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De Ierse tuin
Aoife heeft absoluut geen groene vingers, maar als ze op een dag langs een verwaarloosde tuin loopt, beginnen ze toch te kriebelen. Ze overtuigt de weinig ondernemende eigenaar dat zij de juiste persoon is om de tuin op te knappen. Alleen kan ze dit klusje niet klaren, dus plaatst ze een advertentie. Twee vrijwilligers komen opdagen: Uri, een bejaarde kleermaker, en Emily, een studente. Terloops bemoeien nog meer mensen zich met de tuin en ontspruit zich de ideale afleiding van Aoifes rommelige privéleven. En ook voor de anderen blijkt de tuin helende krachten te hebben…
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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2028 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
November 22, 2010
Top read of 2010 for me. Beautifully and brilliantly written, enchanted me right from the start. As I neared the end, I didn't want it to end. Touched on several subjects close to my heart and on area's I didn't expect. Inspirational and truly heart warming. A definite re-read in the future.
October 31, 2010
What I Can Tell You:
This was a fantastic book. Tara Heavey did an excellent job on character development and storyline. In this moving story of hardship, friendship, past mistakes, haunting childhoods and courage and determination.
The character of Eva was my favorite. She has suffered loss and through her determination and courage she undertakes a project that brings the most different people together. Creating a small community of misfits and personalities. From the first paragraph you are invested. The cover does nothing for the book as is appears very light but with the loss of a child, the Holocaust, hidden pregnancy this book is far from light. It is more a winding path through life's hardships toward renewal and growth.
Fantastic book and I give it a 5.
This was a fantastic book. Tara Heavey did an excellent job on character development and storyline. In this moving story of hardship, friendship, past mistakes, haunting childhoods and courage and determination.
The character of Eva was my favorite. She has suffered loss and through her determination and courage she undertakes a project that brings the most different people together. Creating a small community of misfits and personalities. From the first paragraph you are invested. The cover does nothing for the book as is appears very light but with the loss of a child, the Holocaust, hidden pregnancy this book is far from light. It is more a winding path through life's hardships toward renewal and growth.
Fantastic book and I give it a 5.
June 9, 2017
De Ierse tuin van Tara Heavey is een heerlijk boek om te lezen. Je moet wel houden van tuinieren en dat doe ik. Sinds dit jaar zijn we ook een moestuintje begonnen, dus ik kon mij helemaal vinden in de verwondering voor de tuin. Als je nog niet aan tuinieren doet, krijg wel zin om daar mee te beginnen. De karakters zijn allemaal heel sympathiek. Ze zijn allen verbonden door de tuin en je leert ze stukje bij beetje kennen. Een aanrader, wat mij betreft!
September 1, 2011
Just as the garden of "Winter Bloom" is lovingly and skillfully brought back to life, so are the lives of the characters revived and renewed. Tara Heavey tells the story of five people who work together toward a common goal and discover much about themselves and each other along the way. When young widowed mother Eva Madigan spies the sadly neglected walled garden of the elderly Mrs. Prendergast, she is struck by the desire to restore the wasted space to its former glory. It takes some convincing, and Mrs. Prendergast warns her that the garden is meant to be sold, but Eva is given permission for her project. She places an ad at the grocer for help with a community garden, and only two people respond to the ad: Uri, a distinguished older gentleman, and Emily, the clerk from the grocer. Soon they are joined by Uri's son Seth, and after a time, even Mrs. Prendergast begins to help with the work. Each of the gardeners has been touched by tragedy, and their individual stories are woven throughout the telling of the restoration. Uri, a tailor by trade, was taught much by his own father, who was a master gardener. Seth, who inherited his love of cultivating the soil from his father and grandfather, has his own landscaping business. Emily, stuck in her clerk's job, longs to further her education and move on with her life. Mrs. Prendergast, a lady of impeccable social grace, is nonetheless rumored to have killed her husband and buried him somewhere in the garden. It is her greedy, needy son, Lance, who is pressuring her to sell the land. Eva's husband took their baby daughter for a drive to settle her crying, and they were both killed in a terrible accident. Eva was left to care for their young son, Liam, and to manage her survivor guilt. These are remarkable people, trying their best to live "ordinary" lives. I was touched by their heartaches, and I celebrated with them their joys. Their shared experience was an affirmation of life, not only for the characters, but also for the reader. I will definitely read more work by the wonderful storyteller, Tara Heavey!
Review Copy Gratis Simon & Schuster
Review Copy Gratis Simon & Schuster
April 18, 2022
This was a quick but very charming and touching read. Lovable characters.
Simple but very pleasant writing. Lovable characters that get their own backgrounds explained through separate chapters. Very touching stories.
Love how it all comes together, the ending might be a bit too happy and sappy, but sometimes that is what we need.
Simple but very pleasant writing. Lovable characters that get their own backgrounds explained through separate chapters. Very touching stories.
Love how it all comes together, the ending might be a bit too happy and sappy, but sometimes that is what we need.
December 4, 2012
Winter Bloom is a very touching story. It was elegantly written. I adored all of the characters' stories & how they all came together for the garden's sake. In doing so, they each earned a new loving family within one another. The most powerful story to me that actually made me cry was Eva's. What she went through must have been devastating. I really loved how the author wrote this. It was beautifully written. I highly recommend this as a must read. It was the perfect genre for this Christmas season too. I just loved Winter Bloom!
May 20, 2023
I once picked up this book in a library but never really read it. Now I did. How amazing it is!! It’s so well-written, so feelgood, so funny! And the last chapters … well it’s such a perfect feelgood tearjerker. Absolutely genious.
January 20, 2018
I could not put this book down!!!! I give it 4.5 🌟. It is absolutely stunning! It will rip every emotion from your being so be prepared!!! 💕💕💕
November 21, 2021
Cute book, nice light read. Perfect after reading too many serious books.
July 25, 2020
Beautiful ❤️
Easy read
Easy read
November 12, 2021
Verrassend leuk😊
April 30, 2021
I just loved this book. I was afraid that it would be shallow and predictable but it totally surprised me.
I loved her weave of all the characters and their life struggles. I want more books from Tara.
I loved her weave of all the characters and their life struggles. I want more books from Tara.
January 31, 2011
Eva Madigan has suffered a great tragedy. For more reasons than most she struggles every day to move forward and often her only motivation rests with her young son Liam. With not much to push her forward, when Eva happens upon an abandoned “secret garden” her heart warms at the idea of a blossoming paradise in the midst of a bustling city. With the addition of a few helpers, Seth, Uri, Emily and Mrs. Prendergast, Eva begins again. Each person that helps with the garden holds a secret past, and as the story evolves the garden becomes a symbol of the change that each must go through to overcome and triumph.
This was truly a delightful story. It’s been some time since I finished it, but even now I often find myself thinking of the stories behind each of these wonderful characters. I’ve actually tried singling out a favorite character from the story and it seems almost impossible. Eva-the single mother, Seth-the single recently divorced father, Emily-the college student with a troubled past, Uri-a mild mannered elderly man, and Mrs. Prendergast-the garden owner each hold their own in this dynamic novel. Throughout the story you get to hear from the majority of the characters, learn about their individual pasts and eventually how they help each other, along with the help of the garden to overcome their struggles.
It’s also quite difficult to discuss Winter Bloom without giving away too much of the story. Heavey weaves each of the characters so tightly into the story that it’s not until nearly half way through the book that you know many of their individual troubles. It’s quite wonderful though, because though you don’t know their concerns to begin with you are still able to connect with each because the writing is so good. This was actually my first novel by Tara Heavey and I’m eager to check out her British Chick Lit books because of it.
For me, I obviously connected the most with Eva’s character. A single mother with a young child about the same age as my own son. Her concerns about him when he’s no where in site is something I struggle with constantly. Not only that, but her extreme situation is something I’ve long feared. Though I’ve never (and don’t plan to) had an affair and my husband and children are still living (thankfully), it’s difficult to care for people so much that you don’t allow it to consume you. I could truly connect with her concerns about losing her only remaining family member. It was an interesting process to see how she handled the circumstances surrounding the loss of her husband. As was the process that Emily went through in coming to terms with her parents and the truth of her own situation.
As I said, Winter Bloom is a difficult book to discuss without giving too much of it away or rambling on for pages. Beautifully written, I have no doubt that within the first few pages whomever reads it will be consumed by the stories of the individual characters as well as the ultimate outcome of their beloved garden. A story about change, triumphing over your past and letting go of those things that stand in our way. A beautiful story that will move many to possibly evaluate their own relationships and possibly start a garden of their very own.
This was truly a delightful story. It’s been some time since I finished it, but even now I often find myself thinking of the stories behind each of these wonderful characters. I’ve actually tried singling out a favorite character from the story and it seems almost impossible. Eva-the single mother, Seth-the single recently divorced father, Emily-the college student with a troubled past, Uri-a mild mannered elderly man, and Mrs. Prendergast-the garden owner each hold their own in this dynamic novel. Throughout the story you get to hear from the majority of the characters, learn about their individual pasts and eventually how they help each other, along with the help of the garden to overcome their struggles.
It’s also quite difficult to discuss Winter Bloom without giving away too much of the story. Heavey weaves each of the characters so tightly into the story that it’s not until nearly half way through the book that you know many of their individual troubles. It’s quite wonderful though, because though you don’t know their concerns to begin with you are still able to connect with each because the writing is so good. This was actually my first novel by Tara Heavey and I’m eager to check out her British Chick Lit books because of it.
For me, I obviously connected the most with Eva’s character. A single mother with a young child about the same age as my own son. Her concerns about him when he’s no where in site is something I struggle with constantly. Not only that, but her extreme situation is something I’ve long feared. Though I’ve never (and don’t plan to) had an affair and my husband and children are still living (thankfully), it’s difficult to care for people so much that you don’t allow it to consume you. I could truly connect with her concerns about losing her only remaining family member. It was an interesting process to see how she handled the circumstances surrounding the loss of her husband. As was the process that Emily went through in coming to terms with her parents and the truth of her own situation.
As I said, Winter Bloom is a difficult book to discuss without giving too much of it away or rambling on for pages. Beautifully written, I have no doubt that within the first few pages whomever reads it will be consumed by the stories of the individual characters as well as the ultimate outcome of their beloved garden. A story about change, triumphing over your past and letting go of those things that stand in our way. A beautiful story that will move many to possibly evaluate their own relationships and possibly start a garden of their very own.
March 24, 2019
This story begins when Eva Madigan, recently single and relocated to Ireland with her young son Liam, stumbles upon a long neglected garden. Although she has never successfully grown anything, Eva is drawn to the overgrown walled lot. After initially rejecting Eva’s request to try to revive the forgotten acre, the icy owner best known for murdering her husband agrees to allow her to attempt the feat. Eva excitedly posts a flyer asking for help from the community and is soon joined by Emily, an odd young introvert; and Uri, a retired tailor with much needed gardening skills – although he denies having much experience. Uri’s son Seth and the elderly owner of the garden, Mrs. Prendergast, soon cannot resist the pull of the garden and join in the efforts.
Through real magic of the garden or simply the shared experience of nurturing it, their personal walls begin to crumble and slowly relationships bloom.
The surface interactions between these five as they coax the plants and flowers and vegetables into existence would have made a pleasant, entertaining read. But the story went much deeper. One by one we learn the heartbreak that led each of them to this place – needing the healing powers of the growing garden to bring them back to life.
I chose this novel as I do most books I select – for a light and entertaining read. This was so much more. The depth, emotion, quality story, and excellent writing make this easily one of my favorites in a long time.
Winter Bloom will go on my re-read shelf, and I am eager to read more from this author.
Through real magic of the garden or simply the shared experience of nurturing it, their personal walls begin to crumble and slowly relationships bloom.
The surface interactions between these five as they coax the plants and flowers and vegetables into existence would have made a pleasant, entertaining read. But the story went much deeper. One by one we learn the heartbreak that led each of them to this place – needing the healing powers of the growing garden to bring them back to life.
I chose this novel as I do most books I select – for a light and entertaining read. This was so much more. The depth, emotion, quality story, and excellent writing make this easily one of my favorites in a long time.
Winter Bloom will go on my re-read shelf, and I am eager to read more from this author.
November 28, 2010
This book is absolutely on my short list of the year's best! As five people come together to transform an overgrown garden, they each bring their pasts, their pain, and their hopes for the future. Eva - single with a son to raise, Emily, struggling with her solitary secret, Uri and Seth, father and son, each with his own painful past, and finally Mrs, Pendergast, the aging widow who owns the garden. As Eva begins the project, hoping to interest others, she is trying to make peace with her move to Ireland, and her decision to raise her son on her own, without even the help of her family. As the volunteers assemble, each throws himself into his or her own section of the garden. With time, they begin to feel comfortable enough with each other to entrust bits and pieces of themselves, and a bond begins to form. Over the spring, summer and into the fall, these five people give new life to the garden, and in the process, themselves. Moving through the seasons with them, I was entranced, and felt a part of the joy of watching the garden take shape. I highly recommend this book as a joyous and uplifting tale!"
November 7, 2010
"You know, this is great for me," he said.
"What is?" She stiffened.
"Witnessing a conversion."
"A conversion?" She straightened up and chanced looking over.
"Yes. To plants. Gardening."
"Oh." She smiled. Relaxed. "You make it sound like a religious experience."
"Isn't that what it is? A return to your basic nature. It's my religion anyway." He commenced digging.
How could I not like a book about the healing power of gardens? Each character in "Winter Bloom" has suffered a great tragedy. Together, they restore a garden and restore their lives. One character even says that gardening saved his life. Despite the sad aspects, this is a book about hope and second chances, which left me smiling.
"What is?" She stiffened.
"Witnessing a conversion."
"A conversion?" She straightened up and chanced looking over.
"Yes. To plants. Gardening."
"Oh." She smiled. Relaxed. "You make it sound like a religious experience."
"Isn't that what it is? A return to your basic nature. It's my religion anyway." He commenced digging.
How could I not like a book about the healing power of gardens? Each character in "Winter Bloom" has suffered a great tragedy. Together, they restore a garden and restore their lives. One character even says that gardening saved his life. Despite the sad aspects, this is a book about hope and second chances, which left me smiling.
November 9, 2013
Unique and quirky characters are brought together by their desire to restore a lost garden belonging to a crotchety old woman. One by one the individual stories are revealed and as the garden comes back to life, the characters find healing, hope, love and even redemption. Tara Heavey is a worth successor to the late Maeve Binchy with a younger slightly more modern voice.
May 28, 2013
Don't let the cover of this book fool you, it is not the light beach read it appears to be. I enjoyed it very much and all of the stories of the main characters were interesting and not predictable at all. Definitely recommend.
August 30, 2014
Recommended as an 'If you liked Maeve Binchy, you will enjoy this book!' When reading it, I did think Maeve was telling the story. Same style; same tone. So, I agree with the earlier message..if you like Maeve Binchy, who sadly is no longer with us, give this book a try.
December 17, 2010
Very predictable but a cute and touching story.
August 16, 2013
five people come together to create a beautiful garden and along the way they share their secrets.a book to get lost in.
December 30, 2012
Thank you for this book Daisy. I really enjoyed it as I love books the revolve around unlikely friendships! A beautifully written book.
December 27, 2022
A forgotten garden lies next to a wealthy woman's house. When Eva spots it, she becomes obsessed with bringing it back to life. Together with two volunteers, Uri and Emily, and eventually the woman herself, Mrs. Mrs. Prendergast herself, the garden is transformed, as are the lives of the people who work on it. As they rebuild the garden, we learn their lift stories and meet other members of their families.
I have not read a whole book in a day in a long time, but I could not put this book down! It drew you in from page one and did not let you go. The pace was leisurely, but you could not help turning pages to see what would unfold, what new secret would you discover, what new person would you meet?
There was a lot of heartache in this book, and you really felt for the characters. At the same time during the good moments you cheered. The fate of the garden was somewhat in limbo, but that had a very happy ending. As did the lives of all the characters. It was such a sweet, lovely book.
I have not read a whole book in a day in a long time, but I could not put this book down! It drew you in from page one and did not let you go. The pace was leisurely, but you could not help turning pages to see what would unfold, what new secret would you discover, what new person would you meet?
There was a lot of heartache in this book, and you really felt for the characters. At the same time during the good moments you cheered. The fate of the garden was somewhat in limbo, but that had a very happy ending. As did the lives of all the characters. It was such a sweet, lovely book.
June 7, 2019
I felt this story started off well and fizzled out the more it went on. I did skim the last few chapters because I was so bored. I like stories that flop back and forth in times and in voices, but this one did a lot of that, and no clear distinction at first. Wait, are we before the war? Are we in Ireland still? Wait, no England. Oh who is talking? There's an Eva and an Emily. Hold on. And everyone has a baby daughter. Wait.
That I could've been through, okay, and not given a low rating. It's not a terrible story and the garden is quite intriguing. Who doesn't love a walled Irish garden?
But the editor needs horsewhipped. "She couldn't bare to think on it..." Really? She couldn't get naked to think? Is that what you mean? Also, at the beginning of one chapter I slammed on my proverbial reading brakes because the word "weird" was spelled as "wierd." I had to stop reading, find a search engine, and be correctly assured that "wierd" is indeed a misspelling of "weird." That wasn't some over-the-pond-they-do-things-differently thing. Last one I caught was a misspelling of the word "fingers." Yes. Fingers. Finges.
I am not sure I should allow that a paper to ebook process made all these errors. No, I think it's an editor. And it messed with the story.
Finges.
It would have been a good summery read (despite the word Winter in the title) but the errors and the flipping around made it "meh."
That I could've been through, okay, and not given a low rating. It's not a terrible story and the garden is quite intriguing. Who doesn't love a walled Irish garden?
But the editor needs horsewhipped. "She couldn't bare to think on it..." Really? She couldn't get naked to think? Is that what you mean? Also, at the beginning of one chapter I slammed on my proverbial reading brakes because the word "weird" was spelled as "wierd." I had to stop reading, find a search engine, and be correctly assured that "wierd" is indeed a misspelling of "weird." That wasn't some over-the-pond-they-do-things-differently thing. Last one I caught was a misspelling of the word "fingers." Yes. Fingers. Finges.
I am not sure I should allow that a paper to ebook process made all these errors. No, I think it's an editor. And it messed with the story.
Finges.
It would have been a good summery read (despite the word Winter in the title) but the errors and the flipping around made it "meh."
April 13, 2023
A ragtag group of people discover an old garden and nurse it to bloom - while healing their wounds as well. Eva is the first to discover it and gets the idea of a neighborhood garden after getting the ok from the owner, Mrs Pendergast. Emily, a secretly pregnant teen, and URI, an elderly Jewish man join her. Soon Uris son, Seth and his daughter Kathy join as well. Eva is widowed and grieving and needs a new light in her life other than Liam, her little boy. All of their stories are told as the garden grows. Enjoyed it a lot- Dublin setting..
January 27, 2018
I liked this book. It had a nice, cozy feel to it in many ways. I loved that it was centered around rebuilding a forgotten garden. I loved how each person had something different to contribute because of their past. The way the author strung each person’s story in to the larger story was done very well and I was interested in each of them. They were unique and remind you how you never really know someone just to look at them. You never know what people carry.
August 25, 2018
I was telling a friend just last night that I'm quite generous with my stars. I frequently give 5 star ratings, because why not? I love this book, it has earned all five stars. It's a beautiful story about people from different walks of life that find commonality in the love of a public garden. It's the kind of book that you curl up with on a chilly, winter day with a cup of tea and a blanket. Be sure to have your hankies close by during the Final Chapter.
March 29, 2019
hoewel dit verhaal alles heeft wat het moet hebben is het toch niet zo mijn ding.
In dit boek is een verwaarloosde tuin de bindende factor tussen een 6 tal mensen. mensen met een rugzakje waar je een voor een inkijk in krijgt. Om dan te eindigen in een apotheose.
Wat zorgt dat er weinig vaart, weinig diepgang en weinig bindmiddel inzit. Ik hou liever van verhalen die wat minder oppervlakkig blijven vrees ik.
In dit boek is een verwaarloosde tuin de bindende factor tussen een 6 tal mensen. mensen met een rugzakje waar je een voor een inkijk in krijgt. Om dan te eindigen in een apotheose.
Wat zorgt dat er weinig vaart, weinig diepgang en weinig bindmiddel inzit. Ik hou liever van verhalen die wat minder oppervlakkig blijven vrees ik.
December 28, 2020
I really liked this book. More than I thought I would. It's a lovely tale of second chances and healing. The story unfolds the lives of those working int he garden, focusing on some characters who have a "bigger" role in the story. Eva finally allows herself to love again. Mrs Prendergast is such a strong woman. Someone to look up to, despite being a fictional character. This book had me smiling at the end.
July 26, 2018
Touching story about 5 people from different backgrounds, each with their own hardships from their pasts. They find each other and their own peace through working together in a Dublin garden. Written in a way that makes you like and sympathize with each character (even the minor ones). Touches on some deep topics while bringing it to a satisfying ending for all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews