Favourite Alice Hoffman book

I've only just found Alice Hoffman this year. I picked up an audio book of hers Ice Queen because it liked the title and cover illustration and absolutely loved it. The language, strong female character and fairytale like quality of the book made me look for another Hoffman book straight away. I found Probable Future. I was hooked. As someone new to Alice Hoffman, can anyone make any recommendations?

May I suggest Turtle Moon? The imagery is wonderful , as are the characters. It was my first Alice Hoffman book and after reading it I knew I had to read more of her books.

White horses by Alice Hoffman was my first, and I loved it, still do. I think it was her first one but I am not sure. "Natural Magic" and Fortune's daughter are other suggestions. I think I have read all of her books, at least the one's translated to norwegian.

whoops. sorry. I thought you meant Abbie Hoffman.

I like Practical Magic and Illumination Night. Turtle Moon is good, too.

Turtle Moon is my favorite, so far. Although, Ice Queen is delectable in it's own way. I just finished Blue Diary and loved it. 'Blue' doesn't seem quite as magical as her others, but Alice has such lyrical prose, it's hard to put down.

The first one I read was 'Blue Diary' and I loved it so much I offered it as a 'bookring' on Bookcrossing. Have also read 'Here on Earth', didn't enjoy that one so much and also 'Turtle Moon', but my favourite has to be 'Blue Diary'.

Excuse my ignorance, but what's a 'bookring'?

I'm about 2/3 through Blue Diary, and though the characters are intriguing and the imagery lovely as always with a Hoffman book, I'm a little suprised at the lack of the magical or supernatural. Maybe in the last third.....

Socialpages, I am a member on Bookcrossing and you can join bookrings/rays on there. A book is offered by a person and people can join in to read it and then pass it on to the next person in the 'ring' until it eventualy comes back to the originator of the ring. It is a good way to find out what other people think of a certain book by giving their reviews. Bookray is started by one person but when it gets to the final person on the list they can keep/pass it on to someone else.

#2 Emma, I've just finished Turtle Moon and I thought it was fantastic. I'm now torn between it and Ice Queen as my favourite Alice Hoffman book. I have also recently read Skylight Confessions which didn't grab me and Blackbird House which was absolutely wonderful. I loved the interconnections between each story.

I recently read Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. I found her writing similar to Alice's, which, by my standards, makes her an excellent author.

I've read all of her adult fiction and a few of the YA books. My favorites from her early works are Turtle Moon, Practical Magic, and Illumination Night. Her most recent book, The Third Angel, is my favorite of her more recent books since Blackbird House.

My favorite Alice Hoffman book has to be Probable Future. Practical Magic and Blackbird House are close seconds.

I don't know how I missed this group until tonight. Alice Hoffman is my favorite female author. Her Blackbird House is my favorite work of hers but I have read many and have loved each and every one of them. Turtle Moon was my first Alice Hoffman just as it was for many of you.
I don't plan to read her this year as I am committed to almost all of the L.T. group reads planned for the year. And my other reading will be Viragos , Books on & about Africa, nonfiction and the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series (again). Each time a new one of hers comes out, I read the entire series all over again and I have been waiting a while for this last one to come out.
I see that this group has actually been dormant for some time. Hopefully we can breathe some new life into it. Maybe even have our own group read, hmmmmmmmmm??
belva

I'd be interested in a group read. Like you Belva, I've signed on for quite a few LT group reads for 2010 but I'll find time for an Alice Hoffman novel. They're a reasonable length (about 300 pages) and just fabulous reads. Maybe later in the year? Does Hoffman have a new book coming out in 2010?
Jenny

Hi Jenny;
I will check into that and get back with you later in the day. I just got up and wanted to see if anyone had come onto this thread. So I am not quite awake yet. I am writing this through squinting eyes as I haven't my glasses on yet even.
So let me get my shower and coffee and I will check back. A group read might be a good way to breathe some life back into the group.
Thanks for responding.
belva

I would join an Alice Hoffman group read! I have The Probable Future on my TBRS pile (that's To Be Read Soon, as opposed to to be read sometime.)

Jennifer;
I am just going to repost what I sent to you to you and see if we can drum up any interest.

I was checking out Alice Hoffman's newest work and pulled up this on it:

THE STORY SISTERS
Alice Hoffman
Shaye Areheart Books
Fiction
ISBN: 9780307393869

* Read an Excerpt

Though many fairy tales have been watered down over the generations --- their first, darker versions altered to make them brighter and happier --- you can still find the originals preserved in collections by the Grimm Brothers and others. Modern storytellers often use fairy tale conventions to tell their own tales, especially if a certain kind of danger or fearful innocence exists in the story. Fairy tale figures, evil forces, beautiful children, strong heroes, enchanted lands and mystical creatures are used to express a fractured reality, a broken mind, a damaged heart, or simply an alternate way of viewing the world.

In her latest novel, the prolific Alice Hoffman plays with the idea of a twisted fairy tale as a trio of sisters, in their imaginations and in reality, try to come to terms with tragedy, pain and deep secrets. In THE STORY SISTERS, Elv, Meg and Claire seek out love and acceptance, power and invisibility and, finally, peace and redemption.

The Story sisters were beautiful and smart. Elv was the oldest; strong and daring, she was known as the beauty of the three, but was also unstable, unpredictable and moody. Meg, the serious middle sister and a quiet bookworm, was growing into the kind of powerful beauty her older sister possessed. At 12, Claire was warm and caring, quick to please but wracked with a guilt that leaves her emotionally beholden to Elv. It all goes back to a secret Elv and Claire share of the trauma Elv suffered when she foiled a pedophile’s plans to abduct Claire. Elv was taken instead and was hurt and abused in ways she could never express, instead turning inward and creating a secret and magical landscape for her and her sisters to live in. The secret world was called Arnelle and its language Arnish. Within its fairy tale borders, Elv tried to keep herself and her sisters safe from further harm.

But Arnelle was not real enough, and as she grew older, Elv became more and more self-destructive until she found chemical ways to alter her reality and try to leave her pain behind. Often estranged from her family, she was unable to care for her younger sisters, who both fear her and fear for her. Over the years the girls move between their New York home and their familial home in Paris (populated by two fairy godmother-like women). Longing for understanding, comfort and magic, they draw people into their lives who are both harmful and healing. In THE STORY SISTERS, Hoffman re-imagines the familiar fairy tale narrative in a modern coming-of-age story. The princes, supernatural experiences and magical animals remain, but present too are drugs, teenage sex, car crashes and depression.

Hoffman’s prose is lovely, often finding the rhythms and cadences of traditional fairy tales and storytelling. The girls are compelling characters, and readers will surely feel for them as they grow up with so much hurt and so much promise. As Elv has a more difficult time coping, Arnelle becomes darker and scarier, and finally she inhabits it alone as her sisters abandon her to the place. Her downward trajectory is brutal and yet interestingly written. Some of the characters, however, are not fleshed out enough. As in so many fairy tales, the girls’ parents remain almost non-entities (especially their father), and while the emotional isolation adds to the story, it doesn’t lend it a realistic feel. Hoffman heaps tragedy upon tragedy on the girls, and by the end it is exhausting and somewhat unfulfilling: readers may have a hard time dealing with the sheer amount of loss, death, destruction and violence present in the story. Happy endings here, like in those sinister fairy tales of old, are relative.

THE STORY SISTERS, reminiscent of traditional tales both cautionary and entertaining, is a gloomy and romantic book perfect, despite its often oppressive darkness, for stormy and gloomy summer nights.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

I think a group read for this group would be wonderful to do later in the year. (not even necessarily this particular book) This book is said to be coming out in March but it is listed as "in stock" on Amazon.com. Do you think we have enough people in our group to make a group read successful? I don't know as I just joined the group.
later dayz,
belva (nanny bebette, but now rainpebble)

Belva & aviddiva, I'm keen to try a group read with this group. I did some checking and it looks like "The Story Sisters" will be available only in hard back. As I'm on a budget I would prefer to purchase in a cheaper paper back edition, but I am hoping that my local library will purchase it. Oh, what the heck, I'll just cut back somewhere else and buy it.

Once we know the book is definitely available, let's send out messages to other group members to gauge interest. So far there's three hands up for a group read. How many LTers do you think constitutes a group read?

Jenny

Hey, I am not against reading something older of hers. I love everything I have ever read by her. We definitely do NOT have to make it her newest book. I think a lot of us are on budgets right now. After the holidays and our 401s tanked and the economy just sucking. So let's talk about titles of hers. And pick something that most of us have or that is readily out there at the public libraries. Does that work?
belva

I finally received my copy of The Story Sisters. I pre-ordered it from Amazon when they first made the pre-order available & was so excited when it arrived last week. Am going to wait to read it until I hear (or don't) from others here whether or not we want to do a group read of this one of Hoffman's.
It sounds really good:
"The Story Sisters" charts the lives of three sisters---Elv, Claire, and Meg. Each has a fate she must meet alone: one on a country road, one in the streets of Paris, and one in the corridors of her own imagination. (that is the one I want to meet) At once a coming-of-age tale, a family saga, and a love story of erotic longing, "The Story Sisters" sifts through the miraculous and the mundane as the girls become women and their choices haunt them, change them and, finally, redeem them."
---from the back of the book---
If anyone wants to do a group read on this one, get back with me here & we will go from there. I can wait a couple of months. I have plenty on my plate momentarily, but could also go in a heartbeat if that is the choice.
hugs,
belva

I'm very tempted, Belva!

I wasn't going to buy The Story Sisters yet as I have seven other Hoffmans on my shelf waiting to be read. However this would be a great excuse to buy another!

BTW, as this is my first post here: my favourite Alice Hoffman novel so far is Blackbird House. I also loved The Ice Queen and Skylight Confessions.

Good morning Sd;
We share the same favorite book of Hoffman; Blackbird House. That is great!~! This lady is my favorite female author. John Steinbeck is of course, the other book end, so to speak.
I am willing to wait on a group read here & save this book for a few months. Let's wait until at least a few others have stepped up. I am excited to read it. Sounds so good but then I have never read a "bad" Hoffman
later dayz,
belva

Hi Belva -- I'm still up for a group read, but The Story Sisters is maybe not my preference if it piles tragedy on top of tragedy -- I've had kind of a downer year. I still haven't read The Probable Future and would be up for that, or another of her more recent efforts. If others want to read the story Sisters, that's OK with me -- I'll just enjoy the discussion.

Well, like I said, I have never read a bad Hoffman so since we are such a small group let's read something all of us would like to read.

So we have one for: The Probable Future
A suggestion of: Turtle Moon

If there are other suggestions for a group read here, just pop up & spit it out. We can all decide, but let's not do The Story Sisters this time around as we want everyone who loves Hoffman to participate.

hugs,
belva

The Probable Future would be great for me as it is one of those on my TBR shelf.

I've read both The Probable Future and Turtle Moon but will enjoy following the group read posts. I'm definitely in for The Story Sisters group read.

I recently read The Probable Future, so I'll join in on any discussion. The only other book I've read of hers is Ice Queen. I liked them both and am looking forward to one day reading Turtle Moon from my TBR pile.

I vote for Turtle Moon or The Story Sisters.

Probable Future is my favorite of hers though!

I had no idea there was an Alice Hoffman group until this popped up today. I would join a group read of almost any. It's been a while since I've read some of my favorites.

(Turtle Moon is probably my favorite.)

We could really do with one of those polls which Christina organises for the monthly group read! Anyway, as I have no I.T skills, I have counted up the votes the old-fashioned way.

The Probable Future- 2 votes (aviddiva, soupdragon)
Turtle Moon- 2 votes (Nickelini, Paperback Pirate)
The Story Sisters- 3 votes (Social Pages, Paperback Pirate, Rain Pebble)

Belva, I know you were prepared to be flexible but I've given you your original vote back as otherwise we have a draw and I know you really want to read that book!

So, I suggest going with the Story Sisters. What do others think? If I have misrepresented anyone's views please do let me know. Coppers, I didn't include you as you sounded very flexible. Let us know if you want to be added to the figures!

Move me from Turtle Moon over to Probable Future . . . I don't think I'll have time to read TM anytime soon, but I just finished Probable Future and would love to discuss it.

Thanks, Nickelini. I realise now that I misunderstood your comment about joining in on "any" discussion, I did wonder! That means we have

1 vote for Turtle Moon (paperback pirate)
3 votes for The Probable Future ( aviddiva, soupdragon, Nickelini)
3 votes for The Story Sisters (social pages, paperback pirate, rainpebble)

Thoughts please!

Edited to say: how about discussing The Probable Future in July and The Story Sisters in August?

I'm happy with Probable Future in July and The Story Sisters in August.

Soupdragon;
I love that you took the bull by the horns and moved us ahead on this. I am such a middle of the road girl and also a walk the fence girl. (That's why I am in therapy. LOL!~!) I am always afraid of hurting feelings or stepping on toes.
So:

To the entire group: Probably Future in July and The Story Sisters in August.

Soupdragon is a ROCKSTAR!~!~!



Hopefully this will work out well for everyone.
hugs,
belva

I'll try to join in on the Probable Future read in July but late because I'll be on vacation. I'm looking forward to a reread!

Thanks Soupdragon!

#37,

Thank you, Belva. You made me laugh so much because "a middle of the road girl and walk the fence girl" is exactly what I am too (generally)!

I think there is an inner initiator there somewhere, waiting to get out but she's usually pretty well hidden. That's ok though, the world needs middle of the road girls (and guys!) too. I do like being a rockstar for the day though!

Looking forward to a summer of Hoffman...

Calling all Alice Hoffman fans:

Over on the "Fans of Alice Hoffman site we have been tinkering with doing a group read. The group is fairly small but people who love Hoffman tend to REALLY love her work.

It has been decided that we will be doing two group reads this summer.
In July: Probable Future and
in August: The Story Sisters, which is now out in paperback. Yea!~!

So if you care to join us for either or both of these reads, we will welcome you ever so gladly.
hugs,
belva of:
(Fans of Alice Hoffman

Thanks Belva for sending out advance notice of our Alice Hoffman group reads coming up.

I have ordered The Story Sisters today from Book Depository and can't wait for it to arrive (no paperback edition available in Australia yet). Looking forward to our August read.

Jenny