The Garden of Small Beginnings (Thorndike Press Large Print Women's Fiction) - Hardcover

Waxman, Abbi

3.92

20,888 ratings by Goodreads

9781432842307: The Garden of Small Beginnings (Thorndike Press Large Print Women's Fiction)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1432842307 ISBN 13: 9781432842307

Publisher: Thorndike Pr, 2017

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In the spirit of A Man Called Ove and Good Grief--a poignant, funny, and utterly believable novel about life and loss.

Give grief a chance . . .

Lilian Girvan has been a single mother for three years--ever since her husband died in a car accident. One mental breakdown and some random suicidal thoughts later, she's just starting to get the hang of this widow thing. She can now get her two girls to school, show up to work, and watch TV like a pro. The only problem is she's becoming overwhelmed with being underwhelmed.

At least her textbook illustrating job has some perks--like actually being called upon to draw whale genitalia. Oh, and there's that vegetable-gardening class her boss signed her up for. Apparently, being the chosen illustrator for a series of boutique vegetable guides means getting your hands dirty, literally. Wallowing around in compost on a Saturday morning can't be much worse than wallowing around in pajamas and self-pity.

After recruiting her kids and insanely supportive sister to join her, Lilian shows up at the Los Angeles botanical garden feeling out of her element. But what she'll soon discover--with the help of a patient instructor and a quirky group of gardeners--is that into every life a little sun must shine, whether you want it to or not...

READERS GUIDE INCLUDED

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

Praise for The Garden of Small Beginnings

"This is my favorite kind of book hilarious, sad, joyful. Beautifully-written. Fun. I dare you not to enjoy it." Julia Claiborne Johnson, author of Be Frank With Me
"

Praise for The Garden of Small Beginnings
Brilliant. Simply brilliant.Quirky yet very real characters sparkle on every page. I loved this book! Karen White, New York Times bestselling author
This is my favorite kind of book hilarious, sad, joyful. Beautifully written. Fun. I dare you not to enjoy it. Julia Claiborne Johnson, author of Be Frank With Me"

Brilliant. Simply brilliant. The Garden of Small Beginnings is funny, poignant, and startling in its emotional intensity and in its ability to make the reader laugh and cry on the same page . . . I loved this book! Karen White, New York Times bestselling author
This is my favorite kind of book hilarious, sad, joyful. Beautifully written. Fun. I dare you not to enjoy it. Julia Claiborne Johnson, author of Be Frank With Me

What a treat!! Abbi Waxman is one of the wittiest voices in the world today. The Garden of Small Beginnings is a beautiful book full of humor, heart, and deep insight. An intimate and hilarious journey about a young mom moving on from grief. Reading it gave me the feeling I was talking to a really funny, open mom-friend sharing secrets about life, love, loss, and gardening! Abbi Waxman s quick wit and heart shine brightly throughout this debut novel. I just loved it! Molly Shannon

"Funny and poignant. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry. May make you want to play in dirt and grow a new life of your own." Wendy Wax, USA Today bestselling author of One Good Thing"

"Brilliant. Simply brilliant. The Garden of Small Beginnings is funny, poignant, and startling in its emotional intensity and in its ability to make the reader laugh and cry on the same page...I loved this book!"--Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of the Tradd Street Novels
"This is my favorite kind of book--hilarious, sad, joyful. Beautifully written. Fun. I dare you not to enjoy it."--Julia Claiborne Johnson, author of Be Frank With Me

"What a treat!! Abbi Waxman is one of the wittiest voices in the world today. The Garden of Small Beginnings is a beautiful book full of humor, heart, and deep insight. An intimate and hilarious journey about a young mom moving on from grief. Reading it gave me the feeling I was talking to a really funny, open mom-friend sharing secrets about life, love, loss, and gardening! Abbi Waxman's quick wit and heart shine brightly throughout this debut novel. I just loved it!"--Molly Shannon, actress
"Funny and poignant. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry. May make you want to play in dirt and grow a new life of your own."--Wendy Wax, USA Today bestselling author of One Good Thing
"Waxman's skill at characterization...lifts this novel far above being just another 'widow finds love' story. Clearly an observer, Waxman has mastered the fine art of dialogue as well. Characters ring true right down to Lilian's two daughters, who often steal the show. This debut begs for an encore from Waxman."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Waxman takes readers from tears to laughter in this depiction of one woman's attempt to hold it all together for everyone else only to learn it's OK to put herself first."--Booklist

A MAY INDIE NEXT PICK
"Brilliant. Simply brilliant. The Garden of Small Beginnings is funny, poignant, and startling in its emotional intensity and in its ability to make the reader laugh and cry on the same page...I loved this book!"--Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of the Tradd Street Novels
"This is my favorite kind of book--hilarious, sad, joyful. Beautifully written. Fun. I dare you not to enjoy it."--Julia Claiborne Johnson, author of Be Frank With Me

"What a treat!! Abbi Waxman is one of the wittiest voices in the world today. The Garden of Small Beginnings is a beautiful book full of humor, heart, and deep insight. An intimate and hilarious journey about a young mom moving on from grief. Reading it gave me the feeling I was talking to a really funny, open mom-friend sharing secrets about life, love, loss, and gardening! Abbi Waxman's quick wit and heart shine brightly throughout this debut novel. I just loved it!"--Molly Shannon, actress
"Funny and poignant. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry. May make you want to play in dirt and grow a new life of your own."--Wendy Wax, USA Today bestselling author of One Good Thing
"Waxman's skill at characterization...lifts this novel far above being just another 'widow finds love' story. Clearly an observer, Waxman has mastered the fine art of dialogue as well. Characters ring true right down to Lilian's two daughters, who often steal the show. This debut begs for an encore from Waxman."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Waxman takes readers from tears to laughter in this depiction of one woman's attempt to hold it all together for everyone else only to learn it's OK to put herself first."--Booklist
"Kudos to debut author Waxman for creating an endearing and realistic cast of main and supporting characters (including the children). Her narrative and dialog are drenched with spring showers of witty and irreverent humor, which provides much respite from the underlying grief theme."-- Library Journal (Starred review)
"The Garden of Small Beginnings is a quirky, funny, and deeply thoughtful book. . . . We're already dying to know if there will be a sequel." --HelloGiggles
"Sorrow is usually an occasion for sobs instead of laughter, but Waxman manages to wring many funny and poignant moments from a sober situation."--Augusta Chronicle
"Lilian Girvan, the central character of The Garden of Small Beginnings, is an illustrator, a mother, a sister, a budding gardener, and a widow, and her perspective on how she's doing with each role doesn't always match up with what readers can see around her. But that trait makes her a more interesting and realistic protagonist, and along with the book's humor and eccentric supporting cast made it a great read."--BookRiot
"Abbi Waxman artfully tackles grief with humor in her debut novel."--Signature Reads
"Prior to reading The Garden of Small Beginnings, I would never have thought that grieving and gardening could be woven so perfectly into one story. . . . It's impossible not to fall in love with Lilian, a young widow who is still trying to come to terms with the death of her husband four years later. . . . If you are thinking to yourself 'forget it, I'm not reading a gardening book'- don't worry . . . THIS IS NOT A GARDENING BOOK! It IS, however, a feel-good, hate-to-put-it- down, kind-of-book!"--Chick Lit Central

A MAY INDIE NEXT PICK

"Brilliant. Simply brilliant. The Garden of Small Beginnings is funny, poignant, and startling in its emotional intensity and in its ability to make the reader laugh and cry on the same page...I loved this book!"--Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of the Tradd Street Novels

"This is my favorite kind of book--hilarious, sad, joyful. Beautifully written. Fun. I dare you not to enjoy it."--Julia Claiborne Johnson, author of Be Frank With Me

"What a treat!! Abbi Waxman is one of the wittiest voices in the world today. The Garden of Small Beginnings is a beautiful book full of humor, heart, and deep insight. An intimate and hilarious journey about a young mom moving on from grief. Reading it gave me the feeling I was talking to a really funny, open mom-friend sharing secrets about life, love, loss, and gardening! Abbi Waxman's quick wit and heart shine brightly throughout this debut novel. I just loved it!"--Molly Shannon, actress

"Funny and poignant. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry. May make you want to play in dirt and grow a new life of your own."--Wendy Wax, USA Today bestselling author of One Good Thing
"Waxman's skill at characterization...lifts this novel far above being just another 'widow finds love' story. Clearly an observer, Waxman has mastered the fine art of dialogue as well. Characters ring true right down to Lilian's two daughters, who often steal the show. This debut begs for an encore from Waxman."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Waxman takes readers from tears to laughter in this depiction of one woman's attempt to hold it all together for everyone else only to learn it's OK to put herself first."--Booklist
"Kudos to debut author Waxman for creating an endearing and realistic cast of main and supporting characters (including the children). Her narrative and dialog are drenched with spring showers of witty and irreverent humor, which provides much respite from the underlying grief theme."-- Library Journal (Starred review)

"The Garden of Small Beginnings is a quirky, funny, and deeply thoughtful book. . . . We're already dying to know if there will be a sequel." --HelloGiggles

"Waxman's voice is witty, emotional and often profound."--InStyle.com (UK)

"This novel is filled with characters you'll love and wish you lived next door to in real life."-Bustle

"Sorrow is usually an occasion for sobs instead of laughter, but Waxman manages to wring many funny and poignant moments from a sober situation."--Augusta Chronicle

"Lilian Girvan, the central character of The Garden of Small Beginnings, is an illustrator, a mother, a sister, a budding gardener, and a widow, and her perspective on how she's doing with each role doesn't always match up with what readers can see around her. But that trait makes her a more interesting and realistic protagonist, and along with the book's humor and eccentric supporting cast made it a great read."--BookRiot

"Abbi Waxman artfully tackles grief with humor in her debut novel."--Signature Reads

"It's impossible not to fall in love with Lilian, a young widow who is still trying to come to terms with the death of her husband four years later. . . . If you are thinking to yourself 'forget it, I'm not reading a gardening book'- don't worry . . . THIS IS NOT A GARDENING BOOK! It IS, however, a feel-good, hate-to-put-it- down, kind-of-book!"--Chick Lit Central

Book Description:

The place where friendship grows . . . A brilliantly funny and emotional novel about love, life and friendship, perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Lucy Diamond and Jenny Oliver.

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