Sense and Sensibility in a garden
at least that's what my impression of the book Garden Spells was like.
It's a short book, and it sucks you in. If I had an entire day and was a faster reader, I would have probably finished it in one sitting. I loved how it weaved subtle magic with reality. And there were no explanations or anything. The garden was just magic, the women who tended it had special gifts in their own way. And the setting of a quiet North Carolina town actually felt magical on its own. Families had traits. It was tolerated. And I loved how the emotions of the main characters actually solidified somehow. Like the "purple snaps" Tyler emits when he broods around looking at Claire. Or how Claire became so passionate and when she was rejected, her taking a cold shower literally created one of the thickest fogs in years. I just really liked how matter-of-fact it was. And I kind of want to love on that street!
How does Jane Austen fit in? I just kept seeing Elinor and Marianne in Claire and Sydney Waverly. Not perfect modern molds of the Dashwoods, but their spirit. Claire is the reserved, scared one. Not that I saw Elinor as scared, but definitely keeping to herself. I haven't done in depth analysis of Elinor Dashwood, but I wonder if she built walls around herself to prevent heartache. That's what Claire did, and learning why those walls were built was very realistic and heartbreaking. Watching them crumble as she falls in love with the neighbor was both a relief and a joy in its passion and grace. And I kind of felt a personal connection to Claire in her regret that so many other people have memories and stories while she has none out of a result of her fear.
I saw Marianne in Sydney; not that I thought Marianne was slutty, but both girls are dreamers in search of something more than their homes. While Marianne was proper for the most part, her behavior did raise some eyebrows. Sydney escaped her self-proclaimed prison and wound up in a dangerous situation. Gathering her bravery and pride, she returns to North Carolina with her young daughter, who also has the family knack of being just a little different and knowing where things "belonged."
When I first started reading the novel, I was wary of a sister drama with yelling and such, but it seemed to be all healing. With magic. And a rather strange apple tree. I don't think I'd ever eat an apple off of it, although it would be sorely tempting. I'm sure the symbolism was intended.
I'm looking forward to reading more by the author, Sarah Addison Allen. A new book just came out, and I'll beck the library often for its arrival.
It's a short book, and it sucks you in. If I had an entire day and was a faster reader, I would have probably finished it in one sitting. I loved how it weaved subtle magic with reality. And there were no explanations or anything. The garden was just magic, the women who tended it had special gifts in their own way. And the setting of a quiet North Carolina town actually felt magical on its own. Families had traits. It was tolerated. And I loved how the emotions of the main characters actually solidified somehow. Like the "purple snaps" Tyler emits when he broods around looking at Claire. Or how Claire became so passionate and when she was rejected, her taking a cold shower literally created one of the thickest fogs in years. I just really liked how matter-of-fact it was. And I kind of want to love on that street!
How does Jane Austen fit in? I just kept seeing Elinor and Marianne in Claire and Sydney Waverly. Not perfect modern molds of the Dashwoods, but their spirit. Claire is the reserved, scared one. Not that I saw Elinor as scared, but definitely keeping to herself. I haven't done in depth analysis of Elinor Dashwood, but I wonder if she built walls around herself to prevent heartache. That's what Claire did, and learning why those walls were built was very realistic and heartbreaking. Watching them crumble as she falls in love with the neighbor was both a relief and a joy in its passion and grace. And I kind of felt a personal connection to Claire in her regret that so many other people have memories and stories while she has none out of a result of her fear.
I saw Marianne in Sydney; not that I thought Marianne was slutty, but both girls are dreamers in search of something more than their homes. While Marianne was proper for the most part, her behavior did raise some eyebrows. Sydney escaped her self-proclaimed prison and wound up in a dangerous situation. Gathering her bravery and pride, she returns to North Carolina with her young daughter, who also has the family knack of being just a little different and knowing where things "belonged."
When I first started reading the novel, I was wary of a sister drama with yelling and such, but it seemed to be all healing. With magic. And a rather strange apple tree. I don't think I'd ever eat an apple off of it, although it would be sorely tempting. I'm sure the symbolism was intended.
I'm looking forward to reading more by the author, Sarah Addison Allen. A new book just came out, and I'll beck the library often for its arrival.