Read with Sharon - December 2022

The Secret Life Of Sunflowers - Marta Molnar

The Secret Life of Sunflowers was highly recommended by two of our book club members. It’s unusual for me to get two requests for a book from an author I had not heard of before, so naturally I was curious. When I researched the reader reviews, I was thrilled to see such positive feedback. And when I researched the author, I became even more intrigued.

Marta Molner is the pen name for USA Today and New York Times bestselling romance/fantasy author Dana Marton. And this month we are honored to have her join us to discuss her unveiling of Vincent Van Gogh’s sole heir and the story that brought the brilliance of his work to the attention of
the world.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am confident you will as well! This month we will be meeting at our normal time on Thursday, December 29 at 7:00 pm EST. Please mark your calendar to join us and author Marta Molnar aka Dana Marton in our discussion. Until then, I hope you find The Secret Life of Sunflowers as enthralling as I did.

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Reviews

In this novel, two strong-willed women strive to build artistic, independent lives in different centuries.

High-powered Los Angeles–based auctioneer Emsley Wilson has a lot on her plate. She spends her days arranging political auctions for celebrity donors, and after-hours, she has a complicated personal life to manage. Her ex-boyfriend and business partner, Trey, dumped Emsley for a close friend of hers who also works for their auction house. But Emsley always makes time for her grandmother Violet, a legendary New York City artist, gallery owner, and socialite recovering from a stroke in a rehabilitation facility.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/marta-molnar/the-secret-life-of-sunflowers/

“This book draws all the emotions out of you. I went from tears to snorting with laughter. It was both lighthearted and heart breaking, yet it inspires me to live my best life! ” Michelle Cox

When Hollywood auctioneer Emsley Wilson finds her famous grandmother’s diary while cleaning out her New York brownstone, the pages are full of surprises. The first surprise is, the diary isn’t her grandmother’s. It belongs to Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh’s sister-in-law.

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/m/marta-molnar/secret-life-of-sunflowers.htm

The Secret Life Of Sunflowers - Marta Molnar

Book Club Questions

THE HEROINE’S JOURNEY

  1. Had you heard of Joanna Bonger before reading this book?

  2. What did you think about Emsley?

THE STORY PLOT

  1. Do you enjoy the way the author had Emsley introduce the reader to Jo or did you find that distracting?
  2. Do you think Jo and Theo could have done more for Vincent?

THE ENDING

  1. Did it work for you? What would you have changed?
  2. What do you think is the author’s message to readers of The Secret Life of Sunflowers?
  3. What did you take away from the book?
  4. Are you left with any questions?

SYMBOLISM AND FORESHADOWING

  1. Did you notice any symbolism?
  2. What foreshadowing did you notice? 

THE WRITING

  1. Use one adjective to describe the writing itself.
  2. What would you change if you could rewrite The Secret Life of Sunflowers?

DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC

  1. What did you love most about the book?
  2. Did the book change any views/opinions that you have?

The Secret Life Of Sunflowers - Marta Molnar