Garden Spells
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In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit. In this luminous debut novel, Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of that enchanted tree, and the extraordinary people who tend
… More »In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit. In this luminous debut novel, Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of that enchanted tree, and the extraordinary people who tend it.... The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures. A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants--from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor. Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys--except for Claire's rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before. When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire's quiet life is turned upside down--along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy--if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom--or with each other. Enchanting and heartfelt, this captivating novel is sure to cast a spell with a style all its own.... From the Hardcover edition.
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p. 233. You think I'm going to leave?" [...] "No one I know has ever had this forever." "I think of the future all the time. All my life I've chased dreams of what could be. For the first time in my life, I've actually caught one." He kissed her again before grabbing his shirt and standing. "I'll give you one day at a time, Claire. But rememer, I'm thousands of days ahead already."
"She sometimes thought she was going crazy. Her first thought when she woke up was always how to get him out of her thoughts. And she would keep watch, hoping to see him next door, while plotting ways to never have to see him again. "
"It was like the way you wanted sunshine on Saturdays, or pancakes for breakfast. They just mad you feel good."
"She looked like autumn, when leaves turned and fruit ripened."
"She was so Southern that she cried tears that came straight from the Mississippi, and she always smelled faintly of cottonwood and peaches."
"To Fred, those years seemed to pass like quickly skimming a book and then finding the ending wasn't what he expected. He wished he'd paid more attention to the story."
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Add a CommentThis one was really lovely. All of the characters were beautifully developed, even the mischievous apple tree in the garden! I felt as if I knew and loved the Waverly women--I even found myself saying out loud that I wished I could meet them! It's easy to make comparisons with the movie "Practical Magic", but the fantasy here has a much lighter touch. I've been reading a lot of heavy sci-fi and fantasy lately, so it was very refreshing to read a story that takes place in our world, where the magic is easily imagined. I will definitely be looking into reading more by this author
This was the first Sarah Addison Allen book I have read, and she has become one of my favorite authors. It has the perfect mix of mystery and magic and even a little bit of romance. I would recommend this to both teens and adults!
Sarah Addison Allen’s books are a seduction of place. Lovely, quirky characters, with their own peculiar, magics, that somehow seem rather ordinary in the dream of a small southern town that Allen presents. I appreciate that her characters have real struggles, even as they drift into a romantic summer.
Really lovely book! Wish it came with recipes though...
What a yummy delicious book! There are lots of references to food and cooking because the main character is a magical cook in the same tradition as Tita in Like water for Chocolate; however the setting is in American South rather than Mexico. This a book that makes you feels good afterwards. Although in some way the overall feeling is light, the story is not at all superficial dealing with childhood scars and broken dreams. This is the first book I have read from Sarah Atkinson Allen and I look forward to reading all her works!
My favorite of all her books. A light read that still gives the message that everyone has "gifts" although sometimes they don't want them.
A great book about the ongoing development of a relationship between 2 sisters. And it's a great romance!
This is one of my favorite books. Love all her books and can't wait for another.
This is a charming story. The characters are well developed and authentic. The “magic” is just a light gauzy spiderweb, subtly woven throughout so as not to be too obvious and has the feel of an adult “fairytale”. The librarian saw the book I was taking out and told me an Sarah Addison Allen story is like “eating a chocolate bar. I must agree! It ispired me to read her other novels but this is still my favorite
While I love all of Sarah's books, 'Garden Spells' is thus far my favorite. A little romance, a little magic, a little humor...a wonderful story!