the Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

I must make an opening comment that I, and the rest of you in this book club, are blessed that we have so much reading material available to us, focused on the Bay Area.  Even though we all think we are the center of the sentient universe, there are several other nexus that could also claim center hood: like New York, Paris, and London.  I am currently reading two crime mystery novels and two shrink novels as well as this one which focus on SF in my hey-day.

This locale choice, plus a plot-line of flowers and greenery gives this book a guaranteed recommendation from the likes of us.  However, in a broader marketplace, will this book entertain a nationwide audience?

I think not. 

There is a huge plotline PLUS here with the concept of a language of flowers.  We want to believe in this.  Then again we kooky, Bay-Area people want to believe in Astrology and drug-induced visions.  But we are we, and this is also a must read for anyone liking psychological mysteries.

There are tiered plot-lines here that can go as deep or shallow as one might want.  With a modern twist, there’s a girl meets boy; girl loses boy; girl finds boy story line.  This is not a particularly interesting love affair; it’s almost incestuous.

And then at a level deeper, there are half a dozen socio-economic plot-lines: foster care, plus-minus [hand-wringing moans about the system, without going into why Victoria isn’t getting psychiatric care]; business ethics, plus-minus [including a fascinating glimpse at the Flower Mart]; family relationships, plus-minus [again, why are these families not getting proper psychiatric care?]. 

I have to admit that I never found one iota of sympathy and certainly no empathy with any of the characters in Diffenbaugh’s book.  Does the author purposely avoid going deeper into family, love, loyalties, or ethics?  It seems that every character in this novel has myriad flaws far surpassing mere dysfunction.  The author seems to acknowledge all the symptoms but fails to connect the dots.

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for, or violation of, the rights of others. There may be an impoverished moral sense or conscience and a history of crime, legal problems, impulsive and aggressive behavior.

Besides an education in plant and flower meanings, this book also delves into the experiences surrounding birthing and early post-natal care.  Is there a connection with all the magnificence of Mother Nature?  Is this theology as well as philosophy? 

Is it the nurturing theology of Gaia, Mother Earth?

A book with something for everyone: even some gourmet cooking.