Alice Hoffman Collection: Local Girls, The River King, and Blue Diary

by Alice Hoffman, Laural Merlington (Read by), Aasne Vigesaa (Read by)

Local Girls (Laural Merlington and Aasne Vigesaa, Laura Grafton, Luann Kindem): In a dazzling series of family portraits, Alice Hoffman evokes the world of the Samuelsons, a family torn apart by tragedy and divorce in a world of bad judgment and fierce attachments, disappointments and devotion. With rich, pure prose Hoffman charts the progress of Gretel Samuelson from the time she is a young girl already acquainted with betrayal and grief, until she finally leaves home.

The River King (Laural Merlington, Joyce Bean, Luann Kindem): For more than a century, the small town of Haddan, Massachusetts, has been divided, as if by a line drawn down the center of Main Street, separating those born and bred in the village from those who attend the prestigious Haddan School. But one October night the two worlds are thrust together due to an inexplicable death, and the town's divided history is revealed in all its complexity.

Blue Diary (Joyce Bean, Laura Grafton, Mike Council): When Ethan Ford fails to show up for work on a brilliant summer morning, none of his neighbors would guess that for more than thirteen years, he has been running from his past. His true nature has been locked away, as hidden as his real identity. But sometimes locks spring open, and the devastating truths of Ethan Ford's history shatter the small-town peace of Monroe, affecting family and friends alike.

Audio Cassette

First published May 10, 2004

About the author

Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The World That We Knew; The Marriage of Opposites; The Red Garden; The Museum of Extraordinary Things; The Dovekeepers; Here on Earth, an Oprah’s Book Club selection; and the Practical Magic series, including Practical
Magic; Magic Lessons; The Rules of Magic, a selection of Reese’s Book Club; and The Book of Magic. She lives near Boston.

Reviews

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Diary takes a devastating look at love and trust. Alice Hoffman does not wear any rose colored glasses and she left me thinking how easily any of us can be fooled by those we love. Love, truth and forgiveness certainly dominate this book. Like many of her books, it is not necessarily easy to read but it is well worth our time.

[Beth Shields-Szostak]

1st edition signed by author

[Theresa Rugel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved every book I have read by Alice Hoffman!

[Martip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoffman's writing makes the leap from the mundane to the magical in short, believable steps. Always lures me in quickly, and satisfies my "Hoffman tooth" which is kind of like a sweet tooth!