Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening - Book Review

Carol Wall had finally gotten tired of her overgrown yard. Having never cared for it beyond mowing the grass, she wasn't about to sink her own hands into the soil or start pruning back the bushes. Admiring her neighbor's yard, she approaches Mister Owita, her neighbor's gardener about working for her to fix up her own yard. Thus begins a meaningful relationship between Carol and Mr. Owita.

Mr. Owita is from Kenya and different from all of Carol's other friends. Yet she is drawn to his quiet nature and his wisdom. Over the years, Carol's yard becomes a showplace and Carol learns more than just how to prune and care for the plants in her yard. Mr. Owita and his family become cherished friends of the Walls as the two families overcome the ordeals and trials of life.

I don't often reach for memoirs and yet several of them have inspired me over the years. Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall was one I very much enjoyed. Wall's engaging style and honesty, made this memoir a quick and memorable read. The relationship between Carol Wall and Mister Owita creates a bridge between so many differences yet shows that we are all so much more alike. Carol often blunders during their relationship, making assumptions, yet Mister Owita forgives and reassures her and their friendship continues. They serve each other and offer help when the other is in need. Mister Owita's careful and wise words are lesson to us all on how to treat one another.

Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall is graceful and hopeful. It imagines the possibilities if we each treated each other with the respect and dignity deserved by all humanity.

Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall was published by Amy Einhorn Books in March 2014.

**I received a complimentary copy of Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. No additional compensation was received.**