Books

What I’m Reading Now

Well hello!

I’m reporting live from Savannah, Georgia and my oh my, is it good to be here. There’s nothing like taking a red eye flight in {not sleeping at all} then crashing for two hours in your childhood bed and waking up to the smell of mom making Christmas cookies downstairs. Hallelujah.

Oh y’all, I have been reading like a fool lately. Remember when I lamented a couple weeks ago about being stuck in a rut and not being able to find a good book to read? Well thank goodness those days were short lived. Whew. I have been reading some really amazing books lately, starting with this one by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Wow it was so, so, SO good. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get into it or not because, let’s be honest, I’m just not that interested in flowers. However, this book was about so much more than flowers! Once I started I just couldn’t stop. I think it was absolutely one of the best books I’ve read in 2012. Really amazing.

The Language of Flowers is set in the California Bay Area and I loved to be able to recognize certain places and streets in San Francisco that the narrator was talking about. Victoria, the main character, is a young girl who has been tossed around foster care her entire life. She’s lived a life of secrets and lies but the one thing that’s always stayed the same is her passion for flowers and the language behind them. We’ve all probably heard the Shakespeare quote “rosemary for remembrance” but I had no idea that there is a significant meaning to every single flower out there. I thought that was incredibly fascinating and actually, got me more excited to meet with a potential wedding florist in a couple weeks!

If you need a good book to get into this holiday, do yourself a favor and pick this one up! I absolutely loved it and am recommending it to everyone I know. My mom is reading it next.

Love you guys!

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  • Jamie
    December 20, 2012 at 3:55 am

    I too have read that book! It was definately NOT what I expected, but I couldn’t put it down. (A little “darker” than I thought, but TOTALLY real!)

  • Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats
    December 20, 2012 at 4:41 am

    Awesome! I was on the hunt for a good book for holiday travels, so I’ll definitely pick this one up. Enjoy your time at home (and those cookies!) I never sleep as hard as when I’m in my childhood bed!

  • Daman
    December 20, 2012 at 5:05 am

    Hey Jenna,
    You gotta start a section on your blog on all your book reviews!
    Daman

    • Emily
      December 20, 2012 at 6:45 pm

      I agree!!

  • Joelle ( on a pink typewriter)
    December 20, 2012 at 5:17 am

    I hadn’t heard if this book before… I’ll have to check it out!

  • Kristen
    December 20, 2012 at 6:22 am

    I was recommended this book by a friend and thought it wasn’t going to be my cup of tea; in fact, I almost bypassed it. So glad I didn’t! I really enjoyed it. Completely not what I expected.

  • sillygirl
    December 20, 2012 at 6:54 am

    A friend recommended this book – really enjoyed it! I love different books and if they are about women who find their strength – all the better.

  • Heather M
    December 20, 2012 at 7:13 am

    I LOVED this book as well, Jenna! Such a wonderful read. Keep the good books coming, and have a very blessed Christmas!

  • Amanda
    December 20, 2012 at 7:16 am

    I loved this book. But I also studied horticulture as an undergraduate and absolutely love flowers. I love that they were able to become a family and sometimes people just need a chance despite their difficult circumstances to show off their talents.

  • Sarah @ Yogi in Action
    December 20, 2012 at 7:18 am

    You have perfect timing! I was just thinking to myself last night how badly I needed something new to read. Thanks for the recommendation- I will definitely be checking this one out.

  • judith scott
    December 20, 2012 at 7:21 am

    Can you imagine someone who loves flowers reading this? And I also enjoyed knowing where she was in SF. My book club read this and we were 1005 in agreement as to its fabulousness 🙂

  • Molly @ RDexposed
    December 20, 2012 at 7:38 am

    Oooh. I’ll read this during my next flight to San Fran!

  • Kristen
    December 20, 2012 at 7:52 am

    I just finished reading this book The Art of Hearing Heartbeats… I loved it. If you are looking for something else to read, I highly recommend it!

    http://www.amazon.com/Art-Hearing-Heartbeats-Jan-Philipp-Sendker/dp/1590514637

  • abby
    December 20, 2012 at 8:09 am

    This sounds like something I should read, especially since I’m in SF!

  • Melissa Baltz
    December 20, 2012 at 8:13 am

    I have a book recommendation for you- The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. It jumps back and forth between modern and Victorian times and is fabulous. Knowing your love of historical fiction, I think that it would be right up your alley (don’t judge based on the first 100 pages keep reading and it will end up being a book you never want to put down).

    • BooksFoodFun
      December 20, 2012 at 2:22 pm

      I loved The Forgotten Garden as well. Definitely a favorite!

  • Caroline L.
    December 20, 2012 at 9:10 am

    I’m so excited to get some time off to read!! This book looks great!

  • Heather
    December 20, 2012 at 9:47 am

    I really enjoyed this book too. I found myself wanting to take notes. Thanks for all the fun book recommendations.

  • a farmer in the dell
    December 20, 2012 at 10:55 am

    My girlfriend just told me about this book! can’t wait to dive in. Have a great Christmas with your family!

  • Emily @ Life on Food
    December 20, 2012 at 11:01 am

    I just finished reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil since recently visited Savannah. I love reading books set in places I know or have been and relating to those areas.

  • Joe Strandell
    December 20, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    I will have to check out the book!

    I love your blog! So many great articles… I thought you might like to know that http://www.dentist.net is offering 10% off their products with the code ORALCARE 🙂  Happy holidays!

  • Jen
    December 20, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    I’ve been working long hours lately and will be through Christmas, so reading has become my only savior at the end of a long day! Unfortunately, it’s also keeping me up late…I’m literally reading with one eye open at midnight fighting the urge to fall asleep because I get wrapped up in a storyline!

  • BooksFoodFun
    December 20, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    Jenna, thanks for the book review! I will definitely have to add this to my list! I just picked up The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton (loved her book The Forgotten Garden) and also want to read Mariana by Susana Kearsley.

  • Joanne M.
    December 20, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    I miss living in SF and I love reading books that remind me of the city. I’m definitely going to add this to my Goodreads list. Thanks for the review!

  • Kate
    December 20, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    Ooh, my friend passed on her copy to me with a glowing recommendation, but I just thought “eh” and put it in the Maybe pile. I will have to give it a try, since I’m not loving the book I’m reading right now.

  • Alli
    December 20, 2012 at 3:33 pm

    I’ve read this book over the summer and it is an amazing book. I also thought I would hate this book because I thought it would be all about flowers but it is more than that. I love that each flower had its own meaning and how Victoria had her own way of communicating and helping others through flowers. I also wasn’t aware of how foster homes were run and how some children were treated.

    Great Read!

  • Hilda
    December 20, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    If you’re looking for a good book after this one, try the Purge by Sofi Oksanen. I cannot recommend it enough – though it’s not exactly light reading I was not able to put it down!

  • Leslie
    December 21, 2012 at 12:50 pm

    Did I somehow miss that you’re from Savannah? I went to high school in Brunswick, Georgia, but my boyfriend is from Savannah. We’ll be there tomorrow to celebrate Christmas! I cannot wait! Love Savannah!

  • Leah
    December 22, 2012 at 11:06 am

    Loved this book. Loved its originality and beautiful writing. You won’t be disappointed.

  • Hallie Sawyer
    December 25, 2012 at 10:58 pm

    I have been wanting to read this one for a while. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about it! I love finding a great book and passing it on for others. I guess my way of paying it forward. 🙂 Merry Christmas!

  • Becky
    December 26, 2012 at 6:59 am

    I loved this book! I read it a few months ago and I can say it was one of my favorite books of the year also.

  • Debi
    December 29, 2012 at 9:34 am

    Thanks Jenna for your “what I am reading now” posts! Please don’t ever drop them. I usually immediately add what you are reading to my kindle, even though I can’t keep up with you! Have you read The Dove Keepers by Alice Hoffman? I read it quite awhile ago, it may have been a bit slow but in the end I am happy I read it. The reason I thought of it today was in the book it mentions bread baked with a dusting of cumin, coriander and salt. What do you think of that? I have been wanting to try that on a loaf of good bread like from the Tartine bread book. I have the book but have yet to try to bake the bread. The starter is what I am afraid of. 🙂

  • What I'm Reading | Leading The Good Life
    December 31, 2012 at 11:14 am

    […] Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh – I read about this book on Eat, Live, Run. Honestly, I'm not usually interested in the books Jenna recommends…but only because we have very […]