As we enter victorias story, none of us would want the bouquet she sees as the definition of who she has become. Along with a visual depiction, each entry provides the flower s name, characteristics, and historic meanings from mythology, medieval legends, folklore, and flower poetry. The language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh, paperback. The language of flowers is very specific, but it is never subtle. You voted, and the chosen read was the language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh. In what ways do the two story lines parallel each other, and how do they diverge. A sumptuous, contemporary anthology of 50 of the worlds most storied and popular flowers, each of its entries offers insight to the. The meanings assigned to various flowers were based on traditions, myths, medical use and sometimes, the imagination of the person authoring the book.
A debut novel that weaves together the meaning of flowers, the foster care system, marriage and heartbreak. Throughout my reading history ive always enjoyed ya novels. To create the book which was a list of flowers and their meaningsde latour gathered references to flower symbolism throughout poetry, ancient mythology and even. The language of flowers discussion questions nicole amsler.
The story as a whole seemed a little too unrealistic to me, which caused me to roll my eyes a few times while reading it. Book club the language of flowers this months book is the language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh. Last month we read the language of flowers my pick which is a novel by vaness diffenaugh and it was such a wonderful book. A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, the language of flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past. History of flowers the fresh cut flower of the month club. Aug 17, 2011 the language of flowers, vanessa diffenbaughs mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable young. Along with a visual depiction, each entry provides the flowers name, characteristics, and historic meanings from mythology, medieval legends, folklore, and flower poetry. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. My book club chose this novel and all 6 of us really enjoyed it.
Vanessa diffenbaugh seems to have written her first novel with book clubs in mind. Readers are abuzz with praise for vanessa diffenbaughs debut novel, the language of flowers. The meaning of flowers and the rise of floriography. The language of flowers mid19th century life american. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. A fully illustrated compendium of meaning, literature, and lore for the modern romantic is a treasure for flower lovers. The language of flowers is about much, much more than simply victorias diffenbaughs flowers symbolic and mystical meanings. At the beginning of april we launched our very first book club. The idea of speaking to others through flowers is not a new onethink ophelia from shakespeares play hamlet. Sep 05, 2011 ultimately, the language of flowers is a hopeful book tempered by reality. I went with zucchini linguini because zucchini starts out as a flower.
Learn about the history of flowers and other interesting flower facts from the fresh cut flower of the month club. For todays discussion were using the following list of book club questions from random house. The language of flowers is the debut novel of american author vanessa diffenbaugh. Oliver wolcott library the language of flowers by vanessa.
The novel follows the fraught life of a victoria jones, who by the age of 18, had lived in 32 foster home s, and becomes a flower arranger. One of the first language of flowers books appeared in the early 1900s by illustrator kate greenaway. In 1879, an entire book written by miss corruthers of inverness, which quickly became the guide to the meanings behind flowers throughout england and the united states. If you liked the language of flowers, try white oleander by janet fitch being lara by lola jaye wrecker by summer wood categories. Fresh flowers of course adorned our get together as well as flower book marks. Victoria jones has just turned 18, which means she is no longer tied down to the states foster care system. The novel was inspired by a flower dictionary, a type of victorianera book. A sumptuous, contemporary anthology of 50 of the worlds most storied and popular. The language of flowers, by vanessa diffenbaugh the globe. Feb 18, 2016 resources and project ideas for a book to art club on the language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh. The language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh book trailer. Research from harvard found that people feel less anxious and more compassionate when surrounded by flowers. These questions are simply meant to offer a bit of guidance and to. Adulthigh schoolchapters that alternate between victorias past as a foster child and present as a semihomeless 18yearold reveal secrets and unravel mysteries and create a narrative that is richly textured and hard to put down.
Apr 03, 2012 the language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh a mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, the language of flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past. The language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh duration. Itmore my opinion, as the mom of two young twentysomething men, is that i wouldnt have wanted them to learn about love and forgiveness from this book. The language of flowers makes for a wonderful discussion book for book clubs. Get the reading group guide for the language of flowers by. By opening up victorias very difficult inner world to us, vanessa diff enbaugh shows us a corner of experience hidden to most, with an astonishing degree of insight and compassion. The novel follows the fraught life of a victoria jones, who by the age of 18, had lived in 32 foster homes, and becomes a flower arranger the novel was inspired by a flower dictionary, a type of victorianera book which defines what different types of flowers mean. The idea that flowers had different meanings grew in popularity in france and england in the first decades of the 19th century. What can history teach us about the language of flowers. After visiting grants flower farm several times, they finally discuss the elephant in the room. The language of flowers is about much, much more than simply the language of flowers.
Now were excited to hear what you thought of the book for todays discussion were using the following list of book club questions from random house. The story was unusual and unexpected, with the protagonist victoria communicating her feelings. Review of the language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh. From the beloved new york times bestselling author of the language of flowers comes vanessa diffenbaughs muchanticipated new novel about young love, hard choices, and hope against all odds. Its narrated by victoria jones, a young woman who spent her childhood neglected and abused in a series of foster homes. Diffenbaughs language of flowers tells the story of victoria. The novel follows the fraught life of a victoria jones, who by the age of 18, had lived in 32 foster homes, and becomes a flower arranger. Vanessa diffenbaugh, the language of flowers youtube.
The language of flowers the earliest flower dictionary was written in 1819. The language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh goodreads. The language of flowers bookclub discussion questions. It sets up the ya reader for an unrealistic expectation. May you grow from the pain and suffering you are likely to feel, about victoria and memories of your lifeexperiences, while you read this remarkable book. Diffenbaugh unravels the story of victoria in pieces by alternating chapters but not always every. Gosh i have so much to say about the language of flowers but first up, here is the book for next month tell me three things by julie buxbaum i was in the mood for something new, and something ya young adult. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points, if you have not read the book. At its core, the language of flowers is a meditation on redemption, and on how even the most profoundly damaged might learn to forgive and be forgiven. In an interview included at the end of the novel, author vanessa diffenbaugh relates the findings from a rutgers university study that proves flowers increase feelings of enjoyment and satisfaction. The story of a woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own pastprovided by publisher.
Resources regarding the victorian language of flowers floriography. Diffenbaugh narrates victoria and grants presentday involvement, over which the cloud of the past hangs heavy, in parallel with the history of elizabeths foster care, which we. Even during my hiatus here on the blog the ladies and i have continued our book club. Book club meetings are generally held the first thursday of each month at. The language of flowers book summary and study guide. Victoria is hostile, mistrusting, and hard to understand yet you find yourself rooting for her at every turn. The story follows themes of relationships, abandonment, and. Book club the language of flowers carter memorial library. Aug 23, 2011 but a florist gives her casual work and then, at a flower market, she meets grant, elizabeths nephew, another awkward soul who speaks the language of flowers. Catnip for book clubs the language of flowers, as illuminated through victorias words and a special appendix, turns out to be an addictive preoccupation. The language of flowers are used throughout literature and in art.
The language of flowers, a novel by vanessa diffenbaugh, is the new york times bestselling story about victoria jones, her passion for flowers and how her use of flowers helped her to communicate with others and helped her come into her own. Buy the language of flowers reprints by vanessa diffenbaugh isbn. We see the language of flowers used in the literature of william shakespeare, jane austen, charlotte, and emily bronte. The language differs from book to book, country to country. During this period, many books were published, each claiming to translate the language of flowers, and. The language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh book club. One example is in the winters tale, the princess perdita wishes that she had violets, daffodils, and primroses to make garlands for her friends. The complete language of flowers is a comprehensive dictionary for over 1,001 flower species. Apr 28, 2014 at the beginning of april we launched our very first book club. The language of flowers vanessa diffenbaugh, 2011 random house 352 pp. New york times bestseller the victorian language of flowers was.
Home the language of flowers discussion guide libguides. The language of flowers follows main character victoria jones as she turns eighteen and is emancipated from the foster care system. This time we tackled a current book club best seller, the debut novel by vanessa diffenbaugh, the language of flowers. We are specifically reaching out to book clubs, because we believe that small. Victoria is only able to share her true feelings through her knowledge of the victorian language of flowers. Diffenbaugh narrates victoria and grants presentday involvement, over which the cloud of the past hangs heavy, in parallel with the history of elizabeths foster care, which we know. The language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh reading guide. The language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh bookies. Book clubs that celebrate the floral particulars here should also notice the way that the book is structured. To place the language of flowers in social and literary perspective, the author examines the nineteenthcentury uses of flowers in everyday life and in ceremonies and rituals and provides a brief history of floral symbolism. I am pretty confident in saying that most female readers will appreciate this story, and i have no doubt that there is a great deal to talk about.
The language of flowers bookclub discussion questions freutcake. Now emancipated from the care of the state, she finds love, but feels unworthy. The language of flowers is an unpublished song from a poem by the american geologist and poet james gates percival, with music written by the english composer edward elgar when he was only fourteen years old. She has a unique ability to understand the language of flowers a fascinating way to express thoughts and emotions that was created during the. The language of flowers is a 2011 novel by american author vanessa diffenbaugh. Floriography became very popular in victorian england during the 19th century. But a florist gives her casual work and then, at a flower market, she meets grant, elizabeths nephew, another awkward soul who speaks the language of flowers. But for victoria jones, its been more useful in communicating.
This book is the darling of book clubs all over the country but i found it to be. Lisa maxwell my opinion, as the mom of two young twentysomething men, is that i wouldnt have wanted them to learn about love and forgiveness from this book. Discovering the symbolic meanings of flowers while languishing in the fostercare system, eighteenyearold victoria is hired by a florist when her talent for helping others is discovered, a situation that leads her to confront a painful secret from her past. History of the language of flowers, a chapter excerpted from the book flowers, the angels alphabet by susan loy, 2001. Waltrous compares the novel to jane eyre, identifying the novel as part of the story of an orphan rising above her circumstances with. Information about the author and the language of flowers is available on the book s website. Aug 23, 2011 a mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, the language of flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past. The language of flowers meeting vanessa diffenbaugh youtube. The language of flowers download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. With gorgeous fullcolor illustrations, ornate decorative elements, lettering in metallic ink, and engaging text, the language of flowers. The language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh book trailer duration. The novel follows the fraught life of a victoria jones, who by the age of 18, had lived in 32 foster homes, and becomes a flower. To place the language of flowers in social and literary perspective, the author examines the nineteenthcentury uses of flowers in everyday life and in ceremonies and rituals and provides a brief history. Ballantine is surely well aware that there are book clubs that have theme.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The language of flowers, vanessa diffenbaugh the language of flowers is the debut novel of american author vanessa diffenbaugh. There she changes the lives of others while working to. However, the language of flowers was difficult to navigate because there were numerous flower dictionaries and few agreed on the same meaning of the flower. In the first main section of the book, the reader is introduced to victoria. Jul 27, 2018 the language of flowers tells the story of a young woman who, after being released from the foster care system, finds work in a flower shop. To read the language of flowers by vanessa diffenbaugh, is to reflect on how the bouquet of each of our lives is crafted flower by flower. Jul 05, 2016 the language of flowers are used throughout literature and in art. Floriography, or the language of flowers is the act of attributing meaning to various blooms to communicate a message. The victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions. Scans of 19thcentury books on the language of flowers.