Saturday, February 19, 2011

Book Review: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Title: Garden Spells
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Genre: Magical Realism
Subject: Relationships, Violence, Family life
Publisher: Bantam
Release date: August 2007
Length: 270 pages
I got this book: Through a book ring on bookcrossing (in Dutch)

Summary:
Claire Waverley lives in an old house with a beautiful garden where all flowers are in bloom the whole year around. In the village people think the Waverley family are a strange bunch, and they are often the topic of gossip. Claire owns a small catering business, and her dishes are known for the effect they have on people. Claire likes her orderly life, but when her sister Sydney returns home, she knows everything will change. 

Personal opinion:
I have to say that the summary isn't very appealing and I wouldn't have picked the book up based on it. I read this book, because it would fit the Foodie's reading challenge and I could get my hands on it through this book ring. But I am really glad I did. I love how the writer in cooperated the magical and mysterious aspects of the flowers and the food with a story about family life. It was easy to believe that these mystical details can be part of an everyday world and the writer did a very good job with this. Other then that it is a fairly standard story of love and family with some drama, but to me the coming together of two worlds gave this book just that little bit extra.It is surely worth to read this and I would like to read more from this author in the future.


I liked it!

Purchase links: On amazon and The Book Depository
Other reviews: None yet
If you have reviewed this book and want your link here, please leave a comment with the link, and I will add it :)

3 comments:

  1. I read this one years ago and really enjoyed it
    -- the magical elements were fascinating!

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  2. I read this book last year and enjoyed it too!

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  3. I've read a few of Sarah Addison Allen's books and they all seem to have that magical feel. I love it. I've yet to read this one but I will soon.

    Marlene Detierro (Photo Booth NC)

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