Play Book Tag discussion

Loved, loved this book!!!

It's been a while since I have been so drawn into a book that I really didn't want to put it down. The Signature of All Things combines historical fiction and science into a totally character driven novel, featuring Alma Whittaker. I'm not sure how you can fail to fall in love with Alma. She became so real to me . . .by the end of the book, I was tearing up several times as I empathized with her so completely.

Alma is the unattractive daughter of Henry, a self-made man who leverages an interest in botany into a fortune. He settles in Pennsylvania, and Alma has a privileged upbringing on his beautiful horticultural estate. She, herself, becomes fascinated with the natural world, but love eludes her. The story follows her entire life from birth until she is very old, and it is just a wonderful journey. There are some portions that are slower as she describes some of the natural world, but I still found these interludes interesting and informative. They never lasted long, and personally, I felt the book's pacing was great as it built suspense and often interwove episodes that appear early in the book into later portions in a way that struck me as especially well done.

Masterful storytelling. Highly recommend.

Your review brought the beauty of this book straight back to me! Love that you loved it. Happy Chanukah!

Amy wrote: "Your review brought the beauty of this book straight back to me! Love that you loved it. Happy Chanukah!"

Same to you, Amy!! We had latkes and brisket last night, and now the cook is exhausted . . .so happy to have finished this library book before going on vacation though . . .

Totally loved this book . . .great recommendation from you and other friends!!

Enjoy your vacation, you have surely earned it!

Totally agree with your assessment / review, Anita. It was a 5-star book for me as well. Sad that she made a boatload of money for Eat, Pray, Love, while this one barely moved off the shelves. On the other hand, Gilbert has said that the $ from EPL allowed to write books like SOAT, so there is that silver living.

Definitely adding this one to my TBR.

Nicole R wrote: "Definitely adding this one to my TBR."

I honestly think you will love this - - it has science, a strong female protagonist, and some romantic challenges . . .

Book Concierge wrote: "Totally agree with your assessment / review, Anita. It was a 5-star book for me as well. Sad that she made a boatload of money for Eat, Pray, Love, while this one barely moved off the ..."

That is sad . . .I thought it was really, really good. I liked Eat, Pray, Love too though I know many did not.

This always comes up on suggested audio for me on overdrive. I never gave it a chance because of Eat, Pray, Love. With all the accolades here I'll probably read it early 2017!

They are very different.... but I also loved Eat Pray Love. Thought there were many nuggets and I enjoyed the New York style spirituality - my kind. Where spirituality is found in feelings and presence not detachment. Good food, sacred conversation etc.

wow this book was so not on my radar ... I hated the movie Eat Pray Love and would never read the book ... what do you think?

Nicole wrote: "wow this book was so not on my radar ... I hated the movie Eat Pray Love and would never read the book ... what do you think?"

The book was absolutely nothing like Eat, Pray, Love . . .I never saw the movie, but only read the book. Although I enjoyed the book, I can with certainty say that EPL and this book are not remotely similar. I definitely thought this book was much better.

Did you read/like Cutting for Stone? For some reason, it reminded me of that book (though I preferred this one considerably more). It had a sweeping historical context, but with a strong focus on one very well developed character. And the character is both amazing and flawed . . .to me, she was just so human and realistic.

I think the only reason some may not like it is that there's a good amount of description of science/botany. I enjoyed it and felt like I learned from the descriptions . . .but I can see how some might think they were boring/slow. There's also some addressing of spirituality in the context of science and how the two can co-exist. Although I consider myself an atheist, I wasn't bothered at all by that theme and found it to be thought provoking.

still on the fence but appreciate the thoughtful response

No pressure! It isn't a book that screamed Nicole D to me . . .but Nicole R, I think yes. I do think you would enjoy it, but not sure it would really stand out as special to you . . .

I am so glad you loved it Anita. I miss Alma, and I too was thoroughly invested in her as a character. I absolutely adored the audio.

I read this in 2014 and gave it three stars. The first half of the book was amazing and I loved the botanical references within the framework of Alma's quest for scientific knowledge. However, the latter part of the story went to a weird place, especially in tone, and almost seemed as though it belonged in a different book. Somehow I felt the author was trying to tackle too many themes within the framework of one story.

So glad you loved this book, Anita. Overall, I can understand why.

Lisa Ann wrote: "I read this in 2014 and gave it three stars. The first half of the book was amazing and I loved the botanical references within the framework of Alma's quest for scientific knowledge. However, the ..."

So interesting that you say that, Lisa Ann, because another friend of mine expressed a very similar sentiment . . .that the book felt fragmented to her and as though it needed to be more than one book. There were a lot of different themes! I personally did prefer the first half to the latter part, but overall just really, really liked it all. I think I was so engaged with the one character, that whatever she did fascinated me . . .

Also, I like a little darkness in my fiction, and while I wouldn't describe this book as dark overall, it had some portions that fit the bill, and for me, that's generally a plus.

I loved this book. The audiobook is excellent. Juliet Stevenson is a gifted voice artist.

Jgrace wrote: "I loved this book. The audiobook is excellent. Juliet Stevenson is a gifted voice artist."

I didn't do the audio, but I see several others did and really enjoyed it. My "in real life" friend who insisted I needed to get to this one, she did the audio . . .

In real life friend! LOL!

I have no love for EPL so I am deeply hesitant about reading this. Your review has piqued my interest. Maybe if Nicole D reads it I will too.

Ladyslott wrote: "I have no love for EPL so I am deeply hesitant about reading this. Your review has piqued my interest. Maybe if Nicole D reads it I will too."

It didn't remotely remind me of Eat, Pray, Love . . .which I gave 3 stars so not super high on my list (read my review - - I was decidedly meh). Not sure that it helps, but I think I would try to consider whether the description of this particular book sounds good to you at all . . .it might not, in which case, I wouldn't give it a shot. It's fiction, so really completely different in every way. I feel like you would like it. More so than Nicole D.

Anita wrote: "t's fiction, so really completely different in every way. I feel like you would like it. More so than Nicole D. ..."

I did read your review, which is what led me to thinking this could be a book for me. I will keep an open mind.

Ladyslott wrote: "Anita wrote: "t's fiction, so really completely different in every way. I feel like you would like it. More so than Nicole D. ..."

I did read your review, which is what led me to thinking this cou..."

As much as you like historical fiction, I would be surprised if you didn't like this. I didn't read Eat, Pray, Love although I have a copy and I hesitated at first about reading this, but readers I trust recommended it and in the end I agreed with their judgement.

Booknblues wrote: "As much as you like historical fiction, I would be surprised if you didn't like this...."

That's the big plus leaning me to reading this - I do love historical fiction (I think it is my 5 book read in the Stair Challenge). I'm going to see if I can get it on Overdrive, so if I don't like it there won't be this need to finish it because I paid for it.

Ladyslott wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "As much as you like historical fiction, I would be surprised if you didn't like this...."

That's the big plus leaning me to reading this - I do love historical fiction (I think ..."

I think that's a great idea! I borrowed it on Overdrive, so hopefully it will be available to you too . . .I get the sense your library is quite a bit better than ours! I really hope you do like it.

I have a copy I could share with you Ladyslott. PM me your email address if you would like it. :-)

"Booknblues wrote: "I get the sense your library is quite a bit better than ours! I really hope you do like it.
l..."

Because I live in New York State I have two library cards - one with access to all the libraries on Long Island (where I live) and one to the NYC Public Library - which is one of the largest libraries in the country. Because I own a house in Palm Beach County in Florida I have access to a card there. So I have quite a few places to choose from.

"Booknblues wrote: "I get the sense your library is quite a bit better than ours! I really hope you do like it.
l..."

Because I live in New York State I have two library cards - one with access t..."

Just went to my Palm Beach Overdrive account and put it on hold. I'm number 2 in line.

I'm excited to see if others love it as much as we did.

I really passed on this initially because I had absolutely no interest in Eat, Pray, Love. But, with such a resounding review from Anita I went ahead and added it to my TBR.

Regina- Even though I didn't like this book as much as Anita did, I would most definitely recommend it over Eat, Pray, Love.

Regina, I truly think you would love it.