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Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire
In the heart of New York City, hidden in the back room of an old Laundromat, are nine rare and valuable plants. Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire tells the story of this legendary garden, and the distance one woman must travel—from the cold, harsh streets of Manhattan to the lush jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula—to claim what is hers.
Lila Nova lives alone in a plain, white box of an apartment. Recovering from a heartbreaking divorce, Lila’s life is like her simple, new, and empty. But when she meets a handsome plant-seller named David Exley, an entire world opens up before her eyes. Late one night Lila stumbles across a strange Laundromat and sees ferns so highly-prized that a tiny cutting can fetch thousands of dollars. She learns about flowers with medicinal properties to rival anything found in drugstores. And she hears the legend of nine mystical plants that bring fame, fortune, immortality, and passion.
The owner of the Laundromat, Armand, presents Lila with a if she can make the cutting from a fire fern grow roots, he will show her the secret of his locked room. But Lila is too trusting, and with one terrible mistake she ruins her chance to see Armand’s plants. The only way to win it back is to travel, on her own, to the Yucatan.
Deep in the rain forests of Mexico, Lila enters a world of shamans and spirit animals, snake charmers, and sexy, heart-stopping Huichols. Alone in the jungle, Lila is forced to learn more than she ever wanted to know about nature—and about herself. An exhilarating journey of love and self-discovery, Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire brings together mystery, adventure, and heat, in every sense of the word.
Lila Nova lives alone in a plain, white box of an apartment. Recovering from a heartbreaking divorce, Lila’s life is like her simple, new, and empty. But when she meets a handsome plant-seller named David Exley, an entire world opens up before her eyes. Late one night Lila stumbles across a strange Laundromat and sees ferns so highly-prized that a tiny cutting can fetch thousands of dollars. She learns about flowers with medicinal properties to rival anything found in drugstores. And she hears the legend of nine mystical plants that bring fame, fortune, immortality, and passion.
The owner of the Laundromat, Armand, presents Lila with a if she can make the cutting from a fire fern grow roots, he will show her the secret of his locked room. But Lila is too trusting, and with one terrible mistake she ruins her chance to see Armand’s plants. The only way to win it back is to travel, on her own, to the Yucatan.
Deep in the rain forests of Mexico, Lila enters a world of shamans and spirit animals, snake charmers, and sexy, heart-stopping Huichols. Alone in the jungle, Lila is forced to learn more than she ever wanted to know about nature—and about herself. An exhilarating journey of love and self-discovery, Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire brings together mystery, adventure, and heat, in every sense of the word.
266 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Margot Berwin
6 books70 followersMargot Berwin earned her MFA from the New School in 2005. Her stories have appeared on Nerve.com, in the New York Press, and in the anthology The Future of Misbehavior. She worked in advertising for many years and lives in New York City.
Her first novel Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire was published in 2009 by Pantheon. Her new novel, SCENT OF DARKNESS, also by Pantheon is coming out on the 5th of February, 2013.
Her first novel Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire was published in 2009 by Pantheon. Her new novel, SCENT OF DARKNESS, also by Pantheon is coming out on the 5th of February, 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 452 reviews
May 5, 2020
DNF@ 35%
I expected some chick-lit adventure type story, and I was disappointed because it wasn’t that, or at least it wasn’t to the point where I stopped reading it. The idea is interesting, however, the main character was so annoying with her ignorance and dumb decisions.
I expected some chick-lit adventure type story, and I was disappointed because it wasn’t that, or at least it wasn’t to the point where I stopped reading it. The idea is interesting, however, the main character was so annoying with her ignorance and dumb decisions.
June 22, 2018
Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire is a weird book, and the weirdness is its saving grace.
With a touch of magical realism and romance, this book is about Lila, an advertising agent and judgmental New Yorker, who meets Armand, a pseudo-shaman, in a plant-filled laundromat. She then meets a slightly sexy suntanned stranger and inadvertently causes a break-in and robbery. To repay her new friend for his loss and relieve her guilt, Lila heads to Mexico.
The book is supposed to be about personal growth, but Lila makes odd choices and acts like an idiot most of the time. Lila is one of those white people that goes to a foreign country and complains about how everything is not up to their standards. By the end of it she is sort of a new person. Lila is not necessarily likable, but her weird decisions are what I enjoyed about the book.
Though there are some factual discrepancies and inconsistencies within the text, I ended up being entertained by this and actually laughed a few times at some of the ridiculous situations.
Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire is decent cheap entertainment about plants and a strange adventure in Mexico.
With a touch of magical realism and romance, this book is about Lila, an advertising agent and judgmental New Yorker, who meets Armand, a pseudo-shaman, in a plant-filled laundromat. She then meets a slightly sexy suntanned stranger and inadvertently causes a break-in and robbery. To repay her new friend for his loss and relieve her guilt, Lila heads to Mexico.
The book is supposed to be about personal growth, but Lila makes odd choices and acts like an idiot most of the time. Lila is one of those white people that goes to a foreign country and complains about how everything is not up to their standards. By the end of it she is sort of a new person. Lila is not necessarily likable, but her weird decisions are what I enjoyed about the book.
Though there are some factual discrepancies and inconsistencies within the text, I ended up being entertained by this and actually laughed a few times at some of the ridiculous situations.
Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire is decent cheap entertainment about plants and a strange adventure in Mexico.
June 3, 2021
Mystical chick lit that just got worse and worse as it progressed. A silly divorced Manhattan advertising executive named Lila, who is obsessed with what her doorman thinks of her dating life ("it was obvious to both of us that I was going to be single for the rest of my life") becomes suddenly interested in exotic plants after visiting a strange laundromat, whose owner instructs her to go to Yucatán and locate nine specific plants which will provide the solution to her life's problems. There, everyone and their mother is a shaman. Magical realism takes over. Plants open locked doors (literally). Lila turns into a panther. Her mentor tells her, "The vine of the moonflower is an umbilical cord connecting all women to the moon." A cashier kills a fresh black Labrador every day after using it to pull up a mandrake plant. Lila meets a super hot Huichol Indian and gets naked for him but, angered when he breathes all over her skin but won't make love to her, feeds him ground mandrake root which nearly kills him; she has to go into the jungle and get another plant to save him.
I was 20 percent dumber when I finished this book than when I started.
August 25, 2009
I'm not sure why I'm giving this 2 stars instead of one - but it probably wasn't the story that was so bad as much as the characters. I HATED the girl in the book. So much of what she did or said was just idiotic. I didn't connect with any of the characters even a little bit, which was disappointing.
The plant thing might have been cool but it seemed like it was trying too hard to be mystical and, again, I just didn't connect. But I confess I did google a plant or two to learn about their mystic properties. And for some reason now I'm seeing the term "mandrake root" everywhere and I don't think I even heard about it prior to reading this book. So I think that because I "learned" something while reading might be why I feel the need to nudge it up a star.
Oh, and I listened to the audiobook so I'm not sure if the effected my rating. Audiobooks usually make my commute fly by but this story, with all the stupid things I KNEW were going to happen, made it agony. But still, the plants got me thinking...
The plant thing might have been cool but it seemed like it was trying too hard to be mystical and, again, I just didn't connect. But I confess I did google a plant or two to learn about their mystic properties. And for some reason now I'm seeing the term "mandrake root" everywhere and I don't think I even heard about it prior to reading this book. So I think that because I "learned" something while reading might be why I feel the need to nudge it up a star.
Oh, and I listened to the audiobook so I'm not sure if the effected my rating. Audiobooks usually make my commute fly by but this story, with all the stupid things I KNEW were going to happen, made it agony. But still, the plants got me thinking...
August 17, 2009
Um - the author was obviously smoking her favorite sensimilla bud when writing this. As far as I know, rattlesnakes don't live in wet damp jungles. They don't dance 6 feet tall in the air like cobras. They don't get as big as pythons. Scorpions don't feast on human blood or lurk in grass in numbers that make you have to "tiptoe". I could go on. I still rated this a three because she gets credit for lots of imagination and a fun plot. I have a better appreciation for orchids (I a...more Um - the author was obviously smoking her favorite sensimilla bud when writing this. As far as I know, rattlesnakes don't live in wet damp jungles. They don't dance 6 feet tall in the air like cobras. They don't get as big as pythons. Scorpions don't feast on human blood or lurk in grass in numbers that make you have to "tiptoe". I could go on. I still rated this a three because she gets credit for lots of imagination and a fun plot. I have a better appreciation for orchids (I actually petted my orchid yesterday and said "hi" to it:)(less)
July 30, 2010
When you pick up this book, turn off your reality meter. Nothing in here is anything like real-life, except maybe the introductions to the plants at the beginning of each chapter. Ready?
Lila Grace Nova is a 30 something, newly divorced, advertising exec in New York City. Her very empty new apartment needs a little decorating, so she goes to the open air market in search of a plant. She meets the decidedly sexy and mysterious David, the Plant Man, who sells her a Bird of Paradise. He keeps her coming back to learn how to care for it.
Late one night, Lila finds an amazing laundromat filled with tropical plants. The owner, Armand, tells her, you see a laundromat for washing clothes which happens to have some plants in it. I see the perfect place to raise tropical plants that just happens to also wash clothes - humid and hot from the washers and dryers.
Armand has, hidden in the back of the laundromat, the nine plants of desire. Each plant has the ability to give a person what they most want and together they are a powerful force. As the story evolves, Lila learns more and more about her own desires and how they shape her world.
One of the desires is for wealth, but it comes with a nasty sting. Lila shares the location of the nine plants with David, imagining that it will cement their love and she'll act as broker between the plant owner, Armand and the plant acquirer, David. Instead, he steals the plants and runs away. The ensuing chase brings Lila into contact with the magic of plants and animals, teaching her and changing her, ever so slowly, into someone who understands who she is and what she wants.
Lila Grace Nova is a 30 something, newly divorced, advertising exec in New York City. Her very empty new apartment needs a little decorating, so she goes to the open air market in search of a plant. She meets the decidedly sexy and mysterious David, the Plant Man, who sells her a Bird of Paradise. He keeps her coming back to learn how to care for it.
Late one night, Lila finds an amazing laundromat filled with tropical plants. The owner, Armand, tells her, you see a laundromat for washing clothes which happens to have some plants in it. I see the perfect place to raise tropical plants that just happens to also wash clothes - humid and hot from the washers and dryers.
Armand has, hidden in the back of the laundromat, the nine plants of desire. Each plant has the ability to give a person what they most want and together they are a powerful force. As the story evolves, Lila learns more and more about her own desires and how they shape her world.
One of the desires is for wealth, but it comes with a nasty sting. Lila shares the location of the nine plants with David, imagining that it will cement their love and she'll act as broker between the plant owner, Armand and the plant acquirer, David. Instead, he steals the plants and runs away. The ensuing chase brings Lila into contact with the magic of plants and animals, teaching her and changing her, ever so slowly, into someone who understands who she is and what she wants.
July 4, 2009
I picked up this book only because the title sounded interesting. I didn't read any reviews on it, nor did I read through the description. They say not to judge a book by it's cover, but I did, and I'm happy.
This was a very good book. It has love, romance, lust, greed, passion, death, spirituality, and just about everything else. For a debut novel, I'd say that Margot Berwin did a great job. She's left me with high expectations for her next novel.
The story takes place in New York and Mexico, the Yucatan to be specific. As Lila, Armand, Diego, and Exley are all on the hunt for the illusive Nine Plants of Desire. Oh what a tangled web Ms. Berwin has weaved...
This story was exciting. It was pretty fast paced and it kept me wanting more. The stories behind the nine magical and mystical plants are great. Even with all that Lila went through I want to find these plants. I did do some research on some of the nine and they really do have stories just as great as they are given in this book. (I LOVE when an author does great research!)
I was captivated from the first line to the last. I will be looking for a second novel for sure!
This was a very good book. It has love, romance, lust, greed, passion, death, spirituality, and just about everything else. For a debut novel, I'd say that Margot Berwin did a great job. She's left me with high expectations for her next novel.
The story takes place in New York and Mexico, the Yucatan to be specific. As Lila, Armand, Diego, and Exley are all on the hunt for the illusive Nine Plants of Desire. Oh what a tangled web Ms. Berwin has weaved...
This story was exciting. It was pretty fast paced and it kept me wanting more. The stories behind the nine magical and mystical plants are great. Even with all that Lila went through I want to find these plants. I did do some research on some of the nine and they really do have stories just as great as they are given in this book. (I LOVE when an author does great research!)
I was captivated from the first line to the last. I will be looking for a second novel for sure!
September 2, 2012
Well, this book took me by surprise. I was expecting a chick-lit light-weight break from my heavier reading. Instead, this book seems to be an attempt at doing Carlos Castaneda's Don Juan material, or James Redmond's Celestine Prophecies, except with a young NY career woman protagonist and ethnobotany.
As in the Celestine Prophecies and similar books, the characters here are shadowy two-dimensional creatures for whom I could find not interest. They are prone to quoting what seem to be encyclopedia lectures on any given plant. The author' tale seems very forced at times. For example, she speaks of the ancient Mayan tales about chicory, a North American roadside weed that isn't cultivated in Mexico. Thing happen in the book that are completely implausible and never explained, such as using a potted chicory to unlock a bolted door. Really? And one day only, the house and environs were covered with blood-sucking scorpions (everyone has to have their own spatula at the ready for defense). The next day, no problem, walk barefoot if you want to. For the record, scorpions are not vampire bats. They do not crave human blood. And what is Lila supposed to do about the stolen rental car? After it was taken by a young child doing weird things with a rattlesnake, the car is never mentioned again.
With some more more in having her characters come alive, and with less pontification and a great deal more research, she could have done something better with this story. The way it is now, it simple falls flat, from the lack of support in the writing.
Where's the editor? This book should not have been released without some serious re-writing.
As in the Celestine Prophecies and similar books, the characters here are shadowy two-dimensional creatures for whom I could find not interest. They are prone to quoting what seem to be encyclopedia lectures on any given plant. The author' tale seems very forced at times. For example, she speaks of the ancient Mayan tales about chicory, a North American roadside weed that isn't cultivated in Mexico. Thing happen in the book that are completely implausible and never explained, such as using a potted chicory to unlock a bolted door. Really? And one day only, the house and environs were covered with blood-sucking scorpions (everyone has to have their own spatula at the ready for defense). The next day, no problem, walk barefoot if you want to. For the record, scorpions are not vampire bats. They do not crave human blood. And what is Lila supposed to do about the stolen rental car? After it was taken by a young child doing weird things with a rattlesnake, the car is never mentioned again.
With some more more in having her characters come alive, and with less pontification and a great deal more research, she could have done something better with this story. The way it is now, it simple falls flat, from the lack of support in the writing.
Where's the editor? This book should not have been released without some serious re-writing.
November 5, 2010
My friend Staci asked if I wanted to read this book and I said I would. She has to sent it to someone, so I had to get reading it. I thought I would like it from her review, but I wasn't sure.
From the cover it looks kind of like a Better Homes and Gardens kind of book or something. I knew it was about plants, and I was unsure about how plants could be sensual.
Lila finds Exley in a plant stand in town. She ends up buying a bird of paradise plant from him. After that, she sees a plant that really catches her eye outside a laundromat. She walks in and it has a moss floor and plants all around. She finds out there are nine plants of desire in the back room from the owner Armand, and she wants to make it a point to see those plants. She got a cutting of a fire fern from the laundromat, and Exley wanted to know where she got it. She was told not to tell anyone about the nine plants of desire. Lila ends up going on an adventure, and along the way meets Diego.
Each chapter tells of a certain plant and what it's properties are. There is a lot more to plants that I could have imagined. Who knew they could be so sexual too.
I wasn't sure what was going to happen at the end and who Lila was going to side with. I wasn't sure who was telling the truth, but she did what was right and I was happy with how the story ended.
From the cover it looks kind of like a Better Homes and Gardens kind of book or something. I knew it was about plants, and I was unsure about how plants could be sensual.
Lila finds Exley in a plant stand in town. She ends up buying a bird of paradise plant from him. After that, she sees a plant that really catches her eye outside a laundromat. She walks in and it has a moss floor and plants all around. She finds out there are nine plants of desire in the back room from the owner Armand, and she wants to make it a point to see those plants. She got a cutting of a fire fern from the laundromat, and Exley wanted to know where she got it. She was told not to tell anyone about the nine plants of desire. Lila ends up going on an adventure, and along the way meets Diego.
Each chapter tells of a certain plant and what it's properties are. There is a lot more to plants that I could have imagined. Who knew they could be so sexual too.
I wasn't sure what was going to happen at the end and who Lila was going to side with. I wasn't sure who was telling the truth, but she did what was right and I was happy with how the story ended.
March 7, 2010
There were a few good insightful paragraphs toward the end about the main character being desperate for any man who comes along. I also enjoyed some of the ethnobotanical information about the nature of the 9 plants, particularly how cannabis is tortured to make it produce resin. However... most of the first section, in NY, is filled with bad dialogue and nothing happening. Much of the second section, in Mexico, is as randomly surreal as Kafka. It was an attempt at magical realism, trying to blend the mundane with the fantastical, that did not work well; I could not suspend my disbelief. It felt like she was stumbling around the whole time, looking for her dramatic tension, and that she felt bored and awkward while doing so.
In fantasy, there are supposed to be rules in the other world, but here the rules kept changing, even including whether the 9 plants of desire were rare or common. It was like following another person's dream/nightmare where things don't hold together. Kafka, Borges, Garcia Lorca, and Calvino can pull it off, but they do it as well-focused art-form, where the point is the confusion, and they do it with humor. This felt like too much mundane combined with too much impossible, and then some personal growth being the main point.
In fantasy, there are supposed to be rules in the other world, but here the rules kept changing, even including whether the 9 plants of desire were rare or common. It was like following another person's dream/nightmare where things don't hold together. Kafka, Borges, Garcia Lorca, and Calvino can pull it off, but they do it as well-focused art-form, where the point is the confusion, and they do it with humor. This felt like too much mundane combined with too much impossible, and then some personal growth being the main point.
September 24, 2016
Меко казано странна е историята.
Пълна с магия,шамани.
Едновременно с това и много интересна и любопитна информация.
На места ми беше и скучна.На други имаше прояви на хумор.
Приключенска бих я нарекла.И шантава :)
"Повярвай ми, когато опознаеш себе си, никога няма да поискаш да се преструваш, че си някой друг. Защото да си себе си е по-прекрасно от всичко, на което можеш да се престориш, за което си мечтал, което можеш да си представиш или в което можеш да се превърнеш."
"Хората не вярват на истината и добрите намерения, вярват на принудата, на крайностите. Готови сме цял живот да вървим по един и същ път и няма да го сменим само от любопитство, дори да ни е втръснал до полуда и да се оплакваме постоянно. Трябва някой отгоре да го препречи и да обяви, че е в ремонт, за да ни тласне към другото разклонение.
Пълна с магия,шамани.
Едновременно с това и много интересна и любопитна информация.
На места ми беше и скучна.На други имаше прояви на хумор.
Приключенска бих я нарекла.И шантава :)
"Повярвай ми, когато опознаеш себе си, никога няма да поискаш да се преструваш, че си някой друг. Защото да си себе си е по-прекрасно от всичко, на което можеш да се престориш, за което си мечтал, което можеш да си представиш или в което можеш да се превърнеш."
"Хората не вярват на истината и добрите намерения, вярват на принудата, на крайностите. Готови сме цял живот да вървим по един и същ път и няма да го сменим само от любопитство, дори да ни е втръснал до полуда и да се оплакваме постоянно. Трябва някой отгоре да го препречи и да обяви, че е в ремонт, за да ни тласне към другото разклонение.
April 29, 2020
Kind of offbeat and quirky. But quite a fun distraction from current events.
August 1, 2009
Thought it was brilliant. I have absolutely no interest in plants and gardening and yet this books so effectively integrated them into a story about life and love and the quest for self. If you have any interest in life, love, mysticism, or gardening you must read this book.
June 25, 2013
Oscillated between enjoying the book and feeling like giving up on it. The constant "question and answer" format of so much of the dialogue started to really annoy me, and I wished that Lila had been able to take a more active role in what happened to her.
December 19, 2016
What a fantastic story. Nine plants, that were tropical. Nine was a number of significance. Finding them in their habitat was part of the adventure.
They story was full of adventure, travel, love, lust and sex. Part magic, dreams and true happiness.
They story was full of adventure, travel, love, lust and sex. Part magic, dreams and true happiness.
June 11, 2020
3/3,5 ⭐
Libro piacevole ma nulla di più.
Le piante sono il filo conduttore della storia della protagonista; attraverso la scoperta delle loro caratteristiche lei scopre se stessa.
Non l ho amata come protagonista perché spesso cade in errori "banali" ma, forse proprio per questo, si può dire che è una protagonista molto realistica e umana.
È stata una lettura piacevole in cui si imparano nozioni sulle piante e questa, a mio parere, è ciò che dà originalità alla storia, si legge volentieri.
Libro piacevole ma nulla di più.
Le piante sono il filo conduttore della storia della protagonista; attraverso la scoperta delle loro caratteristiche lei scopre se stessa.
Non l ho amata come protagonista perché spesso cade in errori "banali" ma, forse proprio per questo, si può dire che è una protagonista molto realistica e umana.
È stata una lettura piacevole in cui si imparano nozioni sulle piante e questa, a mio parere, è ciò che dà originalità alla storia, si legge volentieri.
September 22, 2010
The original review for this book is posted at Layers of Thought. There is also a giveaway for it there that ends October 3rd - 2010 for the US and Canada.
A “trip” into the realistic yet magical where an urbanite discovers herself in the rain forest of Mexico. It’s city girl goes jungle Jane with consciousness altering plants.
About: Lila is from NYC. She is in her thirties and cynical as well as wounded from her recent divorce. She has sworn off men and most attachments - “no pets, no plants, no people, no problems”. However she breaks her rule when she decides to buy herself a bird of paradise plant from the hunky greenery vendor around the corner from her studio. This starts her adventures and discovery about the mythical 9 plants of desire.
This humorous story, with its self- depreciating main character, takes the reader to the rain forests of Mexico. Where Lila is propelled by her quirky yet mystically oriented friend Armand to search for the illusive plants in order to repay a debt. As they enter into foreign territory into a place where fantastical elements are the norm, Lila herself makes a mildly hallucinogenic ride into self discovery and more.
Thoughts: Funny, fluffy and a very easy read, it was a needed break from the heavier stuff I have been recently reading. It was a foray into the magical. A chick lit escapist read with some mild romance which includes a gorgeous Huichol Indian from the mountains of Mexico.
As Lila gets to know these plants with their anthropomorphic attributes, we get an interesting mix of fact and fun fiction about each, where all of the short chapters are headed with a plant (and a few critters) and their description. I think my favorite section was on the chocolate plant, native to Southern America, where the author includes a recipe on how to make chocolate from the actual pods. Fun stuff!
I think this book will be perfect for any woman recovering from a recent break up or for anyone needing a light yet magical read. My mom is going to love this book being a plant person extraordinaire – me, the black thumb of the family killing cactus in the desert, enjoyed it just as much. I even found a few new books to add to my tbr list within the text of the novel - The Sheltering Sky by Philip Bowles and one by Carlos Castaneda. I love that. I give this fun book 3.5 stars. It was a blast.
A “trip” into the realistic yet magical where an urbanite discovers herself in the rain forest of Mexico. It’s city girl goes jungle Jane with consciousness altering plants.
About: Lila is from NYC. She is in her thirties and cynical as well as wounded from her recent divorce. She has sworn off men and most attachments - “no pets, no plants, no people, no problems”. However she breaks her rule when she decides to buy herself a bird of paradise plant from the hunky greenery vendor around the corner from her studio. This starts her adventures and discovery about the mythical 9 plants of desire.
This humorous story, with its self- depreciating main character, takes the reader to the rain forests of Mexico. Where Lila is propelled by her quirky yet mystically oriented friend Armand to search for the illusive plants in order to repay a debt. As they enter into foreign territory into a place where fantastical elements are the norm, Lila herself makes a mildly hallucinogenic ride into self discovery and more.
Thoughts: Funny, fluffy and a very easy read, it was a needed break from the heavier stuff I have been recently reading. It was a foray into the magical. A chick lit escapist read with some mild romance which includes a gorgeous Huichol Indian from the mountains of Mexico.
As Lila gets to know these plants with their anthropomorphic attributes, we get an interesting mix of fact and fun fiction about each, where all of the short chapters are headed with a plant (and a few critters) and their description. I think my favorite section was on the chocolate plant, native to Southern America, where the author includes a recipe on how to make chocolate from the actual pods. Fun stuff!
I think this book will be perfect for any woman recovering from a recent break up or for anyone needing a light yet magical read. My mom is going to love this book being a plant person extraordinaire – me, the black thumb of the family killing cactus in the desert, enjoyed it just as much. I even found a few new books to add to my tbr list within the text of the novel - The Sheltering Sky by Philip Bowles and one by Carlos Castaneda. I love that. I give this fun book 3.5 stars. It was a blast.
February 21, 2017
What an odd story. I really enjoyed how different this was. I listened to it on audio. Magical realism, botany, adventure, romance. I REALLY appreciated a male/female FRIENDSHIP with no romantic weirdness! That never seems to happen.
May 30, 2010
I wasn't expecting chic lit when I bought this based on an Entertainment Weekly review. Even as chick lit, it's weak. I have enjoyed shopaholic novels and Bridget Jones, but this heroine is weak the people around her are insulting and degrading, and then she continually proves them right! I'm not a stickler for likeable characters, but this is just going too far. I almost want her to fail just because she isn't learning anything and doesn't seem to deserve everything that is promised to the person who finds the 9 flowers. The actual flower information is really interesting though. I think the idea could have been great if the characters were better. Just to be completely fair, I will say I'm not done reading it yet.
May 3, 2010
Meh. Good enough for the car. Mindless entertainment about a New York divorcee who goes to Mexico in search of the nine plants of desire... because the original one's were stolen from a laundromat. Yes.
Some of the botanical descriptions were mesmerizing, but it's a shaky narrative at best. Uneven plot and flat characters (Lila was obnoxious and insecure throughout) don't make me want to recommend this to many people.
Some of the botanical descriptions were mesmerizing, but it's a shaky narrative at best. Uneven plot and flat characters (Lila was obnoxious and insecure throughout) don't make me want to recommend this to many people.
August 29, 2010
This book started out so strong, and was very intriguing, for the first 1/3 of the novel. Then it started to degenerate... by the end I was so glad it was over! This author has read waaaay too much Carlos Castenada, but doesn't have the skill to parlay that into a successful and interesting book.
July 26, 2010
This book looked promising but it was dissapointing. There was not enough development to the events going on - they were just thrown at the reader. Interesting plant insights but not a good story.
March 15, 2018
DNF'ing this book around 50%
(CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS)
I tried holding out, hoping there would be some sort of character development to make the mc less stupid and more likeable, but I simply can't wait any longer. I really, truly hate the main character. She is a complete idiot who makes selfish and stupid decisions, which makes her human, but... EVERYONE keeps mentioning that there is something special about her, that SHE is special, or that they always figured she would end up doing something amazing. OK, there must be something I'm not seeing here, because to me there is NOTHING special about her, except for her lack of good personality traits. And no, suddenly becoming interested in plants (because of a hot asshole-guy, might I add), does not make you a special or amazing person. Stop.
It also annoyed me so much how the character thinks of men and women. She pretty much described EVERY OTHER MAN IN NEW YORK as metrosexual and "unmanly". And then there is this ruggedly handsome guy selling plants who is apparently "a real man" and he's so hot that even when he acts like a COMPLETE di**, she still wants to do him. Well guess what (SPOILER) he tricks her. He is not a good guy. So basically her need to do this guy, destroys the life-work of another man, and she only feels BAD FOR HERSELF. She is pretty much intolerable. Also, at a later time when she is alone and in need (even though she knows what a horrible person this guy is) she calls out his name because she hopes to see him!?
Oh yea she also describes herself doing some chores around the house as "acting like a girl". I want to slap her so hard.
OK so actually someone calls her out on it and says that she is 'greedy and desperate for a man', which made me think "OK, this is great, I'm sure she will start changing for the better anytime soon". But not anytime soon, no. And maybe it happens later, but I couldn't wait around for it, sorry.
I did like the magical realism mixed with plant-myth and all that stuff, and getting small bits of information about different plants. I liked the Laundromat too, and the weirdness that was Armand. Those were the things I came for. But honestly, the writing was not great, and the mc was a horribly annoying person.
I don't think I have ever written this much before in a review, I'm not sure why this particular book gets on my nerves, but it just does. (Mostly just writing this for my own sake so I can get it out of my system and move on with my life).
(CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS)
I tried holding out, hoping there would be some sort of character development to make the mc less stupid and more likeable, but I simply can't wait any longer. I really, truly hate the main character. She is a complete idiot who makes selfish and stupid decisions, which makes her human, but... EVERYONE keeps mentioning that there is something special about her, that SHE is special, or that they always figured she would end up doing something amazing. OK, there must be something I'm not seeing here, because to me there is NOTHING special about her, except for her lack of good personality traits. And no, suddenly becoming interested in plants (because of a hot asshole-guy, might I add), does not make you a special or amazing person. Stop.
It also annoyed me so much how the character thinks of men and women. She pretty much described EVERY OTHER MAN IN NEW YORK as metrosexual and "unmanly". And then there is this ruggedly handsome guy selling plants who is apparently "a real man" and he's so hot that even when he acts like a COMPLETE di**, she still wants to do him. Well guess what (SPOILER) he tricks her. He is not a good guy. So basically her need to do this guy, destroys the life-work of another man, and she only feels BAD FOR HERSELF. She is pretty much intolerable. Also, at a later time when she is alone and in need (even though she knows what a horrible person this guy is) she calls out his name because she hopes to see him!?
Oh yea she also describes herself doing some chores around the house as "acting like a girl". I want to slap her so hard.
OK so actually someone calls her out on it and says that she is 'greedy and desperate for a man', which made me think "OK, this is great, I'm sure she will start changing for the better anytime soon". But not anytime soon, no. And maybe it happens later, but I couldn't wait around for it, sorry.
I did like the magical realism mixed with plant-myth and all that stuff, and getting small bits of information about different plants. I liked the Laundromat too, and the weirdness that was Armand. Those were the things I came for. But honestly, the writing was not great, and the mc was a horribly annoying person.
I don't think I have ever written this much before in a review, I'm not sure why this particular book gets on my nerves, but it just does. (Mostly just writing this for my own sake so I can get it out of my system and move on with my life).
February 25, 2022
A surprisingly interesting and educational book, Berwin does a good job of mixing magical realism with steamy romance (mainly steamy because tropical plants like moist environments). The style of Gabriel García Márquez is brought to light in the Yucatan when the magical plants are searched for and found. Well worth the read for anyone who loves plants, or is interested in a different perspective on the Yucatan peninsula.
October 26, 2023
This book talks about plants. So in my opinion, it gets a star for that. Talking about plants allows gets my attention. Really relates plants to humans and how we have relationships with them. The story is intriguing and interesting. However, the main character is somewhat annoying and the ending felt a little bit off. Kinda of open ended. But not in a good way. Needed a bit more of something in the ending.
July 12, 2011
What an odd book this was. I was drawn in by the title and a review I had read. "Packed with romantic betrayal, plant lore and a couple of visits to a surreal Laundromat in the East Village, she’s [Lila:] on her way to “high adventure” in the Yucatan rain forest, where she’ll encounter ancient magic, poisonous creatures, a murderous exotic plant dealer, and, yes, true love. A wildly inventive novel as vivid and colorful as a jungle flower."
The book definitely delivered all the adventure it promised. Lila was a sympathetic character and in the end I really did want her to find herself. Armand, the owner of the nine plants, has his own quirks but he's interesting and magical just the same. Though we never delve too deeply into his past. David Exley is difficult to find attractive and he makes Lila seem so weak. Perhaps that is what I found so annoying. Lila just seemed so weak, sexually frustrated, and undeserving throughout the entire book. Hothouse is worth a light summer read but I'm wondering if the author thought it would be more. Personally, I didn't care for the writing style, I didn't get terribly invested in any of the characters and I skimmed when the descriptions of the plants became too tedious. I wish that the chapter headings had pictures of the actual plants they were describing rather than a generic frond.
New York ad woman, Lila Nova is newly divorced and looking for a fresh start. She become enchanted by David Exley, a handsome man who sells tropical plants. He sells her a bird-of-paradise and she become infatuated with him and tropical plants. After walking out of a commercial shoot, where her boss is ogling the model, she find herself at a laundromat that has a rare fern displayed in the window.
Proprietor Armand quickly befriends Lila and gives her a trimming from the fern to take home, telling her if it forms roots, he'll show her the nine special plants he keeps in the back room. In the mean time, Lila asks Exley out on a date where he sees the trimming. Wanting to impress Exley, she tells him about Armand's special plants and shows him where the laundromat is.
Soon the plants have been stolen and Exley has disappeared. Armand guilts Lila into coming to Mexico with him to find replacement plants. He first introduces her to his wife, Sonali who loves orchids and longs for the 'passion plant with no name'. Armand takes off for Mexico without Lila so she must fend for herself. She makes it to the Yucatan, rents a car that is then stolen, traverses a jungle and finally makes it to Armand's home that is surrounded by scorpians.
In the jungle she meets Diego and he assists her in finding the first three plants. Introduces her to a deer that helps her find the cacao plant. She and Armand go to town to meet with the Cashier who grows unique plants. Lila encounters Exley in the basement. He steals two of the plants there (2 died when he stole them). One of the plants Lila needs is a mandrake (the Cashier get the dog "Mallorey" to pull it from the ground, screaming as he does, then shoots the dog in the head). Very disturbing.
She gets high in the Cashier's garden of sinsemilla and when she gets back to Armand's house, she wants him so much she cuts part of the mandrake root and mashes it into his flan, remembering it's a aprhodisiac, forgetting it was toxic. Diego gets ill and his magical mother comes over, squashing butterflies into his mouth as they have a unique property to help with irregular heart beats. The butterflies don't help so Lila must go back to the Cashier for a Lily of the Valley. But Exley stole her only flower.
Lila must get high again and visualize where Exley is to get the plant. She finds him, seduces him, and steals the plant. She heads back to Armands but can't see in the jungle until lighting flashes and she find the "passion plant". She scoops this up too and makes it to Armands. Diego's mother prepares the remedy and gives it to Diego. Exley now shows up saying he will kill Diego to get the flower back. Armand chops open a pinata full of scorpians that attack Exley and he dies. Diego gets well and tells Lila he lover her too. Armand has the passion flower for Sonali which is the only reason he dragged Lila to Mexico (he had cuttings of the 9 plants and didn't need to replace them after all).
Lila flies back to New York, Kody (also in advertising) takes care of her plants while she's away. He would like to go to Mexico with her when she goes back. Later that night, while out walking he comes across the laundromat. Sonali has reparied it. She finds the fire fern and takes another cutting. She knows when the cutting produces roots, it will be time for her to go back to Mexico.
Whatever, she was high and horney through the entire second half of the book.
The book definitely delivered all the adventure it promised. Lila was a sympathetic character and in the end I really did want her to find herself. Armand, the owner of the nine plants, has his own quirks but he's interesting and magical just the same. Though we never delve too deeply into his past. David Exley is difficult to find attractive and he makes Lila seem so weak. Perhaps that is what I found so annoying. Lila just seemed so weak, sexually frustrated, and undeserving throughout the entire book. Hothouse is worth a light summer read but I'm wondering if the author thought it would be more. Personally, I didn't care for the writing style, I didn't get terribly invested in any of the characters and I skimmed when the descriptions of the plants became too tedious. I wish that the chapter headings had pictures of the actual plants they were describing rather than a generic frond.
New York ad woman, Lila Nova is newly divorced and looking for a fresh start. She become enchanted by David Exley, a handsome man who sells tropical plants. He sells her a bird-of-paradise and she become infatuated with him and tropical plants. After walking out of a commercial shoot, where her boss is ogling the model, she find herself at a laundromat that has a rare fern displayed in the window.
Proprietor Armand quickly befriends Lila and gives her a trimming from the fern to take home, telling her if it forms roots, he'll show her the nine special plants he keeps in the back room. In the mean time, Lila asks Exley out on a date where he sees the trimming. Wanting to impress Exley, she tells him about Armand's special plants and shows him where the laundromat is.
Soon the plants have been stolen and Exley has disappeared. Armand guilts Lila into coming to Mexico with him to find replacement plants. He first introduces her to his wife, Sonali who loves orchids and longs for the 'passion plant with no name'. Armand takes off for Mexico without Lila so she must fend for herself. She makes it to the Yucatan, rents a car that is then stolen, traverses a jungle and finally makes it to Armand's home that is surrounded by scorpians.
In the jungle she meets Diego and he assists her in finding the first three plants. Introduces her to a deer that helps her find the cacao plant. She and Armand go to town to meet with the Cashier who grows unique plants. Lila encounters Exley in the basement. He steals two of the plants there (2 died when he stole them). One of the plants Lila needs is a mandrake (the Cashier get the dog "Mallorey" to pull it from the ground, screaming as he does, then shoots the dog in the head). Very disturbing.
She gets high in the Cashier's garden of sinsemilla and when she gets back to Armand's house, she wants him so much she cuts part of the mandrake root and mashes it into his flan, remembering it's a aprhodisiac, forgetting it was toxic. Diego gets ill and his magical mother comes over, squashing butterflies into his mouth as they have a unique property to help with irregular heart beats. The butterflies don't help so Lila must go back to the Cashier for a Lily of the Valley. But Exley stole her only flower.
Lila must get high again and visualize where Exley is to get the plant. She finds him, seduces him, and steals the plant. She heads back to Armands but can't see in the jungle until lighting flashes and she find the "passion plant". She scoops this up too and makes it to Armands. Diego's mother prepares the remedy and gives it to Diego. Exley now shows up saying he will kill Diego to get the flower back. Armand chops open a pinata full of scorpians that attack Exley and he dies. Diego gets well and tells Lila he lover her too. Armand has the passion flower for Sonali which is the only reason he dragged Lila to Mexico (he had cuttings of the 9 plants and didn't need to replace them after all).
Lila flies back to New York, Kody (also in advertising) takes care of her plants while she's away. He would like to go to Mexico with her when she goes back. Later that night, while out walking he comes across the laundromat. Sonali has reparied it. She finds the fire fern and takes another cutting. She knows when the cutting produces roots, it will be time for her to go back to Mexico.
Whatever, she was high and horney through the entire second half of the book.
March 20, 2021
Um livro estranho, mistura o romance com o esoterismo das plantas e a busca pelas plantas do desejo faz com que andemos no livro sempre em busca das mesmas desde Nova Iorque ao México passando da metrópole para a savana acaba por ser estranha a forma como termina o livro e mesmo tendo uma linha condutora com a protagonista, ela irritou-me sobremaneira no livro pela futilidade e pelas atitudes parvas que teve com os respetivos pares e mesmo com o homem da lavandaria achei-a sem conteúdo por vezes! Leu-se bem!
October 28, 2017
very interesting. incredible way to show life of herbs and our connection to nature. would recommend it to every passionate strong women courage to be vulnerable sometimes in life.
September 20, 2010
Descriptive Words: steamy, informative, magical, quirky, sexual, thought-provoking,
Why I wanted to read this book:
* I wanted to be on this tour because Diane @ Bibliophile by the Sea read this book earlier this year and loved it to pieces. After finishing I was absolutely in her camp!!
What worked for me:
* I loved all of the mythical folklore surrounding plants. I have never looked at any flower and thought any deeper about it than the color of the petals and the sweet smell it evokes. This book has made me think about flowers and plants on a much deeper and cellular level.
* I adored Lila Nova, the main character. I loved her willingness to just go with the flow and to open her mind and horizons to new adventures. When she takes off for the Yucatan Peninsula I wanted to go with her!!
* The cast of characters were wonderfully fleshed out and I felt myself gravitating towards them. I liked most of them and thought they really added to the story.
* This book is filled with adventure...non-stop adventure towards the middle and end. I caught myself with one of those cheese-eating grins on my face several times as I was reading this. I suspended all sense of belief ,threw all cares to the wind and allowed this book to take over all of my senses. What an exhilarating ride!
* I had no idea how sexual plants and flowers are!! Wow...all of that information was so much fun to read and at times I found myself blushing, but all in a good way!!
What didn't work for me:
* It all worked for me...every single word, every single sentence, every single character, the plot, the whole freaking story!!!
Recommend? Oh yeah!! And lucky for you I get the opportunity to offer one copy of 'Hot House Flower' to one of my friends who leave me a comment on this review!!! Please make sure you include your email address!!! This is limited to US/Canada only. Your chance to win a copy ends September 23, 11:59 p.m.
Why I wanted to read this book:
* I wanted to be on this tour because Diane @ Bibliophile by the Sea read this book earlier this year and loved it to pieces. After finishing I was absolutely in her camp!!
What worked for me:
* I loved all of the mythical folklore surrounding plants. I have never looked at any flower and thought any deeper about it than the color of the petals and the sweet smell it evokes. This book has made me think about flowers and plants on a much deeper and cellular level.
* I adored Lila Nova, the main character. I loved her willingness to just go with the flow and to open her mind and horizons to new adventures. When she takes off for the Yucatan Peninsula I wanted to go with her!!
* The cast of characters were wonderfully fleshed out and I felt myself gravitating towards them. I liked most of them and thought they really added to the story.
* This book is filled with adventure...non-stop adventure towards the middle and end. I caught myself with one of those cheese-eating grins on my face several times as I was reading this. I suspended all sense of belief ,threw all cares to the wind and allowed this book to take over all of my senses. What an exhilarating ride!
* I had no idea how sexual plants and flowers are!! Wow...all of that information was so much fun to read and at times I found myself blushing, but all in a good way!!
What didn't work for me:
* It all worked for me...every single word, every single sentence, every single character, the plot, the whole freaking story!!!
Recommend? Oh yeah!! And lucky for you I get the opportunity to offer one copy of 'Hot House Flower' to one of my friends who leave me a comment on this review!!! Please make sure you include your email address!!! This is limited to US/Canada only. Your chance to win a copy ends September 23, 11:59 p.m.
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