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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Mother-daughter relationships, with a dose of kitchen witchcraft, and a happy ending - works for me. I get enough reality, enough to worry about, just turning on the evening news. Hoffman books are such a pleasure.
Eh. Alice Hoffman's books are always an enjoyable read, but many of them are very, very similar. This doesn't stand up to Practical Magic or The River King. Worth a read for the dreamy, lovely fiction, but not one I'm likely to read again (like many of Alice Hoffman's).
This was very much a long book of descriptions and feelings with only the faintest hint of a plot woven in. It’s strange but at the beginning I almost felt that the descriptive style was condescending. Either way, not many plot lines exist and those that are aren’t really wrapped up in any way. This is less of a book and more of a portrait made out of words.
Good, but not great. Enjoyable, but predictable.
I liked the (fictionalized) historical backstory, the themes of forgiveness and family relationships. I wasn't crazy about how conveniently everyone paired up and the, although I suppose that's to be expected in this genre.
I liked the (fictionalized) historical backstory, the themes of forgiveness and family relationships. I wasn't crazy about how conveniently everyone paired up and the
Spoiler
mysterious antagonist took himself out
I really enjoy Alice Hoffman, and this book is no exception. The story happens in a small Massachusetts coastal town and centers on a remarkable family of women with special powers. A very fine generational novel.
I love that every character, no matter how big or how small, has a story. There's a magical quality to the storytelling, but the characters themselves feel very grounded and real, even if some have special abilities. This book is a wonderful New England fairytale with the perfect balance of sorrow, love, and healing.
This is a lovely story. I was hooked from the start, reading it all in two sittings, and when the book finally let me go it was with a sigh of relief and satisfaction. Alice Hoffman's grasp on her words is just magical; tightly controlled, so that each sentence seems to hold layers of meaning, but also flowing easily from the tongue. There's definitely a certain poetry in the way she weaves the environments where the story takes place, and she doesn't write as though her readers are stupid. Many little details that add to the depth of the story are slipped in quietly, fitting in naturally, beneath the noise of the surface events; it's refreshing to see a writer who doesn't feel the need to brandish about plot points like a flashing neon sign. She doesn't turn her head away from the less enchanting sides of a person, but shows how people can overcome their own weaknesses and the demons of their past, whether it takes them months or years or decades... In many, many ways, this is a beautiful book and I recommend it to anyone who knows how to appreciate a great writer.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Women of the Sparrow family have unusual gifts. Elinor can detect falsehood. Her daughter, Jenny, can see people's dreams when they sleep. Granddaughter Stella has a mental window on the future - a future she might not want to see. These three women unite to stop a crisis and discover the rewards of reconciliation and love.
Although this book has supernatural elements, it is more about mother-daughter relationships. It was fun to read and it kept me engrossed as I read it. I also enjoyed the historical fiction aspects it had.
Although this book has supernatural elements, it is more about mother-daughter relationships. It was fun to read and it kept me engrossed as I read it. I also enjoyed the historical fiction aspects it had.