Review: Interesting times, interesting stories
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 30, 2012
The stories of the four women in Whorticulture can be read as stand-alone stories but are linked together by the times in which they live and the men in their lives. Handled badly, this could be jarring but the lyricism of the writing in Whorticulture ensures this isn't the case.Each story focuses on a relationship, not a love story but more of a power struggle between each woman and the man in her life. In those times, of course the man often held the upper hand but these are strong women who fight in their own ways to preserve the things they value within the limitations of their society.While each story is beautifully written and told in a voice that feels authentic for the period, I enjoyed Seraphine's Bouquet the most. The narration in this section weaves a lot of colloquial humor through her story. While the subject matter is often grim, the book is superbly crafted and a joy to read.