The Probable Future (contains SPOILERS)

I thought I'd start off the discussion with a few of my thoughts.

I took a while to get into this book but think that might have more to do with me being in the wrong sort of mood rather than a fault with the book. About half way through it started getting under my skin and I did end up loving it.

The book had that wonderful wise Hoffman tone which is a bit earthy and a bit magical and even spiritual at times. I think that was what I initially resisted against but was eventually drawn into.

The book is pretty much character driven. I'm quite into that but I think if you were expecting a bit more plot you might have been disappointed.

There are a few themes going on with a bit of symbolism. I don't think I fully got these so would welcome others' thoughts on this. I was pretty clear about the theme of living alongside death which Hoffman explores with the doctor character and of course Stella's special power. This was one of my favourite parts of the book. There also seemed to be a theme of redemption or forgiveness but I am a bit confused about what was going on here. Were Stella's rituals for the benefit of Rebecca? Or the villagers? Also when Will gets together with Liza, there seems to be some sort of redemption intended for Will but I'm not sure.

My least favourite part was that we seemed to be expected to be pleased for Liza that she'd got together with Will (even though he'd been such a rubbish husband to Jenny) because she'd always been plain and not had much luck with men. But maybe I'm being unfair. As I said I did get a bit confused around here so feel free, anyone, to put me straight.

One thing I appreciated about the book was the mother-daughter relationships: fraught but very believable.

I had mixed feelings about everyone being neatly paired off at the end. I was pleased for them all but it felt a little too "tidy".

Overall, a lovely book. What did others think?

I have lots to say here and very little time right now to say it, but I didn't think it was so much that we were expected to rejoice with Liza because she's previously had such bad luck with men, but rather that she was a redeeming factor for Will, and that she was the female counterpart to Matt - the constant, wise single lover whose relationship with a troubled partner helped redeem that person and turned "wrong" (or mistaken) into right. A Lot of the book deals with perceptions and the assumptions we make about impressions that turn out to be mistaken in some fundamental way which affects how we act on that information.

Yes, I do agree about Liza being a redeeming factor for Will. I suppose I was being a bit cynical in wondering what was in it for Liza and not entering into the Hoffman magic!

The Probable Future is one of those books that I look back on with a somewhat fuzzy, pleasant feeling (I read it in May). I just sort of got swept up in the atmosphere and writing, and didn't spend too much mental energy pulling it apart (I just finished my English degree, so needed a bit of a holiday from that sort of thing!). What I liked best about it was the world Hoffman created--so lush and sensual. Here are the comments I posted on my 100 Books thread when I finished it:

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Comments: Since the 1600s, in the small town of Unity, Massachusetts, there have been only girl children born to the Sparrow family and every one of these daughters has kept her family name. On their 13th birthdays, the Sparrow women have woken up to discover they have a "gift"... in the case of the three Sparrow characters in The Probable Future, the gifts are the ability to spot a lie, the ability to see other people's dreams, and the ability to foresee how others will die. I guess this book could be summed up by saying it's about the youngest, 13 year old Stella, struggling to come to terms with her gift.

What I Liked: There is an enchanting atmosphere about this book that made me happy to enter its world every time I picked it up. If this town really existed, I would want to move there. Other words I'd use to describe it are lush, verdant, and charming.

What I Didn't Like: This book has flaws on a number of levels. Errors of fact, annoying repetition and flaws in pacing are just some of the things that jump out at me. I think it should have gone through at least one more edit before publication.
-----------

A few months later, I've forgotten those things I didn't like about the book, and am left with the memories of what I DID like.

Hi kids;
Sorry to bail on you like I have, but family health problems & circumstances have pretty much kept me from reading all summer.
I am loving all of your comments, however, so I hope you keep them coming.
hugs to all,
belva

Good to hear from you, Belva. I have been thinking of you and your husband and wondering how you are.

Hugs and warmest of wishes,

Dee