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The Twilight Garden
There's life all around you, if you just take the time to look for it...
In a small pocket of the city, between the houses of No. 77 and No. 79 on Eastbourne Road, there’s a neglected community garden.
Once vibrant and welcoming, and a sanctuary for the people when they needed it most, the garden’s gate is firmly closed.
But it only takes a small seed of an idea for big changes to happen. And as the neighbours’ need for connection grows, the twilight garden comes out of hibernation...
From a bright new voice, Sara Nisha Adams, comes a life-affirming story of small spaces, small pleasures & friendships coming into bloom...
In a small pocket of the city, between the houses of No. 77 and No. 79 on Eastbourne Road, there’s a neglected community garden.
Once vibrant and welcoming, and a sanctuary for the people when they needed it most, the garden’s gate is firmly closed.
But it only takes a small seed of an idea for big changes to happen. And as the neighbours’ need for connection grows, the twilight garden comes out of hibernation...
From a bright new voice, Sara Nisha Adams, comes a life-affirming story of small spaces, small pleasures & friendships coming into bloom...
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 8, 2023
About the author
Sara Nisha Adams
3 books1,753 followersSara is a writer and editor. She lives in London and was born in Hertfordshire to Indian and English parents. Her debut novel The Reading List is partly inspired by her grandfather, who lived in Wembley and immediately found a connection with his granddaughter through books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 554 reviews
June 10, 2023
In a Nutshell: A heart-warming story filled with some endearing characters. A bit meandering in its approach, but good for a relaxing read.
Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays:
💐 All the gardening- related elements are wonderful. Every plant lover will enjoy seeing the titular garden bloom.
💐 The found-family kind of storyline works well with neighbours coming together over shared interests, past bonds and future plans.
💐 The story generates a strong nostalgia of the good old days when all of us knew every neighbour and even met regularly, rather than today’s world where more interactions happen online than offline. The plot covers a variety of emotions, including some uncommon ones such as homesickness.
💐 Because Winston is gay and in a relationship with Lewis, the warring neighbours trope thankfully doesn’t turn into an enemy-to-lovers trope. I loved how both Bernice and Winston try to outdo each other at the start, and how the garden began with quite nefarious secret intent.
💐 There are some witty conversations, especially when Sebastian enters the scene, and some touching letter-writing as well.
💐 With quite a few Indian characters in key roles (and with an Indian origin author), the Indian rep is pretty much spot on. And with great rep comes great Indian food as well. As the characters hail from Gujarat, we are treated (only virtually) to an array of yummy Gujarati dishes. Such books always make me hungry! 😋
💐 The cover! Exactly the kind that would beckon to me from any corner of the bookstore. Just gorgeous!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌹 Mixed feedback about the characters. With two timelines and a story centred on a small neighbourhood, there are plenty of characters to keep track of. Some characters in the past timeline were extraneous.
In the present timeline, the characters are relatively better sketched, but again, because of the number of characters, some don’t get enough page-space to develop. Lewis especially had a lot more scope than what he is given. Winston is complex enough, though his emotions feel a bit monotonous at times. Bernice and her son Sebastian are nicely sketched, but her ex-husband Simon’s portrayal is mostly predictable.
For once, I enjoyed the contemporary timeline far better than the historical one.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 While the past track also begins with the idea of the neighbours and their shared garden, the story goes into some plot points that aren’t crucial to the main storyline, and were even boring. These could have safely been deleted, and would even have reduced the page count without any harm being done. 416 pages is way too long for this genre.
🌵 Minor complaint #1: I can’t get my head around the idea of an Indian Gujarati Hindu character being called Winston. (And to top it, with a sister named Ruth.) Considering his age, Winston was probably born in the late 1980s in the conservative state in the pre-liberalisation period, so unless his mom was greatly inspired by Winston Churchill, I can’t figure out how the kids were given such Western names.
🌵 Minor complaint #2: It’s not a banana tree, but a banana plant! (Well, a herb, technically, but “banana herb” sounds too awkward.) Maybe the general populace wouldn’t know this, but as avid gardening enthusiasts, the characters should have known better.
All in all, the complaints are relatively muted. This is a story about death and renewal, separations and unity, love and loss. If you are looking for an emotional, medium-paced read with heart-warming scenes and interesting characters, this is a good book to try out.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Twilight Garden”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
2018. Stoke Newington, London. Winston, who stays with his partner Lewis at House no. 79, is fed up of his new neighbour Bernice’s snooty attitude. Sadly, numbers 79 and 77 share the back garden, and the Winston and Bernice can’t meet eye to eye on their plans for the space.
However, when some memories from the past are rejuvenated courtesy some mysterious letters and photographs, Winston decides to turn the plot into a community garden, just as it was in the past. Now it is up to Bernice to decide if she wants to work with him, or go against him, or simply ignore him.
The story comes to us from two timelines, with third person perspectives of Winston and Bernice in the contemporary timeline, and some other key characters from the 1970s timeline.
Bookish Yays:
💐 All the gardening- related elements are wonderful. Every plant lover will enjoy seeing the titular garden bloom.
💐 The found-family kind of storyline works well with neighbours coming together over shared interests, past bonds and future plans.
💐 The story generates a strong nostalgia of the good old days when all of us knew every neighbour and even met regularly, rather than today’s world where more interactions happen online than offline. The plot covers a variety of emotions, including some uncommon ones such as homesickness.
💐 Because Winston is gay and in a relationship with Lewis, the warring neighbours trope thankfully doesn’t turn into an enemy-to-lovers trope. I loved how both Bernice and Winston try to outdo each other at the start, and how the garden began with quite nefarious secret intent.
💐 There are some witty conversations, especially when Sebastian enters the scene, and some touching letter-writing as well.
💐 With quite a few Indian characters in key roles (and with an Indian origin author), the Indian rep is pretty much spot on. And with great rep comes great Indian food as well. As the characters hail from Gujarat, we are treated (only virtually) to an array of yummy Gujarati dishes. Such books always make me hungry! 😋
💐 The cover! Exactly the kind that would beckon to me from any corner of the bookstore. Just gorgeous!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌹 Mixed feedback about the characters. With two timelines and a story centred on a small neighbourhood, there are plenty of characters to keep track of. Some characters in the past timeline were extraneous.
In the present timeline, the characters are relatively better sketched, but again, because of the number of characters, some don’t get enough page-space to develop. Lewis especially had a lot more scope than what he is given. Winston is complex enough, though his emotions feel a bit monotonous at times. Bernice and her son Sebastian are nicely sketched, but her ex-husband Simon’s portrayal is mostly predictable.
For once, I enjoyed the contemporary timeline far better than the historical one.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 While the past track also begins with the idea of the neighbours and their shared garden, the story goes into some plot points that aren’t crucial to the main storyline, and were even boring. These could have safely been deleted, and would even have reduced the page count without any harm being done. 416 pages is way too long for this genre.
🌵 Minor complaint #1: I can’t get my head around the idea of an Indian Gujarati Hindu character being called Winston. (And to top it, with a sister named Ruth.) Considering his age, Winston was probably born in the late 1980s in the conservative state in the pre-liberalisation period, so unless his mom was greatly inspired by Winston Churchill, I can’t figure out how the kids were given such Western names.
🌵 Minor complaint #2: It’s not a banana tree, but a banana plant! (Well, a herb, technically, but “banana herb” sounds too awkward.) Maybe the general populace wouldn’t know this, but as avid gardening enthusiasts, the characters should have known better.
All in all, the complaints are relatively muted. This is a story about death and renewal, separations and unity, love and loss. If you are looking for an emotional, medium-paced read with heart-warming scenes and interesting characters, this is a good book to try out.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Twilight Garden”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
March 21, 2023
3.5 rounded up
Let me introduce you to the occupants of Eastbourne Road in Stoke Newington (London). At number 79, the end Victorian terrace are Winston and Lewis, the new neighbour next door is the Queen of Sheba, otherwise known as Bernice. Currently Winston and Bernice are engaged in an unneighbourly battle which I don’t see ending anytime soon. There’s Sal who owns and runs the corner shop where Winston works and Jenny is one of the more colourful customers. There’s a four generational family at number 78, the red trousered man at number 80 and the piercing voices of a loud tv comes from number 68. Despite the many people around him, Winston is lonely and Sheba’s multiple demands are getting him down. He mysteriously receives an envelope containing seeds and photos from the 1980’s Eastbourne Road Community Garden which proves to be his neglected shared garden with Bernice. Maybe this will end neighbourhood wars but only time will tell. The story is told mostly from Winston’s point of view and by Maya from 1972 onwards with some input from Bernice. Who is behind the seeds???
This is a heartwarming story centred on friendship and relationships set in a lovely community and shows how the occupants are or become connected. It’s a story of kindness and hope with some sadness with the 1970/8O’s timeline having a darker and unsettling side from time to time. There’s some well placed humour interspersed with the themes and there’s joy and energy between Seb (Bernice’s young son) and Winston which is so enjoyable. It’s colourfully and vividly told so that those that live in the road spring to life in all their diversity. There are many characters to really like and even those who don’t endear at the start become transformed like the garden.
It is without doubt a charming story that is well told but .. does it really need to be 416 pages long???? The earlier timeline in particular is unnecessarily over detailed. The pleasure of the novel would have lost nothing by losing 75’ish pages.
I must commend that lovely cover!! It works to perfection.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Harper Collins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Let me introduce you to the occupants of Eastbourne Road in Stoke Newington (London). At number 79, the end Victorian terrace are Winston and Lewis, the new neighbour next door is the Queen of Sheba, otherwise known as Bernice. Currently Winston and Bernice are engaged in an unneighbourly battle which I don’t see ending anytime soon. There’s Sal who owns and runs the corner shop where Winston works and Jenny is one of the more colourful customers. There’s a four generational family at number 78, the red trousered man at number 80 and the piercing voices of a loud tv comes from number 68. Despite the many people around him, Winston is lonely and Sheba’s multiple demands are getting him down. He mysteriously receives an envelope containing seeds and photos from the 1980’s Eastbourne Road Community Garden which proves to be his neglected shared garden with Bernice. Maybe this will end neighbourhood wars but only time will tell. The story is told mostly from Winston’s point of view and by Maya from 1972 onwards with some input from Bernice. Who is behind the seeds???
This is a heartwarming story centred on friendship and relationships set in a lovely community and shows how the occupants are or become connected. It’s a story of kindness and hope with some sadness with the 1970/8O’s timeline having a darker and unsettling side from time to time. There’s some well placed humour interspersed with the themes and there’s joy and energy between Seb (Bernice’s young son) and Winston which is so enjoyable. It’s colourfully and vividly told so that those that live in the road spring to life in all their diversity. There are many characters to really like and even those who don’t endear at the start become transformed like the garden.
It is without doubt a charming story that is well told but .. does it really need to be 416 pages long???? The earlier timeline in particular is unnecessarily over detailed. The pleasure of the novel would have lost nothing by losing 75’ish pages.
I must commend that lovely cover!! It works to perfection.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Harper Collins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 25, 2024
The Twilight Garden is a charming dual-timeline story about a shared garden between the two townhouses at Numbers 77 and 79 Eastbourne Road, Stoke Newington, London. The modern-day story starts in September 2018. Winston, an Indian immigrant, must deal with his new neighbor, Bernice, who tries to dictate his use of the rundown garden. He is struggling with guilt over not fulfilling his parents' dreams for him to work in finance and with his problematic relationship with his boyfriend, Lewis. Bernice is a single mother who is overly protective of her young son, Seb. Her ex-husband, Simon, continues to cause problems. Both Winston and Bernice start receiving mystery envelopes containing pictures of two women and the garden when it was flourishing.
Scattered throughout are flashbacks, starting in 1972, to the former residents, Alma and Maya. Maya and her husband, Prem, are a young Indian immigrant couple struggling to adjust to life in London. The very gruff Alma, who has always lived on the property, makes it clear that she does not want Maya to help her with the garden.
In both timelines, the garden brings the adjoining neighbors together. Unexpected friendships form that help the occupants to deal with their emotional struggles. The narrative explores the themes of intergenerational communication, cultural identity, family expectations, what constitutes family, and the transformative power of personal connections through having a shared goal. The twilight garden becomes a place of healing and personal transformation.
4-plus-stars
Scattered throughout are flashbacks, starting in 1972, to the former residents, Alma and Maya. Maya and her husband, Prem, are a young Indian immigrant couple struggling to adjust to life in London. The very gruff Alma, who has always lived on the property, makes it clear that she does not want Maya to help her with the garden.
In both timelines, the garden brings the adjoining neighbors together. Unexpected friendships form that help the occupants to deal with their emotional struggles. The narrative explores the themes of intergenerational communication, cultural identity, family expectations, what constitutes family, and the transformative power of personal connections through having a shared goal. The twilight garden becomes a place of healing and personal transformation.
4-plus-stars
May 4, 2024
I had read Sara Nisha Adams’s debut novel
The Reading List
for book club over a year ago and really enjoyed it. During the author talk for that book, Adams mentioned that her next book would be about a community with a shared garden, which of course, turned out to be this book, her sophomore novel entitled
The Twilight Garden
. While I have to admit that I enjoyed her debut much more, I still found quite a few things that I liked with this new book, with the first and foremost of those being the characters. I couldn’t help loving the entire Stoke Newington community and all its interesting residents — it felt like it would be a dream to live among them and to be able to share in such a beautiful garden (though minus the foxes please).
Told in somewhat of a dual timeline format (though also divided into 4 parts based on the seasons), the story alternates between the perspectives of Winston and Bernice starting in 2018 — the neighbors live in Numbers 77 and 79 in a townhouse complex on Eastbourne Road (in Stoke Newington, London). The two houses have a garden that is shared among them (a non-negotiable written into the housing contract). The garden is in a state of disrepair after being neglected for years, which might as well be fine since the two neighbors can’t seem to get along anyway and are constantly arguing with each other. Winston is an immigrant from India who came to London hoping to fulfill his parents’ dream for him to be successful and happy, but instead, he quit his steady job in finance and works instead for his neighbors Sal and Angela in their shop (though they treat him lovingly, like their own son); on top of that, Winston’s relationship with his partner Lewis is on shaky ground. At the same time, he is forced to deal with his bossy new neighbor, Bernice, who just moved into the house next door with her 10 year old son Sebastian, finally on her own after separating from her ex-husband Simon. The two neighbors seem to be at odds from the start, arguing over everything under sun, but especially over the shared garden; one day, when Bernice tells Winston off and tries to claim the garden for herself, he decides to start clearing the garden and tending to it out of defiance. Bernice’s son Seb slowly gets to know Winston and soon enough, he is helping his new friend in the garden (much to Bernice’s chagrin). Over the course of a couple months, as Bernice joins her son in helping out with the garden, she begins to understand Winston better and they eventually become friends. Interspersed throughout the Winston-Bernice storyline is a narrative that flashes back to 40 plus years prior, starting in the 1970s, with the story of Maya and Alma, who were the previous residents of Numbers 77 and 79. Maya and her husband Prem are also of Indian descent, but arrived to London from Kenya, where most of their family still reside. Alma is an interesting character — someone whom all the residents love and fear at the same time. Maya and Alma — two women with such opposite personalities (and also from vastly different backgrounds) become fast friends and even turn their shared garden into a community garden where all their friends and neighbors frequently gathered. One of the things I really appreciated about this structure was how some of the characters ended up appearing in both narratives, which meant that we got to see them evolve and grow — as a reader who loves character-driven stories, I’m always game for watching characters develop and evolve throughout a story (even though this one was done nonlinearly).
This heartwarming read about friendship and community also had a poignancy to it that I wasn’t quite expecting — to the point that I found myself feeling a lump in my throat at certain parts. Though perhaps I should not have been surprised, given that the overall tone of this second novel is in a similar vein to The Reading List (which was especially poignant and moving). While this is a book I definitely recommend, I do have to warn that it is very much a “slow-burn” type of story where there is not much of a plot to speak of and nothing “exciting” (depending on one’s definition of course) ever really happens. And those who aren’t into gardening might find the detailed descriptions of various plants and flowers and gardening activities a tad less interesting (though thankfully, Adams incorporated these details in a way that wasn’t overwhelming).
Overall, I enjoyed this one for what it was — a moving, emotionally resonant story with endearing, lovable characters (no villains in this story, which is refreshing…oh except maybe the foxes?) doing everyday things and dealing with everyday issues. The narrative does meander a bit though, especially in the middle section (the book overall probably didn’t need to be as long as it was), but luckily it didn’t lose me. I’m definitely looking forward to what Sara Nisha Adams writes next!
Received ARC from William Morrow via NetGalley.
Told in somewhat of a dual timeline format (though also divided into 4 parts based on the seasons), the story alternates between the perspectives of Winston and Bernice starting in 2018 — the neighbors live in Numbers 77 and 79 in a townhouse complex on Eastbourne Road (in Stoke Newington, London). The two houses have a garden that is shared among them (a non-negotiable written into the housing contract). The garden is in a state of disrepair after being neglected for years, which might as well be fine since the two neighbors can’t seem to get along anyway and are constantly arguing with each other. Winston is an immigrant from India who came to London hoping to fulfill his parents’ dream for him to be successful and happy, but instead, he quit his steady job in finance and works instead for his neighbors Sal and Angela in their shop (though they treat him lovingly, like their own son); on top of that, Winston’s relationship with his partner Lewis is on shaky ground. At the same time, he is forced to deal with his bossy new neighbor, Bernice, who just moved into the house next door with her 10 year old son Sebastian, finally on her own after separating from her ex-husband Simon. The two neighbors seem to be at odds from the start, arguing over everything under sun, but especially over the shared garden; one day, when Bernice tells Winston off and tries to claim the garden for herself, he decides to start clearing the garden and tending to it out of defiance. Bernice’s son Seb slowly gets to know Winston and soon enough, he is helping his new friend in the garden (much to Bernice’s chagrin). Over the course of a couple months, as Bernice joins her son in helping out with the garden, she begins to understand Winston better and they eventually become friends. Interspersed throughout the Winston-Bernice storyline is a narrative that flashes back to 40 plus years prior, starting in the 1970s, with the story of Maya and Alma, who were the previous residents of Numbers 77 and 79. Maya and her husband Prem are also of Indian descent, but arrived to London from Kenya, where most of their family still reside. Alma is an interesting character — someone whom all the residents love and fear at the same time. Maya and Alma — two women with such opposite personalities (and also from vastly different backgrounds) become fast friends and even turn their shared garden into a community garden where all their friends and neighbors frequently gathered. One of the things I really appreciated about this structure was how some of the characters ended up appearing in both narratives, which meant that we got to see them evolve and grow — as a reader who loves character-driven stories, I’m always game for watching characters develop and evolve throughout a story (even though this one was done nonlinearly).
This heartwarming read about friendship and community also had a poignancy to it that I wasn’t quite expecting — to the point that I found myself feeling a lump in my throat at certain parts. Though perhaps I should not have been surprised, given that the overall tone of this second novel is in a similar vein to The Reading List (which was especially poignant and moving). While this is a book I definitely recommend, I do have to warn that it is very much a “slow-burn” type of story where there is not much of a plot to speak of and nothing “exciting” (depending on one’s definition of course) ever really happens. And those who aren’t into gardening might find the detailed descriptions of various plants and flowers and gardening activities a tad less interesting (though thankfully, Adams incorporated these details in a way that wasn’t overwhelming).
Overall, I enjoyed this one for what it was — a moving, emotionally resonant story with endearing, lovable characters (no villains in this story, which is refreshing…oh except maybe the foxes?) doing everyday things and dealing with everyday issues. The narrative does meander a bit though, especially in the middle section (the book overall probably didn’t need to be as long as it was), but luckily it didn’t lose me. I’m definitely looking forward to what Sara Nisha Adams writes next!
Received ARC from William Morrow via NetGalley.
May 5, 2023
The Reading List was such a brilliant read and I was itching to get my hands on this.
Sadly, this didn't quite meet the mark for me. Slow pace, characters I wasn't rooting for. So wanted to love this, but it didn't go anywhere for me.
Sadly, this didn't quite meet the mark for me. Slow pace, characters I wasn't rooting for. So wanted to love this, but it didn't go anywhere for me.
September 15, 2023
In a small pocket of London, lived a community and a small community garden. Once a sanctuary for the neighbors now remains neglected as a shared garden lying between two houses, No. 77 and No. 79. But when a mystery parcel drops on Winston's doormat with curious bundle of photographs and leaflets, a seed of hope is planted. As the seasons are changing and Winston wants his worries to take a backseat, it's time to open up the rusty gates and bring the Twilight Garden out of hibernation. But with a new, not so friendly neighbour moving in will he be able to do what he plans to do? But most importantly what those mysterious envelopes are about?
“Gardens aren't something you can keep all to yourself. It's about enjoying it, in all the big and small ways. Together.”
"The Twilight Garden" is a domestic fiction that revolves around a small community and their shared love of a garden. But upon reading it, it feels much more than that. This book takes two vastly different timelines and wraps a complex concoction of friendship, love, relationship and most important strong bonds around it. What a heart warming read where we get to see the plots and the characters growing simultaneously. There are many character sketches but mostly we see Winston, Bernice, Maya and Alma. Each having a world of their own but still connected with the same thread. There were other potential characters but unfortunately we don't get to see them as much as I hoped. As the story flows blending the two time periods, slowly unraveling the past and present we get to see their complex nature. I very much liked how real they felt.
Recently I've been enjoying slow books a lot where I can just relax and immerse myself into the character's life and this book came as a blessing. I was not expecting to fall in love with it. The writing is perfectly paced for me. Quality of writing is also amazing. But I would have enjoyed some limelight on other characters too. The overall concept of the book is quite different. Recommended to anyone who is looking for a relaxing, heart-warming read.
“Gardens aren't something you can keep all to yourself. It's about enjoying it, in all the big and small ways. Together.”
"The Twilight Garden" is a domestic fiction that revolves around a small community and their shared love of a garden. But upon reading it, it feels much more than that. This book takes two vastly different timelines and wraps a complex concoction of friendship, love, relationship and most important strong bonds around it. What a heart warming read where we get to see the plots and the characters growing simultaneously. There are many character sketches but mostly we see Winston, Bernice, Maya and Alma. Each having a world of their own but still connected with the same thread. There were other potential characters but unfortunately we don't get to see them as much as I hoped. As the story flows blending the two time periods, slowly unraveling the past and present we get to see their complex nature. I very much liked how real they felt.
Recently I've been enjoying slow books a lot where I can just relax and immerse myself into the character's life and this book came as a blessing. I was not expecting to fall in love with it. The writing is perfectly paced for me. Quality of writing is also amazing. But I would have enjoyed some limelight on other characters too. The overall concept of the book is quite different. Recommended to anyone who is looking for a relaxing, heart-warming read.
March 9, 2024
Prachtig verhaal.
July 7, 2023
I have a feeling I will love anything Sara Nisha Adams writes, the reading list is my favorite book of all time and this one was absolutely incredible too 💓 the cover is so beautiful too!
Such a beautiful, heartwarming story filled with endearing characters and love🫶🏼
The twilight garden tells the story of neighbors coming together in modern London to help a neglected community garden with a lot of memories. The garden provides an escape for the characters and is kind of a healing place for everyone. This book really highlights their struggles and how community can hold us together and heal parts of us that we dont want to face alone, and that’s so beautiful 🥺
I love the found family, it was written so beautifully with the neighbors all coming together to help with the community garden that means so much to everyone because of shared interests, past bonds and future plans. I also love the growth and friendships🪴
Such a beautiful, heartwarming story filled with endearing characters and love🫶🏼
The twilight garden tells the story of neighbors coming together in modern London to help a neglected community garden with a lot of memories. The garden provides an escape for the characters and is kind of a healing place for everyone. This book really highlights their struggles and how community can hold us together and heal parts of us that we dont want to face alone, and that’s so beautiful 🥺
I love the found family, it was written so beautifully with the neighbors all coming together to help with the community garden that means so much to everyone because of shared interests, past bonds and future plans. I also love the growth and friendships🪴
January 1, 2024
Lovely story about community, friendship and life. I struggled because it has a very slow pace and never really grabbed me.
May 31, 2024
Thank you, Goodreads and the author, for this book. Nice story, easy to read. 4 stars.
Stacey Bankey
Stacey Bankey
July 6, 2024
Lovely premise, a shared garden bringing community together but it was too meandering and bogged down with detail that should have added to the charm but didn’t. The pace was slow and it could be repetitious without much happening. Lacked the cozy feel I was hoping for and I didn’t find the characters very engaging as the book progressed which might have made this a better reading experience for me.
March 30, 2023
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC of The Twilight Garden by Sara Nisha Adams. This is my first NetGalley review!
I've read Adams' debut novel The Reading List with my book club and I enjoyed it very much. So when the author announced her next novel was up on NetGalley I knew this would be the first book I wanted to request, even though I wasn't so sure about the gardening theme. A book about books like The Reading List, what's not to love? But a book about gardening? I can't even keep a plastic cactus looking fresh... but I was not disappointed. In fact, I think The Twilight Garden is better than her first.
The book is about two neighbours, Winston and Bernice, who do not get along at all. Unfortunately, they share a garden so having to deal with each other is unavoidable. At first, the garden is (yet another) reason for them to despise each other and the arena for their frustrated battles. Things start to change when they each receive letters and photos in the mail about the previous residents who turned the garden into paradise. Not just for themselves, but for all the neighbours in the street. Organizing parties and events that made the garden the heart of a strong community that looked out for each other.
The letters and photos are like seeds planted in the heads of Winston and Bernice. Slowly but surely, they not only start to grow plants and vegetables in the garden. They start to grow towards eachother and towards their neighbours. They also grow within themselves as the act of gardening and their growing relationship helps them overcome heartache and grief. Both Bernice and Winston learn to shed what no longer suits them and they start to bloom.
Summarized like this, it may sound a little tacky but in the book Adams uses this metaphor in such a subtle way it never gets sentimental or too obvious. In fact, I very much appreciated Adams' realistic take on live in that it is not an all's-well-that-ends-well book. Though topics like racism, grief and serious illness play an important part in the book and things aren't made to look easier than they are.
There is one thing that worried me. As in her first novel, the plot is driven by an anonymous letter writer who sets the actions of the main characters in motion. Although in this book it is not such a mystery who the letter writer is (which worked better I think). I do hope Adams won't turn this into a gimmick and that her next book will be about a secret letter writer who gets people to start knitting or cold water swimming or something.
That said, if Adams were to write another book like that, I would definitely read it. The Twilight Garden is heartwarming, uplifting and made me appreciate the beauty of very different people connecting through a shared activity. How important it is to connect with the people surrounding you, how meaningful it is. How meaningful small acts can be, even if you don't realise it at the time.
The Twilight Garden describes paradise, but one that is quite possible to create wherever we are. It just takes one little seed, a bit of sun and love...
(3,5 stars, rounded up)
I've read Adams' debut novel The Reading List with my book club and I enjoyed it very much. So when the author announced her next novel was up on NetGalley I knew this would be the first book I wanted to request, even though I wasn't so sure about the gardening theme. A book about books like The Reading List, what's not to love? But a book about gardening? I can't even keep a plastic cactus looking fresh... but I was not disappointed. In fact, I think The Twilight Garden is better than her first.
The book is about two neighbours, Winston and Bernice, who do not get along at all. Unfortunately, they share a garden so having to deal with each other is unavoidable. At first, the garden is (yet another) reason for them to despise each other and the arena for their frustrated battles. Things start to change when they each receive letters and photos in the mail about the previous residents who turned the garden into paradise. Not just for themselves, but for all the neighbours in the street. Organizing parties and events that made the garden the heart of a strong community that looked out for each other.
The letters and photos are like seeds planted in the heads of Winston and Bernice. Slowly but surely, they not only start to grow plants and vegetables in the garden. They start to grow towards eachother and towards their neighbours. They also grow within themselves as the act of gardening and their growing relationship helps them overcome heartache and grief. Both Bernice and Winston learn to shed what no longer suits them and they start to bloom.
Summarized like this, it may sound a little tacky but in the book Adams uses this metaphor in such a subtle way it never gets sentimental or too obvious. In fact, I very much appreciated Adams' realistic take on live in that it is not an all's-well-that-ends-well book. Though topics like racism, grief and serious illness play an important part in the book and things aren't made to look easier than they are.
There is one thing that worried me. As in her first novel, the plot is driven by an anonymous letter writer who sets the actions of the main characters in motion. Although in this book it is not such a mystery who the letter writer is (which worked better I think). I do hope Adams won't turn this into a gimmick and that her next book will be about a secret letter writer who gets people to start knitting or cold water swimming or something.
That said, if Adams were to write another book like that, I would definitely read it. The Twilight Garden is heartwarming, uplifting and made me appreciate the beauty of very different people connecting through a shared activity. How important it is to connect with the people surrounding you, how meaningful it is. How meaningful small acts can be, even if you don't realise it at the time.
The Twilight Garden describes paradise, but one that is quite possible to create wherever we are. It just takes one little seed, a bit of sun and love...
(3,5 stars, rounded up)
June 3, 2023
Cute story and interesting idea, but for the life of me I couldn't really get into it.
What initially attracted me to this novel was the idea of a neglected garden that will bring people together. I found that an interesting concept which reminded me a bit of what happened in my local park: a community garden that is bringing a huge community together at a time when forging relationships doesn't seem to happen easily.
And in many ways this is what we get in The Twilight Garden: stories of developing relationships(love and friendships) and the forging of a community in adverse times and between people from diverse backgrounds.
Unfortunately the story failed to truly grip me. It went from mild interested to boredom and skipped paragraphs because I just could muster up enough interest for the endless details and uninteresting dialogues.
*Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity!
What initially attracted me to this novel was the idea of a neglected garden that will bring people together. I found that an interesting concept which reminded me a bit of what happened in my local park: a community garden that is bringing a huge community together at a time when forging relationships doesn't seem to happen easily.
And in many ways this is what we get in The Twilight Garden: stories of developing relationships(love and friendships) and the forging of a community in adverse times and between people from diverse backgrounds.
Unfortunately the story failed to truly grip me. It went from mild interested to boredom and skipped paragraphs because I just could muster up enough interest for the endless details and uninteresting dialogues.
*Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity!
March 14, 2024
Eastbourne Road, Londen. Tussen de huizen op nummer 77 en 79 ligt een gedeelde tuin. Ooit was het een prachtig stukje groen, een oase van rust in een bruisende stad. Nu is de tuin verwaarloosd en overwoekerd. Buren Winston en Bernice vinden dat niet erg. Ze mogen de tuin dan wel delen, meer hebben ze niet met elkaar gemeen.
Maar op een dag wordt er een mysterieus pakketje bezorgd. Het zijn foto's van de tuin toen deze nog in bloei stond - levendig met bloemen en wilde dieren, toen hij bezocht werd door mensen uit alle hoeken van de gemeenschap. Probeert iemand hen wat te vertellen?
Een zaadje is Winston en Bernice begraven de strijdbijl en trekken hun tuinhandschoenen aan. Terwijl ze omspitten en planten, schrobben en water geven, begint de tuin uit zijn winterslaap te ontwaken - en ook het ijs tussen Winston en Bernice begint te ontdooien. Kan de tuin helpen bij het opbloeien van het verloren groepsgevoel in de gemeenschap? Met een beetje hulp van de geheimzinnige tuinier die pakketjes blijft sturen, groeien Winston en Bernice steeds meer naar elkaar toe.
Sara Nisha Adams bewijst met dit boek wederom weer waarom zij één van mijn favoriete auteurs is. Na het lezen van 'De troostbibliotheek' - waar ik overigens helemaal fan van ben, kon haar volgende boek dan ook niet achterblijven. 'De schemertuin' is prachtig beschreven en wakkert mijn liefde voor tuinieren weer aan.
Dit is een emotioneel, meeslepend en liefdevol verhaal. Het gaat over de liefde voor de gemeenschap, je vrienden, familie en je geliefden. Het gaat over verlies, het leven, rouwen, en weer doorgaan. Het gaat over saamhorigheid, elkaar steunen en een gedeelde passie vinden.
Het verhaal is opgedeeld in vier seizoenen en elk deel start met een brief van Maya. Langzaam ontdekken we dat er verschillende perspectieven en tijdlijnen zijn, namelijk die in het heden van Bernice en Winston, en die in het verleden van Maya. Maya woonde in het verleden samen met haar vriendin en buurvrouw Alma op nummer 77 en 79. In het heden zijn dat Winston en Bernice. Allebei de buren ontdekken uiteindelijk een liefde voor de gemeenschappelijke tuin en dit is dan ook wat ze met elkaar en de gemeenschap verbindt. Het zorgt voor saamhorigheid.
De personages zijn stuk voor stuk fijn om te ontdekken. Er komen meerdere culturen, waar de Indiase voorop staat, en geaardheden aan bod. Adams laat zien dat het niet makkelijk is om als 'buitenstaander' te integreren in een nieuw land. Ze zet dit zeer krachtig en raak neer. De personages zijn dan ook goed uitgediept, voelen allemaal echt aan en hebben sterke karaktereigenschappen. Allemaal hebben ze hun eigen verhaal.
'De schemertuin' is wederom weer een prachtig boek. Het komt wat langzaam op gang, maar wanneer je er eenmaal inzit, is het erg lastig weg te leggen. De beschrijvingen van de tuin maken dat ik ook dit jaar weer erg veel zin heb om te wroeten in mijn moestuin. Ik ga de personages en het verhaal missen, aangezien ik daar toch wel behoorlijk gehecht aan ben geraakt, en kan niet wachten om te zien wat Adams nog meer gaat schrijven.
Bedankt uitgeverij The House of Books voor dit recensie-exemplaar in ruil voor een eerlijke mening.
Maar op een dag wordt er een mysterieus pakketje bezorgd. Het zijn foto's van de tuin toen deze nog in bloei stond - levendig met bloemen en wilde dieren, toen hij bezocht werd door mensen uit alle hoeken van de gemeenschap. Probeert iemand hen wat te vertellen?
Een zaadje is Winston en Bernice begraven de strijdbijl en trekken hun tuinhandschoenen aan. Terwijl ze omspitten en planten, schrobben en water geven, begint de tuin uit zijn winterslaap te ontwaken - en ook het ijs tussen Winston en Bernice begint te ontdooien. Kan de tuin helpen bij het opbloeien van het verloren groepsgevoel in de gemeenschap? Met een beetje hulp van de geheimzinnige tuinier die pakketjes blijft sturen, groeien Winston en Bernice steeds meer naar elkaar toe.
Sara Nisha Adams bewijst met dit boek wederom weer waarom zij één van mijn favoriete auteurs is. Na het lezen van 'De troostbibliotheek' - waar ik overigens helemaal fan van ben, kon haar volgende boek dan ook niet achterblijven. 'De schemertuin' is prachtig beschreven en wakkert mijn liefde voor tuinieren weer aan.
Dit is een emotioneel, meeslepend en liefdevol verhaal. Het gaat over de liefde voor de gemeenschap, je vrienden, familie en je geliefden. Het gaat over verlies, het leven, rouwen, en weer doorgaan. Het gaat over saamhorigheid, elkaar steunen en een gedeelde passie vinden.
Het verhaal is opgedeeld in vier seizoenen en elk deel start met een brief van Maya. Langzaam ontdekken we dat er verschillende perspectieven en tijdlijnen zijn, namelijk die in het heden van Bernice en Winston, en die in het verleden van Maya. Maya woonde in het verleden samen met haar vriendin en buurvrouw Alma op nummer 77 en 79. In het heden zijn dat Winston en Bernice. Allebei de buren ontdekken uiteindelijk een liefde voor de gemeenschappelijke tuin en dit is dan ook wat ze met elkaar en de gemeenschap verbindt. Het zorgt voor saamhorigheid.
De personages zijn stuk voor stuk fijn om te ontdekken. Er komen meerdere culturen, waar de Indiase voorop staat, en geaardheden aan bod. Adams laat zien dat het niet makkelijk is om als 'buitenstaander' te integreren in een nieuw land. Ze zet dit zeer krachtig en raak neer. De personages zijn dan ook goed uitgediept, voelen allemaal echt aan en hebben sterke karaktereigenschappen. Allemaal hebben ze hun eigen verhaal.
'De schemertuin' is wederom weer een prachtig boek. Het komt wat langzaam op gang, maar wanneer je er eenmaal inzit, is het erg lastig weg te leggen. De beschrijvingen van de tuin maken dat ik ook dit jaar weer erg veel zin heb om te wroeten in mijn moestuin. Ik ga de personages en het verhaal missen, aangezien ik daar toch wel behoorlijk gehecht aan ben geraakt, en kan niet wachten om te zien wat Adams nog meer gaat schrijven.
Bedankt uitgeverij The House of Books voor dit recensie-exemplaar in ruil voor een eerlijke mening.
April 15, 2024
Het kostte me bloed, zweet en tranen, maar dit boek is uit. Het ging echt werkelijk nergens over. Eerder las ik De Troostbibliotheek van deze schrijver, die vond ik al matig, maar deze vond ik helemaal niks. Op zich wordt alles mooi omschreven - vandaar nog de twee sterren - maar voor de rest deed dit niks met me. Er worden te veel personages geïntroduceerd en ondertussen gebeurt er niks. Alleen leuk als je dol bent op een enorme slow read.
Shelved as '2024'
June 4, 2024📱 Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow
August 27, 2024
I loved this book. Heartwarming, endearing and hopeful. Perfect for when you want to drift away into another world and not have to think/feel *too* much.
April 30, 2024
Echt met pijn in m’n hart een lage rating want ik zie de visie en de message die dit verhaal moet over brengen, maar ik heb voor m’n gevoel 900 pagina’s (e reader) gelezen over mensen die zaden in de grond stoppen en vervolgens 6 hoofdstukken lang gaan nadenken over of ze iemand willen uitnodigen. Had me echt niet dit boek echt domper want troostbibliotheek vond ik helemaal het einde.
May 22, 2024
This is a sweet, low key, sort-of mystery. It has some interesting characters and plot lines but overall I felt it moved too slowly and I was forcing myself to pick it up towards the end. If you love gardening or neighborhood community/it takes a village kind of plots you'll probably enjoy this.
March 16, 2023
Thanks Netgally for my copy for an honest review.
This started off as an interesting read into the life of Winston and his dislike for his new neighbours. I felt I could relate to this and was interested to know more. As time went on it was evident that the neighbours would become friends which they did, and I thought that was sweet.
Then more time went on and Winston and his boyfriend Lewis break up and I completely lost interest. I found Winston to be very selfish and boring character. I didnt like the way he treated the peoplr around him, no consideration for others at all. Never thought of anyone bit himself. It was nice how the garden got opened up again... one time. And there were quite a few chapters just with the characters waiting for the garden party. I just found this book boring and uneventful.
This started off as an interesting read into the life of Winston and his dislike for his new neighbours. I felt I could relate to this and was interested to know more. As time went on it was evident that the neighbours would become friends which they did, and I thought that was sweet.
Then more time went on and Winston and his boyfriend Lewis break up and I completely lost interest. I found Winston to be very selfish and boring character. I didnt like the way he treated the peoplr around him, no consideration for others at all. Never thought of anyone bit himself. It was nice how the garden got opened up again... one time. And there were quite a few chapters just with the characters waiting for the garden party. I just found this book boring and uneventful.
April 11, 2024
A heartwarming, feel-good, dual timeline and multiple POV novel about a community garden and the lives of those who band together to help work on it. While I didn't love this one quite as much as the author's debut, The reading list, it was still full of a diverse cast of British characters of all ages with interesting back stories. Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like Abbi Waxman's The garden of small beginnings. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This cover is OUTSTANDING and definitely has had me hooked for months in advance in eager anticipation!!
September 6, 2023
Sometimes a seemingly quiet book can tell a beautifully loud story.
Read
March 28, 2024Dnf @ 48%
July 11, 2024
A shared garden brings two pairs of people, and their communities, together in friendship.
Winston and Lewis rent a home in a London neighbourhood. Though they've been together for years, Winston feels neglected with Lewis making his job his priority, rather than their relationship. Winston's hurt feelings are exacerbated when divorced Beatrice and her son Seb move in. He dubs her The Queen of Sheba as she complains frequently to Winston about noise, the tired chair he sits on in their shared weed-infested garden, and other things. He goes out of his way to provoke her, too.
One day. Winston receives a packet that shows him pictures of the shared garden from the early 1970s, and its two proud gardeners. Feeling inspired by the photos, he begins cleaning out the weeds, and planting. Seb begins helping Winston, and a friendship begins growing between the two.
The author also begins showing us who the original gardeners were in the in the past: Maya and Alma. Maya and her husband Prem immigrated from Kenya to make a new life for themselves, and Maya gradually wins the crusty Alma over when they work on the shared garden together, creating a beautiful space that is welcoming to their friends in the neighbourhood. Even while Prem and Maya are forging deep connections with their neighbours, many of whom are also from other parts of the world, there are reminders that racism is ever present, as well as exploitation of immigrant workers, and police harassment.
In the present, through working on the garden, Winston and Beatrice begin a slow friendship, prompted by Beatrice receiving her own packet of photos showing her what the garden she shares with Winston used to look like, and more importantly, Seb's camaraderie with him.
This book was delightful and deeply moving. I loved Winston, Maya, Prem and Alma, and I loved how gardening together was such a wonderful way for people to connect and forge strong bonds.
Winston and Lewis rent a home in a London neighbourhood. Though they've been together for years, Winston feels neglected with Lewis making his job his priority, rather than their relationship. Winston's hurt feelings are exacerbated when divorced Beatrice and her son Seb move in. He dubs her The Queen of Sheba as she complains frequently to Winston about noise, the tired chair he sits on in their shared weed-infested garden, and other things. He goes out of his way to provoke her, too.
One day. Winston receives a packet that shows him pictures of the shared garden from the early 1970s, and its two proud gardeners. Feeling inspired by the photos, he begins cleaning out the weeds, and planting. Seb begins helping Winston, and a friendship begins growing between the two.
The author also begins showing us who the original gardeners were in the in the past: Maya and Alma. Maya and her husband Prem immigrated from Kenya to make a new life for themselves, and Maya gradually wins the crusty Alma over when they work on the shared garden together, creating a beautiful space that is welcoming to their friends in the neighbourhood. Even while Prem and Maya are forging deep connections with their neighbours, many of whom are also from other parts of the world, there are reminders that racism is ever present, as well as exploitation of immigrant workers, and police harassment.
In the present, through working on the garden, Winston and Beatrice begin a slow friendship, prompted by Beatrice receiving her own packet of photos showing her what the garden she shares with Winston used to look like, and more importantly, Seb's camaraderie with him.
This book was delightful and deeply moving. I loved Winston, Maya, Prem and Alma, and I loved how gardening together was such a wonderful way for people to connect and forge strong bonds.
June 29, 2024
Initially I had a hard time investing in this book. Picked up for me when Maya was introduced. Loved the healing aspect of the garden and found family. Overall a satisfying read just wish characters were a bit more developed.
August 7, 2024
Very boring. Winston was the highlight of the story. The storytelling was very good.
June 12, 2023
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum.
Actual rating: 3.5*
I received an eARC via NetGalley from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.
The Twilight Garden was another impulse request on NetGalley. I liked the cover and thought it would be a nice break from all the heavy stuff I had on my upcoming list, not to talk about a nice genre break from Fantasy. I haven’t read Sara Nisha Adams‘ previous novel, so I had no idea what to expect. I basically just wanted a nice book with nothing too complicated. On that account, The Twilight Garden delivered nicely.
The Twilight Garden is a story within the story type of novel, in which we follow the events on two timelines. One timeline is set in the present(ish) of 2019-2020 with Bernice and Winston in the focus, while the other timeline tells the story of Maya and Apple throughout the 1970s and ’80s. What connects them is a small garden and two old houses that share said garden in the London suburb.
Maya is in her twenties when she and her husband, Prem arrive in London from Kenya, following in her sister’s footsteps. They rent the house she and her family rented before them, with a big garden and a prickly neighbour, Alma. At first, she struggles in her new environment, but as she slowly makes friends with Alma through gardening together, she gets to know the community, finds new friends, and eventually builds a happy life with her own family. And when tragedy strikes, her found family is there to help her through it all.
Winston’s been living in the same house where Maya and her family lived for five years now, with his partner, Lewis. He came to London from India to work in the bank industry as his father wanted, but that was never his path, and eventually settled for working at the nearby grocery store. While Lewis remains extremely busy with work, the pair slowly grows apart. And on top of it all, the house that stood empty for decades, suddenly has a new owner, Bernice, a freshly divorced mother of a young boy. They constantly war with each other for one thing or another. Prompted by mysterious letters dropped on his doorstep with pictures and articles about the garden in its prime, Winston decides to further annoy Bernice by taking up gardening and restoring the garden. And while it seems like the world is falling apart for both Winston and Bernice, the garden’s magic does its work.
I found The Twilight Garden an interesting read. It was a slice-of-life kind of book which I don’t read often, but it sure was a nice change. I enjoyed reading about the lives of these people, their everyday struggles, and the way their friendships evolved naturally. I found it engaging, if sometimes a bit boring. But it was also fascinating to read about these parallel lives that were so different but at the same time had some similarities. And how the same place can be so different for the people occupying it. I enjoyed the slow build, the way we really got to know the key characters, and the way they were written, they felt very real. I wished the side characters were a bit more rounded/interesting, though. They could have added more depth to the story.
And while we are at it, The Twilight Garden touches upon several societal issues – racism, diaspora, the clash of cultures, the insecurity LGBTQ people feel not just in Western cultures (Winston has Indian origins, and he’s been hiding his work and identity from his parents for fear of disappointing them) and how they face the same problems as any other couples. These are all very interesting and serious topics that need discussion, but the thing is, I felt that while the book does touch upon these issues, it does very lightly, only just scratching the surface. I think I wanted to know more about how the characters feel about these issues, something deeper. There was just something missing for me to really connect with them – and this book.
In conclusion, I had a nice time with The Twilight Garden. Probably could have used a trimming in reflections on societal issues and a deeper exploration of the remaining ones, but it certainly can make one think about these things. It’s generally a feel-good slice-of-life story about friendship, found families, and the power of nature that connects us all, whether we want it or not. Life can be lonely, especially if you are far away from home, or your loved ones (physically or otherwise), but there is always a community just on the other side of the gate, waiting for you to discover it. If you are brave enough to open up.
Actual rating: 3.5*
I received an eARC via NetGalley from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.
The Twilight Garden was another impulse request on NetGalley. I liked the cover and thought it would be a nice break from all the heavy stuff I had on my upcoming list, not to talk about a nice genre break from Fantasy. I haven’t read Sara Nisha Adams‘ previous novel, so I had no idea what to expect. I basically just wanted a nice book with nothing too complicated. On that account, The Twilight Garden delivered nicely.
The Twilight Garden is a story within the story type of novel, in which we follow the events on two timelines. One timeline is set in the present(ish) of 2019-2020 with Bernice and Winston in the focus, while the other timeline tells the story of Maya and Apple throughout the 1970s and ’80s. What connects them is a small garden and two old houses that share said garden in the London suburb.
Maya is in her twenties when she and her husband, Prem arrive in London from Kenya, following in her sister’s footsteps. They rent the house she and her family rented before them, with a big garden and a prickly neighbour, Alma. At first, she struggles in her new environment, but as she slowly makes friends with Alma through gardening together, she gets to know the community, finds new friends, and eventually builds a happy life with her own family. And when tragedy strikes, her found family is there to help her through it all.
Winston’s been living in the same house where Maya and her family lived for five years now, with his partner, Lewis. He came to London from India to work in the bank industry as his father wanted, but that was never his path, and eventually settled for working at the nearby grocery store. While Lewis remains extremely busy with work, the pair slowly grows apart. And on top of it all, the house that stood empty for decades, suddenly has a new owner, Bernice, a freshly divorced mother of a young boy. They constantly war with each other for one thing or another. Prompted by mysterious letters dropped on his doorstep with pictures and articles about the garden in its prime, Winston decides to further annoy Bernice by taking up gardening and restoring the garden. And while it seems like the world is falling apart for both Winston and Bernice, the garden’s magic does its work.
I found The Twilight Garden an interesting read. It was a slice-of-life kind of book which I don’t read often, but it sure was a nice change. I enjoyed reading about the lives of these people, their everyday struggles, and the way their friendships evolved naturally. I found it engaging, if sometimes a bit boring. But it was also fascinating to read about these parallel lives that were so different but at the same time had some similarities. And how the same place can be so different for the people occupying it. I enjoyed the slow build, the way we really got to know the key characters, and the way they were written, they felt very real. I wished the side characters were a bit more rounded/interesting, though. They could have added more depth to the story.
And while we are at it, The Twilight Garden touches upon several societal issues – racism, diaspora, the clash of cultures, the insecurity LGBTQ people feel not just in Western cultures (Winston has Indian origins, and he’s been hiding his work and identity from his parents for fear of disappointing them) and how they face the same problems as any other couples. These are all very interesting and serious topics that need discussion, but the thing is, I felt that while the book does touch upon these issues, it does very lightly, only just scratching the surface. I think I wanted to know more about how the characters feel about these issues, something deeper. There was just something missing for me to really connect with them – and this book.
In conclusion, I had a nice time with The Twilight Garden. Probably could have used a trimming in reflections on societal issues and a deeper exploration of the remaining ones, but it certainly can make one think about these things. It’s generally a feel-good slice-of-life story about friendship, found families, and the power of nature that connects us all, whether we want it or not. Life can be lonely, especially if you are far away from home, or your loved ones (physically or otherwise), but there is always a community just on the other side of the gate, waiting for you to discover it. If you are brave enough to open up.
August 31, 2023
Such a gorgeous read!
Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book.
I have seen the cover around online and was completely captured by its beauty.
I had an absolute pleasure reading this, page by page, word by word. Completely devoured it in one sitting.
Highly recommended- feel good vibes and feeling of connectedness!
Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book.
I have seen the cover around online and was completely captured by its beauty.
I had an absolute pleasure reading this, page by page, word by word. Completely devoured it in one sitting.
Highly recommended- feel good vibes and feeling of connectedness!
March 29, 2023
A small seed can lead to the most amazing things and heal the soul.
Between the two houses in London's multicultural neighborhood, lies a neglected community garden. A garden that is magical in its own way and that may once again become a place of healing and new friendships.
Winston is perfectly content that the garden is abandoned, he already has enough problems with the obnoxious neighbor. One day, however, a strange mail awaits him at home.
The story is heartwarming, charming, and well-written. It reminds us that it's the little things in life that matter.
Excellent reading.
Between the two houses in London's multicultural neighborhood, lies a neglected community garden. A garden that is magical in its own way and that may once again become a place of healing and new friendships.
Winston is perfectly content that the garden is abandoned, he already has enough problems with the obnoxious neighbor. One day, however, a strange mail awaits him at home.
The story is heartwarming, charming, and well-written. It reminds us that it's the little things in life that matter.
Excellent reading.
August 29, 2023
Tediously slow. I don't mind a character-driven story, but for it to be successful I have to care about the characters, and I just didn't in this case. Abandoned the book a third of the way through, as even skipping forwards I found I wasn't missing anything important and realised I wasn't finding a reason to draw me back and stop skipping on.
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