Book and Author
Book – 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….
Author – Sarah Addison Allen shares biographical tidbits like “I was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, a place Rolling Stone magazine once called “America’s New Freak Capital.” and “I have my B.A. in Literature, a major I chose because I thought it was amazing that I could get a diploma just for reading fiction. It was like being able to major in eating chocolate” on her website.
Published in 2007, 290 pages
Quote from Book – ““When you’re happy for yourself, it fills you. When you’re happy for someone else, it pours over.”
Awards and Honors - New York Times Bestseller, Best Women’s Fiction of 2007 by the American Library Association’s Reading List
Discuss
Discussion question about nature versus nurture: Fred observes, “You are who you are, whether you like it or not, so why not like it?” How does this statement relate to the different characters in the book?
Discussion question about relationships and secrets: Claire thinks, “When you tell a secret to someone, embarrassing or not, it forms a connection. That person means something to you simply by virtue of what he knows.” Do you agree with this? Can a secret be a positive thing? A negative thing?
More discussion questions address magic realism, personal philosophy, motherhood and parenting decisions, the nature of attraction, special gifts, growth and change, family and magical powers.
Enhance
Author Interview - “ I decided to write the story I wanted to write, not the story I thought would mostly likely get published. I followed my voice, not the market. I wrote Garden Spells. And that’s when my big break occurred.” Sarah Addison Allen discussing the writing process
Garden Spells Recipes – Sarah Addison Allen provides flower and herb-containing recipes for Chive Blossom Vinegar, Mint Jelly, Dandelion Quiche, Lavendar Bread and Rose Petal Scones.
Edible Flowers – Sarah Addison Allen provides a guide to edible flowers that is sure to inspire your reading and your book club discussion. What is blooming in your garden?
Food and Mood – Scientists write frequently about the connection between food and mood, like How to eat yourself happy from Robin McKie in the Observer, The Food and Mood Connection from the Mayo Clinic, and How food influences mood and brain power from the LA Times.
Interact
What foods influence your mood and do you think there is magic, psychology or science involved?
Have you read other magic realism books? Some recommended readalikes if you enjoyed Garden Spells are Chocolat by Joanne Harris, Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (and anything else by Sarah Addison Allen. What would you recommend?