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The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin
In the spirit of Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s The Language of Flowers--and with a touch of the magical--The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a spellbinding debut about a wondrously gifted child and the family that she helps to heal.
Sisters Rose and Lily Martin were inseparable when growing up on their family’s Kentucky flower farm yet became distant as adults when Lily found herself unable to deal with the demands of Rose’s unusual daughter. But when Rose becomes ill, Lily is forced to return to the farm and to confront the fears that had driven her away.
Rose’s daughter, ten-year-old Antoinette, has a form of autism that requires constant care and attention. She has never spoken a word, but she has a powerful gift that others would give anything to harness--she can heal with her touch. She brings wilted flowers back to life, makes a neighbor’s tremors disappear, and even changes the course of nature on the flower farm.
Antoinette’s gift, though, comes at a price, since each healing puts her own life in jeopardy. As Rose--the center of her daughter’s life--struggles with her own failing health and Lily confronts her anguished past, the sisters, and the men who love them, come to realize the sacrifices that must be made to keep this very special child safe.
Written with great heart and a deep understanding of what it feels like to be different, The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a novel about what it means to be family and about the lengths to which people will go to protect the ones they love.
“This is the kind of book that invites you home, sits you down at the kitchen table, and feeds you something delicious and homemade. You will want to stay in this world where new relationships bloom out of broken ones, sisters find one another again, and miracles really do occur.” —Tiffany Baker
Sisters Rose and Lily Martin were inseparable when growing up on their family’s Kentucky flower farm yet became distant as adults when Lily found herself unable to deal with the demands of Rose’s unusual daughter. But when Rose becomes ill, Lily is forced to return to the farm and to confront the fears that had driven her away.
Rose’s daughter, ten-year-old Antoinette, has a form of autism that requires constant care and attention. She has never spoken a word, but she has a powerful gift that others would give anything to harness--she can heal with her touch. She brings wilted flowers back to life, makes a neighbor’s tremors disappear, and even changes the course of nature on the flower farm.
Antoinette’s gift, though, comes at a price, since each healing puts her own life in jeopardy. As Rose--the center of her daughter’s life--struggles with her own failing health and Lily confronts her anguished past, the sisters, and the men who love them, come to realize the sacrifices that must be made to keep this very special child safe.
Written with great heart and a deep understanding of what it feels like to be different, The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a novel about what it means to be family and about the lengths to which people will go to protect the ones they love.
“This is the kind of book that invites you home, sits you down at the kitchen table, and feeds you something delicious and homemade. You will want to stay in this world where new relationships bloom out of broken ones, sisters find one another again, and miracles really do occur.” —Tiffany Baker
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews
September 1, 2016
A flower farm in Kentucky, two estranged sisters and a young disabled girl thought to be somewhere on the autistic spectrum, but has this amazing power to heal. Love reading books that contain the meaning and beauty of flowers. My favorite parts were those that contained Antoinette's thoughts, unable to speak she associates melodies. with those she loves.
A light, heartfelt read about sisters, families, illness and what we will do for those we love. A predictable ending, which can be seen almost from the beginning. Also could have done without the back and forth love interests, though their is nothing to object to in any of these characters. They are all likable as is this book, though I think it would have been better if the author had decided what she wanted this book to be. So a good likable book, predictable and quite frankly I am not the ideal reader for this type of book. Much lighter with more romance than I usually take to.
ARc from Netgalley.
A light, heartfelt read about sisters, families, illness and what we will do for those we love. A predictable ending, which can be seen almost from the beginning. Also could have done without the back and forth love interests, though their is nothing to object to in any of these characters. They are all likable as is this book, though I think it would have been better if the author had decided what she wanted this book to be. So a good likable book, predictable and quite frankly I am not the ideal reader for this type of book. Much lighter with more romance than I usually take to.
ARc from Netgalley.
June 25, 2017
While I never expected to enjoy magical realism, I fell hard for Sarah Addison Allen's books a few years ago. They are book comfort food to me. The love, magic, and easy writing in The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin reminded me of SAA in a wonderful way.
A dear book friend, Nita, sent me this book, and she has my gratitude. I read this in less than 24 hours, and I'm sad that it's over. I work with kids who have disabilities, so I quickly wanted to get to know Antoinette. I enjoy gardening, so the Victorian flower meaning references were a wonderful bonus. This is a special heartwarming book about family and forgiveness, differences and disabilities. Nothing too heavy and a well-written escape. I'll definitely be following this author.
2017 Summer Vacation Book #6
A dear book friend, Nita, sent me this book, and she has my gratitude. I read this in less than 24 hours, and I'm sad that it's over. I work with kids who have disabilities, so I quickly wanted to get to know Antoinette. I enjoy gardening, so the Victorian flower meaning references were a wonderful bonus. This is a special heartwarming book about family and forgiveness, differences and disabilities. Nothing too heavy and a well-written escape. I'll definitely be following this author.
2017 Summer Vacation Book #6
October 1, 2016
Eden Farm is a home for broken people. Rose Martin is dying of peripartum congestive heart failure, her sister Lily has an obsessive-compulsive disorder, Seth grew up in with child abuse, Will has lung cancer and Antoinette, Rose’s daughter, suffers from an unusual form of autism. At age 10, she has never spoken and requires constant care. She also has a unique ability. She can restore life and health to other living thing by touching them and tapping into the music of their life force. But this miraculous ability comes with a terrible price.
I was originally skeptical of this story. Some authors, even those with special needs kids of their own, write books where disabled characters are portrayed almost as superheroes or in one case, demigods. It seems to me that making the characters into something that they aren’t is unrealistic and does a disservice to the very people the author is trying to showcase. It took Knipper a while to allay my concerns but she did it convincingly. As the parent of several special needs children, Knipper portrays Antoinette without shirking the heartbreaking challenges she and her caregivers face while still expressing beautifully what a lovely and caring child is locked within Antoinette’s recalcitrant body.
Knipper struggled with how to introduce a supernatural quality to the story while maintaining the realistic portrayal of Antoinette’s autism, ultimately giving Antoinette a synesthetic ability to sense, as music, the life force of living things around her. Synesthesia, a phenomenon in which some people’s cognitive pathways are wired to perceive the world differently than others, is believed to be key to understanding many savant behaviors.
What impressed me most was Knipper’s ability to go inside Antoinette’s head and give voice to a character who has no voice of her own. One of the greatest tragedies of autism is that those who have it are often unable to express what they are thinking or feeling. They are essentially trapped within their bodies which made the parts of the book where readers could experience what Antoinette was unable to share with those she loved.
It is not often that a story can remain engaging without any strong antagonistic characters but this book does a good job of keeping me entertained. My biggest disappointment with the book is that, with all the references made to lavender bread, I never got to taste it. I guess I have to take Rose and Lily’s word that ‘It tastes like love’.
Bottom line: The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a heartwarming story of the power of love and sacrifice. I didn’t expect much going into this story but this debut novelist knocked it out of the park. That’s a pretty good performance for a rookie.
In addition, narrators Cassandra Campbell and Andi Arndt did an excellent job of bringing the audio recording of this book to life.
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star - The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
I was originally skeptical of this story. Some authors, even those with special needs kids of their own, write books where disabled characters are portrayed almost as superheroes or in one case, demigods. It seems to me that making the characters into something that they aren’t is unrealistic and does a disservice to the very people the author is trying to showcase. It took Knipper a while to allay my concerns but she did it convincingly. As the parent of several special needs children, Knipper portrays Antoinette without shirking the heartbreaking challenges she and her caregivers face while still expressing beautifully what a lovely and caring child is locked within Antoinette’s recalcitrant body.
Knipper struggled with how to introduce a supernatural quality to the story while maintaining the realistic portrayal of Antoinette’s autism, ultimately giving Antoinette a synesthetic ability to sense, as music, the life force of living things around her. Synesthesia, a phenomenon in which some people’s cognitive pathways are wired to perceive the world differently than others, is believed to be key to understanding many savant behaviors.
What impressed me most was Knipper’s ability to go inside Antoinette’s head and give voice to a character who has no voice of her own. One of the greatest tragedies of autism is that those who have it are often unable to express what they are thinking or feeling. They are essentially trapped within their bodies which made the parts of the book where readers could experience what Antoinette was unable to share with those she loved.
It is not often that a story can remain engaging without any strong antagonistic characters but this book does a good job of keeping me entertained. My biggest disappointment with the book is that, with all the references made to lavender bread, I never got to taste it. I guess I have to take Rose and Lily’s word that ‘It tastes like love’.
Bottom line: The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a heartwarming story of the power of love and sacrifice. I didn’t expect much going into this story but this debut novelist knocked it out of the park. That’s a pretty good performance for a rookie.
In addition, narrators Cassandra Campbell and Andi Arndt did an excellent job of bringing the audio recording of this book to life.
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star - The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
December 21, 2016
“You may be as different as the sun and the moon, but the same blood flows through both your hearts. You need her, as she needs you...”
----George R.R. Martin
Stephanie Knipper, an American author, pens her debut contemporary fiction, The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin the revolves around the story of two estranged sisters and the daughter of the elder sister, who is a special child with peculiar powers to heal the diseases and ailments of humans just by touching them, but this girl's mother is dying and if the girl tries to save her mother, she would die too, as every time she uses her power, she dies little from the inside. And now all it requires for the elder sister to reconcile with her little sister but the past is hard to bring back to the present.
Synopsis:
Sisters Rose and Lily Martin were inseparable when they were kids. As adults, they’ve been estranged for years, until circumstances force them to come together to protect Rose’s daughter. Ten-year-old Antoinette has a severe form of autism that requires constant care and attention. She has never spoken a word, but she has a powerful gift that others would give anything to harness: she can heal things with her touch. She brings wilted flowers back to life, makes a neighbor’s tremors disappear, changes the course of nature on the Kentucky flower farm where she and her mother live.
Antoinette’s gift, though, puts her own life in danger, as each healing comes with an increasingly deadly price. As Rose—the center of her daughter’s life—struggles with her own failing health, and Lily confronts her anguished past, they, and the men who love them, come to realize the sacrifices that must be made to keep this very special child safe.
Written with great heart and a deep understanding of what it feels like to be “different,” The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a novel about the lengths to which people will go to protect the ones they love.
Antoinette Martin, a barely 10 years old girl, is happy and free in her farm of flowers under the care and love of her mother, Rose, whose younger estranged sister, Lily, lives in a different sister following a fallout after the death of Rose and Lily's parents. Now that Rose is dying gradually due to a terminal heart disease, she must reconcile with Lily so that after her death, Antoinette's care will be taken by Lily and by Lily's childhood flame and their next-door-neighbor's son, Seth. Lily, on the other hand, does not want to open the door to her buried past and especially with Seth who left her heart broken and now that she has another next-door-neighbor-cum-admirer named Will, Lily is reluctant to go back. But can the sisters forgive one another? And what will become of the little girl with special powers?
This is a fascinating story that only smells good but also feels good after indulgence. The beauty and charm of the backdrop and the huge field of flowers with their myriad of smells, colors and nature will take the readers breaths away. But most importantly, the story will evoke the sense and importance of family into the hearts of the readers. Even though there is very less fantasy and more family drama, especially more love drama, yet somehow the emotions will drag the readers into its flow. Although the story is not that addictive enough to keep the readers glued to the pages of this book, still the story of the two sisters, especially the special girl will keep the readers' hearts engaged into it.
The author's writing style is eloquent and the emotions are well synced with the story's flow. The readers will find it easy to comprehend with the dialogues from the book which are laced with sentiments thereby making them feel poignant from the readers' perspectives. The pace is slow but steady even though there are not much layers to keep the readers interested, as the little's girls healing powers and her inner voice will make the readers fall for her.
The characters from this book are good but not brilliant enough to make the readers feel for their lasting impression. The main character, Antoinette, no matter how much her cuteness and her mute thoughts enthrall the readers hearts but her less presence in the story line mars and disappoints the readers gravely. Antoinette is a fantastical character whose mystical powers to heal the broken humans is amazing, along with her 10-year old thoughts and inner voices that only beg for immense love for her mother, Seth and gradually for her aunt, Lily. Lily on the other hand is a not so striking character and her tug-of-war from Seth to Will will at times feel monotonous for the readers. Rose too is a powerful character, whose motherly as well as sisterly love makes her look real in the eyes of the readers.
In a nutshell, this is an entrancing read that is filled with passion, love, magic and human disability that is not only depicted in a realistic way but is also projected with lots of sensitivity.
Verdict: A promising debut about family, magical powers and lots of love.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Stephanie Knipper, for giving me an opportunity to read and review her book.
----George R.R. Martin
Stephanie Knipper, an American author, pens her debut contemporary fiction, The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin the revolves around the story of two estranged sisters and the daughter of the elder sister, who is a special child with peculiar powers to heal the diseases and ailments of humans just by touching them, but this girl's mother is dying and if the girl tries to save her mother, she would die too, as every time she uses her power, she dies little from the inside. And now all it requires for the elder sister to reconcile with her little sister but the past is hard to bring back to the present.
Synopsis:
Sisters Rose and Lily Martin were inseparable when they were kids. As adults, they’ve been estranged for years, until circumstances force them to come together to protect Rose’s daughter. Ten-year-old Antoinette has a severe form of autism that requires constant care and attention. She has never spoken a word, but she has a powerful gift that others would give anything to harness: she can heal things with her touch. She brings wilted flowers back to life, makes a neighbor’s tremors disappear, changes the course of nature on the Kentucky flower farm where she and her mother live.
Antoinette’s gift, though, puts her own life in danger, as each healing comes with an increasingly deadly price. As Rose—the center of her daughter’s life—struggles with her own failing health, and Lily confronts her anguished past, they, and the men who love them, come to realize the sacrifices that must be made to keep this very special child safe.
Written with great heart and a deep understanding of what it feels like to be “different,” The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a novel about the lengths to which people will go to protect the ones they love.
Antoinette Martin, a barely 10 years old girl, is happy and free in her farm of flowers under the care and love of her mother, Rose, whose younger estranged sister, Lily, lives in a different sister following a fallout after the death of Rose and Lily's parents. Now that Rose is dying gradually due to a terminal heart disease, she must reconcile with Lily so that after her death, Antoinette's care will be taken by Lily and by Lily's childhood flame and their next-door-neighbor's son, Seth. Lily, on the other hand, does not want to open the door to her buried past and especially with Seth who left her heart broken and now that she has another next-door-neighbor-cum-admirer named Will, Lily is reluctant to go back. But can the sisters forgive one another? And what will become of the little girl with special powers?
This is a fascinating story that only smells good but also feels good after indulgence. The beauty and charm of the backdrop and the huge field of flowers with their myriad of smells, colors and nature will take the readers breaths away. But most importantly, the story will evoke the sense and importance of family into the hearts of the readers. Even though there is very less fantasy and more family drama, especially more love drama, yet somehow the emotions will drag the readers into its flow. Although the story is not that addictive enough to keep the readers glued to the pages of this book, still the story of the two sisters, especially the special girl will keep the readers' hearts engaged into it.
The author's writing style is eloquent and the emotions are well synced with the story's flow. The readers will find it easy to comprehend with the dialogues from the book which are laced with sentiments thereby making them feel poignant from the readers' perspectives. The pace is slow but steady even though there are not much layers to keep the readers interested, as the little's girls healing powers and her inner voice will make the readers fall for her.
The characters from this book are good but not brilliant enough to make the readers feel for their lasting impression. The main character, Antoinette, no matter how much her cuteness and her mute thoughts enthrall the readers hearts but her less presence in the story line mars and disappoints the readers gravely. Antoinette is a fantastical character whose mystical powers to heal the broken humans is amazing, along with her 10-year old thoughts and inner voices that only beg for immense love for her mother, Seth and gradually for her aunt, Lily. Lily on the other hand is a not so striking character and her tug-of-war from Seth to Will will at times feel monotonous for the readers. Rose too is a powerful character, whose motherly as well as sisterly love makes her look real in the eyes of the readers.
In a nutshell, this is an entrancing read that is filled with passion, love, magic and human disability that is not only depicted in a realistic way but is also projected with lots of sensitivity.
Verdict: A promising debut about family, magical powers and lots of love.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Stephanie Knipper, for giving me an opportunity to read and review her book.
February 17, 2017
Life is not a straight line. It's a spiderweb that twists and tangles. We crawl along our strands until we touch the people who are meant to be in our lives. The strands can knot, as mine did with Lily's, but they don't break, and the unexpected paths are often the best ones.
---
This book broke my heart in so many ways, some subtle and some not. It was never over-the-top or false, I wanted to jump in and protect every character in this from hurt and harm.
Even though I couldn't relate to what they were all going through, I understood where they were coming from. I had that feeling of helplessness along with Rose and shared Antoinette's frustration...
Antoinette was such a beautiful soul... she had me smiling and laughing a few times during the story. Her love for her mother, Seth, the flowers... it was beautiful. She can't speak, but that doesn't mean she doesn't understand in her own way.
I identified with Lily in the sense of feeling like an outsider sometimes... she would have been the kind of kid I would have wanted to befriend in school and protect her like Seth did.
Seth's story was heartbreaking in its own way too...
Antoinette's ability was fascinating. It wasn't something like Wolverine's healing factor, but it wasn't anything as simple as what part of the description may have you think, and the consequences of what she does aren't what they appear either.
I loved how Miss Kipper wrote it, we found out little by little along with everyone involved what is going on, trying to puzzle it out with them.
The writing in here is just beautiful, uncomplicated and genuine. It was easy to get attached and fall in love with these people and the surroundings. The surreal quality of some of it adds an extra 'something' and blends in seamlessly with everything else.
Seth and Will: Sort of a love triangle but not really... it wasn't really a mystery for me what would happen but both guys and the whole situation was well done. Nothing in the story was overwhelmed or put on the back burner.
There was one thing in the end that didn't quite sit right with me... it was a powerful moment in a few different ways but it also seemed kind of out of the blue
That was the only issue I had with the book.
Would recommend, a wonderful debut novel.
---
This book broke my heart in so many ways, some subtle and some not. It was never over-the-top or false, I wanted to jump in and protect every character in this from hurt and harm.
Even though I couldn't relate to what they were all going through, I understood where they were coming from. I had that feeling of helplessness along with Rose and shared Antoinette's frustration...
Antoinette was such a beautiful soul... she had me smiling and laughing a few times during the story. Her love for her mother, Seth, the flowers... it was beautiful. She can't speak, but that doesn't mean she doesn't understand in her own way.
I identified with Lily in the sense of feeling like an outsider sometimes... she would have been the kind of kid I would have wanted to befriend in school and protect her like Seth did.
Seth's story was heartbreaking in its own way too...
Antoinette's ability was fascinating. It wasn't something like Wolverine's healing factor, but it wasn't anything as simple as what part of the description may have you think, and the consequences of what she does aren't what they appear either.
I loved how Miss Kipper wrote it, we found out little by little along with everyone involved what is going on, trying to puzzle it out with them.
The writing in here is just beautiful, uncomplicated and genuine. It was easy to get attached and fall in love with these people and the surroundings. The surreal quality of some of it adds an extra 'something' and blends in seamlessly with everything else.
Seth and Will: Sort of a love triangle but not really... it wasn't really a mystery for me what would happen but both guys and the whole situation was well done. Nothing in the story was overwhelmed or put on the back burner.
There was one thing in the end that didn't quite sit right with me... it was a powerful moment in a few different ways but it also seemed kind of out of the blue
That was the only issue I had with the book.
Would recommend, a wonderful debut novel.
December 12, 2016
Not since “Love Anthony” has a book moved me as much as this novel did. Heart-wrenching, charming and completely addictive, “The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin” by Stephanie Knipper delighted me, surprised me and completely took me under its spell.
“Miracles” starts with two estranged sisters, Rose and Lily, who are once again reunited under tragic circumstances. Rose’s ten year old daughter, Antoinette, is non-verbal and has symptoms closely resembling autism, although no doctor is confident enough to give that label to a young girl who is clearly emotionally attached to her mother. Antoinette has other special powers too, special powers that could very well put her own life at risk, and both Rose and Lily stand united to protect this special child from the outside world.
This novel has such passionate and real characters, each so different, yet so endearing. Antoinette is a fascinating little sprite of a character and I loved every minute with her. Ms. Knipper has a child with severe disabilities and this is evident in her portrayal of Antoinette, as the little girl is not a subject of pity, but a young, explorative and questioning young girl who has the same inner desires as all children. The story is told from varying viewpoints- Lily, Rose and Antoinette- and is mostly set in the present tense, although relevant plot points from the past are told to us through Rose’s journal.
The ending of this novel was so shockingly bittersweet, that I almost expected an extra page to appear with the real ending- I loved the character of Will, and the way his storyline ended just made me love him more. I would’ve loved to have seen an alternate ending that did not end in a sad way, but this novel was not set up that way, and in truth, any other ending would have been unbelievable and far-fetched, and would’ve changed the way I reviewed this novel.
The challenges Rose faces as she raises her daughter alone are flowing with realism, however her passionate, abandon-all-hope love for her daughter shines a positive light. I loved the little glimpses into Antoinette’s mind, as she communicates with those she loves in her own unique ways.
This novel is uplifting, addictive, powerful and true. No better words could I give this novel- Ms. Knipper knocked my socks off with this one.
“Miracles” starts with two estranged sisters, Rose and Lily, who are once again reunited under tragic circumstances. Rose’s ten year old daughter, Antoinette, is non-verbal and has symptoms closely resembling autism, although no doctor is confident enough to give that label to a young girl who is clearly emotionally attached to her mother. Antoinette has other special powers too, special powers that could very well put her own life at risk, and both Rose and Lily stand united to protect this special child from the outside world.
This novel has such passionate and real characters, each so different, yet so endearing. Antoinette is a fascinating little sprite of a character and I loved every minute with her. Ms. Knipper has a child with severe disabilities and this is evident in her portrayal of Antoinette, as the little girl is not a subject of pity, but a young, explorative and questioning young girl who has the same inner desires as all children. The story is told from varying viewpoints- Lily, Rose and Antoinette- and is mostly set in the present tense, although relevant plot points from the past are told to us through Rose’s journal.
The ending of this novel was so shockingly bittersweet, that I almost expected an extra page to appear with the real ending- I loved the character of Will, and the way his storyline ended just made me love him more. I would’ve loved to have seen an alternate ending that did not end in a sad way, but this novel was not set up that way, and in truth, any other ending would have been unbelievable and far-fetched, and would’ve changed the way I reviewed this novel.
The challenges Rose faces as she raises her daughter alone are flowing with realism, however her passionate, abandon-all-hope love for her daughter shines a positive light. I loved the little glimpses into Antoinette’s mind, as she communicates with those she loves in her own unique ways.
This novel is uplifting, addictive, powerful and true. No better words could I give this novel- Ms. Knipper knocked my socks off with this one.
March 19, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was really a great story. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started listening to this audiobook but I soon found myself hooked. The story touched on so many difficult topics and everything worked together in a way that I wouldn't have expected. I really liked that the story was told from multiple points of view and I thought that each perspective really added an important piece to the overall puzzle. I really ended up enjoying this book.
This is a book that is really about a lot of things. It is a book that tells the story of two sisters, Lily and Rose, mending their relationship. Lily and Rose have seen very little of each other in the years leading up to the start of the book but when Rose needs Lily, she comes to help. That is just one part of the story. This book also focuses on a little girl with disabilities who has a special gift.
Antoinette was a great character. She is nonverbal but she still says so much. She is her mother's world and the feeling is mutual. She is a caring child that doesn't want to see anyone or anything ill or in pain. She is willing to do anything she can to help take care of those that she loves. Unfortunately, Antoinette's gift comes with a price that those who love her work to protect her from.
I loved how so many different elements came together to tell this story. I loved the parts from Rose's point of view that really demonstrated her love for Antoinette. Lily's struggle to fit in and the things she struggles with in her life every day was very well told. Seth and Will both added to the story with their actions in the present and they both had really interesting pasts. I enjoyed the magical realism elements that helped to tell this story.
I loved the narration. I have listened to Andi Arndt several times in the past and have always enjoyed her work. This was the first time that I have listened to Cassandra Campbell and I thoroughly enjoyed the parts of the book that she narrated. I think that using two narrators really added to the impact of the story. Andi Arndt did narrate the bulk of the story but they both did an equally wonderful job. This was an emotional story and both narrators really did a great job expressing a lot of strong feelings.
I would recommend this book to others. This is the first book by Stephanie Knipper that I have read and I am really impressed by her ability to write wonderful characters dealing with a lot of difficult issues. I would definitely like to read from this author in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from HighBridge Audio via LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this story. The narration was great. I really liked the little bit of magic that made its way into the story.
This was really a great story. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started listening to this audiobook but I soon found myself hooked. The story touched on so many difficult topics and everything worked together in a way that I wouldn't have expected. I really liked that the story was told from multiple points of view and I thought that each perspective really added an important piece to the overall puzzle. I really ended up enjoying this book.
This is a book that is really about a lot of things. It is a book that tells the story of two sisters, Lily and Rose, mending their relationship. Lily and Rose have seen very little of each other in the years leading up to the start of the book but when Rose needs Lily, she comes to help. That is just one part of the story. This book also focuses on a little girl with disabilities who has a special gift.
Antoinette was a great character. She is nonverbal but she still says so much. She is her mother's world and the feeling is mutual. She is a caring child that doesn't want to see anyone or anything ill or in pain. She is willing to do anything she can to help take care of those that she loves. Unfortunately, Antoinette's gift comes with a price that those who love her work to protect her from.
I loved how so many different elements came together to tell this story. I loved the parts from Rose's point of view that really demonstrated her love for Antoinette. Lily's struggle to fit in and the things she struggles with in her life every day was very well told. Seth and Will both added to the story with their actions in the present and they both had really interesting pasts. I enjoyed the magical realism elements that helped to tell this story.
I loved the narration. I have listened to Andi Arndt several times in the past and have always enjoyed her work. This was the first time that I have listened to Cassandra Campbell and I thoroughly enjoyed the parts of the book that she narrated. I think that using two narrators really added to the impact of the story. Andi Arndt did narrate the bulk of the story but they both did an equally wonderful job. This was an emotional story and both narrators really did a great job expressing a lot of strong feelings.
I would recommend this book to others. This is the first book by Stephanie Knipper that I have read and I am really impressed by her ability to write wonderful characters dealing with a lot of difficult issues. I would definitely like to read from this author in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from HighBridge Audio via LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this story. The narration was great. I really liked the little bit of magic that made its way into the story.
August 2, 2017
If you enjoy light, magical realism, you'll enjoy The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin. For some reason, I tend to 'read with the seasons' and light reads (like my food choices) and magical realism seem to be the genre of choice for the Summer.
This is a sweet story of family, disabilities, love, forgiveness, with a little magic and floral meanings thrown in. If you enjoy Sarah Addison Allen, I predict you'll like this one. Maybe not quite as well written as SAA, but this was good for a debut novel.
3.5⭐️
This is a sweet story of family, disabilities, love, forgiveness, with a little magic and floral meanings thrown in. If you enjoy Sarah Addison Allen, I predict you'll like this one. Maybe not quite as well written as SAA, but this was good for a debut novel.
3.5⭐️
April 28, 2020
2.5 stars
August 5, 2016
I began this book with a mixture of hope and a little dread. See, I happen to know the author and her family, and would never do her the disservice of writing a less than authentic review. Not that I expected her writing to be anything but stellar, but because I am by nature a fan of pulp noir and gritty criminal back alley tales unapproved for most audiences.
"Reader discretion advised."
So, upon reading the synopsis, I wondered whether this particular title would suit my tastes, not having read anything much softer than Charlie Huston for about 10 years now.
As I dove in and began to engage with the characters, it became apparent that there was something very intelligent, complex and very well crafted going on here. Tensions between characters raised knots in my shoulders, laughs shared left me reminiscing hours later as though I had shared in the joke. Quirks of one character in particular were so well illustrated that it actually triggered my own very similar tendencies.
In regards to the story, the over arching theme of dedication to family and to one another left me wanting more of the same in my own life.
As turmoil escalated and the finer points of the plot were revealed, I found myself emotionally engaged to the point of outburst! I'm not a terribly emotional person, but I must admit I fought back tears as the story resolved and fares were revealed.
This is a rich story, packed with detail and meaning. The beauty of the writing, I think, is that it seemed to grab me by the hands and swing me around into the story line. I found myself wanting to take notes and look up each reference I suspected had a deeper meaning.
It made me look a little closer at those around me; to not be as quick to judge. It made me want to reach out and ask questions, particularly regarding the experience of those with special needs; to understand. To not dismiss these precious people so readily based on my "normal" or how I think they should behave. To realize that perhaps the body I see isn't much more than a malfunctioning prison to a sentient human being.
I couldn't make a more heart felt recommendation for this debut effort from Stephanie Knipper.
I'm excited to know she has more irons in her literary fire!
"Reader discretion advised."
So, upon reading the synopsis, I wondered whether this particular title would suit my tastes, not having read anything much softer than Charlie Huston for about 10 years now.
As I dove in and began to engage with the characters, it became apparent that there was something very intelligent, complex and very well crafted going on here. Tensions between characters raised knots in my shoulders, laughs shared left me reminiscing hours later as though I had shared in the joke. Quirks of one character in particular were so well illustrated that it actually triggered my own very similar tendencies.
In regards to the story, the over arching theme of dedication to family and to one another left me wanting more of the same in my own life.
As turmoil escalated and the finer points of the plot were revealed, I found myself emotionally engaged to the point of outburst! I'm not a terribly emotional person, but I must admit I fought back tears as the story resolved and fares were revealed.
This is a rich story, packed with detail and meaning. The beauty of the writing, I think, is that it seemed to grab me by the hands and swing me around into the story line. I found myself wanting to take notes and look up each reference I suspected had a deeper meaning.
It made me look a little closer at those around me; to not be as quick to judge. It made me want to reach out and ask questions, particularly regarding the experience of those with special needs; to understand. To not dismiss these precious people so readily based on my "normal" or how I think they should behave. To realize that perhaps the body I see isn't much more than a malfunctioning prison to a sentient human being.
I couldn't make a more heart felt recommendation for this debut effort from Stephanie Knipper.
I'm excited to know she has more irons in her literary fire!
February 4, 2017
~*Full review notes on The Bent Bookworm!*~
Feels :
The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a sweet, homey book that easily transported me back to my childhood and teen years growing up in Ohio. I immediately loved the sisters Rose and Lily and TOTALLY identified with Rose’s stubbornness and heartache in not calling her sister years earlier. Antoinette is clearly a difficult but lovable child and so many times I just wanted to scoop her up and hug her. The slow, off-the-main-plot romance was also sweet…even if I wasn’t particularly fond of how this grown-up version of a love triangle was handled, in the end.
Characters :
The sisters Rose and Lily along with Rose’s daughter Antoinette, are the key players in this story. The story is told in turns from the POV of Lily, Antoinette, and Rose’s diary. It works really well – I was surprised! Antoinette’s father disappeared before she was born and Rose has devoted herself entirely to her daughter. Lily hasn’t had a serious relationship since the-boy-next-door, Seth, broke up with her years before. Even if her best friend is a guy and they’ve been through a lot together. The other side characters that populate small town Kentucky are so real they almost walk out of the pages. I love them all. I wish I could be the sister’s neighbor.
Antoinette is a dear thing, even if I can imagine how frustrating and difficult it would be to try to be her mother or guardian. Her autism is one that baffles even the doctors, as she both shows signs of severe autism and breaks all the “rules” regarding it.
Plot :
Rose is dying. As a last resort, she calls her estranged sister and begs her to come home and help care for Antoinette and their family’s flower farm in Kentucky.
The story centers on Antoinette, even though she never says a word. Her sections of the book are VERY well done. Of course we don’t know for sure how a non-verbal child would describe the world around them, Knipper’s depiction is vivid and sharp without being condescending. Her personal experience with special needs children is evident. Antoinette never feels “wrong,” or like someone to be pitied. She just is, and as she is, she has a lot to offer the world if only people would look past their first impression.
Now, here’s where I have a slight issue. When I requested this book, I guessed it would be magical realism. Which was spot on. However, I’m not really okay with Antoinette’s disabilities being written off as a side effect to her magical ability to heal. At times it seemed like it was more “in addition to” her autism, she could heal things – which is fine and creative and all that. But at other times it seemed like she was different because she could heal things. The difference is small but it’s a lot in terms of how you look at people with impairments. The overall tone is one of deepest respect and love for Antoinette (and by extension, anyone with differences), as well as understanding of and for her, but that point bothered me a little.
I really liked that Lily also has signs of a disorder – she’s very high-functioning, so as an adult she copes and hides it well – but it’s there all the same and as a child she was always the odd one. I loved that so much. I love that it gave her a means to connect with Antoinette, I love that she didn’t grow out of it or magically become cured by coming home.
Anyway, as far as the story arch goes…it was a beautiful story. It’s not very fast-paced (very in line with small town Kentucky), but it’s lovely. I felt like I was walking the rows of flowers with the characters, and I was sure I could smell lavender bread at one point. The resolution was NOT what I expected though…and I really wasn’t pleased with it. I understand that the book is centered around the idea of unexplained abilities, but up until the very end it was still very believable. The ending was just too convenient for my taste, but if you like happy endings you will enjoy it immensely.
There is a little bit of romance – even a grown-up, mellow version of a love triangle – but it works. It’s sweet and a fireflies-in-July type of warm and fuzzy. It’s believable and not over the top. I didn’t like the way it was wrapped up, particularly…well, I was happy with who ended up together but not how it ALL ended.
Setting/Description :
I grew up in Ohio/Virginia. This little town, the farm, and the people, are as familiar to me as my own name. Stephanie Knipper has done an amazing job last bringing this little place to life. I really felt very, very homesick as I read.
Rating/Thoughts :
I’m giving 4/5 stars. Overall this is a lovely story that I would highly recommend for a rainy afternoon and evening while drinking a cup of tea. There’s nothing drastic in it, nothing scary…it’s a very cozy book, but it still managed to rend my heart. I hope Stephanie Knipper writes more books, I would definitely give anything she wrote a chance. I’m actually very surprised this book doesn’t have more reviews!
Many thanks to the publisher and LibraryThing for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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Feels :
The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a sweet, homey book that easily transported me back to my childhood and teen years growing up in Ohio. I immediately loved the sisters Rose and Lily and TOTALLY identified with Rose’s stubbornness and heartache in not calling her sister years earlier. Antoinette is clearly a difficult but lovable child and so many times I just wanted to scoop her up and hug her. The slow, off-the-main-plot romance was also sweet…even if I wasn’t particularly fond of how this grown-up version of a love triangle was handled, in the end.
Characters :
The sisters Rose and Lily along with Rose’s daughter Antoinette, are the key players in this story. The story is told in turns from the POV of Lily, Antoinette, and Rose’s diary. It works really well – I was surprised! Antoinette’s father disappeared before she was born and Rose has devoted herself entirely to her daughter. Lily hasn’t had a serious relationship since the-boy-next-door, Seth, broke up with her years before. Even if her best friend is a guy and they’ve been through a lot together. The other side characters that populate small town Kentucky are so real they almost walk out of the pages. I love them all. I wish I could be the sister’s neighbor.
Antoinette is a dear thing, even if I can imagine how frustrating and difficult it would be to try to be her mother or guardian. Her autism is one that baffles even the doctors, as she both shows signs of severe autism and breaks all the “rules” regarding it.
Plot :
Rose is dying. As a last resort, she calls her estranged sister and begs her to come home and help care for Antoinette and their family’s flower farm in Kentucky.
The story centers on Antoinette, even though she never says a word. Her sections of the book are VERY well done. Of course we don’t know for sure how a non-verbal child would describe the world around them, Knipper’s depiction is vivid and sharp without being condescending. Her personal experience with special needs children is evident. Antoinette never feels “wrong,” or like someone to be pitied. She just is, and as she is, she has a lot to offer the world if only people would look past their first impression.
Now, here’s where I have a slight issue. When I requested this book, I guessed it would be magical realism. Which was spot on. However, I’m not really okay with Antoinette’s disabilities being written off as a side effect to her magical ability to heal. At times it seemed like it was more “in addition to” her autism, she could heal things – which is fine and creative and all that. But at other times it seemed like she was different because she could heal things. The difference is small but it’s a lot in terms of how you look at people with impairments. The overall tone is one of deepest respect and love for Antoinette (and by extension, anyone with differences), as well as understanding of and for her, but that point bothered me a little.
I really liked that Lily also has signs of a disorder – she’s very high-functioning, so as an adult she copes and hides it well – but it’s there all the same and as a child she was always the odd one. I loved that so much. I love that it gave her a means to connect with Antoinette, I love that she didn’t grow out of it or magically become cured by coming home.
Anyway, as far as the story arch goes…it was a beautiful story. It’s not very fast-paced (very in line with small town Kentucky), but it’s lovely. I felt like I was walking the rows of flowers with the characters, and I was sure I could smell lavender bread at one point. The resolution was NOT what I expected though…and I really wasn’t pleased with it. I understand that the book is centered around the idea of unexplained abilities, but up until the very end it was still very believable. The ending was just too convenient for my taste, but if you like happy endings you will enjoy it immensely.
There is a little bit of romance – even a grown-up, mellow version of a love triangle – but it works. It’s sweet and a fireflies-in-July type of warm and fuzzy. It’s believable and not over the top. I didn’t like the way it was wrapped up, particularly…well, I was happy with who ended up together but not how it ALL ended.
Setting/Description :
I grew up in Ohio/Virginia. This little town, the farm, and the people, are as familiar to me as my own name. Stephanie Knipper has done an amazing job last bringing this little place to life. I really felt very, very homesick as I read.
Rating/Thoughts :
I’m giving 4/5 stars. Overall this is a lovely story that I would highly recommend for a rainy afternoon and evening while drinking a cup of tea. There’s nothing drastic in it, nothing scary…it’s a very cozy book, but it still managed to rend my heart. I hope Stephanie Knipper writes more books, I would definitely give anything she wrote a chance. I’m actually very surprised this book doesn’t have more reviews!
Many thanks to the publisher and LibraryThing for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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February 5, 2017
I was pretty thoroughly underwhelmed by this book.
Part of it might be because while I was reading this book (at home) I was also listening to the audiobook "Elizabeth Is Missing (in my car, to and from work). That book maybe wasn't the seat if the pants thriller its cover wanted you to believe, but the portrayal of the narrator as an elderly woman with dementia was incredible. I mean seriously incredible. By contrast Antoinette's "autism, but not really autism because she shows affection" and Lily's counting obsession really fell flat. In one book I felt like I was living inside her head, in this book I felt like the author had done some research, maybe read a few books, but really at heart didn't understand what it's like to *live* with these issues.
But even beyond that, I felt like this book wanted to be a bunch of different stories: a coming home story, a story about forgiveness, a story about lost love being found, a story about ultimate sacrifice, etc., and ultimately just had too many things going on.
And it was predictable. The mother who would do anything for her daughter? Check. The boy back home that is always there, has a special bond with the child, comes from a troubled past that he has overcome? Check. The man who is the third in the romantic triangle--charming and crazy in love but always coming up short? Check. The minor character who wants to use the miracle child for his own gain? Check.
Yeah, I've read this story before. Yawn.
I hate when a book has this cool of a title and this interesting sounding of a premise and just disappoints.
At least it was a very quick read.
Part of it might be because while I was reading this book (at home) I was also listening to the audiobook "Elizabeth Is Missing (in my car, to and from work). That book maybe wasn't the seat if the pants thriller its cover wanted you to believe, but the portrayal of the narrator as an elderly woman with dementia was incredible. I mean seriously incredible. By contrast Antoinette's "autism, but not really autism because she shows affection" and Lily's counting obsession really fell flat. In one book I felt like I was living inside her head, in this book I felt like the author had done some research, maybe read a few books, but really at heart didn't understand what it's like to *live* with these issues.
But even beyond that, I felt like this book wanted to be a bunch of different stories: a coming home story, a story about forgiveness, a story about lost love being found, a story about ultimate sacrifice, etc., and ultimately just had too many things going on.
And it was predictable. The mother who would do anything for her daughter? Check. The boy back home that is always there, has a special bond with the child, comes from a troubled past that he has overcome? Check. The man who is the third in the romantic triangle--charming and crazy in love but always coming up short? Check. The minor character who wants to use the miracle child for his own gain? Check.
Yeah, I've read this story before. Yawn.
I hate when a book has this cool of a title and this interesting sounding of a premise and just disappoints.
At least it was a very quick read.
September 13, 2016
This touching and beautifully written story will certainly bring a tear to your eye. Antoinette is a special little girl. She has the ability to heal. Although autistic and at times difficult she is loved by everyone especially her mother who unfortunately is very ill. Knowing that her health is failing Rose calls upon her estranged sister, Lily, to come home in hopes that Lily will get to know Antoinette and take care of her when Rose dies. I know this sounds sad but there is so much love and hope in the story that the sadness is overlooked. This is usually not my type of book but I was hooked and fell in love with Antoinette. Peculiar but interesting debut by Knipper.
January 2, 2018
I enjoyed this book a lot! I felt like you could actually feel Antoinette’s and Lily’s emotions the most. The end was a little unexpected for me but I think overall the book was well written and had my attention and interest all the way through!
April 3, 2017
I listened to this on audible and I have to say that it was the best narration that I have listened to in 2016! Beautiful heart rendering story full of magic and love!
July 24, 2017
"I percorsi inattesi spesso sono i migliori."
La bambina che ascoltava i fiori racconta la storia di Lily, una giovane donna che da ormai 10 anni ha rotto ogni rapporto con la sorella e la nipote, l'unica famiglia che le è rimasta dopo la morte dei genitori. Adesso Lily è costretta a tornare a casa perchè sua sorella Rose è malata, non le resta molto tempo da vivere, ed ha bisogno di qualcuno che si prenda cura della figlia Antoinette. Antoinette è una bambina particolare, nonostante abbia 10 anni non parla e ha gravi problemi fisici. Prendersi cura di lei per Lily sarà una vera sfida, fino a quando non capirà che Antoinette le somiglia molto più di quel che crede ed ha un dono straordinario che va protetto ad ogni costo.
La storia raccontata in questo romanzo si preannunciava originale e particolarmente emozionante, purtroppo ci sono stati vari elementi che non mi sono piaciuti particolarmente e che hanno reso la lettura meno entusiasmante di quel che credevo.
Quando Lily torna a casa dopo 10 anni per assistere la sorella e la nipote, capisce che è scappata per troppo tempo dalle sue responsabilità. Riallacciare i rapporti con Rose, ma sopratutto imparare a conoscere Antoinette e a prendersi cura di lei, per Lily sarà una vera sfida. La scoperta del dono che Antoinette possiede la porterà a rivalutare le sue decisioni passate e le farà trovare il modo di farsi conoscere e amare dalla bambina.
Lo stile della Knipper è molto scorrevole e semplice da leggere. La narrazione si divide tra il presente e delle pagine di diario scritte da Rose in cui ci viene narrata anche parte della storia passata delle due sorelle. Il racconto si lascia leggere facilmente ma credo che alla storia manchi un po' di realismo; è vero che è una storia che parla di un dono che ha qualcosa di soprannaturale, ma i personaggi, la storia in sè e anche certe situazioni descritte mancano di realismo e risultano poco credibili.
Ho trovato anche i personaggi poco interessanti, Lily e Rose non mi sono piaciute particolarmente nè mi è piaciuto Seth, l'interesse amoroso di Lily. Gli unici che ho davvero apprezzato sono Antoinette, questa bambina così speciale, e Will, il migliore amico di Lily. Anche il finale stesso mi ha deluso, mi aspettavo qualcosa di totalmente diverso.
La storia aveva delle ottime basi che si sono andate un po' a perdere nel corso del romanzo. Qualche pagina in meno e un tocco di realismo in più avrebbero sicuramente dato alla storia un tocco in più che me l'avrebbe fatta apprezzare maggiormente.
La bambina che ascoltava i fiori racconta la storia di Lily, una giovane donna che da ormai 10 anni ha rotto ogni rapporto con la sorella e la nipote, l'unica famiglia che le è rimasta dopo la morte dei genitori. Adesso Lily è costretta a tornare a casa perchè sua sorella Rose è malata, non le resta molto tempo da vivere, ed ha bisogno di qualcuno che si prenda cura della figlia Antoinette. Antoinette è una bambina particolare, nonostante abbia 10 anni non parla e ha gravi problemi fisici. Prendersi cura di lei per Lily sarà una vera sfida, fino a quando non capirà che Antoinette le somiglia molto più di quel che crede ed ha un dono straordinario che va protetto ad ogni costo.
La storia raccontata in questo romanzo si preannunciava originale e particolarmente emozionante, purtroppo ci sono stati vari elementi che non mi sono piaciuti particolarmente e che hanno reso la lettura meno entusiasmante di quel che credevo.
Quando Lily torna a casa dopo 10 anni per assistere la sorella e la nipote, capisce che è scappata per troppo tempo dalle sue responsabilità. Riallacciare i rapporti con Rose, ma sopratutto imparare a conoscere Antoinette e a prendersi cura di lei, per Lily sarà una vera sfida. La scoperta del dono che Antoinette possiede la porterà a rivalutare le sue decisioni passate e le farà trovare il modo di farsi conoscere e amare dalla bambina.
Lo stile della Knipper è molto scorrevole e semplice da leggere. La narrazione si divide tra il presente e delle pagine di diario scritte da Rose in cui ci viene narrata anche parte della storia passata delle due sorelle. Il racconto si lascia leggere facilmente ma credo che alla storia manchi un po' di realismo; è vero che è una storia che parla di un dono che ha qualcosa di soprannaturale, ma i personaggi, la storia in sè e anche certe situazioni descritte mancano di realismo e risultano poco credibili.
Ho trovato anche i personaggi poco interessanti, Lily e Rose non mi sono piaciute particolarmente nè mi è piaciuto Seth, l'interesse amoroso di Lily. Gli unici che ho davvero apprezzato sono Antoinette, questa bambina così speciale, e Will, il migliore amico di Lily. Anche il finale stesso mi ha deluso, mi aspettavo qualcosa di totalmente diverso.
La storia aveva delle ottime basi che si sono andate un po' a perdere nel corso del romanzo. Qualche pagina in meno e un tocco di realismo in più avrebbero sicuramente dato alla storia un tocco in più che me l'avrebbe fatta apprezzare maggiormente.
October 24, 2022
Take a fascinating story, add complicated but loving characters, set it in a beautiful location, sprinkle in some magic, and you will get this glorious novel. Lily has been estranged from her sister, Rose, for 6 years, but when Rose becomes ill, Lily returns home; a home full of wonderful memories as well as a painful past. Lily also must face her own quirks and insecurities when she sees so much of herself in Antoinette, Rose's unusual daughter. At the heart of this story is 10-year-old Antoinette, a very special child who, although she has never uttered a word, creates miracles all around her. This magical book worked its way into my heart from the very first page; each scene is so emotional and tender. This story is written so beautifully, the images and feelings so clear in my mind. Each page is full of love and hope and how much we are willing to give of ourselves in order to save those we love.
September 8, 2016
Magical realism, the language of flowers, a child on the autism spectrum but seemingly with the power to heal, a wounded family in need of reuniting-- all the makings of a book to capture my interest, and it did. Special kudos to the author for her portrayal of life with a special needs child, both from the child's perspective and from that of those around her. My heart went out to Rose, in those early days, when Antoinette's behaviors and meeting of milestones were raising questions. It was depicted beautifully, as were all the types of love that found their way onto the pages of this book. (And the dedication to the book just about overwhelmed my heart with the love there.)
Many thanks to the LibraryThing early readers program, and the ever fabulous Algonquin Publishers for sending a copy my way.
Many thanks to the LibraryThing early readers program, and the ever fabulous Algonquin Publishers for sending a copy my way.
August 31, 2016
3.5 stars
Love this story of sisterhood, familial love, and loyalty mixed with fantastic imagery and talk about flowers, food, even science.
The tale is emotional but I feel like there was one last barrier that wasn't broken for me to fully latch on to the story. Lily and Antoinette didn't shares lot of pivotal moments including the rest of the relationships. It felt like a lot of things were taken for granted and no catharsis truly happened. On the upside, this wasn't emotionally dramatic.
Love this story of sisterhood, familial love, and loyalty mixed with fantastic imagery and talk about flowers, food, even science.
The tale is emotional but I feel like there was one last barrier that wasn't broken for me to fully latch on to the story. Lily and Antoinette didn't shares lot of pivotal moments including the rest of the relationships. It felt like a lot of things were taken for granted and no catharsis truly happened. On the upside, this wasn't emotionally dramatic.
December 3, 2016
An enjoyable audio book that covers some of the same ground as Jason Mott's The Wonder of All Things, though in a lighter manner. I was not wild about the choice to use two different narrators with very different accents to portray the sisters but other than that, I found the characters interesting and the story engaging.
November 6, 2016
Loved it until the last few pages, didn't love the wrap up but still thoroughly enjoyed the book .
October 15, 2019
The ending... ugh!
September 5, 2016
Lovely story! Make sure you have tissues.
October 8, 2017
Wow! Winding through the emotional twists and turns to the end leaves me speechless. I’m a slow reader, but I read this novel in 3 days — compelling story.
The author’s note at the end is powerful; here’s an excerpt:
“While writing, I thought about the ways we separate ourselves. Race, gender, physical ability, and all the other categories by which we define ourselves mask the fact that we are more alike than different. We are all broken people living in the shadow of death. When life is viewed that way, the things that divide us cease to matter and everyday tasks become exceedingly brave. That thought can either be terrifying or liberating. I choose to see it as liberating. Before being diagnosed with Crohn’s and parenting Grace, I limited myself. I wouldn’t have thought I was capable of parenting a disabled child or surviving multiple surgeries and hospitalizations with no real end in sight. My view of the world was too small. The truth is, when thrust into difficult situations, most of us not only handle them but thrive. Through Grace, my book became a story about the ways in which love enlarges our lives, enabling us to do things we never dreamed possible. It became the story of a woman learning to love a girl who isn’t her daughter and a mother who realizes that sometimes love means letting go. It became the story of a child with the ability to heal broken bodies —which is the least miraculous thing about her. At its heart, The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is about the ways in which we are more alike than different. It’s about ordinary people stepping beyond their self-imposed limitations and changing the world around them. It is about the magic of ordinary lives and the impact that one person can have, even if that person is a little “different.””
The author’s note at the end is powerful; here’s an excerpt:
“While writing, I thought about the ways we separate ourselves. Race, gender, physical ability, and all the other categories by which we define ourselves mask the fact that we are more alike than different. We are all broken people living in the shadow of death. When life is viewed that way, the things that divide us cease to matter and everyday tasks become exceedingly brave. That thought can either be terrifying or liberating. I choose to see it as liberating. Before being diagnosed with Crohn’s and parenting Grace, I limited myself. I wouldn’t have thought I was capable of parenting a disabled child or surviving multiple surgeries and hospitalizations with no real end in sight. My view of the world was too small. The truth is, when thrust into difficult situations, most of us not only handle them but thrive. Through Grace, my book became a story about the ways in which love enlarges our lives, enabling us to do things we never dreamed possible. It became the story of a woman learning to love a girl who isn’t her daughter and a mother who realizes that sometimes love means letting go. It became the story of a child with the ability to heal broken bodies —which is the least miraculous thing about her. At its heart, The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is about the ways in which we are more alike than different. It’s about ordinary people stepping beyond their self-imposed limitations and changing the world around them. It is about the magic of ordinary lives and the impact that one person can have, even if that person is a little “different.””
October 11, 2021
This was definitely a "reading weekend" for me. While I always have a book that I am reading, I can't remember the last time that I finished 3 books in a weekend, one that I had started a couple of weeks ago, and 2 that I started and completed by this morning (10/11/2021). All of them different, interesting, and 2 of them definitely tear-jerkers yet feel good themes that kept me interested.
This one is the only book so far by this author but it sucked me in right away. The book is full of magical happenings combined with everyday reality of dealing with illness in one sister, and special needs of her daughter as well as traits of the special needs in her sister as well.
Rose and Lily Martin grew up on their family's Kentucky flower farm but became estranged at one point in their lives and Lily moved away. Rose stayed to work the farm while raising her daughter Antoinette who is autistic. Antoinette has a special gift (power) that let's her heal things with just her touch...a gift that many people would love to have and of course once it becomes known, there are some people who want to have her use that power for their own purposes, not really caring the toll it takes on Antoinette. Rose does her best to keep that from happening, even after she herself deals with her failing health. Rose only wants what is best for Antoinette and asks (pleads) for her sister Lily to return to the farm to help her out.
The story is full of magic and love and of course there are a few people involved who only want to harness the magic part for their own family members regardless of the price it causes to Antoinette's own health. Such a beautiful and magical story about reuniting this family.
This one is the only book so far by this author but it sucked me in right away. The book is full of magical happenings combined with everyday reality of dealing with illness in one sister, and special needs of her daughter as well as traits of the special needs in her sister as well.
Rose and Lily Martin grew up on their family's Kentucky flower farm but became estranged at one point in their lives and Lily moved away. Rose stayed to work the farm while raising her daughter Antoinette who is autistic. Antoinette has a special gift (power) that let's her heal things with just her touch...a gift that many people would love to have and of course once it becomes known, there are some people who want to have her use that power for their own purposes, not really caring the toll it takes on Antoinette. Rose does her best to keep that from happening, even after she herself deals with her failing health. Rose only wants what is best for Antoinette and asks (pleads) for her sister Lily to return to the farm to help her out.
The story is full of magic and love and of course there are a few people involved who only want to harness the magic part for their own family members regardless of the price it causes to Antoinette's own health. Such a beautiful and magical story about reuniting this family.
October 6, 2020
Some books are plot-driven, some character-driven. This one, I think, is emotionally-driven. The story is poignant, heartfelt, and meant to stir up all sorts of feelings. In that, for me, it definitely succeeds.
When we choose to start families, few of us stop to consider what it might mean to have a disabled child. Could we be good parents in this situation? What long-term effects would it have on our lives, our relationships? If we even stopped to consider these questions, it’s unlikely we’d be able to comprehend all the challenges ahead.
This story places us within a family in crisis. I loved all the characters, but Antoinette stole my heart. I felt her frustration at not being able to communicate, her anger at being treated as unintelligent simply because she’s different, and her fear of losing the one person who loves her unconditionally.
The magical realism element of the story adds an extra layer of intrigue and complexity.
I listened to this on audio and, for the most part, thoroughly enjoyed the narration. However, I wish it had been only the one voice throughout. Rose’s journal sections are read by a second narrator, with a much different, more heavily accented, and older voice. Consequently, it sounded strange to hear Rose’s entries from her youth read in a totally different voice than what we hear throughout the bulk of the book. Also within these sections are dialogue from others that Rose included in her journals, so the voices are nothing like those same character voices in the rest of the book. I felt this was an unnecessary distraction, though both narrators are quite good.
When we choose to start families, few of us stop to consider what it might mean to have a disabled child. Could we be good parents in this situation? What long-term effects would it have on our lives, our relationships? If we even stopped to consider these questions, it’s unlikely we’d be able to comprehend all the challenges ahead.
This story places us within a family in crisis. I loved all the characters, but Antoinette stole my heart. I felt her frustration at not being able to communicate, her anger at being treated as unintelligent simply because she’s different, and her fear of losing the one person who loves her unconditionally.
The magical realism element of the story adds an extra layer of intrigue and complexity.
I listened to this on audio and, for the most part, thoroughly enjoyed the narration. However, I wish it had been only the one voice throughout. Rose’s journal sections are read by a second narrator, with a much different, more heavily accented, and older voice. Consequently, it sounded strange to hear Rose’s entries from her youth read in a totally different voice than what we hear throughout the bulk of the book. Also within these sections are dialogue from others that Rose included in her journals, so the voices are nothing like those same character voices in the rest of the book. I felt this was an unnecessary distraction, though both narrators are quite good.
May 28, 2020
Lily and Rose Martin, once inseparable sisters who worked their family’s flower farm together, are estranged until one day, Rose contacts Lily asking for help with the farm and with her daughter. Rose’s daughter, Antoinette, is nonverbal due to a severe form of autism, but in spite of her struggles, Antoinette has a miraculous ability to heal flowers and even people, but As Rose watches Antoinette heal, she notices that Antoinette weakens with each miracle. Can Rose and Lily protect the young girl?
I really enjoyed this book. Though I’ve never been very compelled by fantasy or sci-fi, there’s something about magical realism that captures me every time. This work, in the vein of Sarah Addison Allen’s novels, presented a magical setting, complex and flawed characters, and a satisfying, relationship-driven plot.
I really enjoyed this book. Though I’ve never been very compelled by fantasy or sci-fi, there’s something about magical realism that captures me every time. This work, in the vein of Sarah Addison Allen’s novels, presented a magical setting, complex and flawed characters, and a satisfying, relationship-driven plot.
July 22, 2020
What a pleasant surprise or should I say it's peculiar for me to have really enjoyed this book :) I choose this to read because they referenced "The Language of Flowers" in the blurb. Just before reading this I decided to order myself a book of the flower language so very timely. I did find the dialect between Lily and Will to be a bit too predictable and there was some fluff but got past that and went along with the breeze thru a field of flowers.
November 30, 2020
When I began reading this I found it delightfully refreshing. A good story about a child on the spectrum who had a special gift. The writing was good and I soared forward. The ending left me disappointed. I can't tell whether it was because of the supernatural healings or the choice of where that went, but I wasn't convinced the story happened in the order that it did. Perhaps because the ending, being more of an epilogue, left me cold.
February 27, 2018
Even though the genre of magical realism is not really my thing I did enjoy this book. The themes of death and loss as well as the needs of of a child with disabilities were interesting and well explored.
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