Abbi Waxman continues her hot streak with âThe Garden of Small Beginningsâ, a sweet and funny tale of starting over and the persistence of small growing things.
Lilian Girvan is still trying to deal with the sudden death of her husband, three years previously, while bringing up her two daughters and sidestepping a toxic relationship with her self-centered, alcoholic mother. A job assignment that involves illustrating a gardening textbook leads her to take a back-yard-gardening class, which sets up the rest of the plot.
The romance thread pops its head up rather quickly (sorry; it's going to be hard to write this review without tossing in gardening puns), but it's a grown-up romance between grown-up people, and it ripens nicely (there we go again) as the book progresses through the side-salad plot lines of family relationships, new friendships, and uncertainty on the job front.
As always, Waxman's quirky observations of her own life and the idiosyncrasies of the people around her make for delightful reading. (Example â while cleaning out her desk at work, Lilian makes the following observation: âIf I find myself with a piece of paper in my hand, and I'm unsure where to put it, I lay it down on the nearest surface and hope it folds itself into a paper plane and flies wherever it's supposed to go.â) The characters â particularly the children â are believable and consistent, the situations, while not your normal garden-variety, aren't totally out in left field, and the internal descriptions of a woman struggling to break free of years of guilt and grief are touching and heartfelt.
Put this one on your summer reading list. And if you have a shady spot with a hammock in it near your garden, so much the better.
Lilian Girvan is still trying to deal with the sudden death of her husband, three years previously, while bringing up her two daughters and sidestepping a toxic relationship with her self-centered, alcoholic mother. A job assignment that involves illustrating a gardening textbook leads her to take a back-yard-gardening class, which sets up the rest of the plot.
The romance thread pops its head up rather quickly (sorry; it's going to be hard to write this review without tossing in gardening puns), but it's a grown-up romance between grown-up people, and it ripens nicely (there we go again) as the book progresses through the side-salad plot lines of family relationships, new friendships, and uncertainty on the job front.
As always, Waxman's quirky observations of her own life and the idiosyncrasies of the people around her make for delightful reading. (Example â while cleaning out her desk at work, Lilian makes the following observation: âIf I find myself with a piece of paper in my hand, and I'm unsure where to put it, I lay it down on the nearest surface and hope it folds itself into a paper plane and flies wherever it's supposed to go.â) The characters â particularly the children â are believable and consistent, the situations, while not your normal garden-variety, aren't totally out in left field, and the internal descriptions of a woman struggling to break free of years of guilt and grief are touching and heartfelt.
Put this one on your summer reading list. And if you have a shady spot with a hammock in it near your garden, so much the better.
I selected this book because I truly enjoyed reading The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by same author. While I have no interest in gardening, the story sounded tame and I needed a break from psycho thrillers I'd been reading lately.
Lilian is a widow with two small girls, her husband Dan was killed in a car accident. She's an illustrator for publishing company, which sends her to a gardening class. The story unfolds with interesting class members, and of course a romantic interest even tho Lili isn't ready for a new man in her life. She hasn't finished grieving for her lost husband, even tho her sister pushes her to open up to new possibilities. Between her single, outgoing sister and her toxic, alcoholic mother, Lili tries to maintain her work life and home life with her girls.
Delightfully sweet story with predictable outcome, worth your time reading!
Lilian is a widow with two small girls, her husband Dan was killed in a car accident. She's an illustrator for publishing company, which sends her to a gardening class. The story unfolds with interesting class members, and of course a romantic interest even tho Lili isn't ready for a new man in her life. She hasn't finished grieving for her lost husband, even tho her sister pushes her to open up to new possibilities. Between her single, outgoing sister and her toxic, alcoholic mother, Lili tries to maintain her work life and home life with her girls.
Delightfully sweet story with predictable outcome, worth your time reading!
The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman is a sweet if predictable story about, well, new beginnings. A sad beginning and a sad main character. An incorrigible sister who tells it like it is. A handsome new man. A small cast of characters, each with their own eccentricities. A common bond - in this case, a gardening class - that draws them together. New friends. New love. A gradual new beginning. Sweet but expected.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/05/the-garden-of-small-beginnings.html
Reviewed for the Penguin First to Read program.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/05/the-garden-of-small-beginnings.html
Reviewed for the Penguin First to Read program.
