Synopsis of Garden Spells
Clare and Sydney are a part of the Waverley family. In Bascom, North Carolina that means something. It means that the entire family possesses these peculiar gifts that set them apart from the rest of the town. And it means that most of their secrets and gifts are hidden in their garden.
In their garden rests an apple tree so magical that it moves deliberately when it wants to tell you something. It’ll throw apples at you if it wants you to eat one. The entire town wants to eat an apple from that tree because it’ll show you your future.
Everyone in the Waverly family naturally hates apples. They just pick them up from the ground and bury them so no one can steal any.
Claire is a successful caterer, who can manipulate the feelings of the people who eat her food through a combination of herbs and plants. Her aunt, Evanelle, is blessed with the gift of giving gifts before the person knows they need it. A long time ago Sydney left Bascom because she hated the name Waverly. Now she’s back with her daughter, Bay, and hiding a secret that could change all of their lives forever.
The Magic of Garden Spells
Sarah Addison Allen crafts a truly beautiful tale with Garden Spells. It’s not quite a traditional chick-lit novel and not quite a fairytale. Its beauty lies in each unique character.
From loner Claire who is so convinced that everyone who loves her will leave so she throws herself into work in the garden and creating amazing dishes in the kitchen; to quirky old lady, Evanelle, who gives you a gift like a mango peeler in the middle of the day, sometimes weeks before you ever know you need it.
Then there’s Sydney, who knows how to make people beautiful (she’s a brilliant hairdresser), and her daughter, Bay, who instinctively knows where things belong. Each woman is strong, beautiful and full of flaws which make Garden Spells a magical deviation from traditional and stereotypical “chick-lit” genres of literature.
Recommended Read
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen is a must read for the summer. In fact, it is a must read no matter what time of the year it is. Readers will feel the magic running through their veins as if Claire herself made them a special “magic” dish.
Allen, Sarah Addison. Garden Spells. New York: Bantam, 2007.
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