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After high school, Hoffman went to work for the Doubleday factory in Garden City. But the eight-hour, supervised workday was not for her, and she quit before lunch on her first day! She enrolled in night school at Adelphi University, graduating in 1971 with a degree in English. She went on to attend Stanford University's Creative Writing Center on a Mirrellees Fellowship. Her mentor at Stanford, the great teacher and novelist Albert Guerard, helped to get her first story published in the literary magazine Fiction. The story attracted the attention of legendary editor Ted Solotaroff, who asked if she had written any longer fiction. She hadn't -- but immediately set to work. In 1977, when Hoffman was 25, her first novel, Property Of, was published to great fanfare.
Since that remarkable debut, Hoffman has carved herself a unique niche in American fiction. A favorite with teens as well as adults, she renders life's deepest mysteries immediately understandable in stories suffused with magic realism and a dreamy, fairy-tale sensibility. (In a 1994 article for The New York Times, interviewer Ruth Reichl described the magic in Hoffman's books as a casual, regular occurrence -- "...so offhand that even the most skeptical reader can accept it.") Her characters' lives are transformed by uncontrollable forces -- love and loss, sorrow and bliss, danger and death.
Hoffman's 1997 novel Here on Earth was selected as an Oprah Book Club pick, but even without Winfrey's powerful endorsement, her books have become huge bestsellers -- including three that have been adapted for the movies: Practical Magic (1995), The River King (2000), and her YA fable Aquamarine (2001).
Hoffman is a breast cancer survivor; and like many people who consider themselves blessed with luck, she believes strongly in giving back. For this reason, she donated her advance from her 1999 short story collection Local Girls to help create the Hoffman Breast Center at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA.
I was born out of sorrow, so my mother named me Rain.
Ours was a time of blood, when the sky reached on forever, when one horse became a hundred and then a thousand, when we wore our hair in long black braids and rode as warriors. Everything we had was given to us by the goddes, and everything we lost was taken away by her.
We lived in the time of fortune, in a world of only women. We were warriors from the very beginning, before we were born. There was no battle we could not win. We were strong, the strength of a thousand sisters. And we had something no one else had. Something that caused terror in our enimies when we came across the steppes. Something no one in the man's world had yet managed to do.
We rode horses.
It was said my great-grandmother the Queen had found a white mare in the snow and that she lay down beside this wild creature to warm herself and keep herself alive. My great-grandmother whispered certain words in the mare's ear that no man would think of saying. Ours was a country of snow for half the year, of ice and wind and the steppes that led to the Black Sea. By the time the ice had melted, my great-grandmother had made the first bridle out of a leather belt and the snow mare let herself be ridden. A horse and a Queen had become sisters; when they raced across the steppes they were two hearts pounding with a single thought inmind.
Horses were everything to us. Our goddes, our sisters, our sustenance. Alive, they were our way to win battles; four legs against men's two. Even when our horses' lives were gone they were our tents, our clothes, our boots, our food, our traveling companions to the next world. Our children were raised on mare's milk. It made us wild and quick and unafraid. It gave us the ability to speak the language of horses.
A language men had yet to learn.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
With the intriguing premise of being set among an Amazon tribe, I couldn't say no when a co-worker suggested this book. Hoffman writes a gripping story about bravery, survival, coming of age, finding one's identity, inner strength and a touch of love and understanding. The author obviously put in some anthropological research to provide a great feel and believable atmosphere for the story. With a relatable protagonist and themes this was a wonderful read! A definite gem among young adult lit section.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 4, 2008
One of the most bizarre (and best)books ive ever read. It certainly does leave an impact on you.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 15, 2011
A short but meaning-packed novel. Well-writen story. Worth the read for young women and adults alike. Very touching and gives you a lot to think about. A quick read.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Women who war against men, slice off a breast so they may become better archers,
carry on the population with drug induced orgies that often end in the death of their mates, is hard to accept. But, when one considers the fact that women are routinely raped, beaten and mutilated in third world countries and even here in the U.S. it does seem fitting that women should take on the face of the warrior. The heroine Rain, a child of rape, is born into sorrow. In this richly imagined coming of age story she achieves self-actualization, female empowerment and acceptance of self-life lessons we all must learn, male or female.
www.LindaBallouAuthor.com
Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii
Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler's Tales
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.In this intense yet complicated fantasy story, Rain attempts to gain her mother's notice and acceptance by being the best of warriors in their Amazonian tribe. The product of a rape when her mother, Alina, wasn't much more than a child herself, it is hard to gain the Queen's approval. Although Rain knows that she's been raised by Deborah, the wise priestess, to one day be Queen herself, she also pays attention to Deborah's promises of a much grander destiny.
Rain doesn't totally understand the Queen's desire to so thoroughly destroy her enemies, even though her own cousins, Astella and Asteria, are two of the fiercest warriors in the tribe. When Alina takes Penthe as her companion, and Penthe's daughter Io seeks to be Rain's sister, matters become even more complicated. Rain wants nothing more than to ride her horse, Sky, to garner her mother's approval, to earn the place as rightful Queen that will someday come upon her.
On her first journey alone, Rain comes upon a bear cub, which she takes back to camp. She names him Usha, and together with Io the two girls raise the cub as if he were a horse. Although Rain and Io soon discover the mistake of doing so, it's too late--Usha is killed in battle, and Rain still doesn't have the love and acceptance of her mother.
THE FORETELLING is a coming-of-age story set in a fantastical land of the Amazons. Rain is a compelling character who, although she tries so hard to be vicious and fierce like her fellow tribe-members, always leans more towards peace for all men and compassion towards her enemies.
Not to be missed by lovers of fantasy stories!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This novel is set in a time where a nation of women are feared warriors who never lose a battle to invaders because of one unique advantage: they have domesticated wild horses to ride into battle. Rain is born by the Queen, a woman who has no desire to interact or associate with her daughter at all. These women never question their lifestyle; it's what it always has been and they have no need for mercy, compassion, or protection from men. But Rain is different: as she grows up, she is plagued by dreams of a black horse. In their culture this is a foretelling of death, and when the "black horse" comes to them, Rain makes a choice that will forver change how she views her world. The story is an intriguing tale told from a unique first person perspective of Rain, who is an independent, strong-willed young woman who struggles to find her place as the Queen-to-be. A definite must-read for horse lovers and young adults alike.
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Posted March 27, 2010
Not a bad book but I won't reread it.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 25, 2008
I read this book in three hours!!! It is a short, but amazingly compelling story about the search for self. It speaks about suffering, lonliness and loss, but also about the beauty of self-realization. A very empowering read. Truly enjoyable.
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Posted March 1, 2008
OMG.. i loved this book..when i finished i turned the page to see if there was more..i was so sad to find out there wasn't!!!...i would recommand this book to anybody..great job to Alice..this was a great read!!!
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Posted November 2, 2007
I' havent yet finished but I love how she brings you into another world
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Posted February 17, 2007
The Fortelling, is Alice Hoffman at her best. Short, sweet, and to the point. You feel like you are part of the book. Even though it is set in ancient times, as a teenager I can relate to Rains' emotions. I most definatly suggest reading this, and other Alice Hoffman titles!
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Posted January 3, 2007
I just love this book. It is amazing. I love Rain's journey of finding herself and figuring out if she's ready to become the queen or not. Alice Hoffman is just fantastic at weaving the words together, that I actually felt like Rain was my sister. Although some things in this book are a little, well, gross, it is still wonderful and I would recommend this book to anyone. (Also read Incantation by Alice Hoffman... It's even better.) Well... happy reading!
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Posted August 21, 2006
We really loved this book. It gives a mood of sorrow and pain, but also a mood of glory and pride. It is interesing how the people acted with eachother and how Rain felt about what her people did in history.
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Posted April 19, 2006
In this intense yet complicated fantasy story, Rain attempts to gain her mother's notice and acceptance by being the best of warriors in their Amazonian tribe. The product of a rape when her mother, Alina, wasn't much more than a child herself, it is hard to gain the Queen's approval. Although Rain knows that she's been raised by Deborah, the wise priestess, to one day be Queen herself, she also pays attention to Deborah's promises of a much grander destiny. Rain doesn't totally understand the Queen's desire to so thoroughly destroy her enemies, even though her own cousins, Astella and Asteria, are two of the fiercest warriors in the tribe. When Alina takes Penthe as her companion, and Penthe's daughter Io seeks to be Rain's sister, matters become even more complicated. Rain wants nothing more than to ride her horse, Sky, to garner her mother's approval, to earn the place as rightful Queen that will someday come upon her. On her first journey alone, Rain comes upon a bear cub, which she takes back to camp. She names him Usha, and together with Io the two girls raise the cub as if he were a horse. Although Rain and Io soon discover the mistake of doing so, it's too late--Usha is killed in battle, and Rain still doesn't have the love and acceptance of her mother. THE FORETELLING is a coming-of-age story set in a fantastical land of the Amazons. Rain is a compelling character who, although she tries so hard to be vicious and fierce like her fellow tribe-members, always leans more towards peace for all men and compassion towards her enemies. Not to be missed by lovers of fantasy stories!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 4, 2006
Filled with love, loss, and war, this story captivates readers and holds onto them with a firm bear paw till the very end. It's powerful and moving in showing the life of a girl turned woman-warrior, to be more specific, a girl by the name of Rain. Alice has such an imaginative mind that always satisfies the eager eyes of readers. Although the ending leaves you hungry for more, the story itself is still enjoyable. It's also a quick-read. Highly reccommended.
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Posted March 17, 2006
I truly enjoyed reading this book, once I picked it up I could not put it down, finishing it in one night. This is the first book I have read by Alice, and it will not be the last. One of, if not the best, tales concerning amazons I have ever read. Moving with a fast pace, yet, explaining the details superbly. This book is now one of my favorites.
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Posted March 15, 2006
Especially enjoyed the book because it showed the way people gather strength and courage through hardship and transformation. And also showed the wisdom that is passed to each generation. Overall, inspiring for young readers (and old readers, as well). Although it occurs in a different place and time, its theme can be applied to present day life.
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Posted March 9, 2006
A good story captures truth. Each sentence is delicately balanced each word 'tells'. This one's a keeper.
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Posted November 25, 2005
When I first heard about this book I though 'I know this book won't even amout to GREEN ANGEL', but surprizingly it did..... Alice Hoffman takes you along on Rain's journey to self-discovery. It is VERY good, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good book. Props to Alice Hoffman for a great coming-of-age book.
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Posted October 8, 2005
alice hoffman writes amazing stories. this story is just one example. I loved it!
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Overview
A coming-of-age story that pierces the soul and heals the spirit, this is the tale of the future leader of the Amazon women warriors. Rain must hold fast to her inner warrior, but she is startled and mystified by the first stirrings of mercy towards the enemy.