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marygbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't really get to learn about "magical realism" through this novel. However, I did enjoy Hoffman's style of writing. Using nature's natural magic as a background to the complex human relationships she describes in her story. A story about love's lost and reuniting. A story about losing oneself before finding yourself. Intensity, passion, and dysfunction.
charity_royall_331's review against another edition
3.0
"Wuthering Heights" doesn't hold much fascination for me, even in the hands of Alice Hoffman.
aksyring's review against another edition
5.0
Easily my favorite Alice Hoffman book. I was skeptical while and immediately after reading it, but upon further examination I really loved it. It is definitely a modern twist on Wuthering Heights, but don't let that define the book for you. Her characters are complex, and sometimes do inexplicable things throughout, but it is worth a read, and in the end is very compelling.
flannfry's review against another edition
2.0
I found this book on my mom's bookshelf when I was home from college one summer. Someone gave it to her, I guess. Someone who hated my mother, most likely.
Alice Hoffman is like [author: Anita Shreve] in that she loooooves big descriptions, cliches, and using 10 words to talk about a hammer.
I don't remember much about this one. The plot seemed harmless enough from the back cover, maybe even interesting. Unfortunately, the execution suffered from the author Trying To Hard To Evoke Emotion.
Her writing only gets worse in the other book of hers I read, [book: Blue Diary].
Alice Hoffman is like [author: Anita Shreve] in that she loooooves big descriptions, cliches, and using 10 words to talk about a hammer.
I don't remember much about this one. The plot seemed harmless enough from the back cover, maybe even interesting. Unfortunately, the execution suffered from the author Trying To Hard To Evoke Emotion.
Her writing only gets worse in the other book of hers I read, [book: Blue Diary].
mnkgrl's review against another edition
3.0
I have not liked Alice Hoffman in the past so I was not looking forward to reading this book for my book club. But this one is ok. It is the story of a small New England town and a few families over the years tied together by often unhealthy relationships. It’s tense, as you’re always waiting for something bad to happen. I think if you like multigenerational family novels, and overwrought love stories you’ll like this. Also, it calls back some to Wuthering Heights.
laurisssa's review against another edition
3.0
Spoiler alert. What can you say about a book where you are happy the main character dies at the end?
hoserlauren's review against another edition
2.0
March and her teenage daughter Gwen return to March's home town for the funeral of the loving homekeeper that helped raise her. March's husband stays behind in California but is concerned, knowing that March will be in the same town as her teenage love Hollis. She never really got over him and knows that seeing him will be hard so she tries to avoid him. We learn about March's childhood in this sleepy town and what happened between March and Hollis. Gwen, having never been to this town before, quickly catches the eye of Hollis' ward and a horse that they keep on their property. For a California girl , she may want to stay here.
Typical to Oprah's book club books, this book is beyond frustrating. Yes, I understand that love can make people do crazy things. But in this case March has a daughter. You would think that March would put her daughter above all else, but it seems like she just forgets she even has a daughter to spend time with Hollis. It's irresponsible and annoying to read.
I found the ending disappointing as all of the characters got off to easy; even Hollis. Furthermore, where and what March ended up was glossed over. For all the flowery descriptions that Hoffman had throughout the book, the ending was rather rushed and not well thought out.
Overall, disappointing. I'm not sure why I bother with Oprah book club books anymore.
Typical to Oprah's book club books, this book is beyond frustrating. Yes, I understand that love can make people do crazy things. But in this case March has a daughter. You would think that March would put her daughter above all else, but it seems like she just forgets she even has a daughter to spend time with Hollis. It's irresponsible and annoying to read.
I found the ending disappointing as all of the characters got off to easy; even Hollis. Furthermore, where and what March ended up was glossed over. For all the flowery descriptions that Hoffman had throughout the book, the ending was rather rushed and not well thought out.
Overall, disappointing. I'm not sure why I bother with Oprah book club books anymore.
mbarclay's review against another edition
1.0
I tried listening to this book and I cannot listen to another word. I have never cared less about the characters or plot in any other book I've ever read.