Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen - Review

Garden Spells

by Sarah Addison Allen

Publisher: Bantam Discovery

Publication Date: April 2008 (Mass Market)

ISBN: 978-0553590326

320 Pages

Fiction

Summary (from the publisher):

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.

Quotes:

Claire didn't know why, but every once in a while the tree would actually throw apples, as if bored. When she was young, her bedroom window looked out over the garden. She would sleep with her window open in the summers, and sometimes she would wake in the morning to find one or two apples on the floor. Page 37.

When Evanelle brought you something, you were usually going to need it sooner or later, though that cat bed she gave Claire five years ago had yet to find a use. Most people in town treated Evanelle kindly but with amusement, and even Evanelle didn't take herself too seriously. But Claire knew there was always something behind the strange gifts Evanelle brought." Page 6.

My Opinion:

Garden Spells is a story filled with enchantment and subtle magic. There are no Harry-Potteresque spells or sorcery going on here. The magic is of a different sort. The Waverly garden is enchanted, and the apple tree has special powers - seemingly having a will of its own. Elsewhere in the garden, plants and herbs have influencing powers when used in foods.

While the entire story is infiltrated by the magic of the garden, the true story is about the Waverly sisters - Claire and Sydney. Both sisters have issues that they need to deal with. Claire has emotionally isolated herself so that she won't get hurt, while her sister Claire has returned to her home town after fleeing an abusive relationship. This story is about how both of the sisters find healing and come to accept their identity as Waverlys.

Would it be too much of a pun if I said that this was an enchanting read? Because it really was! All of the characters were interesting and easy to relate to. The citizens of Bascom were quirky, eccentric, and entertaining.

Each of the Waverlys has a gift, and my favorite was Evanelle's (she is the older cousin of the sisters). Evanelle's gift is that she has to give things to people that they will need at a later date - she somehow just knows what they will need. The results are sometimes hilarious as she is compelled to give people various items - some that are quite embarrassing.

Throughout the book there is a constant underlying tension since you never know if or when Sydney's abusive boyfriend might find her. Although the tension is there, it is really in the background, and for the most part the book is a lighthearted read.

I recommend Garden Spells to anyone who enjoys a bit of magic in their reading.

Rating 4/5

Author Information:

For information about Sarah Addison Allen and her writing, please visit her website.