Book Report #210 The Language of Flowers

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

When I checked this book out at the library, the librarian held it to her chest for a moment and said, "I love this book." It was a beautiful moment. I started reading it that night and had it finished within 24 hours.

Victoria is a foster child who is being released from a home into the world when she turns 18. She has no real skills or education, but she loves flowers. She sleeps in a park in San Francisco and finds work at a flower shop. Her bouquets are magnificent, which earns her a regular job. She makes a bouquet for a customer that will yield results in his love life, and he becomes an ardent supporter, sending her more and more business.

The book is two stories woven together: her past as a foster child, and her current life as an emerging adult. She mostly remembers life with Elizabeth on her vineyard. Elizabeth taught her the meaning of flowers, and how they could communicate messages. Elizabeth was a strong yet deeply kind woman who had the ability to love Victoria no matter what. Unfortunately, Victoria still had to learn that kind of love for herself.

Victoria runs into someone from her past at the flower market, and he communicates with her in the rare dialect of flowers. This relationship holds the key to Victoria's redemption and true happiness. But she's spent so much time running from anything resembling stability that she's not sure she can take that kind of risk, or maybe it's that she's not sure she can be the person who can stick that kind of life out.

General consensus: Gorgeous. Cracks you open.