Burning Mystery

 

If you are looking to read a gripping page-turner than be sure to read Afterwards (A+) by Rosamund Lupton.  We meet the cast of this thriller at the beginning of the annual sporting event at Sidley House School.  Grace Covey is there to watch her 8-year-old birthday boy Addie compete in the outdoor events with his fellow classmates. Inside the building, her 17-year-old daughter is working as the school nurse. As Addie returns to his classroom to get his birthday cake, the school fire alarm begins to ring loudly and insistently.  In a panic, Grace charges into the burning building to save her children from the fire’s flames.  As the fire races and the building begins to collapse, Grace is knocked unconscious by flaming debris.  The smoke and flames also overcome Jen as she tries to exit the third floor nurses station, so begins this exceptional thriller.

 

As Grace and Jen lay in the hospital’s emergency room, both critically injured, they discover that they can escape their bodies. Their spirits are able to communicate with each other.  Soon the fire is declared arson and both Grace and Jen in their present forms become involved in the efforts to identify the arsonist.

 

As they eavesdrop, they discover many things about the lives of friends and family that they would not otherwise know and in the process learn things about themselves as well.

 

Lupton does an incredible job of writing and brings the reader right into the thick of the investigation.  The story captivated me and I was riveted to every page.  Like Sister, Lupton’s first novel, her approach to story telling delivers a unique reading experience. She takes ordinary situations and creates extraordinary mysteries.

 

I highly recommend everyone read Afterwards being sure to do it sooner than later.

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

I decided that I wanted to read The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (B) the moment I saw the title.  Reading is my number one hobby, closely followed by quilting and gardening.  Recently, I discovered a book on Victorian flower appliqué. The pattern book briefly touched on the idea that different flowers meant different things.  Mostly the book depicted the flowers that spoke of romance but now I know that they can mean so much more.

Abandoned as a baby, Victoria was in foster care until the age of 18. Her life in foster care was troubled and unhappy.  She was hopeful that every new placement would become the home she was searching for. Not until she was placed with Elizabeth did she believe that it was possible to find love and acceptance. Victoria did her best to test Elizabeth’s resolve to adopt her by behaving badly and destructively. Elizabeth passed every test and never disappointed Victoria until adoption day.  When the big day arrives, Elizabeth is frozen with fear and the belief that she can’t provide the home that Victoria deserves.  This fear destroys Victoria’s dreams and cements her belief that she is incapable of loving or being loved.

Elizabeth shared her gift of flowers with Victoria.  She taught her that flowers can communicate messages that can be more powerful than words. Victoria is relaxed and comfortable in the presence of flowers and so she uses this part of her past to establish her future.  Her past does more than sustain her; it comes back to haunt her.  Once again, Victoria must struggle with acceptance, worth and love as well a very painful secret.

Honestly, I can’t say that I enjoyed reading The Language of Flowers.  At times, Victoria frustrated me.  I wanted to shake her up and end her pity party and have her get on with life selflessly.  A little tension in a story can be good but too much can make the reader crazy.  Often I was crazy and was thankful that the chapters were short so that I could take breaks. Also, I didn’t enjoy the portrayal of the foster care system as an evil institution that doesn’t do anyone any good.  This was unfair to the many wonderful foster families who provide shelter, comfort and love to children. Things can and do go wrong but not all the time.

I was not disappointed by the title.  I did learn the language of flowers and won’t look at a bouquet without deciphering its meaning.  My recommendation would be to “take time to smell the flowers” and have their scent carry you while reading this novel.