The Signature of All Things: A Novel
A glorious, sweeping novel of desire, ambition, and the thirst for knowledge, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and Committed. In The Signature of All Things, Elizabeth Gilbert returns to fiction, inserting her inimitable voice into an enthralling story of love, adventure, and discovery.
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Community Reviews
It contains some interesting ideas, but overall, it was disappointing, which is sad. In my opinion, that is the problem with high expectations.
My feelings after reading this book reflect one of the main themes of this book: vague provocation. Not enough to truly rock the boat, but enough to inspire some creative thinking.
Alma Whittaker is the daughter of a fiery, brutally capitalistic botanist and a reserved, staid, formidable Dutchwoman. Growing up wealthy in Philadelphia, Alma's life is a series of discoveries -- both personal and scientific. Her world continues to expand outward and her discoveries rock her world in both minute and cataclysmic ways. The winding tale of her life, however, provides enough entertainment to keep the reader engaged and pushing forward in the narration. A panoply of characters waltzes in and out of her life as she attempts to navigate the murky waters of existence, each one more absurd and fantastical. Ultimately, the best thing one can say is that even if Alma's life is horribly mixed up and filled with misunderstandings and flaws, it was a full life, well-lived.
There are many things to love about this novel. Botany is treated in a detailed and loving way, portraying plants both as they are (non-sentient and competitive) but also in the beautiful realm of the imagination. The intimate relationships between humans are also treated with loving care, and are examined in as much intimate detail as the mosses Alma devotes her life to. My only real criticism is that I found it a tad predictable. Yet, for every major plot twist I predicted, there was something else, even small things, that would catch me off guard (and I learned some interesting new Victorian slang). What's more is that Alma is a likable main character. She is homely and industrious, and just incredibly ordinary. Her sister Prudence has a literally stunning beauty, but who ends up better off? There are some wonderful portrayals of real characters, as well, like Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace.
I would recommend this novel. It's interesting, meandering, philosophical, scientific, insightful, and ordinary. It's a wonderful blend of themes and ideas, without straying too far into the depths of the truly profound. It is thought-provoking enough but also packs plenty of pop. Pick it up -- maybe you'll learn something about Dicarnum and bryology along the way.
Alma Whittaker is the daughter of a fiery, brutally capitalistic botanist and a reserved, staid, formidable Dutchwoman. Growing up wealthy in Philadelphia, Alma's life is a series of discoveries -- both personal and scientific. Her world continues to expand outward and her discoveries rock her world in both minute and cataclysmic ways. The winding tale of her life, however, provides enough entertainment to keep the reader engaged and pushing forward in the narration. A panoply of characters waltzes in and out of her life as she attempts to navigate the murky waters of existence, each one more absurd and fantastical. Ultimately, the best thing one can say is that even if Alma's life is horribly mixed up and filled with misunderstandings and flaws, it was a full life, well-lived.
There are many things to love about this novel. Botany is treated in a detailed and loving way, portraying plants both as they are (non-sentient and competitive) but also in the beautiful realm of the imagination. The intimate relationships between humans are also treated with loving care, and are examined in as much intimate detail as the mosses Alma devotes her life to. My only real criticism is that I found it a tad predictable. Yet, for every major plot twist I predicted, there was something else, even small things, that would catch me off guard (and I learned some interesting new Victorian slang). What's more is that Alma is a likable main character. She is homely and industrious, and just incredibly ordinary. Her sister Prudence has a literally stunning beauty, but who ends up better off? There are some wonderful portrayals of real characters, as well, like Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace.
I would recommend this novel. It's interesting, meandering, philosophical, scientific, insightful, and ordinary. It's a wonderful blend of themes and ideas, without straying too far into the depths of the truly profound. It is thought-provoking enough but also packs plenty of pop. Pick it up -- maybe you'll learn something about Dicarnum and bryology along the way.
Epic tale of a fascinating & unconventional life well lived. Really enjoyed it, and Juliet Stevenson's narration was great, but it could have been a few hours shorter... I kept going away from it for ages before coming back! Glad I stuck with it though, very good.
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