sympathized with you and really felt so badly that the world had let you down. I say few and far between because a lot of what happened to you you brought on yourself. And I tried, I REALLY DID, to understand you, but you were just incorrigible and oh so frustrating. The people around you loved you and you just couldn't see it. They would have done anything for you, regardless of the horrible things you had done. Being given up repeatedly by so many foster parents and getting lost in the system must have been a horrible, horrible thing to go through. And yet I cannot imagine CHOOSING to be homeless because I was scared that I would disappoint someone. Even if that were true--and call me selfish if you want--but at some point you have to look out for #1 first. And yet, as ridiculous as I found your actions most of the time, I fell for you, heart and soul, and just wanted everything to work out for you. Maybe I am a masochist. I think I would have been Grant in this story.

Now that I am done addressing Victoria *slaps her and then hugs her*, I want to talk about the rest of the characters really quickly. Grant was a wonderful character but I never really felt like I knew him.It's not that he wasn't developed well because I don't find that to be true at all, but he was more of the strong, quiet type who was just willing to lay back and accept what happened around him. Too laid back. I liked him but he also frustrated me because he never spoke! Well, hardly. I don't know. He was an amazing character but the type of character you don't come across often because he was not so in-your-face as most characters are.

Elizabeth, though. Elizabeth broke my damn heart. If there was one character in the book that I wanted to hug and take care of, it was her. Perhaps it was because I saw some of my grandmother in her, but she was just a generally wonderful and caring person. She truly loved Victoria and wanted to make her her daughter more than she wanted life itself. I often say about myself that I am not an easy person to love, but I think Elizabeth would have been able to love just about anyone because her heart was so pure. I can't even begin to describe the buckets of adoration I had for this woman. She just NEVER gave up. She was so strong for everyone else but never herself. Hard to explain, but this is the type of person you want in your life, and if you have ever been lucky enough to have one, you know what I mean.

This book--if you are patient enough to not throw it at the wall--will have you looking in the mirror to check how puffy your eyes are. You'll be at the sink, loading up the dishwasher when all of a sudden you will think about something that happened in the book that made you cry, and oh, oh, there go the waterworks again. *%!!

The writing was beautiful and the prose flowed in a way that just really connected with me. I truly enjoyed the author's voice. It's not a book that will be an all-time favorite, I don't think--see me in a few months--but I still really, truly enjoyed it, and I think for the right person, this book could be a life-changing experience. If you haven't had a chance to read this one yet, you should pick up a copy. It's in softcover now and fairly affordable. If you have, I would love to hear your thoughts.(less)

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May 24, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: early-first-reads

"The Language of Flowers" by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
I loved this book from the beginning and didn’t want it to end. I have always had a fascination with knowing the names history of flowers and plants and love finding them in natural surroundings. This book, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, (whose name is similar to the dieffenbachia plant) had such a moving story line in telling the story of Victoria, from her abandonment at birth, through childhood abuse, to her orphanage experience...more "The Language of Flowers" by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
I loved this book from the beginning and didn’t want it to end. I have always had a fascination with knowing the names history of flowers and plants and love finding them in natural surroundings. This book, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, (whose name is similar to the dieffenbachia plant) had such a moving story line in telling the story of Victoria, from her abandonment at birth, through childhood abuse, to her orphanage experiences and her difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships. Victoria’s life is portrayed with a depth of a feeling that pulls the reader into caring about this strange and sometimes difficult young woman. The story moves back and forth in time and place within the span of her life which brings greater meaning to why she behaves the way she does with people she meets.

Victoria reminds me of several young people I have met and worked with over the years. They may be prickly but also may produce the most beautiful lives, just as some thorny plants produce soft and beautiful flowers. It is a story that can lift you up with expectation and hope, and than then bring you down and make you sad. It is a roller coaster ride of resiliency and success combined with sadness and disappointment.

The idea of pouring over dusty and seldom read book after book in the personal pursuit of creating your own book of flowers and their meanings struck a cord with me. What a quiet and resolved drive and passion Victoria kept mentally reconnecting to her childhood to find understanding and meaning in her own life. There was a personal relationship with the flowers Victoria worked with and it was evident with all those who became involved in her world.
“The flower you’re looking for is clearly the common thistle, which symbolizes misanthropy. Misanthropy means hatred or mistrust of humankind.”
“Does humankind mean everybody?”
“Yes,”
“I thought about this. Misanthropy. No one had ever described my feelings in single word.”

I received this as an early reviewer copy and appreciate the opportunity to have read this book. It is hard to believe that this was a debut novel and Vanessa’s own experiences as a foster mother and teacher shine through in this novel. For me this was an outstanding selection and I will be recommending this book as a book club read. I rate it as a full 5 star book.(less)

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Jun 19, 2012 Juanita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This "review" forces me to think about the five star rating system. Since a number of stars reflects my own personal assessment then I need to be honest about how I feel about a book. Here is a chance to define my rating system: five stars means that the book is fascinating, readable, attention holding, has a plot, well defined characters and is well written, lyrical or poetic even. One star means I should not have read the book, why did I bother? But I did and it was good enough to finish(or sk...more This "review" forces me to think about the five star rating system. Since a number of stars reflects my own personal assessment then I need to be honest about how I feel about a book. Here is a chance to define my rating system: five stars means that the book is fascinating, readable, attention holding, has a plot, well defined characters and is well written, lyrical or poetic even. One star means I should not have read the book, why did I bother? But I did and it was good enough to finish(or skip to the end). Three stars means that not only did I read the book, I liked it, but something was missing in order to extol its virtues.

In the case of The Language of Flowers, I loved the idea of the book, messages sent with flowers. The book is a romance and as such, the characters were all well defined but just a bit unbelievable. Why was such a horrid, aggressive, uncommunicative, misfit like the "heroine" tolerated, let alone loved by people who hardly knew her (about one year of acquaintance)? How could they be so devoted when the side they saw of her was mostly bad and her misdeeds were plentiful? The plot was cleverly done, weaving together the few skills the girl had and her destiny in flowers. But the plot felt contrived too what with the tolerant flower seller, the pregnancy and hiding out in the park then the ugly apartment. The heroines emergence as a potential butterfly after years of caterpillaring existence didn't ring true. Her inner growth and blooming needed more development in the story. Her lover man's devotion was really a puzzle - she was so awful to him.

I wanted more about the flower language throughout the book; the author gave us a bit but I wanted lots more. Also the descriptions of places were were not evocative enough to give me a real sense of time and environment. This was partly because place references were overburdened with details about feelings and behavior - mostly of the "heroine". It was interesting that there wasnt very much about current events - this created a sense of timelessness, probably intended. The story revolves totally around just a few people. This is a fascinating and desperate tale of one orphan's struggle to survive adjust and blossom. Fine, and the story achieved that. I liked the book but I cannot recommend it to all wholeheartedly and cannot give it a five. Sorry Vanessa and Victoria (and why didnt you give her a flower name?)(less)

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Sep 08, 2011 Jennie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Victoria starts her adult life an 18-year-old girl emancipate from the San Francisco foster care system. After a childhood of neglect, she miraculously blossoms into a businesswoman and mother, redeemed by an adoptive parent who teaches her to connect using the Victorian language of flowers. The author has woven a cause for social justice into a work of compelling fiction, and uses this tightly-crafted novel to inspire people to act with foster kids in mind. In this country there are nearly 20,0...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone!!!

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS DUE OUT 19TH OF AUGUST 2011

The Language of Flowers is gritty and meaningful; it will take you deep and bring you into dark places. This debut novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is going to be top of the charts within a week. Her writing is both risky and extremely exciting; she is the type of writer you watch out for. If I could scream from the rooftops about this book I would. Sometimes when you read a book you just know this is it, this is the book that will touch your heart...more THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS DUE OUT 19TH OF AUGUST 2011

The Language of Flowers is gritty and meaningful; it will take you deep and bring you into dark places. This debut novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is going to be top of the charts within a week. Her writing is both risky and extremely exciting; she is the type of writer you watch out for. If I could scream from the rooftops about this book I would. Sometimes when you read a book you just know this is it, this is the book that will touch your heart in an extraordinary way.
Being compared to Chocolat to me is an insult to this book as it carries far more weight, the story holds so much reality and it is in no way fantastical. Chocolat is one of my favourite books and movies and will always carry a special place in my heart, but the only comparison is the way in which the flowers express what Victoria (the main character in the book) can’t herself express, just like Vianne uses chocolates to express herself.
The Language of Flowers tells the story of Victoria, a girl who has never known the security of a real family or home. Switching between Victoria as a child and as an adult we are told the story of her haunted past and how she came to love and know flowers, while also learning of how she has grown as an adult and what her future holds.
Up until the age of 9 this little girl was passed around from foster parents to group homes never quite being enough for any of them to want to hold on to. This is of course until she is brought to Elizabeth, a single woman who lives on a flower farm and wants nothing more than a daughter of her own. Victoria of course pushes the limits every chance she gets expecting Meredith her social worker to be called to take her away. But in time she learns to trust Elizabeth, and with that begins to share her passion for flowers. Victoria spends hours in the fields with Elizabeth learning about the different types of flowers and the meaning of each.
But now Victoria is 18 sleeping in a park alone where she has created her own garden hidden behind the trees. Elizabeth is nowhere to be found. Homeless and afraid she manages to get a job with Renata a flower shop owner who quickly learns Victoria understands flowers better than she does herself. Renata never pushes her or asks questions, she only helps without intrusion. She somehow understands this closed off hard girl just needs someone to be there, to be silent. But just as Victoria starts to get her life together someone from her past comes back and she finds herself imprisoned by the lies that were told back then.
Vanessa Diffenbaugh should be congratulated for telling such a wonderful heartbreaking story. I know that when this book comes out that the words will speak for themselves and she will get the recognition she deserves. It is incredibly well written, nothing has been compromised and so much has been put into this novel. In addition to the story she also leaves us with something very special at the end. I urge you not to look until you have read the whole story as it only adds to how you will feel about this book.
Vanessa Diffenbaugh (less)

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Jun 11, 2012 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story. The first couple of chapters were hard to get through because I really didn't like Victoria - she seemed to selfish, rude, lazy and bitter; I didn't want to read a whole story filled with her bad attitude. But then you really get to know what's in her heart and head and how she's trying to change. The characters were all very well written - lots of varying personalities, but they all were instantly real people to me. I was totally engrossed in the story - needing to find out...more

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May 18, 2013 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, 2011, ones-to-watch, national-blue-ribbon-book, book-club-assorted-book-nuts, indie-pick

This was a first reads for me and it was very very good. A unique story of a young girl raised in the foster care system, her definace, someone who loves her and from that love a passion for flowers arises.

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Mar 09, 2012 Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, e, 2012, for-review, gorgeous-prose, good-grief

I have received many a horrified look when I have told people that I don't like red roses. Their expression of horror only got worse when I told them I much preferred yellow roses. I was always really confused as to why which flowers I liked would cause such a strong reaction.

Then I read this book and found out.

Translation Time.
"I don't like red roses" = "I don't like love".
"But I love yellow roses" = "But I love infidelity".

o.O

Now, I'm guessing that this wasn't actually the reason why the look...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Lilly G rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiftyfiftyme-2013

The exact rating on this would be 3.75, in case you're paying attention.
This was unexpectedly a page-turner. Diffenbaugh takes on a challenging protagonist, one who de facto isn't very likable nor is she supposed to be, but she keeps you interested in the plot nonetheless. That's the sign of a good writer. For me, the best part of this book was the creativity of bringing the Victorian "language of flowers" into play into a modern novel, and thereby reintroducing this captivating concept to the m...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Fotooh Jarkas rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, novels

My five stars expectation –that came first with the elegantly worded title “ the language of flowers” - was met in the very first chapters , but later on it unluckily diminished to four .
Victoria , the foundling baby that had been abandoned right after her birth , and Meredith the social worker who failed for 18 years to strike upon a foster family willing to breed Victoria.
It was hard task to harmonize the uneasy aggressive and troublemaker girl with the careless, loveless and cruel fosters .
A...more My five stars expectation –that came first with the elegantly worded title “ the language of flowers” - was met in the very first chapters , but later on it unluckily diminished to four .
Victoria , the foundling baby that had been abandoned right after her birth , and Meredith the social worker who failed for 18 years to strike upon a foster family willing to breed Victoria.
It was hard task to harmonize the uneasy aggressive and troublemaker girl with the careless, loveless and cruel fosters .
At the age of 10 she found Elizabeth – a foster mother who loved her and met all of her physical and psychological needs, but the court took Victoria away from her when the kid lit a fire in Elizabeth’s vineyard .
At her 18th birthday , Victoria got the last chance to have a shelter . She was moved into a transition house and given a three months-last chance to find a job and rent a room , by the time limit she was evicted , so she moved to live in the forest _ dipped with her fears and hunger , as she had effortlessly planned.
Homeless and jobless Victoria met Renata – a Russian florist – who was astonished by Victoria’s knowledge about flowers and her talent in creating mesmerizing bouquets . Voctoria was hired at Renata’s store , her job had drawn an unforgettable vivid portrait of Victoria , the sensitive lady whose gift for flowers had helped her change the life of others . Victoria’s flowers were more creative than usual , they were able to deliver romantic messages and convey lovers’ feelings . Her flowers helped everybody but not our protagonist! . She was trapped in her troubled past. Her mistrust , reserve and the relapses of the past, all made her a problem in making and keeping relationships . Even when she met Grant -the mysterious flower vendor, who gave her what she really missed in her life , she couldn’t give in and she left him silently .
She started her own wedding flowers business ,based on what she had learnt from Grant , Renata and Elizabeth , the three people she let them down .
she was self-centered but sincere at the same time. She was taking everyone’s support , sacrifice , and help. but on the other hand She was living in grief , blaming herself all the time , she knew from the heart of hearts that she was wrong , but she failed to devote herself to anybody, not even to her newborn .
But after all the novel ended happily & romantically , it was a little dreamy and unbelievable .
This novel is a roller coaster ride of regret and disappointment combined with grief and solitude.
It come up the question : Could we somehow be driven by both regret and selfishness at the same time ?!

(less)

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Mar 20, 2013 Diane rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sorry if I post this review twice. I somehow "lost" the one I was writing.

This book is the darling of book clubs all over the country but I found it to be insipid and flawed. It showed great promise for about the first third. Diffenbaugh seemed to show an accurate and heartbreaking portrait of a young girl who is let down by the foster care system. She is angry and damaged. This was believable and felt very real.

The rest of the book didn't make a lot of sense to me. This broken young woman is sa...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, finished-2013, gardening-fiction

Unexpected. This started out as a Christmas gift from one of my best friends, which I began reading the evening of our annual Christmas visit on December 29th. I was immediately surprised at how I was swept up by the writing, the story. I'm not usually one for first person point of view or alternating time frames, but neither distracted me as often happens. What an incredible journey! I didn't want to stop reading and only did so to prolong the experience of reading it. I 'had to' see how it unf...more

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Feb 20, 2013 JoAnne Pulcino rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fiction, book-club-selection, women-s, adult-fiction-and-e-book, large-print

LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

Vanessa Diffenbaugh

This is fascinating and enchanting debut novel by an author who masterfully creates a human story that is both devastating and full of hope. It features a satisfyingly and surprisingly moving portrait of a heroine of immense proportions.

Victoria Jones at 18 is emancipated from the foster care system where she has spent her childhood, and has no place to go. She sleeps in a park, and plants a small garden. A local florist discovers her gift of helping others...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Lisa Vegan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: many readers, but particularly foster kids & former foster kids ages 12-30 and their adults

Recommended to Lisa by: Lee

Shelves: fiction, orphaned-and-quasi-orphaned-kids, novel, young-adult, gr-author, san-francisco, bookclub, reviewed, gr-groups-buddies, altta, mental-illness

4 ½ stars

I vacillated between 4 and 5 stars for this book, but despite not being happy with everything about it, I think the story and its memorable characters are so well crafted, and it touched me so deeply and affected me so strongly, that I have to round it up and give it 5 stars. That said, I’m not sure it’s the most ideal book for my next book club discussion. I am glad I pushed for us to read it though, for selfish reasons, because I’ve wanted to read this book since it first came out and...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Tyene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Una rosa è una rosa è una rosa.

« Non mi fido, come la lavanda.
Mi difendo, come il rododendro.
Sono sola come la rosa bianca, e ho paura.
E quando ho paura, lascio che la mia voce siano i fiori.»

Non credevo mi sarebbe piaciuto così tanto, ed invece è davvero molto piacevole da leggere. Victoria è cresciuta senza una vera famiglia, non è in grado di comunicare l'amore che prova senza in linguaggio dei fiori che, tra parentesi, avrei voluto vedere utilizzato un pò di più durante il libro.
Carino il...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Sonia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4 stelline e mezzo (GD voglio le mezze stelline!)

"Non mi fido, come la lavanda.
Mi difendo, come il rododendro.
Sono sola come la rosa bianca, e ho paura.
E quando ho paura, lascio che la mia voce siano i fiori."

Questa è Victoria e "Il linguaggio segreto dei fiori" è la sua storia.
La storia di come da un cuore che non conosce l’amore, grazie ad un piccolo fiore di nocciolo, può nascere l'amore più puro.

Questo libro è stupendo, una fiaba moderna che coinvolge ed emoziona sin dal primo capitol...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Back in September I read about The Language of Flowers on the Momastery blog and added it to my reading list. Based on the cover alone, I wouldn't have guessed this would be a book I should read. (I'm not that artistically inclined and I can imagine a dozen cover designs that would give a better sense for the beauty inside, but I suppose I ought to know not to judge a book by its cover by now!)

Even when I picked up the book from the library I was prepared to not like it. Well, let me tell you th...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fiction, 2011-reads

I'm a little conflicted about how to rate and review this one. I was really interested in the subject matter - the Victorian language of flowers. The young protagonist Victoria is a hurt and traumatized young woman after spending most of her life in foster care. After finally being released on her 18th birthday she begins a new life working with a florist and begins to bloom a little herself. The narration flips back and forth between her present life and various childhood episodes which I found...more

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May 08, 2011 Librisulibri added it · review of another edition

Il linguaggio segreto dei fiori è un romanzo dal profumo etereo, che mette euforia e una buona dose di romanticismo già nel titolo. Al suo esordio letterario, Vanessa Diffenbaugh ci trascina come la brezza di maggio verso un pout pourri di colori e sensazioni che solo nel profumo dei fiori si possono trovare.

http://librisulibri.it/2011/05/06/il-...

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Oct 25, 2011 kari rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Too much folding! “He folded himself into a chair. She folded her feet beneath her. He folded over in exhaustion placing his head on the table. She folded over in pain. She folded herself underneath the bush.”
How about: “He sat in a chair. She pulled her feet beneath her. He slumped over in exhaustion. She bent over in pain. She curled herself underneath the bush.”
Really, another verb is needed here and fold/ed was most overused. Yes, I am nitpicking, but since I was bothered enough to comment,...more Too much folding! “He folded himself into a chair. She folded her feet beneath her. He folded over in exhaustion placing his head on the table. She folded over in pain. She folded herself underneath the bush.”
How about: “He sat in a chair. She pulled her feet beneath her. He slumped over in exhaustion. She bent over in pain. She curled herself underneath the bush.”
Really, another verb is needed here and fold/ed was most overused. Yes, I am nitpicking, but since I was bothered enough to comment, the overuse of it was noticeable and bothersome.

Synopsis:
Foster child ages out of the system, plants a garden in a city park, sleeps under a bush.
Meets a florist who gives her a job, meets a man, rents a tiny blue room.
Gets pregnant, runs away to sleep under the bush.
Has baby, runs away to sleep under the bush.
Give baby away.
Happy ending.

The problems I have with this are that there isn’t any reason for any of the people who help this girl to want to help her. She snarls and sulks and is so hard and distant that I was left wondering why any of these people wanted to be around her let alone assist her. No one knows her sad/bitter/hostile history and she isn't talking so why should they feel anything for her?
It didn’t appear that under all her anger that there was a gentle caring person. She seems more that if you scratched the surface, first of all, you’d definitely get scratched back, but that under that tough exterior, you’d find something even harder and more unyielding. Can’t say that I liked Victoria much.
So can you enjoy a book when you don’t really like the protagonist? I find it can be difficult, but in the hands of a crafted writer, you can still enjoy the story. I didn’t find that to be true here.
For me, the story would have been better told in third person. I think some distance between Victoria’s mean thought process and the reader would have helped. I didn’t much like being in this misanthropic head and I didn’t get any idea of anyone else’s motivation for caring for her. Why did Renata hire her? Yes, she’s a magical flower genius, but why would she want this girl around, glaring at her customers? Yes, lots of glaring.
And Grant, why is he attracted to her? Does he have a thing for mean women? More snarling and glaring. He seems like a very gentle soul to be that way, didn’t understand what he saw in her, other than her ability to send messages by flowers.
Victoria’s negativity was so over the top. She finds out she’s pregnant and hates the idea of a baby, but won’t get an abortion because the idea that someone else would have control over her body for the time it would take to get the thing out (that’s how she thinks of it) is too horrid for her to think about. She is offered medical benefits by her employer, but instead she runs away to live under a bush. No, I am most certainly not kidding.
Having decided to have the baby and afterward figure out what she’s going to do with it, she gets no prenatal care, not even bothering so little as to pick up a bottle of prenatal vitamins at the drugstore. No, she’s too busy hiding under the bush.
And she spent hours in the library comparing flower meaning dictionaries(and countless hours photographing flowers with old time camera which she spends money on the film development even though she has very little money), but didn't bother to read one single book on pregnancy or child care.
So, again, not that first doctor visit and she knows a midwife, willing and ready to help her, but she doesn’t want that either. She’s going to give birth at home, alone, all by herself, because ... I have no idea what is wrong with her at this point.
Many people have shown her that they care about her, that they’re willing to help her, but she can’t accept it. I get that we’re supposed to believe that she’s so broken(she was an abandoned baby who never found a real forever home) that she sees herself as unworthy of anyone’s concern, but how it came off to this reader is that she’s too selfish and stubborn to do what’s right. This is when my connection to her broke down completely.
Also, after hiding in the bush, she comes back, continuing to hide while also building herself an amazing floral designing business. Uh-huh. I believe my suspension of disbelief was at the breaking point by this time.
Well, what a surprise, she isn’t able to have the baby all by herself so she gets help and after a week(during which she doesn't bother to even name the child), she gives it away (not for adoption), even though she could have asked for help, could have at the very least told someone when that person is there, in the room with her, asking her how she’s doing, that she wasn’t doing well. But no, she cannot do that. I have no idea why. And no one, not one single person, asks her where her child went. Not one. Did she bury it in her garden in the park? Toss it in the ocean? Where is it?
I know this is fiction, but that can't excuse complete disregard for life as it is or common sense. It's based in the real world. If a woman had a child she didn't want and that child disappeared a week later, that woman is going to be getting a serious visit from the police. Yet, she comes back without the child, glares all round, states that she won't talk about it and they all accept it. Really? REALLY?
I can’t recommend this one. Too irritating in style, characterization and unlikely plot.
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Apr 14, 2013 Kathryn Henning rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Excellent read. Written with eloquent prose and rich character development , Ms. Diffenbaugh tells the poignant story of an 18 year old young woman whose life, thus far, has been broken apart by abandonment and a disfunctional foster care system. For Victoria Jones, the only avenue for communication that she understands is through the Victorian-based "language of Flowers." A deeply moving and profound book that gives important insight into the hearts and minds of troubled youth.

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Sep 06, 2011 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of beauty in all its forms, florist, gardeners

Recommended to Carol by: Ann, BOTNS, NPR, book reviews

Shelves: fiction, debut

I didn't know flowers had so much to say. Certainly, "I love You" but other emotions like jealousy, hate, sorrow, passion, mistrust, never entered my mind. I heard author, Vanessa Dissenbauch, talking about her debut novel The Language of Flowers on the August 27th NPR Weekend Edition. Her decision to use flowers to tell us the story of Victoria, an abandoned child, caught up in a foster care system, shuffled from family to family, but deemed not adoptable, seemed unique. I was lucky to be the f...more I didn't know flowers had so much to say. Certainly, "I love You" but other emotions like jealousy, hate, sorrow, passion, mistrust, never entered my mind. I heard author, Vanessa Dissenbauch, talking about her debut novel The Language of Flowers on the August 27th NPR Weekend Edition. Her decision to use flowers to tell us the story of Victoria, an abandoned child, caught up in a foster care system, shuffled from family to family, but deemed not adoptable, seemed unique. I was lucky to be the first to grab this book when it hit our shelves.

As the story opens, Victoria is finally graduating out of the state care system but into what. Here's an eighteen year old so profoundly wounded by years of feelings of unworthiness, that it seems doubtful she can succeed. She takes up residence in a half way house and is told to get a job. Get a job? With what skills. In alternate chapters, Victoria reveals bits and pieces of the one year she lived with Elisabeth, the only person who had ever shown her any real love. Living with Elisabeth on her vineyard in the wine country of San Francisco, Victoria learns the meanings of flowers and for the first time feels hope. That is until the day Elisabeth is to adopt Victoria. Something goes horribly wrong and Victoria finds herself alone once again. In the present Victoria builds on the language Elisabeth has taught her, that of flowers, and takes a job with a florist.

At one point the author needed to get Victoria from point A to B and I did not like the choices either made. Did this spoil the whole for me? Not really. It will give me something to debate with friends who choose to read the book. I have to remind myself that it is not my book and the author can do what she sees fit to tell the tale.

It's evident that Diffenbaugh is passionate about her subjects, both flowers and the foster care system. I loved how Diffenbaugh weaved the meaning of flowers throughout. I found it very sensual, like the pleasure I got from reading Chocolat (Harris) or Like Water for Chocolate (Esquivel) with its use of cacao as a means to stimulate the senses. I do not have a floral garden but do appreciate the beauty of those created by others. I can appreciate the skills of a florist to create a bridal bouquet or floral arrangement. This story will bring new appreciation to my perception of the flowers that surround me.

Victoria's Dictionary of flowers in included at the end of the book. This in itself is interesting, In an author note Diffenbaugh states that she owned only one flower dictionary, The Floral Offering: A Token of Affection and Esteem; Comprising Language and Poetry of Flowers, written in 1851 by Henrietta Dumont. I'd love to get my hands on this. I never knew such a thing existed.

Vanessa Diffenbaugh is launching the Camellia (meaning my destiny) Network in support of youth making transitions from foster care to independence. www.camellianetwork.org

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Jul 02, 2011 Eileen Granfors rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: families, highly-unusual, local-color, new-classic, women, writing-help, coming-of-age

I'll review after the holiday, but let me say, I now have a new favorite book of 2011. Wonderful, beautiful, painful, truthful journey.

Often on the weekend of July 4th, I post a half-way through the year "top reading" list. I had it ready to go for my blog with my top ten short list so far. Then, I picked up "The Language of Flowers" by debut novelist Vanessa Diffenbaugh. BAM! I loved this book because it surprised me in every way: style, characters, plot points. It's not the overwrought love st...more I'll review after the holiday, but let me say, I now have a new favorite book of 2011. Wonderful, beautiful, painful, truthful journey.

Often on the weekend of July 4th, I post a half-way through the year "top reading" list. I had it ready to go for my blog with my top ten short list so far. Then, I picked up "The Language of Flowers" by debut novelist Vanessa Diffenbaugh. BAM! I loved this book because it surprised me in every way: style, characters, plot points. It's not the overwrought love story with Victorian flora I expected.

It is an action-packed, heart-breaking journey with 18 year-old Victoria recently emancipated foster child in modern San Francisco. She spent her life perfecting the art of being unreachable because then she can feel that the families who give her back do so by her chosen behaviors. She has a wall around her heart, "like a nut." She fears intimate relationships. All her life getting close to someone has meant only moving on, moving away, and giving up those she had begun to feel comfortable with.

On her 18th birthday, she is done with foster care. The system sends her on her way. She is homeless. She is jobless. But she has been taught the language of flowers by one of her caretakers, Elizabeth.

How Victoria takes her love of flowers and her connection with growing things to make her life something new is the journey of this book. She has help along the way from people at the flower market, Renata and her family; Grant, a young man who also questions his past.

Like moss, which thrives with no roots, Annie finds that she can start anew in a different direction for her life than she could have dreamed of attaining.

Diffenbaugh sets the story in San Francisco and the agricultural country to the north of the city. The cityscape and vineyards provide contrasting pieces of Annie's life experiences.

This is a beautiful book. It takes the readers to new places and teaches them new things, things probably not considered before. To me, that makes for a top-notch reading experience. More, more, more please from Vanessa Diffenbaugh.
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Mar 28, 2013 Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Ann by: DonnaJo

Shelves: kindle-library, read-2013

I am so glad I read this book, the language of flowers by itself would fascinate me; when combined with Victoria's story from her foster care and experiences after emancipation, I was deeply enthralled. Wrapping flowers around the events that themselves evolve around flowers has a heady scent and a beautiful mind picture.

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Sep 08, 2012 Tim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-post-1967

This was a thoroughly engaging story of a young woman who enters adulthood after being brought up in the foster care system. In the character of Victoria, Vanessa Diffenbaugh captures the essence of such a unique, and almost thoroughly institutional, upbringing. At 18, Victoria appears incapable of conceiving of her future, much less making plans to shape it. To an outsider, perhaps even to herself, she appears to have no goals or purpose. It’s an odd effect of her tumultuous childhood and peopl...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, literary-fiction, library

Victoria has spent her life in the care system, rejected by many foster parents due to her difficult and violent behaviour. Now eighteen years old, she is left to fend for herself with nothing but her love of flowers. Flowers were used in Victorian times to express emotions and Victoria becomes fascinated with this language. Her talent is spotted by a florist but can Victoria ever learn to function in society?

I liked The Language of Flowers because of the main character, Victoria herself. I've r...more Victoria has spent her life in the care system, rejected by many foster parents due to her difficult and violent behaviour. Now eighteen years old, she is left to fend for herself with nothing but her love of flowers. Flowers were used in Victorian times to express emotions and Victoria becomes fascinated with this language. Her talent is spotted by a florist but can Victoria ever learn to function in society?

I liked The Language of Flowers because of the main character, Victoria herself. I've read many a review of this book where the reviewer bemoans the fact that Victoria isn't likeable and that her actions don't make sense. And it's true - Victoria is a frustrating, passive individual who makes noises about wanting to improve her life but waits for said life to fall in her lap, that's if she's not busy pushing away people who care about her and rejecting opportunities. To a functional adult, this makes no sense. But I didn't mind that Victoria wasn't likeable or function because she was believable.

I don't teach children of Victoria's age but I've taught a few younger versions of her and for me, her character was completely plausible and I felt sorry for her. As a child she was violent to others and as an adult she's defensive and closed to the point where she can't relate to the people around her, even Renata, who offers her a job, and Grant, who tries to love her. She has many chances of happiness but at least early in the book, she throws them all away. I liked that Diffenbaugh chose such a complex individual to write about and think that she had some important points to make about the foster system and how a life lived in it can effect a person.

I found The Language of Flowers to be a gripping read. Diffenbaugh intersperses chapters about Victoria at eighteen with chapters about the time she spent at ten with the woman who nearly adopted her. I enjoyed both storylines and found the book hard to put down, even though at times it was like watching a car crash. The novel was effectively written and pacy, but the writing was secondary to the story and the story took a backseat to character development.

My only criticism is that things improved for Victoria too quickly; I don't think there's many eighteen year olds fresh out of the care system that have the opportunities that she does and I don't think there are many of us that learn to change the habits of a lifetime like Victoria did, even if she took her time to do so. I thought her character development was well written, but maybe overly optimistic. There's thousands of Victoria's out there that don't make it.
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About Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Vanessa Diffenbaugh was born in San Francisco and raised in Chico, California. After studying creative writing and education at Stanford, she went on to teach art and writing to youth in low-income communities. She and her husband, PK, have three children: Tre’von, eighteen; Chela, four; and Miles, three. Tre’von, a former foster child, is attending New York University on a Gates Millennium Schola...more

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“Anyone can grow into something beautiful.” — 62 people liked it

“Perhaps the unattached, the unwanted, the unloved, could grow to give love as lushly as anyone else.” — 49 people liked it

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