Category: Fiction
Publisher: Bantam Books
ISBN-13:9780553384833
Pub. Date: April 2008 (reprint)
Date Read: August 2009
“That morning, when Claire woke up in the backyard garden, she tasted regret in her mouth. With a frown, she spit it out. She was sorry for the way she’d treated her sister as a child. But the six years of Claire’s life before Sydney’s arrival had been fraught with the constant fear of being caught, of being hurt, of not having enough food for gas or warm clothes for the winter. Her mother always came through but always at the last minute.”
The Waverly garden is something of a local legend in Bascom, North Carolina. The family who tends to it is seen as a bit odd but at the same time people look to the dishes prepared by Claire Waverly. They know that along with a delicious meal, the edibles are infused with what can only be called magic.
Claire has never quite gotten over feeling like an outsider in her home town but she takes refuge in her garden and the prophetic apple tree. Sometimes though she takes herself so far away from what others may think that she won't even give herself a chance at love. She just doesn't want to fall into the same pattern her mother and her sister fell into.
But there's change afoot when Sydney comes back into town and Claire finds herself helping her sister and finally building some sisterly bonds. A handsome neighbor takes up residence next door and believes he has a chance with Claire. And, Claire finally begins to trust herself.
While I liked all the characters, I particularly enjoyed Claire's elderly cousin, Evanelle, who gives people odd gifts. The gifts in turn end up being something that the receiver will need. She was just so charming and funny.
I found this to be a warm and sweet story. If you like a bit of magical realism with your fiction then curl up with this book.