The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh was released in August, 2011. Since then, this novel has touched the hearts of florists, flower lovers, romantics and fiction fans. As a florist in Boston, many of my clients, colleagues and vendors have been asking me for months if I have read the novel. I am an avid reader and what better target market for the author than a florist in Boston who enjoys reading.
Upon the book's release, Diffenbaugh was living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She even credits Cambridge florist, Brattle Square Florist in Harvard Square as being a valuable resource for the creation of the novel. Although the author is not a florist, she creates real life floral characters in Renata and Victoria as florists and Grant as a wholesale florist.
The book which is now in papeback was a New York Times and Boston Globe best seller. The accolades and reviews continue to pour in for the first time author and this novel. What really grabbed me as a reader was the insight into the meanings of flowers. Often times as a florist, we get the question "what does that rose mean,"? The author gives the reader so many floral meanings that your head will spin.
Victoria Jones, the protagonist, realizes what many other florists come to realize as well. Depending on which book you read, there are many flowers that have multiple meanings. This revelation forces Victoria to create her own floral dictionary. Florists throughout the world will realize that working with their own interpretations of the language of flowers will work best for their clients too.
Here is a video of Vanessa Diffenbaugh sharing her personal commentary on her debut novel.
"The Language of Flowers" cane be purchases in local bookstores, like The Andover Bookstore.