Violette Toussaint has had a difficult life and is finally at peace working at a cemetery.. Violette first worked as a level crossing attendant with her husband before being given a job of a cemetery caretaker at Brancion-en-Chalon Cemetery in Burgundy.
This was about a woman who is a caretaker of a cemetery. She opens the cemetery gate each morning and locks the gate at night. Through the day she helps people find graves, removes dead flowers, waters flowers and helps to keep the cemetery tidy.
Violette tends to the graves and is a friend to the cemetery workers. She feeds the cats that live at the cemetery and sells flowers to cemetery visitors. Violette has many favourite epitaphs one of them is – “Death begins when no one can dream of you any longer”
(I can really feel how Violette feels because many years ago I spent months transcribing all the inscriptions in a local cemetery near me and after a while I started feeling that I knew everyone in the cemetery).
As Violette tells the story of the people who visit the cemetery and the people buried in the cemetery, she gradually uncovers the mystery of her life.
This was about relationships, families, grief, cemeteries and secrets. I loved the way this was written and how Violette’s story was revealed.

From Goodreads review with full review on Literary Hoarders site attached below: I really enjoyed it - was engrossed the whole time. There is A Lot going on in here though. There are a number of other stories that branch out from Violette's but I didn't mind any of it one bit. There is even a little bit of a mystery inside. Even though there is a lot going on in here it worked really for me. I really, really liked Violette. She has quite a story to tell and quite a life she lived.

A magical beautiful read a book I fell in love with. A booK I will be recommending to all my friends.A book I did it want to end.#netgalley#europa

Translated from the French, this is Perrin’s second novel. Violette abandoned as a baby and raised in foster homes at 17 meets the love of her life Philippe Toussaint. By 18 she is pregnant with their daughter Leoninine and living with him. He is feckless, parasitical, controlling and an irredeemable adulterer. She will work to support them all as he wanders his way through life. In the early stages of her relationship “they” work as railway crossing keepers’ a job that will become obsolete. Shortly before this Violette’s in-laws will insist that Leo, by then 7, attend a holiday centre. She and other children will die. Violette will carry her grief for the rest of her life. Philippe will be intent on finding the person “responsible”. But Violette needs to work and once their railway jobs are deleted “they” will be employed this time as residential as cemetery keepers. Philippe will become more and more absent. Through an interweaving of chapters the phases of their lives will be unveiled from start of their relationship to the final end more than 25 years later.
We will be told in detail of Violette’s life as she rebuilds it in “her” cemetery. The daily routines and occurrences with her colleagues, the animals, the funerals the residents and their visitors. All this set in parallel to her recovery from the loss of her daughter and later from Philippe. We see a woman (who has persuaded herself she is emotionally gawky and of little value) through small accumulative but simple actions and routines build a network of new friendships and a positive life through giving to others. Although this will be complicated by the re-appearances (increasingly rare) of Philippe who has established a new life elsewhere.
She starts to keep records of the funerals in her cemetery. Among others Gabriel Prudent will be buried in the cemetery – and over the years Violette will become aware that he had a lover Irene Fayrolle. When Irene dies her ashes are to be placed on the tomb. Her son Julien, a detective, is required to undertake this and meets Violette. She helps with his funeral oration to his mother and he shows her his mother’s diary recording her married life through the lens of the highs and lows of having a married lover. Julien as thanks searches out Philippe and trips off another family crisis. But will become closer to Violette.
This is a compelling novel that through the story line addresses the deeper issues of both love and marriages, which do not of course always travel together. It is about personal lives, often viewed differently through another’s eyes. It is about moving forward either as a couple or indeed alone. And critically always trying to build a good life with quiet webs of kindness and friendship even if things are not ideal. So it could be described as a “quiet” book, although it touches on the deepest aspects of human life and happiness. Carelessness to others can cause deep harm to them, but seemingly simple acts can be life affirming and of huge value to others – so the exploration of this makes it a compassionate and moral book. There are a lot of characters gathered here – Perrin is sympathetic to them all recognising human weaknesses. Not all are depicted in great detail and may be seen largely through their actions that can gradually change the readers’ views of them. But because they are real people they resonate with the reader. A quietly positive read.

Charles de Gaulle, French military officer/political leader/writer, once famously said, " The graveyards are full of indispensable men." Well, he never met my daughter, so I kindly beg to differ. And, I think Valérie Perrin writes a most moving tribute to graveyards, its residents, and those who care for it. I could never have imagined just how moved I'd become by a story set in a French cemetery. Turns out that me and Violette, the book's MC, are members of the same club: a club we were brutally initiated in to. It's not a club anyone wants to join. Take my word for it. Nevertheless, as dark as the story may seem (and it is), it still has the capability to wrap its arms around the reader and deliver an emotional, comforting hug. It took my breath away and forced me to face my own demons. I NEEDED to read this. Relating to Violette in many ways, I understood her motivation to disconnect.

I don't want to give away much. It's a profoundly sad story about a woman who's lost in life, already not having much to lose. She clings to what is hers, even if these things cause deep pain; at least they're hers. While tragic and heartbreaking, Perrin's words are filled with beauty and meaning. I can't begin to describe how much I loved every word written. Truly one of those books I didn't want to say goodbye to. Characters and settings that, after introduction, become memorable lifelong friends.

If I could only read one book in 2020, I'd be content to end it with Fresh Water for Flowers. I couldn't have selected a better book. I will forever remember it. Adding to my "All-time Favorites" shelf. I can't give it a better compliment than that.



*E-copy courtesy of NetGalley.

This novel just didn't hold my interest so I quit reading around page 100. I won't post a review to Goodreads as I didn't finish however I'm quite sure it will appeal to other readers. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to try the book.

Beautifully written. Poetically penned. Valerie Perrin is an author to keep on your radar. The interwoven characters and their lives, are described elegantly. It’s a tragic yet hopeful epilogue. Finishing the book left me bereft. “There’s something stronger than death, and that’s the presence of those absent in the memory of the living.” A resounding theme throughout the novel. Thank you Netgalley and Europa Editions for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful ARC.

A gorgeously written and profound meditation on life and death, perfect for fans of Elena Ferrante and Europa Edition readers. A fair warning: it's a real tear-jerker! The story follows Violette as she narrates her life as a content cemetery caretaker and remembers her past (unhappy) marriage, motherhood, and other mundane but important events. Her story becomes intertwined with others at her cemetery, especially Julien Sole, a detective trying to solve his mother's peculiar last wish: to have her ashes be deposited on a grave of a complete stranger. Atmospheric, poetic, and remarkable.

This is shockingly more cheery then what I usually read. I mean it's not easy but it's beautiful and soulful. I though it was really worth reading. I can see why it's so loved.

What a magical book. Absolutely loved this and all the people in it. I started this and at first wasn't sure but knew it was more my mood do I put it aside and came to it. So glad I did as this is such a great rest! Magical.

Thanks to the publisher and net galley for an early release of this book.

This book is a classic! I haven’t read a book that I have been so captivated by in a long time. It is much more than a mystery, and a love story (several). It is dark but always somehow with a ray of sunshine coming through. There are elements of magical realism as well. The author created characters so flawed yet multi-dimensional. Nothing is black and white in this book there is a fluidity that surprises and makes you question human nature. I loved it!