Top Ten Tuesday : May Flowers 

TTT

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where every Tuesday we look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) bookish examples to demonstrate that particular topic.  Top Ten Tuesday (created and hosted by  The Broke and Bookish) is now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and future week’s topics can be found here.   This week’s topic:

May Flowers (Titles with flowers/covers with flowers, etc)

I’ve gone for covers with flowers.  Here they are (with links to the reviews below:

The Redemption of Morgan Bright by Chris Panatier.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

Hills of Heather and Bone by KE Andrews

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

 

 

 

 

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

My Five Word TL:DR Review : Went in an unexpected direction

TIH

I would start this review by saying that Alice Hoffman is one of my favourite authors and so in the interests of clarity I’m not sure how totally unbiased my thoughts and feelings always are, so maybe bear that in mind – because, for me, once again, Hoffman has produced a beautifully written and emotional story – the biggest surprise being that it took me in a completely unexpected direction.

The Invisible Hour brings to us the mother and daughter story of Ivy and Mia.  Ivy comes from money. Her parents are strict and she often balks against their rules.  A beautiful and spirited young girl, Ivy is also naive and when she falls pregnant believes that the young boy she has fallen for will whisk her away.  Yes, that doesn’t happen, but, hearing her parents make plans for her future, in which she has no say, Ivy runs away that night.  Put bluntly Ivy swaps one oppressive environment for another winding up in a cult in western Massachusetts. Led by a charismatic man the cult allows no contact with the outside world, has very strict rules and harsh punishments and forbids books.  The only light in Ivy’s life is her daughter Mia, and although ‘the children belong to the community’ Ivy finds ways to share special time with her daughter.

Mia struggles with life in the community, she wants to leave with her mother but Ivy recognises that the Leader of the cult (and her husband) will never allow them to simply walk away and Mia’s saviour becomes a love of books.  A love encouraged by the local librarian (although of course Mia has to keep this a secret).

Now, I don’t really want to give away too much more about the plot, but, I would say that Hoffman’s trademark magical realism comes into play later in the story.  I found this element to the story a real surprise, it involves time travel and a connection to a particular author that Mia feels a strong connection to.  You could say that this author saved her life and at the same time she entered his life during a difficult period and gave him inspiration.

So, my thoughts and impressions.

Well, firstly, the writing, the tone, the pacting, are all perfection.  Hoffman has a style of writing that is so evocative, she brings the place, time and people to life on the page.

I love the way Ivy and Mia are written.  Their relationship is such a winning element to the story and in fact the story then moves on to another lovely relationship.  Which links into the themes portrayed here.  Obviously family but more for me a look at women and their struggles across the years.

In terms of criticisms.  Well, the time travel part of the story felt a little rushed.  Also, I would have liked to spend more time watching Mia grow up.

Overall though, I really enjoyed The Invisible Hour.  It definitely has a feeling, for me, of the right book/right time, but, that aside, I thought this was a beautifully rendered story packed with emotion and surprises.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 stars

Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Book of Magic (Practical Magic #2) by Alice Hoffman

Can't Wait Wednesday

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine.  Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for.  If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to.  This week my book is : The Book of Magic (Practical Magic #2) by Alice Hoffman. Oh my giddy aunt.  This book.  I love this world, these characters and now this book is on the horizon.  I nearly had a conniption when I saw this. I’m okay, I’m breathing and all is well, but, this book!  Give it to me now.  Pretty please.

bookofmagicMaster storyteller Alice Hoffman brings us the conclusion of the Practical Magic series in a spellbinding and enchanting final Owens novel brimming with lyric beauty and vivid characters.

The Owens family has been cursed in matters of love for over three-hundred years but all of that is about to change. The novel begins in a library, the best place for a story to be conjured, when beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Jet is not the only one in danger—the curse is already at work.

A frantic attempt to save a young man’s life spurs three generations of the Owens women, and one long-lost brother, to use their unusual gifts to break the curse as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced the Unnamed Art. The younger generation discovers secrets that have been hidden from them in matters of both magic and love by Sally, their fiercely protective mother. As Kylie Owens uncovers the truth about who she is and what her own dark powers are, her aunt Franny comes to understand that she is ready to sacrifice everything for her family, and Sally Owens realizes that she is willing to give up everything for love.

The Book of Magic is a breathtaking conclusion that celebrates mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, and anyone who has ever been in love.

Expected publication : October 2021

Friday Face Off : A book with ‘Magic’ in the Title

FFO

Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy .  This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers.  The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite.   Future week’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme.  I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout.  This week’s theme:

A book with ‘Magic’ in the Title

Okay, hope everyone had a good time with this one and didn’t have a difficulty coming up with a book.  I was very tempted to go with one of two books that will be forthcoming reads for me but then, I couldn’t resist going with Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman:

My favourite:  Well, I’m not totally in love with most of these covers.  It comes down to two very similar covers for me:

I like the concept for these but they both have their faults.  I like the darker cover strictly speaking but the title and author disappear a little.  I would prefer the lighter version to not have the yellow box.  I think a combination of the darker background with the yellow font would be preferable.

But, my favourite is:

PM1

I’ve updated the list now to include themes for next year.  If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know.  Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions.  Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books.  If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:

Next week – March is named for the Roman God of War – a Roman style cover or a cover with a God or Gods or simply a book about war

2021

March

5th – March is named for the Roman God of War – a Roman style cover or a cover with a God or Gods or simply a book about war

12th – Middle Grade – choose whatever pleases you

19th – Ruin or derelict, old and worn, could be the book itself, a building, a place

26th – A picture within a picture

April

2nd – A train or tram – travelling down the track, could be old style, futuristic, overhead, down below.

9th – Cartoonish or graphic

16th – I have to have it – a cover that gave you ‘grabby hands’

23rd – Your current read (if it has covers to compare) or any recent read

30th– A series that you love – highlight all the books in the series

May

Month of Wyrd and Wonder

7th – A Series where the cover changed midway through – which style do you prefer most

14th – The earliest fantasy you recall reading – or the first fantasy book you really loved, maybe the book that kickstarted your love of fantasy

21st – The Top Hat

28th – The Hood

June

4th – The nose boop – any animal, or human, with a close up shot.

11th – A cover that annoyed you and why

18th – Out of Perspective, or make you feel a bit dizzy

25th – Upside down, back to front or topsy turvy

July

2nd – A book with a landscape you’d like to visit

9th – A Wicked Grin

16th – Books with ‘book’ in the title

23rd – A Black Hole – could be in the universe or going deep into the ground

30th – Chaos – maybe too much going on in this one

August

6th – “They cluck their thick tongues, and shake their heads and suggest, os so very delicately!” – The Motel

13th – A favourite holiday read

20th – Dressed to kill (could be literally someone dressed to kill, or someone dressed up for a big night out

27th – Sunbathing or on the beach

September (RIP event)

3rd – 1920s feel, noir detective

10th – I’m Henry the Eighth I am – let’s look at Kings or other Emperors/rulers

17th – Books with ‘Murder’ in the title

24th – A favourite thriller

October

1st – A Halloween read

8th – Chills – anything at all that almost makes you too scared to pick up the book (your own pet hate)

15th – Your favourite book of magic

22nd – Books with ‘Queen’ in the title

29th – Must be gothic

November – Sci Fi Month

5th – Your earliest sci-fi read or the first sci-fi you reviewed

12th – A book with ‘star’ in the title

19th – Futuristic vista

26th – A Black Hole – in the universe or going deep into the ground

December

3rd – Windswept, the classic figure, stood majestically, with wind blowing out in a fetching way

10th – A fairytale retold

17th – Winter Solstice approaching – anything cold and seasonal

24th – All things fire – red hair, red covers, fire breathing dragons, simply fire?

31st – What’s your catnip – if it’s on a cover you have to pick it up

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic #0.1)

My five word TL:DR Review : History, witch hunts, family, love

magiclessonsMagic Lessons is a sequel to The Rules of Magic and Practical Magic and in fact gives Hoffman the opportunity to go back to the beginning of the Owen’s curse.  In this instalment we jump back to the 1600s where a baby girl has been left abandoned in a snow covered field until she is lucky enough to be taken in by Hannah Owens, a woman known for practising the Unknown Arts.  The baby, named Maria Owens is taught everything she needs to know by Hannah who recognises immediately the girl’s potential.

We then follow Maria on her journey of loss, heartbreak, motherhood and love.

What I really liked about this is the story, finding out about the legend behind the Owen’s family curse, plus finding that events take us to Salem not to mention a number of other places along the way.  There is a lot more ‘magic’ in this book than I’d found in the previous instalment, perhaps as a result of the time depicted when superstition played a major role and then on top of this there’s the history behind the fear and hysteria of the period that resulted in the witch hunts.  

This is certainly a book full of witchery.  There are lists of ingredients and discussions of grimoires with knowledge being passed down between females and definitely a feeling of women coming together – although of course this isn’t always the case with jealousy and envy sometimes taking a sneaky peak.

I wouldn’t particularly call this a cheery book and in some respects it misses the lighter nature of some of Hoffman’s other stories.  The time depicted was tough, people lived hard lives and women more often than not didn’t have a voice.

In terms of the characters I liked Maria.  She overcame much before fully understanding the nature of her own earlier lessons, as did her daughter.  Unfortunately, even though they had certain lessons drilled into them over the course of the years it took experience and age for the lessons to really gain relevance.  Love is the only thing that matters.  Do as you will, but harm no one.  What you will give will be returned to you threefold. 

Criticisms.  Well, there was a little bit of repetition here, such as the lists of remedies, but, for me this give relevance to the fact that women, no matter where they were in the world, found remedies and cure alls and I enjoyed this aspect to the story.  I think the only thing I would observe here is that this one has a different feel, for me, than the author’s other books.  Of course the story is a sweeping one filled with love, hate, passion and even redemption but the darker tone and narrative style give it less of the charm and whimsy of some of Hoffman’s previous work. 

Overall I think this was a very apt story that really does provide a great set up for the Owen’s and their family curse.

I received a copy through netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

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