I remember when Sarah Addison Allen's book Garden Spells came out because I adore the cover. It's so gorgeous! I finally found a nice hardcover copy at a library sale and have finally gotten around to reading it. And I loved it! It kind of reminds me of Practical Magic...but it might just be better.Ok. Here's the synopsis:
The Waverley family of Bascome, North Carolina have a reputation for being sort of gifted...magical...special. This story is about two Waverley sisters, Claire and Sydney. Claire is the older, tamer sister who's talent lies in the kitchen and the garden. The Waverley's garden is known for it's magical quailities which are passed on in the food Claire makes. Everything she cooks has something from the garden: rose petals, pansies, nasturtiums. And Claire knows which flowers aid in keeping secrets, bringing forth memories, and such. And never...never eat from the apple tree. The whole town knows that one. But Claire hasn't seen her sister in years, not since Syndey ran off after high school. Now Syndey has come home with her young daughter Bay and they are running away from something.
Sounds sort of similar to Practical Magic, right? But I just love the characters. Bay is so adorable. Aunt Evanelle is a kooky old lady who just has a feeling when she needs to give someone something they need (and they WILL need it). So she might randomly give someone a melon peeler, or a shirt two sizes to big, or whatever. And I LOVE the cooking in it...at the end of the book the author lists the different types of flowers and what they are good for. It made me want to live in North Carolina.
It was the perfect book for curling up in bed to read while getting over the flu.
Here's a few other alternate covers...although my favorite is the one I have, this one is gorgeous...although I don't know what the dress means...
This one is kind of boring:
And here's the newer book by Sarah Addison Allen that I want to read now (another beautiful cover):
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Oooh I really like the cover of the Sugar Queen. Can't wait to read it myself or read your review :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic review...I loved Practical Magic and I've read a lot of positive reviews on this. I just picked up The Sugar Queen (though a different cover than you posted) and can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteI've put it on my TBR list, sounds great!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this book but recently read The Sugar Queen and LOVED it!! I
ReplyDeleteI think I liked Practical Magic better than Garden Spells. It felt more grounded--and while I don't normally mind magic in books, this one I remember mostly as fluffy .
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