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The Seeing Garden: A Novel Paperback – May 9, 2023

by Ginny Kubitz Moyer (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 135 ratings
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Set on a lavish California estate, The Seeing Garden is “a moving story with strong female characters” (Kirkus Reviews) for fans of Edith Wharton and Downton Abbey.

It’s 1910, and Catherine Ogden is aching to live a creative and meaningful life. That’s not easy to do when her aunt and uncle—and all of New York society—consider a good marriage to be the pinnacle of feminine achievement. But when Catherine visits Oakview, the Northern California estate of handsome bachelor William Brandt, she thinks that it might be possible to satisfy her family’s hopes as well as her own. In that beautiful place, she finds the promise of a new start and the opportunity to use her artistic gifts in designing the garden. But as Catherine is drawn into William’s hidden life, as well as the secrets of his estate staff, she discovers that Oakview holds both more opportunity and more risk than she ever imagined. It will take all her courage—and the lessons of some shocking revelations from the past—to choose the path that leads to real freedom.

Full of rich period detail and complex characters, and set against an unforgettable backdrop, The Seeing Garden explores what it takes for a woman to discern the path to her most authentic life.
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  1. Print length
    376 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    She Writes Press
  4. Publication date
    May 9, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.25 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1647424267
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1647424268
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The prose and dialogue flow naturally, with the author spinning phrases that beautifully capture the passion of youth and love . . . a moving story with strong female characters and twists that will satisfy readers who enjoy well-researched history alongside their romantic narratives.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“[Catherine's] struggles to fashion a compromise among her confused feelings and her aunt and uncle’s pressing desires are beautifully evoked among the slow revelations of Moyer’s well-crafted novel of society and American cultural shifts.”
—The Historical Novels Review

“This luscious literary romance has whiffs of a marriage between D. H. Lawrence and Rosamunde Pilcher. The Seeing Garden is a finely drawn portrait of a woman torn between two diametrically opposed worlds. The unforgettable setting is the icing on the cake in this truly captivating novel.”
—Laurel Davis Huber, author of The Velveteen Daughter

“This well-written and captivating novel about social manners and stifling expectations imposed on women shines a light on a piece of California history that has been overlooked. A delight for the senses with Moyer’s artistic descriptions of gardens and mansions, The Seeing Garden is a page-turner of a story that is sure to inspire today’s women who seek creativity and love.”
—Ann Weisgarber, author of The Glovemaker

“A lavish estate on the San Francisco Peninsula is the setting for this elegant historical tale of loss, love, and redemption. Moyer’s characters are as vivid and alive as the lush California garden that feeds one young woman’s soul and guides her in a struggle between family duty and following her heart’s greatest desire. A sweeping coming-of-age story to savor.”
—Tammy Pasterick, award-winning author of Beneath the Veil of Smoke and Ash

“Fans of historical fiction, romance, and intelligent women will relish The Seeing Garden. At its core, Ginny Kubitz Moyer’s debut novel is a passionate story of yearning and discovery, transporting readers back to early twentieth-century Northern California with vivid descriptions and colorful characters that will enchant readers everywhere!”
—Kristen Harnisch, internationally best-selling author of The Vintner’s Daughter series

“Like a flower that takes root in a garden, pushing its stem through gritty soil and unfolding its glory toward the sun, so does heroine Catherine Ogden. In The Seeing Garden, Moyer's story reminds us that the beauty of life can only be found when our eyes see the clear truths of our inner desires.”
—Janis Robinson Daly, author of The Unlocked Path

“At what price freedom? In this finely tuned period novel set in 1910 New York and California, Ginny Kubitz Moyer quietly ramps up tension until its inevitable breaking point, opening the door for protagonist Catherine Ogden to make a pivotal choice: conforming to familial and societal pressures or following her heart. Laced with rich detail and historical accuracy, The Seeing Garden will satisfy readers of early twentieth-century historical fiction. A great book club read!”
—Ashley E. Sweeney, author of Eliza Waite

About the Author

Ginny Kubitz Moyer is a California native with a love of local history. A graduate of Pomona College and Stanford University, she’s an English teacher and avid weekend gardener, as well as the author of several books on spirituality, most recently Taste and See: Experiencing the Goodness of God with Our Five Senses (Loyola Press). She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two sons, and one rescue dog. Learn more at www.ginnymoyer.org.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ She Writes Press (May 9, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 376 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1647424267
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1647424268
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.25 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 135 ratings

About the author

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Ginny Kubitz Moyer

Ginny Kubitz Moyer

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Ginny Kubitz Moyer is a California native with a love of local history. Her novel The Seeing Garden, set in 1910, brings to life the vanished world of the San Francisco Bay Area's great estates. Her novel A Golden Life, which moves from Hollywood to the Napa Valley in 1938, will be published in September 2024. An avid weekend gardener, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two sons, and one rescue dog.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
135 global ratings
Great read as I escaped into early 1900s!
5 Stars
Great read as I escaped into early 1900s!
The Seeing Garden by Ginny Kubitz MoyerI started reading The Seeing Garden on Friday night and by Tuesday night I had finished it. I found myself hurrying through chores so I could carve out extra reading time. As I got to the end, I wanted more details about Catherine's life and did not want the journey to end, I wanted to know more details about how her life unfolded. And still, I was satisfied with how things turned out. I was happy.I briefly escaped in to early 1900s and got a window into the life of a 19 year old debutante. I appreciated all the detailed descriptions as I felt like I was transported into Catherine's life, I found myself identifying with her, understanding the complexity of the decisions she grappled with and how she chose the direction of her life.As I read The Seeing Garden, I smiled, I teared up, I nodded in agreement, I paused and reflected, and all in all had an amazing journey of my own. If you like descriptions that help you see and feel what the characters as they are living, if you wonder what the culture might have been in the early 1900s, what was considered acceptable behavior, I recommend you read The Seeing Garden. The descriptions will make you feel like you are watching a show like Downton Abby and the wonderful part is that it is not set in the UK....instead set in New York City and in San Francicsco peninsula.Hemali L.
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Top reviews from the United States

DayOldDuck
5.0 out of 5 stars Magical!
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
Beautifully written book. Rich characters and fascinating story. Sweet ending moved me to tears. Highly recommend!
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Kim W Mashburn
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging novel...I didn't want to put it down!
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2023
Verified Purchase
It's hard to believe this is the first novel written by Ms Moyer. It is so well written with the story moving easily from chapter to chapter. I didn't feel like it stalled along the way, so it kept my interest. The characters are well developed, which made me
want to know where life
would take them. Being a romance novel, it was rather predictable, but I got lost in the beautiful description of the gardens and California itself. It also made me thankful I wasn't born in that period of history when women were only to be seen as an accessory to their husbands and not heard as an individual. Catherine found the strength to live her life with the love of her mother, who came back into her life when she needed her most. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this sweet love story of Catherine and Thomas and, mostly of all, seeing Catherine come into her own as a woman.
2 people found this helpful
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love books
4.0 out of 5 stars Charming Read
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
The book is charming and easy to read. Nice characters and the ending was predictable. Enjoyed reading while sitting at the beach.
3 people found this helpful
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RL007
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read as I escaped into early 1900s!
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2023
Verified Purchase
The Seeing Garden by Ginny Kubitz Moyer

I started reading The Seeing Garden on Friday night and by Tuesday night I had finished it. I found myself hurrying through chores so I could carve out extra reading time. As I got to the end, I wanted more details about Catherine's life and did not want the journey to end, I wanted to know more details about how her life unfolded. And still, I was satisfied with how things turned out. I was happy.

I briefly escaped in to early 1900s and got a window into the life of a 19 year old debutante. I appreciated all the detailed descriptions as I felt like I was transported into Catherine's life, I found myself identifying with her, understanding the complexity of the decisions she grappled with and how she chose the direction of her life.

As I read The Seeing Garden, I smiled, I teared up, I nodded in agreement, I paused and reflected, and all in all had an amazing journey of my own. If you like descriptions that help you see and feel what the characters as they are living, if you wonder what the culture might have been in the early 1900s, what was considered acceptable behavior, I recommend you read The Seeing Garden. The descriptions will make you feel like you are watching a show like Downton Abby and the wonderful part is that it is not set in the UK....instead set in New York City and in San Francicsco peninsula.

Hemali L.
Customer image
RL007
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read as I escaped into early 1900s!
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2023
The Seeing Garden by Ginny Kubitz Moyer

I started reading The Seeing Garden on Friday night and by Tuesday night I had finished it. I found myself hurrying through chores so I could carve out extra reading time. As I got to the end, I wanted more details about Catherine's life and did not want the journey to end, I wanted to know more details about how her life unfolded. And still, I was satisfied with how things turned out. I was happy.

I briefly escaped in to early 1900s and got a window into the life of a 19 year old debutante. I appreciated all the detailed descriptions as I felt like I was transported into Catherine's life, I found myself identifying with her, understanding the complexity of the decisions she grappled with and how she chose the direction of her life.

As I read The Seeing Garden, I smiled, I teared up, I nodded in agreement, I paused and reflected, and all in all had an amazing journey of my own. If you like descriptions that help you see and feel what the characters as they are living, if you wonder what the culture might have been in the early 1900s, what was considered acceptable behavior, I recommend you read The Seeing Garden. The descriptions will make you feel like you are watching a show like Downton Abby and the wonderful part is that it is not set in the UK....instead set in New York City and in San Francicsco peninsula.

Hemali L.
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10 people found this helpful
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Agnes Gooch
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction at its absolute best
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
The Seeing Garden beautifully evokes a bygone era, with echoes of Edith Wharton, Henry James, and maybe a teeny bit of DH Lawrence thrown in. It's clear that the story rests on a bedrock of meticulous research -- New York and California in the late 19th and early 20th centuries -- but all you can see is the graceful, flowing story as it unfolds. The characters are believable and vivid, and the narrative gives us so much more than a love story: this is also a story of class, ambition, art, and pursuing a meaningful and authentic life. I adored escaping into the world of The Seeing Garden, and find myself missing the people and the beautifully evoked settings already.

The best kind of historical fiction manages to capture the manners, dress, and everyday details of another time while also capturing what's universal about the human condition. Ginny Kubitz Moyer's book does exactly that.
Customer image
Agnes Gooch
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction at its absolute best
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2023
The Seeing Garden beautifully evokes a bygone era, with echoes of Edith Wharton, Henry James, and maybe a teeny bit of DH Lawrence thrown in. It's clear that the story rests on a bedrock of meticulous research -- New York and California in the late 19th and early 20th centuries -- but all you can see is the graceful, flowing story as it unfolds. The characters are believable and vivid, and the narrative gives us so much more than a love story: this is also a story of class, ambition, art, and pursuing a meaningful and authentic life. I adored escaping into the world of The Seeing Garden, and find myself missing the people and the beautifully evoked settings already.

The best kind of historical fiction manages to capture the manners, dress, and everyday details of another time while also capturing what's universal about the human condition. Ginny Kubitz Moyer's book does exactly that.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
8 people found this helpful
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Tallulah
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written story of choosing freedom
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
I could not put this book down!! By the end I was in tears. Just so grateful to have read it. The author's writing is captivating and immersive, and the story with all of its layers unfolded so wonderfully.
I can't believe this is her first novel! Would happily read any books Mrs Moyer writes into existence. The love and dedication put into this book is apparent!!
2 people found this helpful
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Deechan
5.0 out of 5 stars Hints of Bronte, Austen, & Downton Abbey--What's not to love?
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Ginny Kubitz Moyer's first novel, The Seeing Garden, explores what it means to be an artist in so many senses--on paper and canvas and landscapes, through words and deeds, and in life's various relationships.

Her story about Catherine Ogden's coming of age has echoes of Pride and Prejudice (anyone who can sympathize with Lizzy's reaction when she sees Pemberly will be of like feelings when Catherine first tours Oakview), the upstairs-downstairs feel of Downton Abbey, and feminist leanings of Brontë novels--all with Moyer's own flair, creativity, and sensitivity.

Moyer creates multidimensional characters throughout her tale, each so different and working in harmony, much like the components of a well-balanced garden. This beautifully crafted cast helps Catherine along her journey of love, trust, faith, and redemption to fully see her truest self. It is in one of these fine character's words that she and readers begin to learn one of life's best lessons: "You look at the patterns in your life and see what brings you real happiness, and peace, even the little things. You love those things and do them as often as you can."
8 people found this helpful
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Sarndra
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully written novel that I didn't want to end!
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
I just loved this novel! The descriptions of the characters, their experiences and the scenery were so vivid, I felt I was reading with all of my senses. The story drew me right into the pages as if I was living alongside the characters. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and The Seeing Garden was not only an wonderful story, it helped me to imagine this area of Northern California in days gone by. I can't wait to see what Ginny Kubitz Moyer writes next!
4 people found this helpful
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