The gardener

by Prue Leith

'Under the bracken, under the soil, under the forest, under the water, the garden's history is there. It needs an ardent lover to find it.' Lotte is in unfamiliar territory. After a painful divorce and a great deal of soul-searching, she's abandoned her successful career as an architect for a degree in Garden History, and uprooted her three children to take a job as Head Gardener to millionaire Brody Keegan. Brody is as ignorant about gardens as Lotte is knowledgeable, his tastes as loud as hers are quiet. The things they have in common are a passion for Maddon Park and a determination to get their own way. As Lotte locks horns with her boss and his spoilt young wife, she finds herself on an emotional rollercoaster. She knows what is right for the garden, but - still raw from divorce, anxious about the children and frightened of entanglement - she has no idea what is right for her.

Genres: Romance, British Literature, Fiction, Gardening

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Vivone Os · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knjizi me je prvo privukla naslovnica. Također me je privukao i tekst s naslovnice: "Zanimljiva i zavodljiva priča o ljubavi, požudi i - vrtlarstvu."
To što piše samo je donekle istina. Je to priča o ljubavi, ali decentna priča o obitelji, ljubavi prema obitelji, pronalaženju same sebe nakon teških životnih drama i najviše od svega o vrtu i vrtlarenju.
I iako se ne razumijem u cvijeće, ne kužim u latinske nazive biljaka niti u poslove u velikom vrtu, iznimno sam uživala čitajući o radu u vrtu, uređivanju, planiranju, poslovima u skladu s godišnjim dobima.
Poželjela sam da i ja znam uzgajati voće, povrće i biljke, da imam svoj mali vrt u kojem mogu uživati.
Iako sam pred sam kraj knjige razvila neke moralne dvojbe glede odabira glavne junakinje, sve u svemu u knjizi sam zaista uživala i uz nju se opustila.

[Lucinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off okay and the gardens were interesting, but it did get a bit tedious by the end and I didn't really care what happened

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gone as far as I am going on this. I enjoyed this author's book Choral Society and was excited to find this one. Despite the fact that I am into singing and not into gardening, I thought it would be good. But the reality was I found I struggled with it and never wanted to pick it up and read it. I kept thinking it would improve. The mystery surrounding the gardens of Maddon Park sounded good. But the characters, oh dear! Brody is a brash, pompous millionaire, his wife Amber is a spoiled, selfish air head model and the main character I couldn't connect with Lotte the main character at all, I gave it 200 pages but afraid I can't be bothered wading through waffle about gardens to finish it. Very disappointed.

[Valentina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vrtlarstvo i svijet biljaka, kao i obiteljska drama, te pronalaženje novog smisla u životu nakon rastave dugogodišnjeg braka dominiraju romanom.
Pa ako vas izrazito ne zanima ništa od toga, ne preporučam da knjigu uzimate u ruke.
I rekla bih da je ova požuda više usmjerena prema vrtlarenju nego prema muškarcu.
Ja sam u procesu stvaranja vlastitog vrta pa je to i presudilo u odabiru ovog naslova.
Ali obzirom da živim u Dalmaciji a ne na imanju u Engleskoj veličine mog malog dalmatinskog mjesta, i ne posjedujem sorte srednjovjekovnih ruža ili skrivenu pećinu u šumi, i nisam se nešto usrećila.
Većim dijelom me i iživcirala glavna protagonistkinja.
Ipak, biljke i priroda me umiruju i čine sretnom, svo vrijeme koje mogu provodim u i među njima, pa mi je tako umirujuće bilo i čitati o istima.

[Valentina T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prvenstveno mi se svidjela radi opisa prirode, vrtova i svega vezanog uz to. Zanimljiva je i ljubavna prica koja s odmakom postaje sve kompliciranija. Bila sam ljuta u par navrata sto se glavna junakinja poigrava s osjecajima drugih, kao da i sama nije prosla kalvariju slicnoga; sto je odabrala Petera a ne voli ga; sto ima aferu s Brodyijem... sve u svemu drago mi je sto se na kraju sabrala i ostala uz svoju obitelj. Odrzavala je aferu unatoc svemu, riskirala ali je ipak sve dobro zavrsilo.
Autorica interesantno pise, svidjelo mi se sto usporedo saznajemo sve o povijesti toga mjesta, sto je Lotte ustrajna zena koja istinski voli svoj posao iako ju je to skoro kostalo obitelji i svega sto ju usrecuje.

[MGM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Predivna i opuštajuća knjiga, pogotovo za one koji vole cvijeće,vrtove i sve vezano uz to. Knjiga koja mami da ju se čita negdje u prirodi...na žalost, ja sam ju čitala u sred zime, pa je ipak sve bilo samo u mašti.

A wonderful and relaxing book, especially for those who like flowers, gardens and everything related to it. A book that mumbled to be read somewhere in nature ... unfortunately, I read it in the middle of winter, so it was all in the imagination.

[Liliflaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Za onog ko voli cvece i vrtove ovo je raj od knjige!

[Benjamina Suljic · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 ☆
Odlična sve preporuke od srca, volim prirodu,cvijeće...čitaš uživaš u čarima i ljepotama vrtova i vrtlarima koji žive kroz svoj posao...

[Carol W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lotte is newly divorced and it still stings. She has managed to pick herself up and makes the decision to start afresh with the children, new career path, new home but she is not ready for a new man. I instantly took to Lotte as she is a strong character who knows what she wants...well for her family, anyway.

Brody, "Lord of the Manor", has more money than sense when he buys Maddon Park and has grand plans for the estate, along with his young model wife, Amber. Brody was not easy to like with his brash ways and ideas.

By contrast, Peter, who is helping Lotte to research the history of Maddon Park, is gentle and a good friend to Lotte and the children.

I knew from reading the Prologue, giving background information on Maddon Park, that this was going to be a novel I would really enjoy. I wanted to know more about the history of the Park. Once Lotte and Brody were introduced into the story at the job interview for Head Gardener I was even more excited to read on and see how this explosive working relationship was going to work.

Lotte was interested in restoring and preserving Maddon Park, whereas Brody is only interested in throwing his money into wrecklessly developing Maddon Park. Surely a recipe for disaster.

As Lotte spends more time researching the history of Maddon Park and working with Brody she discovers that not only does the Park have hidden depths, Brody does too.

A strong cast and great observations of the new feelings, hopes and fears in relationships for a divorcee and her young teen daughter.

My only reservation about this novel is that by the time I had reached page 100 I was expecting this book to be just an enjoyable read uncovering the history of the Park and it's restoration. After a slow, but enjoyable start the author gets down to the nitty gritty of people in the story and the novel becomes much more exciting.

4.5 out of 5 for me!


Thank you to Quercus for sending me a review copy. This did not influence my review in any way.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent hours reading this while sitting in the shade in our city garden and that at Cranberry Cottage. It perhaps enhanced the feeling of this book to sit in a garden reading it.

Lotte is looking for a whole new start with her three children after feeling unsettled and unhappy in London following her divorce. She applies for a job as head gardener at Maddon Park in Oxfordshire. Her past as an architect as well as her new education in garden history have made her very qualified for this position. She begins to research the house and garden for her employer...the wealthy Brody Keegan. During her research, friendships develop between herself and Maddon Park, Brody, and Peter, the archive librarian. The garden is constantly revealing its past mysteries while I felt that Lotte was also finding herself blossoming in her new life.

I enjoyed the gardening references in the book. They made me want to run to visit any nearby historical gardens.

I also found myself involved with Lotte in wanting to smack Amber (Brody's spoiled young wife) into reality and cheered Peter on throughout the book. I wanted Lotte to succeed in each endevour to uncover more of Maddon Park.

A perfect summer read!

[Tasneem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was absolutely brilliant. I loved the way in which the heroine rediscovers romance and passion, and how she negotiates the waters of love, and being in love. I also liked that she didn't make a choice between the men, but did what she thought was best for herself. I did feel sorry for Brody though, I think he deserved more from her. But their passion and love was very real, and I think she was right in that he wouldn't perhaps have wanted her as much if they had married.

I just love the realism of the story, the rawness of it, there was no sugar-coating of emotions, of choices made. A really good book.

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am afraid I could not finish reading this book. It was written quite well but Prue Leith was so keen to share her gardening knowledge that the book became tedious for me. Perhaps those more interested in gardening might enjoy reading this book, but I had to skip so many passages because the surfeit of gardening information bored me. Eventually I gave the whole thing up as a bad job!

[Annyliis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aia kirjeldused, taimed, loodus... see oli raamatu meeldivam osa. See, mis tegelaste vahelistesse suhetesse puutus, veidi häiris. Kokkuvõttes nautisin seda raamatut. Tundsin justkui reaalselt jalutamas selles imelises ajaloolises aias, millest raamatu tegevus suures osas toimus. Mahedalt meeldiv lugemiselamus. :)

[Tihana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reading this book hoping for good descriptions of gardening in literature, but I could barely chew through the boring plot, flat characters and completely redundant scenes. In short, I wasn't even impressed by the gardening part of the story, and I just wasted my time on a story that celebrates divorce and cheating.

[Mrs SE Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this - really engaged with the characters and the real nature of their relationships - there were real dilemmas and no trite, predictable outcomes
Sometimes a little uncomfortable - really good read!

[Adeline Kam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly a wow book but it was an okay book to be read. Something about plants and flowers always gives me a peaceful feeling. The storyline was easy to get through. Overall an easy book to read, not much thinking required.

[Aleksandra Sokić · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5

[Eileen Fawdry · Rating 5 out of 5]

most enjoyable

Loved this book right from the beginning. Beautifully crafted novel with its twist and turns kept you guessing. Must look out for more books by Prue Leith.

[Sherri Denora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Racy! Enjoyed the gardening experience more than the romance.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I enjoyed the slower pace and the interesting unfolding of a historical garden. The love story was maybe not my favorite but it was well written. Good beach read

[Akiba · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is definately for plant lovers with very little attention to the love story but it suits the storytelling overall would not be my first choice for a re-read. The authors love for botany comes alive in this book.

[LindyLouMac · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 21st book that I have read published by Transita and it is one of the better ones.

Charlotte Warren, known as Lotte, divorced mother of three, architect, garden historian and horticulturist is the protagonist of The Gardener.

The novel follows Lott’s growing passion and obsession with Maddon Park after she takes the post of Head Gardener there. Working for the millionaire Brody Keegan and his spoilt young model wife Amber, she finds herself on an emotional rollercoaster. Brody is ignorant but passionate about the gardens; Amber however is so uninterested that she thinks ‘Who needs a vegetable garden with Waitrose six miles away.’

The history of Maddon Park and gardens makes this novel more than just another love story and I found the historical gardens aspect fascinating. I love gardens and gardening and always enjoy visiting places similar to Maddon Park.
I did feel at one point though that maybe Prue Leith was struggling to keep to the plot and tie everything together. For example about two thirds of the way through there is an episode concerning Annie, Lotte’s eldest, a motorbike and a helicopter! I have been unable to understand the relevance of this episode and wonder if it was just padding, or did I miss the point?

I would certainly recommend this to any gardening enthusiast as that aspect is well written and interesting, though the love story intertwined is rather predictable. A good mixture of gardening and romance.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An impressive book from Prue Leith, better known for her cookery expertise. Here the research and knowledge displayed of historical gardens, archives and the poetry that introduced each chapter showed a depth of involvement in the story that immediately appealed to me. Lotte is a strong character, I warmed to Peter, found Amber an irritating stereotyped and Brody the archetypal hero. The lengthy scene of the motorbike escapade and helicopter chase seemed out of kilter with the rest of the book, as if the need was felt to intersperse some action packed drama - yet it added very little to the development of the storyline. I was glad that Lotte, to my mind, made the right decision in the end. A good read!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about Lotte who gets her dream job of head gardener on a country estate. She juggles her job, working long hours, with looking after her three children and her friendship with Peter. But does she love him? Or is it Brody, her boss, who holds the key to her heart? Great story, with a lot of gardening/horticultural detail (a lot of which I skimmed if I'm honest)

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that by the end of this I was far more enchanted by Maddon and its gardens, than by half the characters in the book. That being said it had something of a must read the rest quality about it.

[penelopewanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here as a book ring
Enjoyable story about the joys of gardening and a somewhat sober take on middle age affairs.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book nice story.

[Barbara Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved thus book.. Could smell the flowers:-))

[Adrienne]

Great story. Loved the detail about the garden and her passion for gardening.

[Meteori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ne sjećam se previše, ali bilo je simpatično.