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robyns_reading_habit's review against another edition
3.0
*possible spoiler alert*
I enjoyed this book but still had a but if confusion or lingering questions at the end.
how did Hollis' wife and child died? Did I miss that? I know Alan's wife died in a fire, the elder Coopers' (Gwen's grandparents) in a car accident, but Belinda and little Cooper?
Why did people think Hollis guilty? Susie Justice was determined to look into Hollis but she never didn't uncover anything about why people though Hollis killed Belinda. Yes he was and ass hole an manipulated and probably beat her bu I was expecting more info.
Why did March's dad bring Hollis home with him in the first place? I kept waiting for that info to unfold.
Isn't March regretful or something? I kept waiting for the story to unfold in a way that make the read feel sorry for Hollis or March. But it didn't. I did not like March at all. I thought she was being a shitty, selfish parent. I wanted some realization moment from her.
Overall its Alice Hoffman and I wanted to keep reading.
I enjoyed this book but still had a but if confusion or lingering questions at the end.
how did Hollis' wife and child died? Did I miss that? I know Alan's wife died in a fire, the elder Coopers' (Gwen's grandparents) in a car accident, but Belinda and little Cooper?
Why did people think Hollis guilty? Susie Justice was determined to look into Hollis but she never didn't uncover anything about why people though Hollis killed Belinda. Yes he was and ass hole an manipulated and probably beat her bu I was expecting more info.
Why did March's dad bring Hollis home with him in the first place? I kept waiting for that info to unfold.
Isn't March regretful or something? I kept waiting for the story to unfold in a way that make the read feel sorry for Hollis or March. But it didn't. I did not like March at all. I thought she was being a shitty, selfish parent. I wanted some realization moment from her.
Overall its Alice Hoffman and I wanted to keep reading.
1969sl's review against another edition
4.0
Not sure what exactly I think about the idea of living author using plot from 150 year old classic, though premise actually sound intriguing - what would happen if "Wuthering Heights" main characters had opportunity to actually live together? We all remember Catherine and Heathcliff the way they were immortalized in Emily Brontë's unforgettable, dark and brooding novel but large part of their tragedy were obstacles that kept them apart - Alice Hoffman took difficult task to update this story for a modern times and reshape it as cautionary tale about obsession, violence and abusive relationship. No wonder it ended up recommended on Oprah's list as it inspires all sorts of discussions, particularly about where is the tipping point that makes a person break away from invisible cage. And how much right we as outsiders have to intrude into another person's private lives, even with the best of intentions.
Too reverential to Brontë to actually throw in some of her trademark magic realism, Hoffman uses famous literary ancestor only as a frame - wild, orphaned boy madly in love in his benefactor's beautiful daughter - but the rest of the story is completely hers. From than on, she weaves original story set in New England and since the main characters have to closely follow archetypal Catherine/Heathcliff couple, they don't really have logic or reasons - they are here to burn in a pyre, ignoring the world around them, going on without sleep, food or even another human contact. Perhaps the reason why Hoffman is much more successful with the whole palette of other, supporting characters is because they were her own creation and not limited by original literary model - almost everybody else is far more human, sympathetic or comprehensible in their actions and behaviours than main characters who suffer from being one-dimensional. Even with the best intentions, we can't really understand modern day Catherine/Heathcliff because they are not real people but symbols of self-destructive relationship - down to denial when it comes to facing violence that inevitably follows ("yes he can be dangerous but he is actually very emotional and it was me who provoked him, I deserve it") - but when we move on towards the other citizens of picturesque Jenkintown, description of them is much more believable and they are lovely. I have already noticed something about Alice Hoffman novels, a curious trait that I really enjoy her less prominent characters far more than the main ones. Worth praise for daring to give a new twist to a classic literary masterpiece, it is a curious homage that just might appeal to readers who recognize these kinds of situations .
Too reverential to Brontë to actually throw in some of her trademark magic realism, Hoffman uses famous literary ancestor only as a frame - wild, orphaned boy madly in love in his benefactor's beautiful daughter - but the rest of the story is completely hers. From than on, she weaves original story set in New England and since the main characters have to closely follow archetypal Catherine/Heathcliff couple, they don't really have logic or reasons - they are here to burn in a pyre, ignoring the world around them, going on without sleep, food or even another human contact. Perhaps the reason why Hoffman is much more successful with the whole palette of other, supporting characters is because they were her own creation and not limited by original literary model - almost everybody else is far more human, sympathetic or comprehensible in their actions and behaviours than main characters who suffer from being one-dimensional. Even with the best intentions, we can't really understand modern day Catherine/Heathcliff because they are not real people but symbols of self-destructive relationship - down to denial when it comes to facing violence that inevitably follows ("yes he can be dangerous but he is actually very emotional and it was me who provoked him, I deserve it") - but when we move on towards the other citizens of picturesque Jenkintown, description of them is much more believable and they are lovely. I have already noticed something about Alice Hoffman novels, a curious trait that I really enjoy her less prominent characters far more than the main ones. Worth praise for daring to give a new twist to a classic literary masterpiece, it is a curious homage that just might appeal to readers who recognize these kinds of situations .
blackbirdbooks23's review against another edition
2.0
After 100 pages I’m DNFing this because it’s just a retelling of Wuthering Heights and I’m not thrilled with it.
delphinium27's review against another edition
2.0
This is what I get for picking an audio book based on length.
Thankfully I had read through some of the comments here on GR before beginning the novel. Many people mentioned how it was a modern-day telling of Wuthering Heights. I don't think I have ever read more than excerpts from WH, so I decided I would read a synopsis before beginning this book, in order to have a better idea of the similarities and shared themes.
Well, the book is hyper romantic, but with a modern vulgarity. I was mildly curious about the connections between Hoffman's novel and Bronte's, but that may be the best it had going for it. The characters were horrible and selfish (like Bronte's), but they were also annoying and contrived at times. Overall, it was meh.
Thankfully I had read through some of the comments here on GR before beginning the novel. Many people mentioned how it was a modern-day telling of Wuthering Heights. I don't think I have ever read more than excerpts from WH, so I decided I would read a synopsis before beginning this book, in order to have a better idea of the similarities and shared themes.
Well, the book is hyper romantic, but with a modern vulgarity. I was mildly curious about the connections between Hoffman's novel and Bronte's, but that may be the best it had going for it. The characters were horrible and selfish (like Bronte's), but they were also annoying and contrived at times. Overall, it was meh.
jcoakley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
megmacgill's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first book I read by Alice Hoffman. It follows March, a woman who goes back to her hometown for a funeral. She has unresolved emotions for an old flame who still resides there and the story progresses from there. It has a dark side, but I found the characters to be interesting.
sarlem81's review against another edition
2.0
I genuinely couldn't bring myself to like any of the characters.
hnethery's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5