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Lisa Wingate
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The Language of Sycamores (Tending Roses Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Lisa Wingate (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,012 ratings
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When a woman’s whole life falls apart, she finds refuge in the home she left behind in this touching novel in the Tending Roses series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Friends and Before We Were Yours.

Karen Sommerfield has been hiding from the big questions of her life—the emotional distance in her marriage, her inability to have children, and her bout with cancer. Getting lost in her high-powered career provides the sense of purpose she yearns for. Until the day she’s downsized out of her job and the doctor tells her the cancer may be back. It’s a double blow that would send anyone reeling.

It sends Karen to Grandma Rose’s old farm, where her sister has made a seemingly perfect life. Opening herself to the unexpected, Karen finds a lonely child in need of nurturing and insights into her family’s past. In the quiet of the Missouri Ozarks, where the sycamore leaves whisper their soft, secret language, she begins to discover answers—and a joy to make her life complete.
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  1. Book 3 of 5
    Tending Roses
  2. Print length
    308 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Berkley
  6. Publication date
    September 11, 2018
  7. Reading age
    18 years and up
  8. File size
    1363 KB
  9. Page Flip
    Enabled
  10. Word Wise
    Enabled
  11. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

On the same day that her doctor tells her that her cancer might have returned, Karen Sommerfield looses her high-powered job at the company that she helped build. When her sister, Kate, calls from her rural home in Missouri, she is surprised that Karen is willing to come for a family reunion. Kate's farm was originally their Grandma Rose's, and Kate left her successful job to take care of their dying grandmother while Karen and her pilot husband, James, were living their driven life in Boston. Now that everything is at risk, Karen returns home to her family and rediscovers the joy she misplaced while climbing the ladder to success. She also meets Dell, a neighbor's child, who, although impoverished and living in dire straits, connects with Karen through music. Wingate presents another of her positive and uplifting books, which include Tending Roses (2001), tales of hope in the midst of turmoil that are inspirational without being preachy. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Praise for The Language of Sycamores

“Heartfelt, honest, and entirely entertaining...this poignant story will touch your heart from the first page to the last.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah

“Wingate’s smoothly flowing prose fills the pages with emotional drama.”—RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)

More Praise for Lisa Wingate

"A master-storyteller.”—Parade

“Wingate’s novels, like those of Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans and others, takes a middle ground between Christian and mainstream fiction—uplifting, clean and inspiration but not overtly religious.”—Bryan-College Station Eagle

“A remarkably talented and innovative writer, with a real feel for human emotions.”—Linda Lael Miller

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07GV2K7X6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (September 11, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 11, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1363 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 308 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,012 ratings

About the author

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Lisa Wingate

Lisa Wingate

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Lisa Wingate's new novel, Shelterwood, is upcoming in June 4th, 2024. Her novel, Before We Were Yours, was a #1 New York Times bestseller, remained on the list for over two years, and has sold more than three million copies. Her books have been translated into over forty languages and have appeared on bestseller lists worldwide. Before We Were Yours, her blockbuster hit, was Publishers Weekly’s third longest running bestseller of 2017, and was voted by readers as the 2017 Goodreads Choice Award winner for historical fiction. She lives in Texas and Colorado with her family and her cuddly little teddy bear of a dog, Huckleberry. Find her at her website or on Facebook and Instagram.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
2,012 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ellen
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great read by Lisa Wingate
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
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Lisa is one of my favorite authors. Her books never disappoint! Her characters are interesting and have great depth. She weaves spiritual principles throughout masterful storytelling with twists & turns that make you want to keep reading. This particular book brings the hardships and secrets and joys of several generations of women to a wonderful close. Highly recommended!
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Wilma noe
5.0 out of 5 stars love it
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
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Such a beautiful story about life and loss , faith and love. Thank you for a memorable book. Thank you for seeing the events through the eyes of a believer.
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Stephanie McCall
4.0 out of 5 stars Another Lisa Wingate Book That Sings Beautifully
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2021
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In my unique experience of reading the Tending Roses series "backward," I finally hit The Language of Sycamores. For me, that means saying goodbye to these wonderful characters and settings, but it also means I can go back and reread the series in or out of order whenever. So, the experience was bittersweet, as is the book itself.

In The Language of Sycamores, Lisa Wingate took some familiar tropes and gave them fresh twists. Now, she's not heavily into tropes and usually I like that about her books. But here, the unique twists worked. For instance, you think Karen will be your typical bossy city slicker who needs Grandma's farm to soften her and teach her what life is really about. Instead, Karen has some classic type A traits, but you know where they come from. You know she has tried to figure out who she is and what her purpose is for a long time, and used "traditional" methods like the corporate ladder to answer those questions. Therefore, she becomes a character you can root for and relate to even if you, like me, are not a highly paid member of a (formerly) huge and respected company.

Lisa Wingate does this kind of thing throughout the novel, giving personality, shading, and unique conflicts to people who would otherwise be archetypes (Dell, the disadvantaged child, Sherita, the other disadvantaged child who takes her pain out on people, Kate, the "perfect" wife and mom, James, the high-powered but uber-analytical pilot who could've been a stereotype of, "Men don't express feelings.") In fact, everyone's personalities pop off the page, as they have throughout most of the series, so you become eager to spend time with them. And if you're not eager to spend time with some, such as Uncle Bobby (what a sleazebag), you can enjoy rooting against them because they too are real people.

I think I enjoyed the setting in Sycamores more than perhaps any in the series. I loved the scenes at Jumpkids camp, and seeing how Keiler, Mindy, Tina, Mojo Joe, and others helped those kids blossom, without making them into charity cases. The production of The Lion King gave me a shot of nostalgia and a lot of true, uplifting warmth, as opposed to the hokey, token minority, inspiration porn stuff. I especially loved seeing Dell and Sherita in the roles of lionesses, because that's what these girls are. They are daughters of the Most High King Jesus, possessors of lioness hearts that need to mature but have already done a lot to defend themselves and their loved ones. Sherita with Myrone and Meleka, or Dell hitting that high note, are two of my favorite examples. I found myself wishing I could be a kid again so I could be a Jumpkid--and I was your typical white, middle-class, stable home type. (Although, ten-page essay? Sherita, I can match that and more if you want).

The relationships between everyone are spot on as well. I knew going in what Karen and Dell would become to each other, so I guess that's "cheating." Still, I loved watching them get to know each other, and I loved the dichotomy between Karen and Kate where Dell was concerned. That is, yes, both women love her. But people respond to love in different ways, and so they need people who, well, speak their language. I enjoyed seeing Kate and Karen learn this, and learn how to be real sisters after a tension-filled childhood built on competition. That's not healthy for any kid, and I applaud Lisa for showing adverse effects without falling back on say, more obvious abusive situations.

Finally, I enjoyed other settings and small scenes within. I've said before, these make a book "pop," and Language of Sycamores is no exception. Karen's trip to the mermaid pool was a favorite, and I loved the sister trees. There's a part where Karen talks about "painting" the scene of Grandma Rose, Augustine, and Sadie at those trees...and immediately, I saw a watercolor in my head. I still have it tucked in my brain's back pocket.

I did find some weaker points within Language of Sycamores. For instance, I was screaming at Karen the whole time to just tell James about the biopsy already, and when she did, the conflict just kind of poofed away. And while I appreciated the subplot about Sadie, it didn't seem to match the rest of the book. I see where Lisa tried to make it match, since Sadie turned out to be a famous singer, Dell and Karen love music, and so on. But this book seemed to be more about Karen, Dell, their relationships, and their growth. It needed to stay in that lane. I wouldn't have minded time spent on the sisters, but would've left out the mystery element because there wasn't time for it.

Overall though, I'd say Language of Sycamores is still a strong book, with plenty to sink your literary teeth into. It gets a recommendation, and again, I'm hoping Lisa Wingate writes more like this series soon. In the meantime, I think I'll revisit some of her other books...and maybe come back later and read the series in order!
6 people found this helpful
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MC from Illinois
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent!
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
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I cannot imagine anyone NOT liking this novel. Inspiring, well- written, full of life lessons… I hope I get to read books 1 & 2
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2023
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This was an amazing book revealing family brokenness and healing through reaching out to our Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lisa Wingate.
One person found this helpful
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Cindy
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Story!
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2023
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This is another story full of such beauty, music, art, life hurts and healings! It’s another one of those to read over and over, gleaning more life lessons and adventures each time. Family divided brought together again as only God, the Father can do!
One person found this helpful
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ADG
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and well written.
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2020
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I read this book because I was asked to fill in for someone to lead a discussion at a book club. I had never read any of the author's books and did not have any preconceived ideas. The book generated a great deal of discussion about how and why changes happened to the main characters' ideas and feelings. The book is easy to read and still holds the reader's attention.
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my opinion
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2013
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I have now read the Tending Roses series. Lisa Wingate is a great author. Her stories are captivating, but not "over the top". She doesn't try to include each and every social ill that is in our world today. She attracts an audience of people who enjoy a good story with the right amount of challenge and solution.

The perfect book for nice, quiet afternoon or an evening by the fireplace.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Ariane
5.0 out of 5 stars Emotionally touching
Reviewed in Canada on January 8, 2021
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This book is a beautiful addition to the "Tending Roses" series. Lovely development in beautiful, caring relationships and family memories.
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Joanna Sobolewska-Kurpiel
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 16, 2017
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Truly wonderful story, moving and inspiring.
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Lou
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Story
Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2020
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Loved the characters and the family dynamics. Did not want it to end.
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Hunter
5.0 out of 5 stars Must be read!!!
Reviewed in Canada on February 15, 2020
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I have commented so many times in the past about Mrs Wingate that I have no more words to come out with. Fantastic books!!!
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