"A philosophical story about loss, a search for meaning and the ripples of kindness and change."
A philosophical story about loss, a search for meaning and the ripples of kindness and change. When newlyweds Joe and Audrey Palmer suffer a miscarriage, their joy and hopeful outlook is quickly shattered and their relationship becomes strained. Not knowing what to do, Joe dives into his work as a salesman, trying to think practically but becoming more distant from his wife.
That is until a chance walk through a park, when Joe sees and then later meets Frank, a homeless professor with a group of friends who come to listen to his lectures and philosophies. Over the course of the book Joe uses Frank's teachings to not only reconnect with Audrey, but also to broaden his horizons and become a better man.
The opening of ‘The Flower from the Garbage’ by G. Edward Martin is really powerful, the unbridled joy quickly flattened by news of Joe and Audrey’s miscarriage is heartbreaking. As you’re reading from Joe’s perspective you feel his helplessness and the thought pattern that sends him down the path he initially takes.
The storyline is broken up with short stories, novelettes and notes which, when I first read this in the synopsis I was worried would ruin the flow of Joe and Audrey’s narrative. However, each is linked to the key themes and discussion points at that point in the story, and gain significance as you work continue through the book.
They add extra dimension and opportunities to provoke thought, exploring philosophy, mythology, spiritualism, relationships and more in greater detail alongside the main narrative. There are a lot of heavy/dark topics discussed throughout including loss, miscarriage, rape and death but I feel these are handled deftly and with compassion and consideration.
I haven’t heard of philosophical fiction before but I think that this book would be a great read for anyone interested in philosophy but also more broadly anyone interested in Literary fiction due to it’s unique exploration of the human condition.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
The Flower from the Garbage follows the journey of a newly wedded couple, Joe and Audrey Palmer, when they miscarry their baby and begin to disconnect from one another. While Audrey goes within and isolates herself, Joe continues to work more hours and make poor decisions—risking his marriage and future. Their marriage is saved when Joe discovers an unlikely friend and mentor in the form of a homeless philosopher who chose a life on the streets of Chicago after losing his own wife to cancer.
| Primary Genre | Indie Author Books |
| Recommendations: |
The Flower from the Garbage follows the journey of a newly wedded couple, Joe and Audrey Palmer, when they miscarry their baby and begin to disconnect from one another. While Audrey goes within and isolates herself, Joe continues to work more hours and make poor decisions—risking his marriage and future.
The Flower from the Garbage features in the following genres: Indie Author Books, Indie Books We Love, Recommendations
Paperback. Not Available.
The Flower from the Garbage was written by G. Edward Martin and published by Page Publishing, Inc.