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
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.
The Signature of All Things explores the mysteries and wonders of the world through its rich characters, Henry and Alma Whittaker, both figuratively and literally. Elizabeth Gilbert’s epic story spans 80 years, two generations and takes the reader on adventures around the world.
Henry Whittaker’s rags-to-riches story starts in the orchards of Kew Gardens and leads the reader along for his adventure aboard the HMS Resolution with Captains Cook, Clerke, and Gore. I was intrigued by all the history woven into this fantastic story and want to read more. The characters are full of depth. Henry is a force to be reckoned with, and I believe it was necessary to share as much about Henry and his story as Gilbert did to get the full scope of Alma’s character.
The bulk of the story is all Alma’s story, Henry’s firstborn and only biological child. Seeing Alma through Henry’s eyes gives the reader an intimate familial perspective about our heroine. Born in January 1800, the reader follows Alma through 8 decades of her lifetime. We are with her for the peaks and valleys, the unexpected detours, and the most intimate moments of her life. We learn about Alma slowly and closely, mimicking the way Alma learns about and studies her mosses. Alma is a fictional amalgamation of real-life women that Gilbert researched thoroughly for her story. Women such as Mary Treat, an expert on carnivorous plants who corresponded with Darwin, and Elizabeth Knight Britton, a respected moss expert who founded the New York Botanical Gardens with her husband. And Marianne North, who was a beautiful illustrator and botanist. These are just some of the 19th-century women whom Elizabeth Gilbert researched and used as such a solid foundation for building into her character in Alma.
I was intrigued by so many parts of this incredible story. I listened to this masterful piece of literature, and the narrator, Juliet Stevenson, is excellent. I understand the print edition includes beautiful illustrations, which I was sorry to learn were not included as a separate .pdf file for audiobook listeners.
However, I can see how this book may not be everybody’s cup of tea. It’s long, and some people aren’t capable of taking the time to share someone else’s story in such detail. I enjoyed every little detail and don’t think that Gilbert could have taken any part of this story out and been able to tell the full story. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy historical fiction.
Henry Whittaker’s rags-to-riches story starts in the orchards of Kew Gardens and leads the reader along for his adventure aboard the HMS Resolution with Captains Cook, Clerke, and Gore. I was intrigued by all the history woven into this fantastic story and want to read more. The characters are full of depth. Henry is a force to be reckoned with, and I believe it was necessary to share as much about Henry and his story as Gilbert did to get the full scope of Alma’s character.
The bulk of the story is all Alma’s story, Henry’s firstborn and only biological child. Seeing Alma through Henry’s eyes gives the reader an intimate familial perspective about our heroine. Born in January 1800, the reader follows Alma through 8 decades of her lifetime. We are with her for the peaks and valleys, the unexpected detours, and the most intimate moments of her life. We learn about Alma slowly and closely, mimicking the way Alma learns about and studies her mosses. Alma is a fictional amalgamation of real-life women that Gilbert researched thoroughly for her story. Women such as Mary Treat, an expert on carnivorous plants who corresponded with Darwin, and Elizabeth Knight Britton, a respected moss expert who founded the New York Botanical Gardens with her husband. And Marianne North, who was a beautiful illustrator and botanist. These are just some of the 19th-century women whom Elizabeth Gilbert researched and used as such a solid foundation for building into her character in Alma.
I was intrigued by so many parts of this incredible story. I listened to this masterful piece of literature, and the narrator, Juliet Stevenson, is excellent. I understand the print edition includes beautiful illustrations, which I was sorry to learn were not included as a separate .pdf file for audiobook listeners.
However, I can see how this book may not be everybody’s cup of tea. It’s long, and some people aren’t capable of taking the time to share someone else’s story in such detail. I enjoyed every little detail and don’t think that Gilbert could have taken any part of this story out and been able to tell the full story. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy historical fiction.
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