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Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman
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Illumination Night (original 1987; edition 2002)

by Alice Hoffman

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7632029,127 (3.72)31
An exquisitely crafted ensemble piece about marriage, identity, and desire set on the island of Martha's Vineyard In Chilmark, a grandmother imagines she can fly. A reclusive giant feels an immediate kinship with a boy who cannot grow. A wife who never used to worry is overwhelmed by debilitating fears. And a husband who prefers to be alone is drawn to a reckless teenage girl with the power to ruin his life. Over the course of one fateful year, these characters, as vividly drawn and expertly choreographed as any in contemporary fiction, will come together and drift apart as they experience breakthroughs, true love, and epiphanies. Alice Hoffman finds mystery and magic in our everyday world, and Illumination Night showcases her signature talent for endowing real life with the power of myth. It is one of her finest novels, radiant and emotional with a cast of characters you will never forget.… (more)
Member:bluelustrecat
Title:Illumination Night
Authors:Alice Hoffman
Info:Berkley Trade (2002), Paperback, 272 pages
Collections:Your library
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Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman (1987)

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» See also 31 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 20 (next | show all)
Vonny and Andrew live in Martha’s Vineyard with their five-year-old slow-growing son, Simon. Their next-door neighbor, Elizabeth Renny, falls from a window and must get assistance, which arrives in the form of her rebellious teenage granddaughter, Jody. Eddie, called “the Giant,” lives alone with his chickens, avoiding social contact due to his extreme height. This is the story of people living in this small community. Each of the main characters is dealing with an issue.

I liked parts of this book quite a bit, especially the first half. The description of “illumination night,” an annual event, is beautiful. I enjoyed the relationship between Jody and her grandmother, a much-needed relief from her overbearing parents. The last half of the book is extremely sad. The characters start with problems and end with problems, though perhaps different ones. There is little humor or joy to be found. Surely someone in this town is happy? The storylines are well developed until they just….end. Maybe I missed something, but it seems it seems unfinished to me.
( )
  Castlelass | Oct 30, 2022 |
This is the first novel by Hoffman that I have read and I hope her subsequent work is better. Neither the story or the characters ring true. She should not have included references to birds since she knew nothing about what birds would be on Martha’s Vineyard at what season. Not worth the time to read. ( )
  Jaelle | Mar 24, 2018 |
I liked this story enough for it to hold my interest but the whole time I kept feeling like there was something missing but maybe that is the point of it. Most of us live our lives feeling like something is missing or off and few of us ever figure out what that something is. The setting of this story is Martha's Vineyard. The characters all lead fairly normal but simple lives until Jody moves in next door to help her ailing grandmother. She stirs things up enough to add interest and some drama to the characters lives and then she slips away to pursue a more freeing kind of life...or so we assume. ( )
  bostonterrio | Nov 21, 2017 |
The plot takes a back seat in this languid, dreamlike tale that perfectly captures the passions and fears of Martha’s Vineyard neighbors. Especially striking are the descriptions of teenage Jody’s ambivalent emotions and her first love with the island’s most reclusive inhabitant.

I think many readers will be disappointed with the slice-of-life style, preferring something with a more proactive plot and story resolution.
( )
  memccauley6 | May 3, 2016 |
ok @ diff. people on M. Vineyard

Vonny lives on the island of Martha's Vineyard with her husband Andre and son Simon. Their neighbour Elizabeth, a woman in her seventies, falls from an upstairs window and her granddaughter Jody is summoned to nurse her through her convalescence.
  christinejoseph | Feb 27, 2016 |
Showing 1-5 of 20 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (4 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Alice Hoffmanprimary authorall editionscalculated
Toren, SuzanneNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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To Sara Hoffman 1900-1985. To Lillie Lulkin 1903-1987.
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Simon looks out his window and sees something white moving in the window of the house next door.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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An exquisitely crafted ensemble piece about marriage, identity, and desire set on the island of Martha's Vineyard In Chilmark, a grandmother imagines she can fly. A reclusive giant feels an immediate kinship with a boy who cannot grow. A wife who never used to worry is overwhelmed by debilitating fears. And a husband who prefers to be alone is drawn to a reckless teenage girl with the power to ruin his life. Over the course of one fateful year, these characters, as vividly drawn and expertly choreographed as any in contemporary fiction, will come together and drift apart as they experience breakthroughs, true love, and epiphanies. Alice Hoffman finds mystery and magic in our everyday world, and Illumination Night showcases her signature talent for endowing real life with the power of myth. It is one of her finest novels, radiant and emotional with a cast of characters you will never forget.

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