Review
Readers are abuzz with praise for Vanessa Diffenbaugh's debut novel, The Language of Flowers
. 24 out of 26 reviewers rated it 4 or 5 stars, making it one of BookBrowse's highest rated books to date!
Here's what they have to say:
I would personally like to hand a red rose to Vanessa Diffenbaugh for her first novel. I loved it! She has managed to weave together her knowledge of the meaning of flowers with an in-depth look at the foster care system, weddings, marriage, heartbreak, and mending fences (Barbara S). I received this book around 5:00 pm on a Friday and am writing this review less than 24 hours later; it is one of the best I've ever read. Victoria's story is engrossing and compelling, and the history behind flower language opens up a new world to explore (Carol N). I can't say enough in praise; the story is filled with heartache, small...
Beyond the Book
While researching the symbolism of various plants for her novel,
The Language of Flowers, Vanessa Diffenbaugh discovered that, "nearly every flower had multiple meanings, listed in hundreds of books, in dozens of languages, and on countless websites."
This left her with the challenge of determining which meanings were most "correct," or at the very least, most relevant to her work.
With great care, Diffenbaugh researched the scientific definitions of many plants and herbs, and she learned how various flora came to hold social significance. She explains:
"Lining...
