Origins by Dan Brown

The formula is the same and I am sure the movie script is already in the works but there is always just enough reality in his books to make them an interesting read.  This time he takes on the origin and the future of life on this planet with small references to the idea of monarchy, the perceived hypocrisy of the church and the role of women.  The best part though is the description of Barcelona.  In the beginning of the book he states that all the places referenced in the story are real.  I have never been to Barcelona. The places referenced were so strange that I had to look them up.  There are real. I sooooo much want to go to Barcelona.  Maybe I should wait for the Dan Brown/Origins tour 😊

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

At eighteen, Victoria finally ages out of the system - eighteen years of failed foster experiences, an almost adoption and a life changing mistake.  Through it all has been a primal connection with plants and flowers.  She has even received instruction in the Victorian understanding that each flower carries with it an emotion as well as the exact moment that a grape is ready to become wine.  Which is stronger - the hurt and anger that has become an essential part of her being or the possibility that she can learn a new more hopeful language?  Nothing heavy duty here.  Some of the characters are unbelievably good and the alternating back story/present structure makes start and stop reading tricky but the idea of the language of flowers is most interesting.