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The Language of Flowers: A Novel Paperback – April 3, 2012

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 17,686 ratings

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
 
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 flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.
 
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Instantly entrancing.”—Elle
 
“[An] original and brilliant first novel . . . a mesmerizing storyteller . . . I would like to hand Vanessa Diffenbaugh a bouquet of bouvardia (enthusiasm), gladiolus (you pierce my heart) and lisianthus (appreciation). . . . And there is one more sprig I should add to her bouquet: a single pink carnation (I will never forget you).”—Brigitte Weeks,
The Washington Post
 
“A captivating novel in which a single sprig of rosemary speaks louder than words . . .
The Language of Flowers deftly weaves the sweetness of newfound love with the heartache of past mistakes. . . . [It] will certainly change how you choose your next bouquet.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
“Fascinating . . . Diffenbaugh clearly knows both the human heart and her plants, and she keeps us rooting for the damaged Victoria.”—
O: The Oprah Magazine (book of the week)
 
“Diffenbaugh effortlessly spins this enchanting tale, making even her prickly protagonist impossible not to love.”—
Entertainment Weekly
 
“Compelling . . . immensely engaging . . . unabashedly romantic . . . an emotional arc of almost unbearable poignance.”
—The Boston Globe

About the Author

Vanessa Diffenbaugh was born in San Francisco and raised in Chico, California.  After studying art education at Stanford University, she went on to teach at-risk youth in East Palo Alto and Sacramento.  She and her husband, PK, have four children: Donovan, 24, Tre'von, 22, Chela, 7, and Miles, 6.  Inspired by her own experience as a foster parent, her first novel, The Language of Flowers, has been translated into more than 40 languages.  Following the success of her novel, Diffenbaugh co-founded Camellia Network, whose mission is to create a national network that connects every youth aging out of foster care to the critical resources, opportunities, and the support they need to thrive in adulthood. 
 

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (April 3, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0345525558
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0345525550
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.17 x 0.81 x 7.98 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 17,686 ratings

About the author

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Vanessa Diffenbaugh
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Vanessa Diffenbaugh was born and raised in northern California. After studying creative writing, she went on to teach art and technology to youth in low-income communities. She and her husband PK have four children: Donovan, Tre'von, Graciela and Miles. Vanessa is also the co-founder of Camellia Network, whose mission is to create a nationwide movement to support youth transitioning from foster care. She and and her family live in Monterey, California.

We Never Asked for Wings is her second novel. Her first, The Language of Flowers, was published in over forty countries, and was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller in the UK.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
17,686 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the story and find it realistic. They appreciate learning about flowers and their meanings. The writing style is well-crafted and talented. Readers describe the emotional content as poignant without being sappy. They find the characters noble and favored. The book perfectly captures the essence of foster care and its effects on children.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

2,908 customers mention "Story quality"2,706 positive202 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They find it engaging and true to life. Readers appreciate the author's realistic writing style and the first-person narrative. However, some feel the ending is disappointing.

"...And, holes need filling. Every detail, each symbol, each sub-theme, page by page means more to me now, almost as if I were beginning to..." Read more

"...The memories are explanatory for the reader, but at the same time serve as a catharsis for Victoria, whose actions are affected very much by her..." Read more

"...The story will not disappoint, and I recommend it to all and guarantee it will show you a perspective of humanity that you may have overlooked and..." Read more

"...Mystery and suspense are highly developed and it is only at the very end that all is revealed...." Read more

962 customers mention "Knowledge of flowers"962 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy learning about flowers and their meanings. They appreciate the book's focus on the language of flowers and its setting in summertime. The novel weaves together themes of mental health, motherhood, and gardening.

"...The title feels light-hearted, maybe literary, even botanical --- almost, even artificial. Yet, I know it’s not...." Read more

"...It is very old fashioned and very sweet. Angie went on to teach the language of flowers to her children, one of which, Mary, my mother, taught to me...." Read more

"...The novel features frequent retrospective chapters, going back to the time when Victoria was ten and the last adoption attempt was taking place...." Read more

"...This is a novel about growth, and the chance at healing. It is about optimism and perseverance...." Read more

910 customers mention "Writing style"820 positive90 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging and well-crafted. They appreciate the author's talent and skill with strong verbs, powerful adjectives, and spot-on similes. The title feels lighthearted and literary, though some readers felt it stretched credulity a bit.

"...Why is the book called “The Language of Flowers?” The title feels light-hearted, maybe literary, even botanical --- almost, even artificial...." Read more

"...The redeeming aspect of this novel for me is the actual language of flowers...." Read more

"...to grow them, arrange them, and, as a bonus, she is familiar with the symbolic flower language...." Read more

"...She is good at using strong verbs, powerful adjectives, spot-on similes, and effective metaphors...." Read more

788 customers mention "Emotional content"610 positive178 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging and poignant. They appreciate the subtle characterization and the author's skill in creating tension between emotional themes. The book tugs at their heartstrings with its themes of love, abandonment, fear, revenge, forgiveness, and psychological depth. Readers value the hidden meanings of flowers and their symbolic and mystical aspects.

"...than simply Victoria's (Diffenbaugh's) flowers' symbolic and mystical meanings...." Read more

"...Language of Flowers" has everything a good novel needs: a great, emotionally loaded and well-told story, interesting cast of characters..." Read more

"...There is only one word I can use to describe this novel: heartwrenching...." Read more

"This is a beautiful story, although at times so sad and sorry. It's a story about foster children and how so many find it difficult to trust or love...." Read more

679 customers mention "Character development"555 positive124 negative

Customers like the character development. They find the characters good, noble, and incapable of anger. Elizabeth is their favorite character.

"...needs: a great, emotionally loaded and well-told story, interesting cast of characters..." Read more

"...It was difficult to put it down as the characters were multi-dimensional and it was intriguing how each person (primarily the main character)..." Read more

"...The supporting characters were quietly phenomenal. I suppose that is how I could describe the entire book. It was quietly brilliant...." Read more

"...A very interesting character and a great story of the ultimate power of love." Read more

265 customers mention "Insight into foster children"250 positive15 negative

Customers find the book insightful into foster children's experiences. They appreciate the realistic portrayal of the pitfalls and heartwarming message about relationships. The story gives readers compassion for foster children, even if they are not abused. They also value the complex relationships and human connections depicted in the book.

"...By slowly inching back into her broken life, she is realistic about her growth, which I believe is what set the story apart from any other generic "..." Read more

"...I liked this book which tells the tale of Victoria who survives the foster care system and makes a life for herself...." Read more

"...It was a different look at the foster care system, a topic I am passionate about...." Read more

"...It's also a love story - both romantic love and motherly love...." Read more

261 customers mention "Flower meaning"261 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's flower meanings interesting. They appreciate the flowers' ability to reflect personalities and create a personalized dictionary. The book also highlights the heroine's floral arrangements and their support for the characters throughout the stories.

"...The novel is set in San Francisco, a beautiful city full of flowers in the summertime, an ideal setting for a book involving flowers...." Read more

"...It's actually conclusive and beautiful and not too oh-everything-is-going-to-be-perfect" Read more

"...I was really surprised how the flowers reflected my personality...." Read more

"...This relationship continues and produces a beautiful baby girl...." Read more

174 customers mention "Book club selection"174 positive0 negative

Customers find the book an excellent choice for book clubs. They say it's a good read for all ages, from high school to old age. The book is worth the time and can keep a book club discussion going for hours.

"...The language of the flowers, of course, made for fun discussion and challenges. We played a game based on flower trivia as it related to the fiction...." Read more

"...and I really hope they don't deter anyone from giving this wonderful book a chance. I read it in 24 hours on my Kindle...." Read more

"She already read and gifted to a friend. Good purchase" Read more

"...This would be a great selection for Book Clubs. For more reviews, check out my blog, Sarah's Book Shelves." Read more

Entertaining and Interesting novel.
5 out of 5 stars
Entertaining and Interesting novel.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2020
    Only a day or two passed before I read “The Language of Flowers” a second time.

    Thank goodness.

    My memory, created during the first reading, holds story-holes. I created ugly potholes by not knowing which detail to understand, now or appreciate later --- during the first reading. And, holes need filling.

    Every detail, each symbol, each sub-theme, page by page means more to me now, almost as if I were beginning to learn a new language. The second reading shows and validates details and sub-themes missed the first time. “It feels as if I’m reading a different book,” I say to myself. And I anticipate each additional reading will thicken understanding of what the story shares.

    I love this story, as painful as it is at times..

    During the first reading, I keep reading one more page, then one more chapter. Then I read another page, another chapter, on and on. To stop and wet my dry mouth and throat seems a time-waster. Each chapter introduces a surprise. Each chapter's last sentence keeps me anticipating the unexpected that Diffenbaugh will share next. While most of Victoria’s jaw-droppers displease me or make me feel uncomfortable, they keep fascinating and riveting my focus, as I read and turn page ... after page ... after page--- not able to stop.

    Two questions birth themselves and stay with me, as I move through this tale:

    • How real is this story? It feels like a dream, a bad one --- no, perhaps a nightmare, for all characters.
    • Why is the book called “The Language of Flowers?” The title feels light-hearted, maybe literary, even botanical --- almost, even artificial. Yet, I know it’s not.

    The second reading, I keep working to flesh-out a comfortable answer to the story’s purpose. Vanessa presents Victoria's story as a real-world experience --- yet it doesn’t feel believably so. Wounds and damages just don’t heal as quickly as the story's words and rhythms suggest, in real-life.

    I ask: Might this story’s content be identified as a blend or a collage of an adult contemporary fairy tale, a fantasy, a story of secular-mysticism, a fictional memoir, a surrealistic metaphor, an unfinished psychological case-study draft?

    Is it?

    I wonder.

    Perchance it’s imaginary.

    I keep searching the story’s content. “Is it phantasmagoria-like?" I ask myself. "Does the text hide a less obvious more meaningful or realistic solution?"

    Hmm?

    Coincidently, I watched Offenbach’s fabulous opera “Les Contes de’ Hoffmann,” between my first and second readings. With tears in my eyes, I recognize that in the epilogue, sung by the muse (Kate Lindsey) and The Metropolitan Opera Chorus*, I hear Offenbach’s music, and the English subtitles answer the two questions which developed during my first read.

    The opera’s ending words cause me to feel that Diffenbaugh’s muse might well have been like the one portrayed by Offenbach --- if not the same.

    I share some words from Hoffman's opera for your consideration:

    "Let the ashes of your heart rekindle your genius.
    “Smile upon your sorrows with serenity.
    “Your muse will comfort you.
    “Your suffering will be blessed.
    “One grows through love...and grows more through tears.
    “Let the ashes of your heart...rekindle your genius.
    “Smile upon your sorrows with serenity.
    “Your muse will comfort you.
    “Your suffering will be blessed.
    “Love lends man greatness.
    “Tears make him greater still. "

    “The Language of Flowers” is about much, much more than simply Victoria's (Diffenbaugh's) flowers' symbolic and mystical meanings. May you grow from the pain and suffering you are likely to feel, about Victoria and memories of your life-experiences, while you read this remarkable book. What will your favored flowers communicate to you? What will you be trying to communicate with the someone to whom you send your selected flowers?

    Victoria, Grant, and Elizabeth, and maybe you and me, grow and develop as we learn from life-experiences. And that we live individually and personally.

    Let your muse speak insights to you.

    As my reading-muse whispers insights from Diffenbaugh’s text, “The Language of Flowers” becomes increasingly valuable to me.

    Some reviewers give 5-stars when a book introduces them to something that feels as if it's giving them an insight that may change their life. "The Language of Flowers" might be one that carries life-modifying and enriching insights. Insights revealed while reading a book that is shared surreptitiously, simultaneously, with another work that peels similar scales from our eyes, unexpectedly --- even when 180-years separate one text and the other. As they did in this review's example.

    I gave the author’s book 4-stars when I finished the first read. After the second, I changed to 5-stars. Is there a rating higher than 5-stars, for me to use after I reread this wonderfully and beautifully written tale a third, fourth, and fifth time?

    Yes, there is --- even though there is no place to validate higher rankings with a checkmark.

    Instead, we may need to find a reading-muse to whisper Diffenbaugh’s secrets to us. And then be content with what we hear.

    *(December 19, 2009 performance)
    35 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2014
    This is an interesting read because of the author's use of a Naive Narrator. When the story is told from the viewpoint of someone who is mentally or emotional ill, dysfunctional, or too young (think Huck Finn) to really understand the full ramifications of his/her actions or that of others, then an interesting and sometimes painful dicotomy arises between the "mature" reader and the main character. In other words, we know more than the narrator/main character. Such tension and agony arises as we watch the narrator plunge him/herself into more destructive episodes. That is the basis of this story which is filled with dysfunctional people.
    What a pity they did not have a strong religious base from which to make decisions such as love one another, no adultery, loyalty to each other, adherence to proven commandments for happiness (wickedness never was happiness) etc.
    What a strong indictment of generational dysfunction and how difficult it is to escape. The mentally ill mother leaves two daughters behind to struggle with the same kinds of mental illness, - One whose disloyalty and immorality produces such guilt that it destroys the only long lasting relationship she has in life, - And one whose obsessive loyalty to that dysfunctional sister prevents her from moving forward with her own life and loving relationships.
    Then we have the main character's mother (and dad, if known) abandoning her child, which leads that child to feel unloveable, unwanted, and unworthy of love from anyone from there on, who then acts out in self-destructive ways, only to have the child/narrator do the very same thing to her female child. What a pity that the baby was not a boy because it seems that the male personality in this story is the only nearly sane person. And it is more than raging hormones that makes these women nuts! Grant - such a strong and giving name. Victoria - who is anything but victorious for 99% of the plot. The author needs to write a novel on the language of names!
    The redeeming aspect of this novel for me is the actual language of flowers. My grandmother Angie Gabbott (1878) and her life time lover, my grandfather Robert Lindsay McGhie (1874)courted each other through letters wherein pressed flowers were inserted, expressing their current feelings and level of love and devotion to each other. It is very old fashioned and very sweet. Angie went on to teach the language of flowers to her children, one of which, Mary, my mother, taught to me. So my yard is filled with a variety of flowers, herbs, flowering bushes, and trees.
    And being a self-described Shakespeare afficionado, I see the Elizabethan use of flowers describing characters and feelings as a device used through several centuries. That was what made this book fun for me. But then I'm a little weird. But knowing this kind of communication allows a certain level of refinement to enter into one's life too. Long live flower language. Let's pass it on to the next generation!
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Linda Babulic
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heart breaking and heart warming at the same time.
    Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2024
    How can it be that the emotions of each character is so deeply felt? Vanessa, you have reached into a depth of caring and humanity that everyone should experience. Well done.
  • Betty M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hermoso libro
    Reviewed in Mexico on August 23, 2023
    Hace mucho que lo quería. La espera valió la pena, es un libro muy lindo. Si te gustan las flores lo amarás
  • Elle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
    Reviewed in Germany on December 26, 2024
    My sister in law loved it
  • HTRU
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
    Reviewed in Spain on November 27, 2024
    Love this and enjoy the quality of the printing. Wish it had the Heather flower included.
  • Neelam
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read!
    Reviewed in India on November 23, 2024
    Loved the book! Could read it again like seeing a movie that you loved, once again!!