Blackbird House

For the Beauty of the Word

Alice Hoffman is a conjurer of prose. She understands human frailty, vulnerability, self-conscious loathing of birth abnormalities, the need for feeling love, and other acts of living. She writes about New England as well as anyone writing today - her pages are filled with visual stimuli that hang so closely to the retina that though they are often repeated (the color red as embodied by pears, berries, blood, leather, etc.), each repetition serves only to magnify the original richness of impulse. BLACKBIRD HOUSE spans 200 odd years of life on Cape Cod, and while many are calling the chapters 'essays' or 'short stories', they seem more like a cohesive novel about the land and the endurance of the sea and time than anything so disjointed as individual stories. Each of the chapters is connected and it is this connection of odd characters and their progeny that propels the reader nonstop from the early days of the colonies to the present. Hoffman creates dark characters: pain, bruise, emotional devastation and fate are woven like a continuing tapestry, passed from generation to generation. The seeds of all the characters, no matter from where they may be speaking (from the Cape, Boston, London, etc) all are firmly planted in the sweet peas, nettles and bramble that surround the sturdy house that makes the title. Here are witching, blackbirds that become white like ghosts, the ocean, and every type of family dysfunctional unit imaginable. BLACKBIRD HOUSE is not unlike the magical realism of our Latin American writers, but with a thoroughly American twist that makes it even more delicious! An excellent book, this!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Good book.

The story about a house and the people who end up living in it.Some things change and some never do.

unique story line, hard to put down

This is my first Alice Hoffman novel, and I definitely will read some more of her work. I really enjoyed this book. The book expands over two and a half centuries and follows people and families that occupy a home and land in Massachusetts. The chapters, though, not really a continuation of the previous chapter, really flow. Highly recommend, and the study questions in the back provide for some more thought.

Wonderfully well written, superb imaginary, enthralling story line

Another fascinating book from Alice Hoffman!

okay read..not as great as the rest of her work

While I remain a fan of Alice Hoffman, I have to admit this was the only book of hers that I ever had to force myself to continue on with. Once intot he middle, it was a mediocre read. i recommend any other Alice Hoffman book first...then don't miss this one.

Charming book

Most of the stories in this book are endearing. A few fall too short, but all in all a very charming read!

Twists and Turns

I would never of guessed the content by the cover. It has a kind of mysterious feel to it. It made me cling to the binding all day. I love how it all revolves around one thing.

wonderful

this is a really good book and think every one should read it!! Alice did it agian and wrote another great book

Pretty Good

Alice Hoffman has been my favorite author since I was 12, and although Blackbird House is well-written and enjoyable, I often struggled through certain chapters. Some chapters were wonderful (and far too short!) whereas some were merely tepid. I felt like this lacked the usual Hoffman sparkle. Nevertheless, it is a good 'hammock read' for the lazy days of summer coming up.

I recommend Ms. Hoffman..

I think to really enjoy her books, you must have a certain kind of mystic imagination...SHE certainly does. I enjoy taking my time reading Ms. Hoffman's books. I like to savor each page.

So poetic, it is almost musical!

Beautifully written, truly one of Hoffman's great achievements. The house itself is the main character. She weaves a wonderful, historical tale.

Great Read!

Blackbeard House was a wonderful set of interconnected stories built around the same house through a couple of centuries. It's magical and very symbolistic!

Alice If You Are Reading This-- Way to GO Baby!!

Alice-- I loved this book. I lived in MA for most of my life and spent a college summer on the Cape in West Dennis beach. Riding my bike around the Cape looking at the old houses and walking through the cemeteries there were stories to be told and you told them!! You really get the Cape-- what it's about--the smells-- the tastes-- and the people. There are so many great books written about the Cape and this is certainly one of them. Thanks for taking me there Alice --

Recommended For Anyone

I did not think I would like this book as much as I did. I have never read anything by Alice Hoffman but I'm a fan now. Blackbird House is a wonderful novel with great characters.

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