Why did I wait so long to read this?! I loved the intertwining of history, myth and intrigue, with a good dash of the supernatural thrown into the mixWhy did I wait so long to read this?! I loved the intertwining of history, myth and intrigue, with a good dash of the supernatural thrown into the mix. Alternating the POV and time period let the story unfold at a nice pace. This ended up on my “favorites� shelf, a rare thing indeed!...more
A bear. A garden that will only grow red plants. Love. The only ingredients Alice Hoffman needs to weave this magical quilt of intertwined stories. BeA bear. A garden that will only grow red plants. Love. The only ingredients Alice Hoffman needs to weave this magical quilt of intertwined stories. Beautiful prose, as always. One of my favorite authors....more
From the author's Afterward: "These things I believe: --That, as James Baldwin once put it, 'People who treat other people as less than human must not bFrom the author's Afterward: "These things I believe: --That, as James Baldwin once put it, 'People who treat other people as less than human must not be surprised when the bread they have cast on the waters comes back to them, poisoned.' --That wars, because of the terrible cost they exact, are never won. --That love is stronger than hatred."
It's seldom that I add a book to "my favorites"; "The Hour I First Believed" makes the cut easily. The author richly interwines history and fiction to create a story that's a magical mix of both entertaining and thought provoking. In an ever-changing series of voices, the author intertwines PTSD, mythology, the Civil War, abolitionism, Columbine, 9/11, prison reform, and alcoholism to create a fictional story that I couldn't put down. By the end of the book I just wanted to sit down at a bar and share a beer and a conversation with the main character, Caelum Quirk. But wait, he's in recovery now....a diet coke will have to do!...more
It's a rare book that makes it to my favorites shelf. This one will. Haunting, thought provoking, sad..yet a wonderful read that stays with you in a mIt's a rare book that makes it to my favorites shelf. This one will. Haunting, thought provoking, sad..yet a wonderful read that stays with you in a million "there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I" ways....more
I gave this book five stars for two reasons. First, I was still thinking about the book and its premise days after I finished reading it. That's the sI gave this book five stars for two reasons. First, I was still thinking about the book and its premise days after I finished reading it. That's the sign of a five star book for me. Second, and really key, I dog-eared many pages to go back to later, because I loved the prose, the style, of a sentence or two and the author's way of using few words to say so much. Some examples?
"He'd draw out of them their stories of hurt, he'd apply himself to them like a poultice."
"He doesn't know which is worse, a past he can't regain or a present that will destroy him if he looks at it too clearly. Then there's the future. Sheer vertigo."
And my favorite.. "The sky darkens from Ultramarine to Indigo. God bless the namers of oil paints and women's underwear, he thinks."...more
I was so excited to start this book! His previous two novels, "The Shadow of the Wind" and "The Angel's Game", are among my favorite books.
And now I'mI was so excited to start this book! His previous two novels, "The Shadow of the Wind" and "The Angel's Game", are among my favorite books.
And now I'm melancholy, having finished it and waiting for the 4th and final novel to be able to complete the story.... I may have to learn Spanish in order to read it before the translation :) ...more
I loved this book (thanks Jen!). It's nice mix of history, drama and the mystic, wonderfully written. I recommend it!
From Publisher's Weekly: The sometI loved this book (thanks Jen!). It's nice mix of history, drama and the mystic, wonderfully written. I recommend it!
As always, Barbara Kingsolver's story is as engrossing as her prose is beautiful. I loved how this book intertwined fiction with real historical eventAs always, Barbara Kingsolver's story is as engrossing as her prose is beautiful. I loved how this book intertwined fiction with real historical events, art and politics. It made for such an interesting read!...more
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