Synopses & Reviews
"In this profoundly moving memoir, Owita teaches Wall how to find grace amid heartbreak and to accept that beauty exists because it is fleetingas in her garden, as in life." People, 4 stars
"A perfect spring awakening." Good Housekeeping
A true story of a unique friendship between two people who had nothingand ultimately everythingin common.
Carol Wall, a white woman living in a lily-white neighborhood in Middle America, was at a crossroads in her life. Her children were grown; she had successfully overcome illness; her beloved parents were getting older. One day she notices a dark-skinned African man tending her neighbors yard. His name is Giles Owita. He bags groceries at the supermarket. He comes from Kenya. And hes very good at gardening.
Before long Giles is transforming not only Carols yard, but her life. Though they are seemingly quite different, a caring bond grows between them. But they both hold long-buried secrets that, when revealed, will cement their friendship forever.
Review
and#8220;In this profoundly moving memoir, Owita teaches Wall how to find grace amid heartbreak and to accept that beauty exists because it is fleetingand#8212;as in her garden, as in life.and#8221; and#8212;
People, 4 stars
and#8220;In this lovely memoir, a surprising friendship blooms between a horticulturist with a harrowing secret and the author, a cancer survivor with a bad attitude and a sad yard. A perfect spring awakening.and#8221;and#8212;Good Housekeeping
"No green thumb is required to enjoy the warmhearted pleasures of Carol Wall's moving memoir,and#160;Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening.... magnetically compelling ... Grace and gardening go hand-in-glove in this fine book about what really matters in life: friendship, kindness and watching a garden grow." and#8212;USA Todayand#160;
and#160; and#8220;With her children grown and out of the house, Carol Wall is obsessedand#8212;perhaps overly soand#8212;with ripping out her azaleas. That is, until she meets a certain Giles Owita, Kenyan gardener, supermarket bagger, general-life philosopher and perhaps one of the most refined and gracious characters to ever hit the page (except that heand#8217;s real)and#8230; A warning for the shy: The basic goodness of Owitaand#8217;s attitude may cause you to beam spontaneously as you read, leading to off looks from strangers at the coffee shop.and#8221; and#8212;Oprah.com and#160; "A must-read memoir.... Both shocking and profoundly moving. This book is not just about gardening." and#8212;AARP blog and#160; and#8220;In this heartbreaking yet heartwarming paean to the joys of friendship and gardening, Wall crafts an elegiac tribute to an extraordinary man.and#8221; and#8212;Booklistand#160; and#160; "[T]his memoir chronicl[es] the many lasting rewards garnered from an unexpected friendship..." and#8212;Publishers Weekly (starred review) and#160; "A pleasure to read. Walland#8217;s bittersweet story of human kindness has universal appeal." and#8212;Kirkus Reviews and#160; "I couldnand#8217;t put this book down. I found myself liking the principal characters from the opening pages, and my affection for them never wavered. If you enjoy inspirational memoirs or gardening books (or both), this moving account of a life-changing friendship is for you." and#8212;Bookpage and#160; and#160;
Review
“In this profoundly moving memoir, Owita teaches Wall how to find grace amid heartbreak and to accept that beauty exists because it is fleeting—as in her garden, as in life.” —
People, 4 stars “A perfect spring awakening.” —
Good Housekeeping
“With her children grown and out of the house, Carol Wall is obsessed—perhaps overly so—with ripping out her azaleas. That is, until she meets a certain Giles Owita, Kenyan gardener, supermarket bagger, general-life philosopher and perhaps one of the most refined and gracious characters to ever hit the page (except that hes real)… A warning for the shy: The basic goodness of Owitas attitude may cause you to beam spontaneously as you read, leading to off looks from strangers at the coffee shop.” —Oprah.com "No green thumb is required to enjoy the warmhearted pleasures of Carol Wall's moving memoir, Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening.... magnetically compelling ... Grace and gardening go hand-in-glove in this fine book about what really matters in life: friendship, kindness and watching a garden grow." —USA Today
"A pleasure to read. Walls bittersweet story of human kindness has universal appeal." —Kirkus Reviews
"I couldnt put this book down. I found myself liking the principal characters from the opening pages, and my affection for them never wavered. If you enjoy inspirational memoirs or gardening books (or both), this moving account of a life-changing friendship is for you." —Bookpage
"A must-read memoir. On the surface, Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening: How I Learned the Unexpected Joy of a Green Thumb and an Open Heart by Carol Wall, is a gentle memoir about a friendship between a white woman in Roanoke, Virginia and her gardener from Kenya. But that description fails to capture the book's depth, its sometimes-raw emotions, nor its many surprising twists.... Both shocking and profoundly moving. This book is not just about gardening." —AARP blog “In this heartbreaking yet heartwarming paean to the joys of friendship and gardening, Wall crafts an elegiac tribute to an extraordinary man.” —Booklist
"[T]his memoir chronicl[es] the many lasting rewards garnered from an unexpected friendship..." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“This memoir touches upon everything that is important in life. Not only is it beautifully written—I am also in awe of Carol Walls raw honesty and incredible courage.”—Kathleen Grissom, New York Times-bestselling author of The Kitchen House
“Carol Walls suspenseful tale of human frailty and courage is a marvel. In her garden, an unexpected bond slowly forms as two people from distant worlds help each other confront long-buried secrets and fears. Deeply personal, poetic, and brimming with humanity, this is a book of lasting grace.” —Steve Lopez, New York Times-bestselling author of The Soloist
“Carol Walls disarming memoir Mister Owitas Guide to Gardening is a poignant tale of an unlikely teacher and a doubting student, who, by bringing a neglected patch of ground back to life, reveal the secrets of reclaiming, restoring, and freeing a wounded soul. It is a generous story filled with grace enough to bring healing to the reader as well. An engaging personal and spiritual journey into lifes essential questions.” —Jonathan Odell, author of The Healing
Synopsis
A true story of a unique friendship between two people who had nothing--and ultimately everything--in common.
Carol Wall, living in a lily-white neighborhood in Middle America, is at a crossroads in her life. Her children are grown; she has successfully overcome illness; her beloved parents are getting older. One day she notices a dark-skinned African man tending her neighbor's yard. His name is Giles Owita. He bags groceries at the supermarket. He comes from Kenya. And he's very good at gardening.
Before long Giles is transforming not only Carol's yard, but her life. Though they are seemingly quite different, a caring bond grows between them. But Carol and Giles both hold long-buried secrets that, when revealed, will cement their friendship forever.
Includes a Readers Guide
Synopsis
A unique friendship blooms in a backyard garden in this heartwarming and inspiring memoir of human connection, joy, and resilience. Carol Wall is at a turning point in her life when she meets Giles Owita, the Kenyan man who tends her neighbor's garden. Looking into her own neglected yard, she realizes she could more than use his help. But as Giles transforms Carol's property into a lush garden, Carol begins to form a deep, meaningful bond with Giles that transcends their cultural differences.
Giles is just the person to revitalize not only Carol's yard, but her life. As the petals of their friendship begin to open, the two begin to connect over their shared experiences that exist despite their very different beginnings.
Giles Owita brings his wisdom, kindness, and his bright perspective to both Carol and the reader in this joyful friendship story, inspiring you to appreciate the beauty and cultivate meaningful relationships in the garden of your life. Includes a Readers Guide
About the Author
Carol Wall