Title: Where the Wildflowers Grow (A Novel)
Author: Terah Shelton Harris
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 458 pages
Ratings: 5 out of 5 Blooms
The Book
This novel is told from the point of view of the main character, Leigh. “They drown with their eyes wide open,” is the sentence opener to chapter one of the novel. From there, Leigh tells us the reader how she survived a deadly bus crash that was supposed to transport her to another prison to serve out the rest of her sentence, and how she ended up in a small town working on a Flower Farm in Gee’s Bend, a small town in Alabama.
Gee’s Bend Quiltmakers (link below to learn more about Gee’s Bend”
https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/gees-bend-quiltmakers
Leigh’s story is about survival, survival from her past and learning how to live in the present. While living on the Flower Farm, Leigh is introduced to Jackson, the owner. She also meets Luke and Tibbs, who also work with Jackson. From the stories the guys share with Leigh, she learns to deal with her trauma and guilt and to allow herself a sense of joy and peace.
While Leigh is living on the flower farm, we see how healing is different for everyone that Leigh meets, and that healing can happen in seasons.
The Bloom
The cover and title of the novel caught my attention, but it was the backstory that made me purchase it, and I am glad I did. Reading about Leigh being the older sister, taking care of not only her younger sister but at times her mom while her dad was out (dealing with his own mental issues) reminded me of older sibling survival. Often, an older sibling is responsible not only for being aware of themselves and their actions, but also for their younger siblings. Taking responsibility for the younger sibling can cause the older sibling to grow up faster and miss out on just being a child. Working on the Flower Farm and wanting to change her perspective on how she saw herself, she accepted that she did not necessarily have a childhood that wasn’t bought at the cost of survival. Her father made her and their family live off the grid. He put them in a situation where they had to survive rather than live.
Although my story is not similar to Leigh’s, I at times found myself in survivor mode, feeling that if I couldn’t make it out, everything I had built could crumble. Being in survival mode with every breath no longer allowed me to be present, to take in joy, or to have a moment of peace. I was constantly thinking about the next conflict I would face and how to prepare myself for when the next shoe would drop.
Practice makes for routines, which makes for change
- One practice that got me out of survival mode is spending more time with family and friends. Being with family and friends allowed me time to take in everything beautiful, to followship, and to learn that I wasn’t the only one whose life was “life-ing” too.
- Another practice that got me out of survival mode is journaling. I love just writing all my thoughts on paper, making a checklist, or just doodling. These exercises allow my mind not only to wander but also, after journaling, to see visually what I need to make a priority and what I can take care of later.
Another “Bloom” moment for me is the reminder that “Love is deserving” only after we decide to love ourselves wholly. Leigh had to commit to learning to love her past and present selves before she could receive and give love. Throughout the novel, Leigh sees how others are accepted and loved, and she wants that love; she learns from Tibbs that she must commit to loving herself.
I remember being in conversation with a woman at a social gathering, we were talking about self-love and how important it is to “love yourself.” I remember telling her that yes, self-love is important, but we must not forget the feeling of being loved by others. To my surprise, she agreed with me. I was so surprised because I thought I was the only one who felt that way. In this era of “self-love and self-care,” both practices I practice and promote, the message of receiving love from others as a goal at times gets lost. I love how the author reminded us of this in Leigh’s story and experience while staying on the flower farm through different seasons. Leigh was able to love herself and allow others to love her.
Conclusion
I was immersed in this novel and found myself reading 50 to 100 pages at night, learning not only about Leigh’s story but also about Jackson’s and the importance of the flower farm. As a person who loves gardening, I am here to tell you that touching the soil and planting are such joyous moments; they allow you to be in the present, and that is how I felt reading this novel. I suggest this book to anyone who loves a good story, vivid description, and who is trying to figure out who they are while living instead of surviving.
