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Garden Spells
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Garden Spells (2007) (edit title/settings)

by Sarah Addison Allen (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small house in the smallest of towns, is an apple tree 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... read more

Summary edit see section history

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... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

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.

Enchanting and heartfelt, this captivating novel is sure to cast a spell with a style all its own….

Characters edit see section history

  • Claire Waverly: She is the caterer who uses flowers and herbs in food. She is a pretty young woman with dark hair and eyes and an olive complexion.
  • Sydney Waverly: Claire's younger sister, who comes home to escape from an abusive relationship. She brings her daughter, Bay.
  • Bay Leoni: Sydney's five-year-old daughter.
  • Evanelle Franklin: Claire and Sydney's distant cousin. Has a gift for giving people items before they need them. Enjoys looking at a young man's behinds.
  • Lorelei Waverly: Claire and Sydney's mother who abandoned her daughters to be raised by their grandmother. Shortly, after leaving them, she was killed in an automobile accident.
  • Tyler Hughes: Claire's neighbor who is an art teacher at the local college. He had an unorthodox childhood.
  • Anna Chapel: Art instructor at Orion College who frequently hosts dinner parties catered by Claire. She introduces Claire to Tyler.
  • Hunter John Matteson: Sydney's boyfriend in high school, who is now married to Emma Clark.
  • Emma Clark Matteson: Hunter John's wife, and Sydney's former best friend. She is insecure and listens to her mother too much.
  • Henry Hopkins: Sydney's friend who likes her.
  • David Leoni: Sydney's abusive ex boyfriend, father of Bay
  • Lester Hopkins: Henry Hopkins' grandfather and owner of Hopkins Dairy. He is a delightful character.
  • Fred Walker: Owns Fred's Gourmet Grocery, his relationship with his partner James is ending; however, he wants to return to happier days with James.
  • James: Although Fred and his partner James have been together for thirty years, recently they have grown apart. James works in Hickory, a town in NC.
  • Ariel Clark: Emma's mother, a meddlesome woman who doesn't like Sydney.
  • Steve Marcus: Culinary instructor at Orion College.
  • Mary Waverly: Claire and Sydney's grandmother who raised them. She died shortly after Sydney left.
Show all 17 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Memories, even hard memories, grew soft like peaches as they got older.”
    Evanelle
  • “Love always hurts. That's one thing I know you know. But it's worth it. That you don't know. Yet.”
    Sydney
  • “If we’re going to be strange anyway, we might as well get paid for it”
    Sydney
  • “Here’s a secret about men. Our foolishness is always unintentional. But it’s usually for a good reason.”
    Henry Hopkins
  • “You are who you are, whether you like it or not, so why not like it?”
  • “I don't need friends." "Do you need something more?" She didn't have a lot of experience with men, but she understood what he meant... "I like what I have." "I do too, Claire. You're beautiful," he said. "There, I said it. I couldn't keep it in any longer." He wasn't afraid of getting hurt. He seemed to welcome it. One of them had to be sensible, "That thing about me being busy: I meant it." "That thing about you being beautiful: I meant it too." She walked over to the hole by the fence and dropped the apples in. "I'm going to be busy for a long, long time. "When she turned back around, Tyler was grinning. "Well, I'm not." Feeling uneasy, she watched him as he walked away. Was he trying to tell her something? Was it a warning of some sort? I have all the time in the world to wiggle my way in.”
    Claire and Tyler
  • “This placed messed her up. She was never sure of who she was here.”
    Sydney

Setting & Locations edit see section history

  • Bascom, North Carolina: The fictional small community in which much of the action of this novel occurs.
  • Fred's Gormet Grocery: Formerly Fred's Foods but was renamed when a poshier college and tourist crowd began to frequent this business.
  • Orion College: A liberal arts college in Bascom where Anna Chapel and Tyler Hughes works in the arts department.
  • Seattle, Washington: Where Sydney and Bay live and run from.
  • White Door: High end spa and hair salon.
  • Boise, Idaho: A previous location that Sydney and Bay ran away to.
  • Lumford's Reservoir: Bascom's swimming hole and Lover's Lane.

First Sentence edit see section history

Every smiley moon, without fail, Claire dreamed of her childhood.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Acknowledgments

Part One
Hindsight
Chapters 1-6

Part Two
Insight
Chapters 7-13

Part Three
Foresight
Chapter 14

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Sarah Addison Allen (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Bantam
Country: United States
Publication Date: 2007
ISBN: 0553805487
Page Count: 304

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PS3601.L435G37 2007
  • Dewey: 813.6-dc22

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

not recommended for children due to sexual content

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Sugar Queen
  • Practical Magic
  • The Peach Keeper
  • The Girl Who Chased the Moon
  • Like Water for Chocolate
  • The Mistress of Spices

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