The Garden of Memories by Amanda James
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Read: 20th July 2024
Published: 20th June 2024
★★★ 3.5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
People are like flowers. If you give them the right environment in which to grow, they bloom.
With nothing but time on her hands, retired nurse Rose Lanyon finds herself drawn to the garden that had once been her husband’s pride and joy.
It may have started as a means of honouring her husband’s memory, but her little Cornish garden soon becomes so much more – a place where the lost and lonely can find solace, the forgotten can be remembered, and second chances take bloom. Because, as long as new life is growing, there will always be hope and new memories to make…
MY THOUGHTS:
This book is difficult for me to describe. It's a story about friendship, community and self discovery centred around a garden that becomes the centrepiece for this tale...and one of many memories. It is a beautiful story that's happy, sad and bittersweet. But most of all, it is feel-good.
Rose Lanyon prepares for her last day at work - a job she has held for the past 30 years as a nurse in the local GP practice. But now Rose is retiring and losing her identity as a nurse to become...what, exactly?
Her first day of freedom, so to speak, has her pondering her new found freedom and questioning what she's to do with the rest of her life. The old hippy woman down the road dressed in loud garish outfits may well pass judgement on her as she sees Rose pottering uselessly about hr garden, knowing full well she knows nothing about gardening. This was her late husband Glen's domain.
And just like that, a seed is planted...
Before long, Rose has befriended the hippy woman, Flora, from down the road. And discovers she has a sad story of her own, and her own memories to share. Soon one friend becomes three then four and it isn't long before Rose's seed of an idea begins to bloom as her garden of memories flourishes under the tender loving care of all who visit.
And everyone who does visit comes away feeling rvitalised, refreshed and renewed. The garden has a calming effect, bringing a sense of calm and peace in an otherwise busy world. And together in their garden of memories, Rose finds new purpose and new friendships...and together they bloom. Just like her garden of memories.
I really didn't know what to write about this book. I enjoyed it but I admit I did struggle with it a little too. Maybe because it is not my usual genre and maybe my reading slump isn't helping. But I did enjoy it and found myself wishing I was in that very garden amidst the scents and fragrances and vibrant colours. Especially the honeysuckle...I miss honeysuckle. I loved it in our garden as a child.
A delightful read about the therapeutic power of nature.
I would like to thank #AmandaJames, #Netgalley and #OneMoreChapter for an ARC of #TheGardenOfMemories in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Originally from Sheffield, Amanda now lives in Cornwall and is inspired every day by the wild and beautiful coastline near her home. She has many suspense novels set there, but her last few books have been uplifting in nature with a twist of magic. She loves writing feel-good reads and has decided the world needs more joy in it right now, and her plan is to write many more novels in that genre. Amanda can usually be found playing on the beach with her family, or walking the cliff paths planning her next book.
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