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In Book Reviews

Book Review and Giveaway: Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire

Synopsis:

Lila Nova is a 32-year-old divorced, childless advertising executive. After four years of marriage, her alcoholic husband left her and, in short order, left the next woman with whom he became involved, as well, which gave her some degree of satisfaction. Her newly renovated New York City studio apartment has absolutely no character. It’s a box with white walls, parquet floor, and low ceilings. She decides that some foliage will “spruce the place up, no pun intended,” so she stops at the Union Square Green Market. There she encounters a vendor named David Exley who convinces her to purchase a bird of paradise plant because it can thrive in her new apartment with its ample light and southern exposure.

Shortly thereafter, Lila happens upon a laundromat with lush, moist moss on the floor, tropical plants hanging from the ceilings, and green grass atop the washers and dryers. Bees, butterflies, and other creatures abound. It is a most unusual establishment where patrons line up outside the door in order to experience the tropical wonderland the eccentric proprietor, Armand, has created right in the middle of Manhattan. They also seek Armand’s advice and counsel.

Hanging in the front window of the laundromat is a rare fire fern, from which Armand gives Lila a cutting. He instructs her to put it in water and keep it in a completely dark room — and let him know if she manages to get the clipping to take root. When she succeeds, Armand tells her about the myth of the nine plants of desire which, to Lila’s surprise, he has managed to collect and keeps in the back room of the laundromat. The nine exotic species are so powerful that when one person amasses one of each of them, he or she will have everything that he or she desires, and eternal luck and happiness. But Armand will not let Lila see the plants yet and warns her not to tell anyone else that he has them.

Naturally, Lila does not heed Armand’s warning . . . and the adventure begins. Before it is over, Lila will have braved the Mexican rain forest and learned the truth not only about Armand and the nine plants of desire, but also . . . about herself.

Review:

Margot Berwin
It’s “Romancing the Stone” meets “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” complete with mystery, intrigue, romance, a devilish villain, shamans, spirit animals, and the most exotic location imaginable full of dangerous, wild creatures like scorpions, rattle snakes, and panthers. Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire is a fast-paced, unforgettable and genuinely mythic adventure. It is also incredibly funny, thanks to Lila’s observations of the outlandish circumstances in which she finds herself and her tendency toward outbursts that reveal Lila and the reader are thinking the same thing at the same moment!

And then there’s the plant mythology, all made up by Berwin. Armand DiMele was her real-life psychotherapist from whom she sought advice and counsel following her 2005 divorce. “He turned me on to plants,” according to Berwin, a native New Yorker. “Whenever he would take this little scissor and start cutting them, I would get very focused on the plants and I was able to retain whatever he was telling me. The plants held my attention in a way nothing ever had.” Walking through Manhattan one day, Berwin happened upon a laundromat in which there were a lot of plants. The Columbian owner told her that they thrived because of the mist from the washers and dryers, and gave her a cutting from one. That’s how she got the idea for the character of Armand and the story of Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire.

From there, she began researching exotic plants and actually cared for a bird of paradise. “It got so big I used to sit underneath it when I was writing the book,” she said.

Berwin thought of the nine things she believes people want most, and then searched for a flower whose characteristics matched each desire, inventing the myth about finding true happiness and contentment upon acquiring all nine varieties. She selected the plants “by intuition, from dreams and gut feelings:”

  • Gloxinia ~ the plant of love at first sight
  • Mexican cycad ~ the plant of immortality
  • Cacao ~ the plant of food and fortune
  • Moonflower ~ the bringer of fertility
  • Sinsemilla ~ the plant of female sexuality
  • Mandrak ~ the plant of magic
  • Lily of the valley ~ the plant of life force
  • Chicory ~ the plant of freedom and invisibility
  • Datura ~ the plant of high adventure

    • There is one additional plant that figures prominently in the story, but to tell you what plant it is or how it figures into the tale would spoil part of the fun of reading the book.

    “Your roots are your problem. They hold you in place and stop you from growing. Plants need roots because they can’t more on their own. Their roots serve them well, stopping them from getting blown all over the place by the wind. But we humans can move around at will, and our roots hold us in place unnecessarily. Usually in a place we don’t want to be. Then, when we try to move, we rip our roots, and it hurts, so we end up staying right where we are.”
    ~~ Armand in Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire

    And fun is the best way to describe Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire. It is pure escapism that will keep you guessing — and squirming as Lila encounters various creepy crawling creatures and even creepier humans, and gets herself into all sorts of awkward, terrifying situations and places.

    Nonetheless, Lila’s journey is epic. She learns the importance of knowing whom you can trust and, above all else, learning to trust your own instincts in order to discover who you really are and what will make you truly happy.

    Enter to win a copy of Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire

    Fun is meant to be shared! So the author has graciously provided one (1) copy of the book for me to award to a lucky winner whose name will be selected at random!

    In order to be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment, making sure to include both your Google Friend Connect name and your email address (for notification purposes)!

    Bonus Entries:

    Leave a separate comment for each bonus entry –

    • Follow me on Twitter — be sure to leave your Twitter name in the comment
    • Subscribe to Colloquium via RSS or Email and confirm your subscription

    Crazy Cat Lady of Crazy Cat Lady’s Library was selected at random and a copy of the book was sent to her.

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire free of charge from TLC Book Tours as part of the TLC Book Tours review and virtual book tour program. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own. This disclosure complies with 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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    97 Comments

    4. Colleen Turner

      I am a Networked Blogs (Facebook follower) of Colloquium.

    6. karenk

      thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel 😛

    9. Vicki

      I’d love to win this book!
      I’m a GFC follower: Vicki

      readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com

    13. LeAnn

      I’m a new GFC follower as sunshine9. This sounds like a fun book. I took some classes in floral design and horticulture and enjoy my yard.

    14. Melanie L

      I would love to read this book. Please count me in. I follow on GFC as Melanie L.
      peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

    15. Melanie L

      I am an email subscriber.
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    16. Margot Berwin

      Hi there!
      I’m the author of Hothouse Flower and I loved reading this review and the entire blog, really. I’m a new fan!
      When I started the book I didn’t know much about plants either. A lot of people will tell you to write about what you know, but I’m a big believer in writing about things you know nothing about. That’s where all the fun is-in the learning process!
      I had a blast writing this book and hope the people who commented here will enjoy it as well.
      Thank you so much for your review. I just got home and read it and I’m thrilled!
      If anyone here wants to connect with me, I’m on facebook and I really enjoy reader contact.
      Thanks again,
      Margot Berwin
      Author
      Hothouse Flower and the nine plants of desire

      • JHS Post Author

        Margot: Thanks so much for stopping by & your kind remarks. I could have written much more about your book — and actually did, but deleted it — but it is such a unique story, and I felt that by saying more I would begin giving away critical story points. It was such a thrill ride for me, reading and being constantly surprised, that I want other readers to have the same experience!! I can’t wait for the sequel and the movie sounds fabulous. Julia Roberts has never done a role that is so physical. Should be very interesting!

    17. Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours

      No need to enter me, just wanted to say thanks for being a part of the tour. I love your description of Raiders of the Lost Ark meets Romancing the Stone – how perfect! I’m so glad you enjoyed this book – it certainly is a wild ride. 🙂

    18. Pingback: Margot Berwin, author of Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire, on tour July – September 2010 | TLC Book Tours

    22. Linda Henderson

      This sounds like a very interesting book.

      seriousreader at live dot com

    23. Linda Henderson

      I like you on Facebook as myself.

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    24. Linda Henderson

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    26. Tanya

      Please count me in, this sounds like a great book
      Following via google tanya904

    27. LeAnn

      GFC follower
      FB follower

      Hothouse Flowers and the 9 Plants of Desire. . . . . great title.

      LeAnn
      GFC sunshine9

    28. sue brandes

      I am a new follower. Your book sounds really good.
      katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

    29. Mary J

      gfc follower : maryjaco1

      Hothouse Flower and the nine plants of desire

    30. Melissa R

      I am a new GFC Follower (name melissa picture of a bee on a purple flower)

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      Twitter Follower @frazzletastic

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    44. Patsy Hagen

      I’d like to win this book. It sounds like it would be fun to read.
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    45. Patsy Hagen

      I subscribe and follow.
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    50. Judy

      I’m on GFC as headlessfowl.

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    51. Judy

      I’m following on twitter with @headlessfowl

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      facebook follower facebook.com/ghostssinner or Beverly Gordon

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      Donna Hufman Warrington

    70. Vicki

      I’d love the chance to win this book!

      I’m a GFC follower: Vicki

      readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com

    72. Vicki

      I am following you on Twitter: ReadAtTheBeach

      readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com

    74. Vicki

      I entered your “If You Lived Here You’d Be Home By Now” giveaway

      readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com

    78. nfmgirl

      I am networked on Facebook:
      Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World

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    81. misskallie2000

      Thanks for this chance to enter.

      New GFC Follower

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    82. misskallie2000

      Networked on FB (@Brenda B. Hill)

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    83. misskallie2000

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    85. Sherry

      I’m not entering the contest ;because I don’t do the Friend connect thing. However, I did want to thank you for contributing to the Saturday Review at Semicolon. And I think the book sounds intriguing, although I agree that it may be a bit too botanical for my tastes. You have a gardener? Really? I want one.

      • JHS Post Author

        Sherry: At first, I thought it sounded too botanical for my tastes, too. But I ended up really enjoying the book. And yes, I have a gardener. I have a very lovely yard, but I do not garden, mow, etc. I work very hard all week and there are certain things I gladly pay for, including my wonderful gardener and housekeeper.

    86. Carol Wong

      I am an e-mail subscriber to this blog.

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    87. Carol Wong

      I am a GFC follower of this blog.

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    88. Carol Wong

      I am a FB fan of this blog.

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    93. Julie @ Knitting and Sundries

      Like you, my touch seems to be the kiss of death to formerly thriving, happy house and garden plants! Thanks for the review, because this sounds like a fun, cool read! I came over from Cym’s party. I now follow (I thought I already did, but apparently not) on GFC as jewelknits.

      knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com

    94. LeAnn

      This book sounds very interesting. I follow you as a GFC friend.

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    95. LeAnn

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