I received a copy of this audiobook from Algonquin & Net Galley. I appreciate it, and thought the audiobook was narrated well and was easy to pay attention to.

First, Christle was very vulnerable with her story-sharing here. She ties a traumatic event of hers that relates to both her mother & Woolf. I thought the authors self-reflection was very strong. I remember enjoying her writing in The Crying Book, and she continues to weave words together well.

I highly recommend this book - and have already told friends to look out for it when it comes out. It's a beautifully written and deeply moving exploration of trauma, motherhood/daughterhood, and place refracted elegantly through the life and writing of Virginia Woolf. I was completely immersed in this book and captivated by Christle's prose. I also appreciated it as an example of "pandemic literature" (set at the height of COVID) that speaks to the "pandemic's disorientation" without making it the primary subject.

In the Rhododendrons by Heather Christie
Audio Version
Overall Grade: B
Information: B-
Writing/Organization: B
Narration: C
Best Aspect: I preferred the memoir part to the Virginia Woolf references but it was an interesting story overall.
Worst Aspect: The narration was done with so much drama, I often forgot this was nonfiction.
Recommend: Yes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the Audio ARC!

In the Rhododendrons is a highly emotional journey of discovery and reflection. The author reflects a lot on her mother, their relationship, their shared traumas, and how things could have been different. Underpinning it all is the tragic life and brilliant words of Virgina Woolf, who fits neatly into the story in more ways than you would think possible. I think there is something here for everyone, something we can all connect to, something we can learn from, or something we can feel.