Oh to traipse around London researching this book would have been oh so fun. So much Virginia Wolf history. I have personally not read any of Woolf's work yet, but it is on my TBR. What drew me to the book was the premise of shared trauma, and then the relationship to a known author who committed suicide (Woolf). Mental health related books always draw me in, especially those in relation to historic creative individuals.

I was not disappointed. I enjoyed hearing the author's own experiences, the reality of what it's like living with a mental health disorder and trying to be a working creative individual. I appreciated these aspects of the book immensely. I loved all of the history interwoven throughout the story about Woolf, and the author's own family history as well.

Definitely a recommended read for anyone who enjoys British history (especially in relation to Woolf and her compatriots in her circle), trauma and mental health, and learning about the creative process. The author did manage to keep this a lighter read, even though it did touch on some heavier subjects like rape and suicide.

This book is a gut punch. I am very glad I read it, but it was a hard read. I wouldn't want to use it in class as there would need to be a big trigger warning for my students, but I would definitely recommend it with lots of those warnings.

Whether you're knowledgable about the history of Virginia Woolf and her writings or not, Christle excellently utilizes the scope of Woolf's life and experiences to aid in defining her own. She conveys several narratives within short spans concerning her upbringing, her mother's, and Woolf's to entwine all parties together in an attempt to provide more perspective to the varying experiences within the human condition that transcends time and place. Finishing this memoir has me wanting to read all of Woolf's works only to return to this book again and experience it anew.

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.