I found it again as an adult in a second hand bookstore, and find myself rereading it every couple of years. Its an unpretentious and oldfashioned sort of book despite the lack of plot, and the writing is unremarkable. Jan 22, 2010 the moonflower vine likes full sunso somewhere in my back yard i will find a good spot for it. I read this book as a teenager as a readers digest condensed book in the 60s and never forgot it. Jetta carleton 191999 moved from holden, missouri, to new york city to work as a television copywriter for national advertising agencies. Moonflowers in the garden do not need much ground space, as they readily climb upward. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. On a farm in western missouri during the first half of the twentieth century, matthew and. Heirloom flowering vine fragrant moonflower ipomoea alba no romantic evening garden would be complete without the luminous, iridescent huge trumpets of white moonflower, the f. Her widely beloved new york times bestseller the moonflower vine was, until now, her only published novel.
The flowers unfold very quickly and that in itself is an event worth waiting for. The moonflower vine was published in 1962 and was rereleased in 2009 with a foreword by jane smiley. I loved the characters and loved each of their stories. One critic compared it to to kill a mockingbird, which had just been published and like this novel, was the only work of its author. Jetta carleton, quote from the moonflower vine but very early they understood that playing was somewhat suspect, allowed through indulgence, a trivial pastime soon outgrown, and only about twice removed from sin. Large, heartshaped leaves further enhance the attractive moonflower vine. The plot was complex enough to be interesting yet real enough to.
Ohi have an iron gazebo from mexico in the back that was in the shade and now is in the sun. Matthew and callies three grown daughters jessica and leonie, and the muchyounger mary jo have come home for a vacation, and at night they come together and watch the moonflowers blossom. Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase. The moonflower vine by hamilbird see profile 071409. I can absolutely imagine a moonflower vine growing all over that gazebo. When it comes to temperature, a simple formula that would work here is. To his daughters as they grew up, matthew soames was god and.
This stunning vine offers big, 6inchwide purewhite flowers that open at dusk and release a sweet fragrance all night long. At the end of the novels first section, the moonflower vine blooms an event that is repeated, or described, a number of times in the pages that. Maybe thats why it has been compared to to kill a mocking bird. The moonflower vine opens with an idyllic family reunion over several summer evenings in missouri. How to grow a moonflower vine everything you wanted to know. Moonflower is usually grown as an annual, but it is a perennial in the tropics. The moonflower vine by jetta carleton librarything. Moonflower plants have large, beautiful, heartshaped leaves growing on huge, robust vines that need a large trellis to support them. Neglected books had featured the book in december 2006, including an endorsement from author jane smiley. The truth is the moonflower vine is a one of a kind book. I have read this book many times over the years and was very happy to see it was finally on audible. A member of the ipomea family, moonflower plants are related to the sweet potato vine and the morning glory, with flowers that open in the late afternoon. Salingers raise high the roof beam, carpenters and john updikes the centaur. Moonflower vines are not rigid about the fertility or texture of soil, though they grow easily from a seed when planted in a somewhat fertile soil.
At the end of the novels first section, the moonflower vine blooms an event that is repeated, or described, a number of times in the pages that follow when matthew and charlotte are alone, for example, and on the last page of the novel. She worked as a schoolteacher, a radio copywriter in kansas city, and a television advertising copywriter in new york city, and she ran a small publishing house with her husband in santa fe, new mexico. Its a delight watching the trumpetshape flowers unfurl from spiraled, coneshape buds. Matthew and callies three grown daughters jessica and leonie, and the muchyounger mary jo have come home for a vacation, and at night they. Though formerly classified as genus calonyction, species aculeatum, it is now properly assigned to genus ipomoea, subgenus. Some of the books rediscovered include the moonflower vine 1962 a novel by jetta carleton, a discovery noted by publishers weekly. Moonflower ipomoea alba, this vining plant is a fastgrowing vine great near and entrance or under a window. Jetta carleton the youngest daughter of a missouri farm family recalls the loves, sorrows, and achievements of fifty years. I decided to check and see if it was still in print. Its a nice thought, anyway, especially in february. Moonflower, moon vine ipomoea alba 1 day old seed leaves. The moonflower vine spent four months on the new york times best sellers list, alongside j.
The moonflower vine likes full sunso somewhere in my back yard i will find a good spot for it. Jane smiley a timeless american classic rediscovered. Fragrant moonflower heirloom flowering vine renees. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It was these visits which provided the inspiration for the novel the moonflower vine, much of which is based on stories from carletons family and other residents. The iridescent white, trumpetshaped flowers are around 6 inches long and 3 to 6 inches wide. The moonflower vine by jetta carleton on a farm in western missouri during the first half of the twentieth century, matthew and callie soames create a life for themselves and raise four headstrong daughters.
Direct sow seeds in average soil in full sun two weeks after danger of frost has passed. You are sure to enjoy its evening performance as well as heavy fragrance. The ipomoea alba is part of the family convolvulaceae convulvulus which includes morning glory and the less welcome bindweed, one of the more difficult to eradicate weeds of the temperate garden the species ipomoea alba is a native of tropical and subtropical parts of south and central america as well as florida. Find books like the moonflower vine from the worlds largest community of readers.
To my mind, this was not really an apt comparison, as matthew soames seemed a much more fallible and human hero that the redoubtable atticus finch. An easy, carefree vine, moonflower can be started ahead indoors or directsown when the soil is warm in any sunny garden spot. The seeds sprouted 4 days after i planted them in the ground at the first of june. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The moonflower vine hardcover january 1, 1962 by jetta carleton author. The comedy and tragedy are always moderated with a spare sense of realism. Moonflower vine book by jetta carleton thriftbooks. The moonflower vine is an exquisite portrait of a rural family and the forces that both bind them together and push them apart. For planting your moonflower vine outside, the temperature should consistently stay between 60 70f. How to grow a moonflower vine everything you wanted to. A timeless american classic rediscoveredan unforgettable saga of a heartland family on a farm in western missouri during the first half of the twentieth century, matthew and callie soames create a life for themselves and raise four headstrong daughters. Care for moonflowers how to grow a moonflower vine.
The moonflower vine, by jetta carleton the neglected books page. On a farm in western missouri during the first half of the twentieth century, matthew and callie soames create a life for themselves and raise four headstrong daughters. Readers who seek a strong story line will look in vain for this merely records, and unfolds, the domestic trivialities as well as crises in a family of four daughters. It was deliciously written and ill probably reread this one many times. On a farm in western missouri, during the first half of the twentieth century, matthew and callie soames create a life for themselves and raise four headstrong daughters. The moonflower vine, by jetta carleton the neglected. Dec, 2019 i was glad i kept this book and have enjoyed the return to the story where i only remembered the importance of the moonflower vine.
And in fact it was the only published work of jetta carleton, who died in 1999. Jun 03, 2018 you might find packets of moonflower vine on nursery seed racks, but youll almost certainly have to order datura seeds from a mail order source. Aug 17, 2010 the moonflower vine jetta carleton summary. This time, its been about 8 years because my hardback copy was mislaid in a move. Moonfloweripomoea alba, this vining plant is a fastgrowing vine great near and entrance or under a window. In about 1990 i found it in a library and read the full novel. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the moonflower vine. In 1962, jetta careltons the moonflower vine was published and immediately praised. I was glad i kept this book and have enjoyed the return to the story where i only remembered the importance of the moonflower vine. It is a lovely book about a family of 3 daughters starting in the early 1900s. The moonflower vine, by jetta carlson, originally published in 1962, is an old favorite my sister and i discovered years ago. Though the moonflower vine is full of lush descriptions of the trees, birds, flowers, and plants that fill the soames world, its very much a midwestern, rather than southern, novel. Jun 11, 2018 jane smiley included the moonflower vine among the classics she read or reread and then discussed in her 2005 book, thirteen ways of looking at the novel, and wrote of it.
Jan 22, 2010 the moonflower vine opens with an idyllic family reunion over several summer evenings in missouri. Everything you wanted to know about growing moonflowers. Ipomoea alba, sometimes called the tropical white morningglory or moonflower or moon vine, is a species of nightblooming morning glory, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the new world, from northern argentina north to mexico, florida and puerto rico. The story is primarily set on a farm and revolves around matthew and callie soames and their four headstrong daughters.
To aid germination, nick or cut the seed coat with a nail file and soak the seed overnight. I first read the moonflower vine as a teen, 40 years ago, in a readers digest condensed volume my grandmother had on the shelf. The moonflower vine by jetta carleton book club discussion. The moonflower vine was the only book published by jetta carleton, who worked as a schoolteacher, a radio copywriter in kansas city, and a television advertising copywriter in new york city, before operating a small publishing house in new mexico. They were soaked for 24 hours before planting them. The moonflower vine contains as many tragedies as a family could normally expect in half a century, but not too many, and overall it is an affirming and empowering novel.
A timeless american classic rediscoveredan unforgettable saga of a heartland family. Appearances are deceptive as each character has a surprise in store for the reader. It is, but in a new cover, with amazon calling it a timeless american classic rediscoveredan unforgettable saga of a heartland family. As it is now, the moonflower vine is jettas only book. At that time this book was the only one written by the author 19 1999 and, as jane smiley pointed out, it was not about politics or any of the big topics of the day. A main selection of two major book clubs, it was published in eight other countries and appeared as a readers digest condensed book, a sure sign of mid20thcentury. It is an unforgettable and captivating portrayal of a heartland family and the bonds of love that. I liked it so much, i bought my own hardcopy the original being my sisters, as well as a beat up paperback to carry in my beach bag. You might find packets of moonflower vine on nursery seed racks, but youll almost certainly have to order datura seeds from a mail order source.
But its saddest fact doesnt appear in the novel at all that jetta carleton, whose literary debut is a masterpiece, never wrote another book. The moonflower vine is set in rural missouri during the early 20th century. Buy the moonflower vine by jetta carleton online at alibris. In late spring once weather is warm and settled and nights stay above 50f 10c, sow in a sunny spot in ordinary garden soil 6 inches apart and 1 inch deep. Nov 06, 2002 moonflower, moon vine ipomoea alba 1 day old seed leaves. Free shipping get free shipping free 58 day shipping within the u. Their father, matthew, is a schoolteacher who has had to struggle to educate himself, while his wife callie is.
A beautifully written story about what seems like an average midwestern family during the 30s,40s,50s. A timeless american classic rediscoveredan unforgettable saga. Goodreads members who liked the moonflower vine also liked. Set in rural missouri in the early 1900s, the moonflower vine is the tale of the matthew and callie soames family, who live a seemingly simple life with their four. Following a brief introduction recounted by the eldest soames daughter, mary jo, the rest of the book is written in the third person and is divided. What made the experience of listening to the moonflower vine the most enjoyable.
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