Hi Book Club,
January’s meeting was several weeks ago, but we had such great attendance I am lax in getting out the email. Cheryl, Ginnie, Lori, Jody, Barb D., Barb K., Christine, Mary Beth, and myself, gathered at my house to discuss the book The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, or should I say to feast on the main character Victoria’s five favorite foods. We had donuts, grapes, squash soup, roast chicken, and cheese cake, among other delicacies. Thanks everyone for your contributions, we ate well!
The Language of Flowers was unanimously enjoyed by all. The plot, smartly crafted by Diffenbaugh, may have been much like a seesaw for some, jumping from Victoria’s early years as a foster child then to the present. We would not have understood Victoria’s eccentricities as acutely, however, without the measured grinds of flashbacks Diffenbaugh filtered into the story. The plot of Victoria’s doomed adoption by Elizabeth connecting to the plot of Victoria’s relationship with Grant serves to show, albeit through fiction, how our childhood relationships affect the relationships we have today. I had recently heard a Focus on the Family radio broadcast which featured a married couple, Milan and Kay Yerkovich, who had just written a book called How We Love. In it they discuss how our childhood experiences shape our abilities to be intimate and passionate. They explain 5 different “love styles” and how people can deepen their relationships with their mates if only they can understand their love style. As I read The Language of Flowers, I was reminded of the Yerkovich’s book. Victoria reacts from the heavy baggage she still carries from childhood. Her style is to barricade herself from Grant and everyone else of importance in her life; the blue room and the water tower are her fortresses.
One of my favorite aspects of the book, however, is the non-fiction information gained about the “language of flowers.” Tim and I are wildflower buffs. When spring arrives, we are off to the bike trails and hiking trails of Western Pennsylvania in search of indigenous blooms. Carrying our trusty Peterson Field Guide, we continue to mark and remark the pages with the dates (from as early as March to as late as November) and places of our wildflower discoveries. Adding to our knowledge of flora identification, we like to include the folklore of each species, and the “language of flowers” is a nice addition. Although my interest in this language was peaked, however, before reading Diffenbaugh’s book, it was interesting to see how Victoria used her knowledge in the floral business. It shows how any hobby can be made lucrative. In fact, I am taking one of Victoria’s ideas and using it for my Thursday night yoga class. Victoria always serves her clients a cup of chrysanthemum tea; I have started serving hot ginger root tea after each of my yoga classes. Ginger root is loaded with many medicinal qualities, one of which is alertness. In the “language of flowers” it stands for strength.
One thing I didn’t remember to discuss at the meeting were some of the great poets Victoria and Grant love to read, Gertrude Stein and Elizabeth Barrett Browning to name a few. I am certain if you were to sift through all of those greeting cards you have stashed away in boxes you will find that their poetry is featured on many of the nature inspired card faces and in the messages. Robert Browning, Elizabeth’s brother wanted to be so accurate in his descriptions of nature that he sought for every one of his senses to be involved. He ate many odd creatures and plants for the sake of stirring the creativity for his words.
For more background on the author Vanessa Diffenbaugh and her writing of The Language of Flowers watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W43q4hJlcJE
Our next book club will meet at 6:30 PM tomorrow night, Tuesday, February 19, at Natilie’s Pizzeria on Main Street in Butler. We are discussing My Life in France by Julie Child and Alex Prud’ Homme, what a lovely book. It reminds me so much of the stories my daughter Makenzie shares about her life with her husband Vince in Europe. I told her she should get started on her own book. For homework, wear your beret or anything French!
Bon appetite or au revoir whichever you prefer,
Tammy
