Books Like The Language of Flowers

Life can be difficult, and many people endure hardship and injustice. The negative energy caused by such events can cause people to harbor resentment and pain, often directed at the person who wronged them. This is why forgiveness is such a powerful theme in many novels. The journey to get to the point of forgiveness, whether for yourself or others, can be difficult, but it allows people to regain their power and break the bonds that tie them negatively to the past. For example, in The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenaugh, a young woman has to learn to forgive herself for her perceived failures and mistakes that stem from a troubled past in the foster care system. She also ends up healing and accepting after forgiving people from her past. For more novels exploring forgiveness-related themes, check out the following books like The Language of Flowers. The StorytellerBy Jodi PicoultThe Storyteller by Jodi Picoult is a complex tale about redemption and forgiveness, starring a baker named Sage Singer. Sage chooses this solitary profession after the death of her mother in a car accident, for which she blames herself. After meeting an elderly man, Josef, in her grief support group, the two become unlikely friends. However, when Josef makes a confession to Sage about a long-buried secret, she is conflicted about what to do. The Storyteller follows Sage as she tries to come to terms with the past and tries not to let it dictate her future.Heart of the MatterBy Emily GriffinHeart of the Matter by Emily Griffin has numerous themes of forgiveness woven through the story. It is the tale of Tessa Russo, who is married to a renowned pediatric surgeon named Nick. Tessa gives up her career to focus on her two young children and her family, but Nick's actions cause marital issues, raising the topic of forgiveness. It is also the tale of Valerie, an attorney and single mother to a six-year-old boy named Charlie. A terrible accident results in Nick having to treat Charlie for burns while Valerie struggles to forgive herself for the part she played.    ShantaramBy Gregory David RobertsShantaram is a multifaceted by Gregory David Roberts that includes forgiveness among its many themes. The story follows a man named Lin who flees to the teeming streets of Bombay after escaping a maximum-security prison in Australia. As an escaped convict, Lin has to come to terms with what he has done in the past and learn to forgive himself. While searching for love and meaning by running a clinic in one of the poorest slums of the city, Lin also has to deal with betrayal from people he must ultimately forgive. Where She WentBy Gayle FormanWhere She Went is the sequel to If I Stay by Gayle Forman and continues the story of Adam and Mia. It is told from Adam's perspective, who, after his breakup with Mia, has become a star thanks to the album he made. Mia has also made a name for herself as a top-rate cellist who plays at some of the best venues. However, both struggle with forgiving themselves for the roles they believe they played in their breakup. They also find forgiving each other for what happened between them is challenging. These themes are explored when they both cross paths in New York City for one evening where they reunite. AtonementBy Ian McEwanBoth forgiveness and atonement are themes heavily featured in Atonement by Ian McEwan. The story opens in 1935 when Briony Tallis, a thirteen-year-old girl, sees her older sister Cecilia share a flirtation moment with her friend Robbie Turner. Robbie is the family housekeeper's son, but Briony's parents funded his university education. After a series of events that forever change the lives of her sister and Robbie, Briony is left with lifelong guilt, for which she seeks forgiveness. She also tries to use her writing as a way to find the redemption and forgiveness that she struggles with in reality.     The Kite RunnerBy Khaled HosseiniKhaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner is another novel in which forgiveness is a central theme. Amir is a young boy from Kabul who befriends Hassan, the son of his father's servant. Both boys grow up without mothers, but Amir's father treats Hassan like a son, which causes Amir to become jealous. After betraying Hassan, Amir spends most of his life seeking forgiveness and redemption. The story is one of hope, too, as it shows that forgiveness and atonement can still be achieved even if the process is long and arduous. The Light Between OceansBy M.L. StedmanThe Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman is the story of a lighthouse keeper named Tom and his wife, Isabel. Tom takes on the job of lighthouse keeper just off the Australian coast after four years spent on the Western Front. The couple spend their time in isolation on the island, and their attempts at conceiving a child result in two miscarriages and a stillbirth. However, one day, the still grieving Isabel discovers a boat that has washed up onshore containing a dead man and a living baby. Despite Tom's insistence on reporting the incident, Isabel believes the baby is a gift from God and they should raise her as their own. This action leads to a lot of guilt and regret, and Tom and Isabel struggle to find forgiveness. When the truth is revealed, the baby's biological mother also has to come to terms with forgiving Tom and Isabel for what they have done.