Fresh Water for Flowers: OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD

What happens to the grief of a bereaved mother? A mother who is an orphan, a mother who has always survived on scraps of love, who has never had her fill but for the time when she had a child? How do you fathom or articulate such pain? Are there words for this mind-numbing, soul-crushing spiralling towards nothingness? Perhaps not. But Valerie Perrin’s attempt is nothing short of commendable. The way she and the translator, Hildegarde Serle, give life to a vapid Violette Toussaint, her loss, and later her revival is literature at its authentic best. Violette’s life is a museum of broken things. And yet, Perrin doesn’t make you feel like a sadistic vulture feeding on someone’s suffering. Instead, she instills in the pain morsels of friendship, of hope, a glimmer of revival tucked in here and there. You know that even though Violette is a cemetery keeper who finds solace in being amidst the dead, she is not unhinged. She is not all gone. And deep down inside, you know that things will turn around for her. For me, here lies Perrin’s craftsmanship, her humanity, her magic. She brings you a story that crushes you, overpowers you, makes you feel defeated, but you recover from it. As you carry on with the book, you realise that Violette will have her happy ending, and that you will have yours.

I adored everything about this long rich tale. It shifts around a lot but it’s rich in detail and coincidence without feeling contrived. The characters are all well drawn and believable and the plot and writing was wonderful. I want to research some of the literary and musical references as I’m sure they will make the story come alive even more.

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin is a captivating and deeply moving novel that left a lasting impression on me. This book is a beautifully crafted story about love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit. The protagonist, Violette, is a cemetery keeper in a small French town. Her life is a tapestry of sorrow and solace, and Perrin does an exceptional job of weaving together the past and present to reveal Violette's story. The narrative is rich with emotion, and I found myself completely engrossed in her world. Perrin's writing is poetic and evocative, bringing to life the quiet beauty of the cemetery and the complex lives of its visitors. The descriptions are so vivid that I could almost feel the tranquility of the cemetery and the weight of the memories it holds. The pacing is perfect, allowing the story to unfold naturally and keeping me engaged from start to finish. One of the aspects I loved most about this book is its exploration of human connections. The relationships Violette forms with the people around her are deeply touching and beautifully portrayed. Each character is well-developed and adds a unique layer to the story. The themes of forgiveness, healing, and hope are woven throughout, making the novel both heart-wrenching and uplifting. Fresh Water for Flowers also offers a poignant reflection on grief and the different ways people cope with it. Violette’s journey is a testament to the strength it takes to find light in the darkest of times. The book is filled with moments of introspection and wisdom, making it a truly enriching read. Overall, I think it is a remarkable novel that I highly recommend. It’s a story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Valérie Perrin has crafted a masterpiece that is both a celebration of life and a tribute to the enduring power of love. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for a deeply emotional and beautifully written story.

Excellent book, I read it from cover to cover in no time!

What a great story. I bought this without knowing anything about it at all and was pleasantly surprised. I love visiting cemeteries, so the fact that this is about a female caretaker of a cemetery in France caught my attention immediately. There are some unexpected twists and turns as the story follows the caretaker’s life before and during her time tending flowers amongst the tombstones. This beautifully-crafted tale highlights love, sadness, loss and gain in a special part of the world. No violence nor gratuitous sex. Just a well-written and wonderfully thought-out tale of one woman navigating life the best way she can. I’ve bought this book as a gift for many, so I highly recommend it.

Fabulous book