The Pansy Garden

Book excerpt: In this poignantly woven story, the author introduces readers to Joe, from his five-year-old to his young adult self. Joe narrates of his life, his dysfunctional family’s stories, his inner thoughts, observations, and sentiments, and his heart and soul. Only his grandmother, whom he affectionately calls Nanny, truly loves and understands him. Nanny has helped him start and create The Pansy Garden that would become his place of solace, meditation, and home. Though his very young mind can only grasp so much, he has absorbed the events and happenings around him—his family, his community, his country—and shares them all with the pansies in his garden. As he comes of age, the realities of life gradually unfolds before his very eyes. His Nanny dies; his alcoholic Mother sleeps with their priest; his good-for-nothing Father leaves; his indifferent brother escapes the military draft; his four sisters face adolescence in a way they know how; and he is battling with homosexuality. Born and raised in a big family with little heart or no compassion, Joe only has The Pansy Garden to soothe and listen to him. How will he deal with life’s deck of unpredictable cards? Readers are about to find out as this novel unravels. For more information on this book, log on to www.Xlibris.com.