Flour Garden

by Pamela Dangelmaier

The Kerrisdale Garden Club is teetering on the brink of disaster. Its aging group of gardeners have allowed their apathy to grow like weeds in an unkempt garden and the club is about to take its final horticultural gasp before plunging into obscurity. That is until a not-so-mysterious stranger suddenly appears at their weekly meeting and things quickly descend into a cacophony of star-struck chaos.

Little do the unsuspecting octogenarians know but the newcomer is about to breathe new life into their withering club. Why is it, though, that for one member in particular, the stranger’s unexpected appearance will dig up painful memories from the past that perhaps best remain buried?

This romping story takes place in a blossoming, springtime Vancouver. Join the effervescent owner of the city’s hippest bakery, the quirky members of Vancouver’s oldest gardening club, a captivatingly charismatic television celebrity and the flamboyant head horticulturalist of the Shaughnessy Botanical Garden as together they sow the seeds of self-discovery, fertilize them with a good dose of forgiveness and reap the fruits of their labour.

Genres: Fiction

372 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2017

About the author

Pamela Dangelmaier was born in Vancouver, BC and now lives close enough that she can still smell the fresh ocean air. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre from UBC and although she’s not acting full time she’s still considered a bit of a ham.

Co-owner of the nationally recognized mail order plant company, Botanus, Pamela has enjoyed being a ‘gardening expert’ on television, radio and YouTube. When she’s not wearing her many hats at Botanus she’s either knitting socks, tending her beehives or spoiling her two cats. Flour Garden is her first novel.

Pamela began work on Flour Garden after many 'inspirational' visits to garden clubs as an invited guest speaker. She has a keen eye for interesting personalities and revels in the uniqueness of what makes us all tick. In Flour Garden she offers a veritable smorgasbord of literary treats.

If you love baking, gardening and quirky fun characters then you'll love Flour Garden.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

An enjoyable light read about a group of interesting characters. A struggling gardening club in Vancouver is rejuvenated when a TV personality joins. But Kate the owner of a successful bakery finds this new member brings back some painful memories. About relationships and friendships.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this first novel by Pamela Dangelmaier, in part because it was set in my home city of Vancouver, BC, but also because it was well-written and engaging. The characters are interesting and are drawn with compassion for their mistakes, both past and present. The plot involves the staging of a garden show, and the characters include a garden club of plucky seniors and a baker who has undergone much personal loss but perseveres, supported by her friends.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so refreshing to read a novel that is set in Vancouver with the city being a character all on it's own.

For those who have yet to read this novel, there's so much to look forward to from the cast of quirky characters and their high jinks to the well blended mix of laughter and tears. For the bakers out there, you'll also receive some great baking tips in the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter.

At times, I've wanted to jump into this book and hang with these people.

[Crystal Vu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading Flour Garden and finished it in a weekend! It was so much fun to read. I love how relatable this book is especially with the setting in Vancouver. I remember thinking while reading “man I could really eat a Sour Puss Scone or a BLT brownie right now!” and “Oh I want a bff like George!” I’m also a baking enthusiast so you can imagine my joy at reading about Kate’s Bakes. I think maybe in another life, I’d own a bakery like Kate’s!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY much enjoyed this book by Ms Dangelmaier! Compelling characters with interesting lives that made me enjoy the pages to the very end... Will enjoy reading again...highly recommend this one!

[Reece · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was terribly written and terribly proofread, which was terribly distracting. If what drew you to this book was the fact that it’s set in Vancouver, go read Stanley Park instead. Kate, the MC was so bloody boring and when we finally discover why she doesn’t want to talk to Sophia again, it’s anticlimactic. Then this ridiculous plan of Sophia and Marcie was for Marcie to tell Kate that Sophia was desperate for her job and that’s why she stole and took credit for the cookie recipe. And Kate forgave her. It was just so childish, like literally could be a children’s book plot. Then they made up again because Sophia saved Kate from the oh so predictable fire. Soooo cringey. And plus also Kate’s new best friend is a gay man, how many cliches can this book use? Please, save yourself. The inane details and conversation actually angered me while reading, just get to the point already! AWFUL!

[Sandra Hodgson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title is the best and most suspenseful bit of this novel. There is the germ of a good idea here, with intriguing characters that deserve better copy editing.

It's not the first book I've read where you can discern the outcome before the end of the first chapter but it is one of the worse editing jobs I've encountered. And the errors run throughout the novel dampening enthusiasm for what could have been a comforting, fast read.

There are plot gaps, meant to be suspenseful, that are merely annoying. Characters marching in and out of character, disjointed plot lines, and overly descriptive side tracking passages.
Characters carrying out repetitive actions within a couple of paragraphs (ie., the coffee scene George and Kate p233-234).

Not worth the price of admission.

[Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok and light read but not one I would say you have to read

[Bev · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the many local references -- neighbourhoods, familiar landmarks -- that definitely placed the story in Vancouver. The plot was not gripping but it was an easy read. Sorry, Gail.

[Marni · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful read from one of the owners of Botanus.