Garden Spells

By: Sarah Addison Allen

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2007 Sarah Addison Allen (P)2007 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"The blending of horticultural folklore, the supernatural and a big dollop of Southern flavor should find favor with a wide swath of readers." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Spellbindingly charming, Allen's impressively accomplished debut novel will bewitch fans of Alice Hoffman and Laura Esquivel." ( Booklist)

Delightful and different

I originally listened to this book free through my library account, but I liked it so much, I bought it as a keeper.

Garden Spells is funny, sad, poignant, and romantic, and there's that apple tree that just fascinated me.

I predict this author will be hitting the NYT Bestseller list in the near future.

review

cannot understand what the narrator is saying. she whispered throughout the book and you can not hear what she is saying.

Tending magic

The magic of a garden, family legacies and talents, culinary art, and life in the here and now are beautifully crafted together in this story. What a relief to find characters who don't cling to abuse and excuse it as love or whose relationships don't resolve in an instant, but rather require careful tending and time! I found myself feeling unexpected sympathy towards characters who normally would remain flatly wicked. Sure, the story is set in present day North Carolina, but it could easily be a fairy tale told once upon a time and long, long ago. If you don't like romances, then avoid this one-- it's too lovely for your sensibilities.

Garden spells was a nice change !!!

This book kept me listening until it was over. It was fun to listen to a book that took you some where else and made you forget what is going on around you!!! I really really liked the narrator. I'm pretty sure I've read another book by this author that I liked so I picked this one to read and I'm glad I did. Cherie

Great Expirence

I found the authors twist on an old storyline wonderful. The hint of a the metaphysical made the expirence more enjoyable. Kind of like an "Enough" (movie with Jennifer Lopez)meets Pratical Magic. The choice of narration could not have been better. I have listend to the book twice...so far. I am planning on exploring this author further.

Practical Magic goes Southern

The climax left a little to be desired. I would have liked the sisters to have been more engaged in the final moments. However, the story wonderful and everytime I put it down, I couldn't wait to get back to it. I want the Waverleys to be my neighbors.

Wonderful story!

I felt at home with the characters right away. The story pulled me in right away. In other words, it kept me spellbound from page one!

perfect magical summer read.

very much like an Alice Hoffman novel, but no complaints here! Alice Hoffman is my favorite so I relish in books inspired by her writing. Too bad audibles app has turned to crap lately and it skipped the entire time and made me start over multiple times and even made me redownload it twice!! seriously audible, please fix the glitches in your app. This used to be my most loved app!! now I'm searching for alternatives sadly....

Took me to world of fantasy that was believable

Characters were captivating. Enjoyed the whole book. Recommend this for a rainy day with nothing to do but listen.

My favorite book to date

I can't say anything bad about this book. I enjoyed every moment that it had to offer. I wish it would not have ended and May read it again