Poppies = Imagination

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I ran across this book in my favorite place to prowl in the library - the advance review section. I checked it out on Goodreads when I got home and saw that it had an average of four stars plus, and it totally lived up to that. I was engaged in the story from beginning to end, and keep going back to re-read bits of it.

Victoria has been shuttled to numerous foster homes. She has put up a tough and defiant exterior to protect her heart from the rejection that she knows will eventually come her way. I think the author got this character exactly right. Don't you think it's true that when hearts are hurt people put up all kinds of barriers to protect themselves? Along the way though, Victoria meets two somebodies that love her, and as always, real love, can break down those crusty exteriors. It doesn't happen overnight though, it takes time. This bit is also true to life, don't you think? It's only consistent and constant love and grace that can break down those walls.

Victoria learned about the language of flowers on her journey to wholeness. I loved learning the meanings of flowers, and how they were used in communication in Victorian times, and how they could be used in the same way today. People are always looking for a little magic in their lives, and Victoria's meaningful bouquets provide just what they are looking for.

There are several bits in the story where flowers are used for conversations, and I thought that was charming, although sometimes the message of the flowers themselves were actually quite difficult.

I liked how the people Victoria met took the chance of encouraging and helping her. They also showed love where none was expected, and didn't give up on Victoria.

I can't tell you more without ruining the story--give yourself a treat and add this to your booklist.

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War and Life Choices

Gifts of War by Mackenzie Ford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gifts of War begins with the World War I 1914 Christmas Truce (widespread unofficial ceasefires that took place along the Western Front around Christmas of 1914). I did not know this was a true fact until I googled it after finishing the book.
Wilhelm (German) and Hal (British) meet during the truce and have a conversation. In the course of the conversation, Hal makes a promise to Wilhelm, one he does not keep. This failed promise embarks him on a life of deceit. A life he willfully chooses. Here's the thing, Hal is not a bad man. He could be you, or me. The questions he asks as he makes his choices, could be questions you or I ask ourselves. Once you take that first small step of deceit, it is easy to take the next one, or two, or three. It is very rare that deceit does not catch up with us in some way, and this proves true for Hal.

There are so many other nuances in the book. Think how strange, and how amazing, for soldiers fighting to the death to stop, decorate their trenches, sing songs together and share gifts. They made plans to bury their dead during the cease fire. And then, in one or two days, to begin killing each other again.

What about spying for your country? This could entail literally sleeping with the enemy, killing acquaintances and the like. Basically, it is living a life of approved deceit. Deceit with honor. That's a misnomer if I ever heard one.

What about hating someone, just because they are German, or British,or Dutch, or Hispanic - and then, endeavoring, when war is over, to start over again in peace. Surely at that time, it is just a word, what about real peace? How does one attain it, that peace of Shalom (living harmoniously), after a war time experience.

These are some of the questions you'll ponder as you consider lives impacted by war, both in the past and the present.

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An Intense Read

Room by Emma Donoghue

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was not excited to read this book,it sounded creepy to me. And, I have to say, it is a little creepy, but, it also held my attention throughout. So why did I read it? Book club. Sometimes you are forced to read things that you don't really want to, and, it usually ends up all right. I can't say that I enjoyed the book, but I was totally immersed, and have gone back to read parts several times.

If you think you're going to read this book, you may not want to read past this sentence . . .

The title makes so much sense once you've read the story.

"Room" is Jake's world. It is all he knows. To him, room is real, and everything else is not real. Jake is not just smart, he's precocious. He's also incredibly naive. He lives in this small room, with a few stories, and a pattern to every day. Objects are named and become his friends. He loves his mom, he loves room, he loves his routines. He questions. His brain begins to be stretched. He learns there is a real world, this isn't all there is. This scares him. His mom asks him to perform a daring deed. He does, and their whole life changes.

For his mom, the change is mostly great, but for Jake, not so much. Everything he loves, everything that is familiar, is gone. He wants it back. This is hard for his mom, and for him--for so long they were just the two of them, and they mostly agreed on everything. Now the world is bigger, and has to expand to include other people.

I am glad for learning about the new life - I liked Steppa, and I felt Jake's awkwardness, and his mom's exhilaration with freedom, and frustration with Jake's slowness to embrace the freedom were expressed well. I thought the reaction of his mom's parents were real and believable.

The one thing I struggle with a bit is the fact that Jake is just five. I'm not sure a five year old would really have been able to perform such a daring deed.

On the copyright page, it says that the book is totally fictional, and I believe this to be true, except . . . today, I watched the Jaycee Dugard interview with Diane Sawyer. I have to wonder if the author's imagination was sparked by this true story of a young girl who was abducted, raped, imprisoned in a soundproof room, and gave birth to 2 children during her 18 year imprisonment. Having just finished "Room", and then watching the interview, there are some real similarities. Certainly both the interview and the book teach us that evil is real and in the world. After watching the Jaycee interview, I think we all need to be more diligent about caring for our neighbors, and being brave enough, and taking the risk to report, where we believe there may be wrong doing. I think sometimes we feel embarrassed, after all, what if we're wrong. Perhaps, we should be asking ourselves more often, what if we're right?

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A "Can't Put It Down" Book

Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I like Jodi Picoult's books, but this one I just could not put down. I started it on Thursday night, and stayed up way past my bedtime, reluctantly putting it away as I had to get up and go to work on Friday.

Friday night did my chores as quick as I could, anticipating the time I could sit down and finish it!

Paige's mom ran away when she was 5 years old. Paige ran away when she was 18. She's been in love twice, and now she has a baby of her own. Exhausted from caring for her infant while her cardiologist husband puts in long hours at work, she finds that she's losing herself. How can she find herself again, reconcile her past, and reconcile her old self with her new self and her role as mother? How can her heart heal so that she is whole again?

I loved Paige and her questionings, her naivety, and her honesty. I loved that she was an artist, and her special gift that made her art unique. I loved how she loved her dad--actually, how they loved each other.

It's always curious to me how some books pull you in, and others not so much. This one definitely had my undivided attention!

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