Status
Available
Genres
Description
Fiction. Literature. HTML: An enchanting and captivating novel about how our untold stories haunt us �?? and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive. After her family suffers a tragedy, nine-year-old Alice Hart is forced to leave her idyllic seaside home. She is taken in by her grandmother, June, a flower farmer who raises Alice on the language of Australian native flowers, a way to say the things that are too hard to speak. Under the watchful eye of June and the women who run the farm, Alice settles, but grows up increasingly frustrated by how little she knows of her family's story. In her early twenties, Alice's life is thrown into upheaval again when she suffers devastating betrayal and loss. Desperate to outrun grief, Alice flees to the dramatically beautiful central Australian desert. In this otherworldly landscape Alice thinks she has found solace, until she meets a charismatic and ultimately dangerous man. Spanning two decades, set between sugar cane fields by the sea, a native Australian flower farm, and a celestial crater in the central desert, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart follows Alice's unforgettable journey, as she learns that the most powerful story she will ever possess is her own.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member amaraki
A pleasant read despite dealing with the bitter issue of domestic violence. It moved along at a brisk pace--I devoured it in a few days--and the background stories and illustrations were thoroughly interesting. My objection is the sophomoric treatment of love/attraction, which was indeed central to
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the plot, where everyone falls in love at first sight. She 'coup de foudre's the hell out of the story and this diminished my appreciation of it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Amzzz
There is so much sadness and so much beauty in this book. I loved that there was no tying together of different threads and characters in different places. There was no neat resolution because that’s not how life works, but there was hope. I felt bad for June.
LibraryThing member ClareRhoden
The moving and exquisite tale of a young girl, Alice Hart, navigating her way to womanhood through a miasma of domestic violence and family secrets, The Lost Flowers is an impressive debut novel.
In particular, the first half of the novel is captivating. The use of the language of flowers is a
The book is presented beautifully, and somebody (or somebodies) at the publisher deserve resounding congratulations for the cover art and the detailed illustrations of flowers inside. Simply for the pleasure of holding this book in your hands, it's very much worth reading.
The first sentence! Such an attention grabber!
There is, of course, a dissonance between the beauty of the flowers and the horror of the domestic violence, loss, damaged relationships, grief and guilt at the heart of the novel. I always cringe when reading these scenes because I know it's going to end badly - especially for the dog - more than once in Alice's life. Like many children of abusive fathers, she enters a relationship with another abuser, and that is a situation that is unresolved. Violent but gorgeous Dylan gets away not only with knocking Alice about, but also (like many bullies) with turning the tables on her by reporting her for domestic violence. I felt that, for Alice and for many domestic abuse victims, there really is no getting away from it.
Towards the end of the novel, it seems that the carefully crafted story-with-flower-language hurries on to a conclusion, and that was a little disappointing. The sudden recovery of the lost brother after the death of June (the alcoholic grandmother with the magnificent flower farm) felt a little forced - and Sally, much as I loved her and wondered what had become of her, is really too good for the tenor of the rest of the novel, in that she doesn't display human flaws (apart from stupidly having a one night stand with Alice's horrible father Clem Hart. Ugh.).
I found I could enter the mindset of most of the women in this novel, which is no mean feat. I found it more difficult to engage with the male characters, either because I am predisposed to think that there is no excuse for domestic violence, or because the author actually places the reader in the position of the abused - we don't understand, we just suffer.
All in all, an intriguing novel and one which will repay the reader with much to think about and talk about. If you are part of a reading group, definitely put this on the list for 2018!
In particular, the first half of the novel is captivating. The use of the language of flowers is a
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clever concept to tie elements of the story together, but a couple of times it seemed a little forced.The book is presented beautifully, and somebody (or somebodies) at the publisher deserve resounding congratulations for the cover art and the detailed illustrations of flowers inside. Simply for the pleasure of holding this book in your hands, it's very much worth reading.
The first sentence! Such an attention grabber!
There is, of course, a dissonance between the beauty of the flowers and the horror of the domestic violence, loss, damaged relationships, grief and guilt at the heart of the novel. I always cringe when reading these scenes because I know it's going to end badly - especially for the dog - more than once in Alice's life. Like many children of abusive fathers, she enters a relationship with another abuser, and that is a situation that is unresolved. Violent but gorgeous Dylan gets away not only with knocking Alice about, but also (like many bullies) with turning the tables on her by reporting her for domestic violence. I felt that, for Alice and for many domestic abuse victims, there really is no getting away from it.
Towards the end of the novel, it seems that the carefully crafted story-with-flower-language hurries on to a conclusion, and that was a little disappointing. The sudden recovery of the lost brother after the death of June (the alcoholic grandmother with the magnificent flower farm) felt a little forced - and Sally, much as I loved her and wondered what had become of her, is really too good for the tenor of the rest of the novel, in that she doesn't display human flaws (apart from stupidly having a one night stand with Alice's horrible father Clem Hart. Ugh.).
I found I could enter the mindset of most of the women in this novel, which is no mean feat. I found it more difficult to engage with the male characters, either because I am predisposed to think that there is no excuse for domestic violence, or because the author actually places the reader in the position of the abused - we don't understand, we just suffer.
All in all, an intriguing novel and one which will repay the reader with much to think about and talk about. If you are part of a reading group, definitely put this on the list for 2018!
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LibraryThing member AngelaJMaher
Flowers and their meanings give uniqueness and beauty to this story of a woman's journey to her true self.
There are some confronting scenes some people will find very uncomfortable to read, but they are important, the sort of story that happens daily but is rarely told.
The cast of characters is
The conclusion is an unexpected turn, but is satisfying in its way.
I received my copy through NetGalley. My views are my own.
There are some confronting scenes some people will find very uncomfortable to read, but they are important, the sort of story that happens daily but is rarely told.
The cast of characters is
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primarily female but it is far from what could be termed a 'girly' novel. A myriad of strengths and weaknesses, tied together by wordless sisterhood. Each on their own journey, but tied to one another to some degree. Men also have their own roles, each important to the story.The conclusion is an unexpected turn, but is satisfying in its way.
I received my copy through NetGalley. My views are my own.
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LibraryThing member anxovert
I really enjoyed this book. Not my usual style but I'm glad I picked it up. Recommended.
LibraryThing member Mercef
This one surprised me. I must admit I had judged the book by its pretty cover and uninspiring title and mentally dumped it in the “looks like a Light Between Oceans type of read.” However, I tried out the audio version and found myself sufficiently invested in the characters and the drama that
I would even say this novel sits in the Bildungsroman genre - a term I only recently learnt...so go look it up. Domestic violence is a key theme of the book.
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I needed to renew the book twice in order to finish it (a 12 hour epic, I think).I would even say this novel sits in the Bildungsroman genre - a term I only recently learnt...so go look it up. Domestic violence is a key theme of the book.
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LibraryThing member leah152
Oh this book is so beautiful! I can't remember the last time I found a book that drew me in so instantaneously! I was literally hooked from the second page!
Nine year old Alice Hart lives on a cane farm in a fairy tale world with her mother that helps shield her from her abusive father's dark
When we first meet Alice, the story has a dream-like quality as Alice & her mother find ways to cope with her father's abuse. The descriptions are so vivid they almost jump off the page. The prose is so beautiful & written so clearly you can almost see it playing out in front of you.
As the story progresses the writing loses that quality as Alice comes to grips with her new circumstances. It still holds you in it's grip though!
I never once lost interest in this book. It gripped me from the start & I had such a hard time putting it down, it only took me three days to read it. This is a new firm favourite & definite five star read.
Nine year old Alice Hart lives on a cane farm in a fairy tale world with her mother that helps shield her from her abusive father's dark
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moods. When tragedy strikes, Alice goes to live with the grandmother she never knew she had on her native flower farm. And so begins a story of generational strife, family secrets & finding your own way.When we first meet Alice, the story has a dream-like quality as Alice & her mother find ways to cope with her father's abuse. The descriptions are so vivid they almost jump off the page. The prose is so beautiful & written so clearly you can almost see it playing out in front of you.
As the story progresses the writing loses that quality as Alice comes to grips with her new circumstances. It still holds you in it's grip though!
I never once lost interest in this book. It gripped me from the start & I had such a hard time putting it down, it only took me three days to read it. This is a new firm favourite & definite five star read.
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LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
I thoroughly enjoyed "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart". From the first page, I was captured by Alice and felt I was beside her as she journeyed through life. At times it was heartbreaking but she always found solace amongst the local plants.
Women and their stories played a vital role in this novel
I liked how each chapter started with a description of a native Australian flower. While I knew a number of them, there were some I didn't know and had to Google them to see what they looked like. I would love to have seen a photo or coloured illustration included with the descriptions. I think that would have added charm to this novel.
Dealing with family, loss, love identity and secrets, "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart" was a fabulous debut.
Women and their stories played a vital role in this novel
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as did the sense of place, whether it was the can fields, the ocean, the river with its gigantic gum, Agnus' garden, the flower farm or the harsh beauty of the Northern Territory. They were brought alive by the talented penmanship of the author. The descriptions of Kililpitjara (Earnshaw Crater) fascinated me, especially with the Sturt desert peas growing in its centre. I desperately wanted to visit it and see this magical sight.I liked how each chapter started with a description of a native Australian flower. While I knew a number of them, there were some I didn't know and had to Google them to see what they looked like. I would love to have seen a photo or coloured illustration included with the descriptions. I think that would have added charm to this novel.
Dealing with family, loss, love identity and secrets, "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart" was a fabulous debut.
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Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2020)
Australian Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — New Writer — 2019)
Queensland Literary Awards (Finalist — People's Choice — 2018)
The Indie Book Award (Longlist — 2019)