What do you think?
Rate this book
Abolish the Rose
"Surely I have better things to do with my time."
Camille Addison resents the hand life has dealt her. Enrolling in an evening class to distract herself from memories of frustration, she finds herself instead turning to face the tumult of relationships, loss and love that has led her to where she is.
Abolish the Rose, by Alanna Irving, takes us on a journey through the past in search of meaning in the present. Through a vivid catalogue of heart-warming and harrowing life experiences, we are drawn to question, along with Camille - how much control do we have over the path our lives take? Would we change the past if we had the chance? What is a life well lived?
Camille Addison resents the hand life has dealt her. Enrolling in an evening class to distract herself from memories of frustration, she finds herself instead turning to face the tumult of relationships, loss and love that has led her to where she is.
Abolish the Rose, by Alanna Irving, takes us on a journey through the past in search of meaning in the present. Through a vivid catalogue of heart-warming and harrowing life experiences, we are drawn to question, along with Camille - how much control do we have over the path our lives take? Would we change the past if we had the chance? What is a life well lived?
312 pages, Paperback
Published April 10, 2022
10 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 10, 2022
Wow - very touching. Excellent character development
April 14, 2022
Such a wonderful read! Written in a style that keeps you turning the pages with ease, at the same time still managing to offer a beautiful choice of vocabulary.
The story itself dives into topics of art, life, love, family... how people relate to others and handle difficult situations that are thrown at them. It does dive into some heavier life topics, but does it in a very elegant manner that still keeps you glued to the pages.
This book made me think and reflect a bit on my own life, but what I most appreciated was that it doesn't seem to judge and is written like an observation rather than this is how we, as a reader, should feel about it. It left so much room to make up my own mind. Some stories tend to be very black and white, were we know that the troll is pure evil and the princess all good. But life has so many more layers and all shades of grey and even rainbow colours... This book is a superb illustration how life is just what it is!!!
The story itself dives into topics of art, life, love, family... how people relate to others and handle difficult situations that are thrown at them. It does dive into some heavier life topics, but does it in a very elegant manner that still keeps you glued to the pages.
This book made me think and reflect a bit on my own life, but what I most appreciated was that it doesn't seem to judge and is written like an observation rather than this is how we, as a reader, should feel about it. It left so much room to make up my own mind. Some stories tend to be very black and white, were we know that the troll is pure evil and the princess all good. But life has so many more layers and all shades of grey and even rainbow colours... This book is a superb illustration how life is just what it is!!!
May 3, 2022
A most enjoyable read! Camille is recently retired and has signed upto an art class to pass the time. The writing kept me engaged as I was taken in by Camille's reflection on her life, it's laments and redeeming factors. I usually have difficulty imagining scenes and descriptions in fiction but with this novel I found the writing very clear and easily felt like I was watching over Camille's shoulder as she painted and reminisced. In fact the story does well to make one feel like a passive observer and transitions smoothly between the present and Camille's recollections.
Constantly teasing bits of extra information the story gives you answers just as you are about to cry out for them. From the women I know who are Camille's age, I thought that the author did a great job of capturing/imagining a kind of sociological snapshot of a baby boomer and found it very interesting how the reader is left with the space to make up their own mind about the events in her life.
I can see this book being turned into a series!!
Constantly teasing bits of extra information the story gives you answers just as you are about to cry out for them. From the women I know who are Camille's age, I thought that the author did a great job of capturing/imagining a kind of sociological snapshot of a baby boomer and found it very interesting how the reader is left with the space to make up their own mind about the events in her life.
I can see this book being turned into a series!!
May 29, 2022
Alanna Irving’s debut novel addresses an ambitious set of difficult real-life issues – how do we make life choices, and how do we react when life throws unexpected and unaccounted obstacles at us; the management of, and attitudes towards disability; what do we want from relationships with loved ones? The chaos of life is mirrored in the early chapters of the book by the frequent time-travelling narrative, which gradually smooths out into a clear and engrossing story. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read which I can recommend to anyone with an interest in how we live our lives. I am already looking forward to her follow-up novel. Well done and many thanks for the ride!
April 18, 2022
I couldn't put this one down.
Abolish the Rose has an uncanny way of bringing to life the eccentricities of the day to day in amongst the broader story arcs. One can't help but feel deeply for Camille. The stories of her life kept me wanting to know more about what led her there and where those experiences would take her. It left me reflecting on my own life wondering which joys and missteps were actually learning experiences, or if they were just, well, life.
Beautifully written and an incredibly moving read.
June 3, 2022
This is a beautiful written and poignant story about the interplay between what is chosen for us by fate and the choices we make. How do we reconcile ourselves to the path we tread when its very different from what we had envisioned? The author explores the aspects of relationships that bind us and shape us through Camille as she reflects back on her life. The story moves at a pace through the events and decades of an ordinary and yet remarkable life, maintaining the interest from the beginning to the end.
July 6, 2022
I'm blown away by what a brilliantly written story it is! It moved me to the core, brought tears in my eyes and surprised me in the best possible way ever. Alanna Irving is a new writer to me, so I started reading the book with zero expectations. But after a couple of pages, I knew I was in for a ride. She has poured so much emotions in the characters and portrayed the ups and downs, the unfairness and gray areas of life vividly. I will remember Camille, Robert, Peter, Michael, Mr. and Mrs. Addison for a long time. Highly recommended ❤️
April 10, 2022
This is a journey of discovery and contemplation, where Camille enrols in an evening class to distract herself from the ever-present memories which are never far from her mind. This story delves into the past which reflect on the present situations and experiences. This is a good and enjoyable story which has loss, turmoil, love, and is a touching and heartwarming page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author and I recommend her work.
June 17, 2022
A mature grasp by a writer at such a young age of the complexity of human emotions, condition and the difficult choices people make in life. Abolish the Rose is serius and witty. It is easy to read and it keeps us interested to the end wanting to find out Camille's final choices. Also how these compare with the choices we make in our personal lives.
I wonder where the next book will take Alanna to? Well done and good luck!
I wonder where the next book will take Alanna to? Well done and good luck!
April 26, 2022
Stylish and touching. The narrative is layered with the principle characters evolving as they adjust to the impact of the events that unfold.
At times sad and contemplative, at others humorous and playful — but always engrossing and well worth the read. I would highly recommend.
At times sad and contemplative, at others humorous and playful — but always engrossing and well worth the read. I would highly recommend.
April 10, 2022
Elaborate and touching book, really enjoyed reading it.
August 5, 2022
Engrossing, challenging, deeply moving. An astonishingly powerful debut from a rising literary star.
June 25, 2025
Elegant, sensitive, and intimate, this novel invites reflection on some deep questions we so often dodge in life. A wonderful read
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews