Let me start with what I liked, because as seen by my review, I wasn't a huge fan of it. I liked that Diffenbaugh introduced the readers to the langua...moreLet me start with what I liked, because as seen by my review, I wasn't a huge fan of it. I liked that Diffenbaugh introduced the readers to the language of flowers and how they can be a form of communication, especially for those that have trouble communicating. I like when books teach us something and she certainly taught me that there is a whole world out there when it comes to flowers and their communicative ways. I also enjoyed the message she intended to send about the foster care system and how the author used her own life, as a foster parent, to inspire the story.
Now my troubles with the book. Let me first say that I was not hooked from the beginning like I thought I wanted to be. There was a missing link regarding characterization, which is odd to me because she spent a lot of time on Victoria, the main character. Yet, in my opinion, it was not written in a way that I could connect with the characters, especially Victoria. I have to have a connection with the characters to enjoy it. Honestly, Victoria could have died and I wouldn't have been shocked or hurt. I just did not think that the characterization was there.
The pace was very slow moving. It took me more days than I wanted to finish this book. I like a book that makes me want to pick up and set all else aside. I did not feel that drive with The Language of Flowers.
I agree with some other early reviewers of this book, that the book will likely be a common book club book. This is sad, in my opinion, that we have a specific definition of a book club book. I think a book club book should be anything and everything, but the truth is that it is not.
I will not spoil anything and only say that there was also one incident that made no sense to me. An act by Elizabeth that played a part in the event that this book revolved around. It was not in alignment with the situation. I feel that it was plugged in there just to create that event.
I won this book on Goodreads; it is an ARC and comes out on October 4th. I entered in for it because I have a love for memoirs. I'm fascinated by othe...moreI won this book on Goodreads; it is an ARC and comes out on October 4th. I entered in for it because I have a love for memoirs. I'm fascinated by others who lived such different lives, oftentimes more troubling and requiring them to grow up sooner. This book was very reminiscent of The Glass Castle. Granted, it was a different story but there was substance abuse, which they both had in common. Yet what they really had in common was that the author had to grow up quickly, had to take care of the family, but more importantly saw the good in the bad.
And boy oh boy did I think I lived in a lot of places. Terry's got me beat when every chapter is a new place. She has a great writing style too, where she was able to write in the mind of the age she was in. I felt like I was reading it from the perspective of her respective age at that time. That is good writing, to be able to adapt the writing to the age.
I'll admit, I almost gave it a five. I give things a five if I loved them because four is "really liked" and so I figure a five really represents "loved it." It was great writing but wasn't a page turner. I fell in love with the ending when it just came full circle and made you really absorb what you read but overall I really liked it. What a service she did for her mom, for herself, and her sisters. (less)
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