Book Review: Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick

Where the Lilacs Bloom is a fictionalized account of the life of Hulda Klager who spends her life growing developing new varieties of lilacs.  Although she had just an 8th grade education and many duties as a housewife to a farmer and mother of four children, she worked on developing over 250 different varieties of lilacs including some with 12 petals and different colors not thought possible.  She is a woman of faith and uses that faith both in her personal life when various tragedies strike and in trying to accomplish her dreams.  She was a generous woman, giving away her flowers to others and wanting to be a blessing to them.

I enjoyed this book even though it was quite different than any I've read before.  Jane Kirkpatrick has a very unique voice in writing; I'd noticed that before in other books that she's written.   She put just enough horticulture information to help with understanding how Hulda did her work, but it wasn't so much that one got bored with it.  I found it be rather interesting.  This is one of the very few books I have read where the main character is a middle-aged woman (with the exception of sequels of books about the same person).  That also gave a unique perspective.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book, "God gave us flowers for a reason.  I think so we'd pay attention to the details of creation and remember to trust Him in all things big or little, no matter what the challenge.  Flowers remind us to put away fear, to stop our rushing and running and worrying about this and that, and for a moment have a piece of paradise right here on earth.  God offers healing through flowers and brings us closer to Him."  Also, in regard to giving flowers to others, "A moment of joy is no small thing to give another."

Jane Kirkpatrick Links

Author's Web Site
More Information about Where the Lilacs Still Bloom
Read Chapter One
Author Biography

Reviews on Blogging for Books can be reviewed and ranked by others.  I would love it if you would visit my review on the Blogging for Books site and rank my review.  Upon ranking my review, you will be entered in a drawing to win your own copy of this book!  Don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings if you give me a bad review.  I'd rather have an honest bad review than a dishonest good review.  "Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy deceitful." (Proverbs 27:6)


FTC Disclaimer:  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.”  I was not required to provide a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.