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The Sparrow Sisters
With echoes of the alchemy of Practical Magic, the lushness of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, and the darkly joyful wickedness of the Witches of East End, Ellen Herrick’s debut novel spins an enchanting love story about a place where magic whispers just beneath the surface and almost anything is possible, if you aren’t afraid to listen
The Sparrow sisters are as tightly woven into the seaside New England town of Granite Point as the wild sweet peas that climb the stone walls along the harbor. Sorrel, Nettie and Patience are as colorful as the beach plums on the dunes and as mysterious as the fog that rolls into town at dusk.
Patience is the town healer and when a new doctor settles into Granite Point he brings with him a mystery so compelling that Patience is drawn to love him, even as she struggles to mend him. But when Patience Sparrow’s herbs and tinctures are believed to be implicated in a local tragedy, Granite Point is consumed by a long-buried fear—and its three hundred year old history resurfaces as a modern day witch-hunt threatens. The plants and flowers, fruit trees and high hedges begin to wither and die, and the entire town begins to fail; fishermen return to the harbor empty-handed, and blight descends on the old elms that line the lanes.
It seems as if Patience and her town are lost until the women of Granite Point band together to save the Sparrow. As they gather, drawing strength from each other, will they be able to turn the tide and return life to Granite Point?
The Sparrow Sisters is a beautiful, haunting, and thoroughly mesmerizing novel that will capture your imagination.
The Sparrow sisters are as tightly woven into the seaside New England town of Granite Point as the wild sweet peas that climb the stone walls along the harbor. Sorrel, Nettie and Patience are as colorful as the beach plums on the dunes and as mysterious as the fog that rolls into town at dusk.
Patience is the town healer and when a new doctor settles into Granite Point he brings with him a mystery so compelling that Patience is drawn to love him, even as she struggles to mend him. But when Patience Sparrow’s herbs and tinctures are believed to be implicated in a local tragedy, Granite Point is consumed by a long-buried fear—and its three hundred year old history resurfaces as a modern day witch-hunt threatens. The plants and flowers, fruit trees and high hedges begin to wither and die, and the entire town begins to fail; fishermen return to the harbor empty-handed, and blight descends on the old elms that line the lanes.
It seems as if Patience and her town are lost until the women of Granite Point band together to save the Sparrow. As they gather, drawing strength from each other, will they be able to turn the tide and return life to Granite Point?
The Sparrow Sisters is a beautiful, haunting, and thoroughly mesmerizing novel that will capture your imagination.
365 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
381 people are currently reading
5823 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Herrick
2 books278 followersEllen Herrick lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a small seaside town very much like Granite Point. She spent nearly ten years in the book publishing business as a publicist before moving to to England where she raised three children and traveled like crazy. After sixteen years in London, it was the ocean that called her home.
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September 10, 2015
I picked up The Sparrow Sisters with some pretty lofty expectations and I suppose I kind of set myself up for failure there. Being that I’ve ran through Sarah Addison Allen’s library, I’m always looking for new magical realism stories but they seem few and far between. This being compared to SAA as well as Practical Magic had me switching this to all signs point to yes. Unfortunately this was nothing but a disappointment and the magical realism tidbits just didn’t do it for me.
There are two parts to this story, but neither actually work. First, this is the story of the Sparrow sisters and how their family came to live in the town for generations upon generations. They’re known for being a little quirky but they’ve simply just become a fixture of the town and their strangeness is simply “accepted”. They keep to themselves, all living together in their family home until a new doctor comes to town who becomes instantly interested in the youngest Sparrow sister, Patience, for absolutely no reason at all. Second part of the story is the attempt at providing some semblance of a point, so there’s a bit of a pseudo-mystery, some moral conundrums, and all around pointlessness. See, Patience Sparrow is known for her herbology remedies via the use of herbs from the family nursery. She seems to have a bit of a gift that’s been seemingly passed down from her family and she’s used it to help treat the townsfolk for years on anything from morning sickness to sleeplessness. When a local tragedy occurs, all signs point to Patience’s involvement just out of sheer negligence because of a misuse of herbs.
Patience and the good doctor Henry Carlyle are first introduced and immediately butt heads. Naturally, because we’re all adults here, Henry immediately falls for her prickly nature and insists on getting to know her. The two lack any sort of emotional spark and their attraction to one another remains completely hazy especially with their differing opinions on medicines and treatments. Henry has a secure position on his high horse while he rants and raves about Patience needing to send her patients to a “real doctor”. This is where the moral conundrums are in play.
“Look, you don’t expect me to stand back and let you treat a potentially sick child without some kind of conventional” – Henry emphasized the word – “medical participation?”
High horse. I told you. Henry would go on and on about the possible dangers of what she was doing and how her herbal remedies were going to hurt people someday. His ranking on the annoyance scale was up there with Rick.
I couldn’t help it. So, the books stance is natural remedies are evil and you shouldn’t trust them and just go to a “real doctor” instead. From personal experience, I never went to a “real” doctor when I was a kid and was raised on homeopathatic (note, different than herbology) remedies. I felt that Henry’s stance on what “proper treatments” are and his constant ranting about “real doctors” was entirely unjustified and encompassed far too much of the book. What made it all the more worse was before Henry, Patience was secure in her knowledge and belief of the good she was doing. Enter Henry and suddenly she’s filled with doubt and regret for her negligence. Please. Taking all the good she did and transforming her into a “witch” was only the next logical step, of course.
‘One look at the inscription on the band shell was enough to remind everyone in Granite Point how long it had been since panic seized the town, and how fast it had nearly destroyed it. If there was to be another witch hunt, it certainly had a strong start.’
Yes, because all that was missing was a modern day witch-hunt. The story continued unraveling. In addition to the story/plot itself, the writing felt incredibly stilted. There were some beautifully described scenes and I loved the portrayal of the small New England town, however, it lacked conviction. And good news? This is NATURALLY the start of a potential series.
I received this book free from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
There are two parts to this story, but neither actually work. First, this is the story of the Sparrow sisters and how their family came to live in the town for generations upon generations. They’re known for being a little quirky but they’ve simply just become a fixture of the town and their strangeness is simply “accepted”. They keep to themselves, all living together in their family home until a new doctor comes to town who becomes instantly interested in the youngest Sparrow sister, Patience, for absolutely no reason at all. Second part of the story is the attempt at providing some semblance of a point, so there’s a bit of a pseudo-mystery, some moral conundrums, and all around pointlessness. See, Patience Sparrow is known for her herbology remedies via the use of herbs from the family nursery. She seems to have a bit of a gift that’s been seemingly passed down from her family and she’s used it to help treat the townsfolk for years on anything from morning sickness to sleeplessness. When a local tragedy occurs, all signs point to Patience’s involvement just out of sheer negligence because of a misuse of herbs.
Patience and the good doctor Henry Carlyle are first introduced and immediately butt heads. Naturally, because we’re all adults here, Henry immediately falls for her prickly nature and insists on getting to know her. The two lack any sort of emotional spark and their attraction to one another remains completely hazy especially with their differing opinions on medicines and treatments. Henry has a secure position on his high horse while he rants and raves about Patience needing to send her patients to a “real doctor”. This is where the moral conundrums are in play.
“Look, you don’t expect me to stand back and let you treat a potentially sick child without some kind of conventional” – Henry emphasized the word – “medical participation?”
High horse. I told you. Henry would go on and on about the possible dangers of what she was doing and how her herbal remedies were going to hurt people someday. His ranking on the annoyance scale was up there with Rick.
I couldn’t help it. So, the books stance is natural remedies are evil and you shouldn’t trust them and just go to a “real doctor” instead. From personal experience, I never went to a “real” doctor when I was a kid and was raised on homeopathatic (note, different than herbology) remedies. I felt that Henry’s stance on what “proper treatments” are and his constant ranting about “real doctors” was entirely unjustified and encompassed far too much of the book. What made it all the more worse was before Henry, Patience was secure in her knowledge and belief of the good she was doing. Enter Henry and suddenly she’s filled with doubt and regret for her negligence. Please. Taking all the good she did and transforming her into a “witch” was only the next logical step, of course.
‘One look at the inscription on the band shell was enough to remind everyone in Granite Point how long it had been since panic seized the town, and how fast it had nearly destroyed it. If there was to be another witch hunt, it certainly had a strong start.’
Yes, because all that was missing was a modern day witch-hunt. The story continued unraveling. In addition to the story/plot itself, the writing felt incredibly stilted. There were some beautifully described scenes and I loved the portrayal of the small New England town, however, it lacked conviction. And good news? This is NATURALLY the start of a potential series.
I received this book free from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
November 30, 2016
I think the publishers oversold a bit on this debut, THE SPARROW SISTERS. This attempt to join the likes of Practical Magic by Hoffman, the novels of Sarah Allen Addison and those other writers who manage this specialized realm of magical realism and poignant whimsy, is not quite managed smoothly by author Ellen Herrick.
Generally, I am easily pleased and accepting within this chick lit subgenre. In the case of THE SPARROW SISTERS, the plot and characters were TOO familiar upon first meeting, each one with its special power, living reclusively in the family home and banded together after the death of their parents and a twin. In the hands of a more accomplished writer, that introduction might have served as the guts of the novel. Instead, the energy shifted away from the magic and on to fight with itself in a battle between holistic and conventional medicine, rather than the incendiary and sparky beginnings between the new wounded doctor and the whimsical Nursery promised at the tale's beginning.
On the one hand, dryly predictable. On the other, unmoored and off course. There are possibilities... Herrick just has to decide which genre she is writing, let the whimsy flow with the life it struggled hard to show in this novel, or try her hand at cozy mysteries. I do like those nifty sisters- Nettle, Sorrel and Impatiens whose names give me hope for a more remarkably imagined second novel.
Generally, I am easily pleased and accepting within this chick lit subgenre. In the case of THE SPARROW SISTERS, the plot and characters were TOO familiar upon first meeting, each one with its special power, living reclusively in the family home and banded together after the death of their parents and a twin. In the hands of a more accomplished writer, that introduction might have served as the guts of the novel. Instead, the energy shifted away from the magic and on to fight with itself in a battle between holistic and conventional medicine, rather than the incendiary and sparky beginnings between the new wounded doctor and the whimsical Nursery promised at the tale's beginning.
On the one hand, dryly predictable. On the other, unmoored and off course. There are possibilities... Herrick just has to decide which genre she is writing, let the whimsy flow with the life it struggled hard to show in this novel, or try her hand at cozy mysteries. I do like those nifty sisters- Nettle, Sorrel and Impatiens whose names give me hope for a more remarkably imagined second novel.
February 6, 2017
This book is a bit out of left field for me. I picked it up solely because I loved the cover and the title. The Sparrow sisters are Sorrel, Nettie and Patience. Patience is noted throughout Granite Point, where the sisters live, as a healer with her floral and herbal remedies. Into Granite Point comes Henry Carlyle, a returned war hero and doctor. This is a love story and a story of family and of small communities. It has a fairy tale quality about it. Like all fairy tales where good exists, evil also lurks close by. There is a lot about plants and gardens as the Sparrow sisters operate a nursery where everything seems to grow abundantly, almost as if there is some magic involved. And indeed in this family’s past there were accusations of witchcraft that come back to haunt Patience and her sisters. This novel demonstrates how easily, in a heartbeat almost, the tide of public opinion can change.
If you stop and think about this story too much, it might be easy to pick holes in it. Better just to let it sweep you along and enjoy it as I did for the most part. There are a few instances of the f word and they seem totally incongruous in the context of the story. It was almost like the author thought she was expected to include them for today’s readers. The ending will not please everyone. It could appear to be wrapped up too neatly, but I thought it fitted the fairy-tale quality of the story. I quite enjoyed this book and loved the stunning cover.
If you stop and think about this story too much, it might be easy to pick holes in it. Better just to let it sweep you along and enjoy it as I did for the most part. There are a few instances of the f word and they seem totally incongruous in the context of the story. It was almost like the author thought she was expected to include them for today’s readers. The ending will not please everyone. It could appear to be wrapped up too neatly, but I thought it fitted the fairy-tale quality of the story. I quite enjoyed this book and loved the stunning cover.
October 15, 2016
There is just SO MUCH I love about this book! From the minute I started reading, it reminded me of Practical Magic. Maybe it was the small town, the "magical" plants and herbs or the the closeness of the sisters but I was immediately hooked. What I loved most about this book was the fact that the author was able to find a balance between the fantasy/magical aspect of the story but also making the characters seem real. It wasn't over the top at all. I felt something for every single character in this book wether they were good or bad people. And based on the way things ended I REALLY hope there's another book! Five out of five stars for sure!!!
May 14, 2020
I’ve been craving a witchy book and this was one of the recommendations I got while searching through audible.
The Sparrow Sisters is Ellen Herrick debut novel. More than a witchy story is contemporary magical realism with a witchy slant.
The story is very reminiscent of Practical Magic. A small town in coastal New England, where a family of peculiar women has lived in the town since its foundation, and where everyone in town “knows” they’re different but they just go along with it, accepting it as part of the town and the families charm. Also, like Practical Magic one of the sisters comes under ”attack” and the women of the town rally around her.
However, unlike Practical Magic, the sisters in this story are not witches per se, they just have a special touch with nature and they know. But they’re not actively casting spells and doing magic.
This story also has a central death but what happens afterwords is very different than what happens in PM.
Brief summary - the book follows the Sparrow sisters who’s family has lived in the town since it’s foundation. The family has always had a peculiarly about it. They were once persecuted for it but it’s been 300 years since then and now the Sparrows are as integral to the town as the land itself.
They story begins with the arrival of Henry Carlyle a Boston doctor seeking to start anew after a tragic experience which left him with a limp. He meets Patience Sparrow and there’s an instant connection though they get off on the wrong foot. Henry a medical doctor is skeptical and distrustful of Patience herbal remedies - which many in the down depend upon. As he gets to know her he comes to understand she has a gift. However, this is threaten when a death is linked to her remedies.
The Highlights
The writing is very good, there’s some beautiful descriptions in this books especially about nature, vegetation, flowers, remedies, etc. The author does a good job of immersing the reader into this slightly magical world.
The intertwining lives of the small town people are richly depicted and the contrast between those who have lived there whole lives and those who are outside are nicely drawn, if not a bit cliché.
Herrick did fine job of weaving the past and present together. I liked that the flashbacks were not extensive, we just get the right amount of information.
The fleshing pit of the main characters, as well as the secondary characters was done well. In fact, there were some secondary characters that I liked better than some of the main characters. I have mixed feeling about the main characters, Patience and Henry (which I mention below) but for the most part I did like them.
The story is subtle in the way it addresses its magical elements and I liked the way Herrick would show how subtle the magic was.
I thought the story elements surrounding the death were well done, more so at the beginning than toward the end. When it first happens there’s a real emotional punch for the reader.
The Lowlights
As I noted above I have mixed feelings about the relationship between Patience and Henry. While I liked some of the “brought together by a magical bond” elements, I’m not a big fan of insta love and the desperate need to always be together or else the world falls apart is not usually my thing. It has to be done really well for me to enjoy that type of love desperation.
I though the magical realism was handled much better at the beginning of the story. The was a real wonder to it at the story It had the right amount of magic and the right amount of realism. Toward the end, however, it got a little too exaggerated and it just felt like one too many impossibilities. Suspension of disbelief with these types of stories is expected but theres is a fine line.
The elements surrounding the court hearing were the least believable of the story. Not the dying of the plants but the actual court preceding and to some extent the growing role Charlotte got towards the end. She was by far the weakest of the secondary characters.
This is a personal thing but as someone who’s worked in medicine for a long time, there was some eyebrow raising elements regarding doctors and their practices. Not only have I worked in medicine, I’ve worked in OBGYN and some of the information used is not very accurate - like a reproductive endocrinologist is not an obstetrician. Two different subspecialties. It’s a small thing but I know the difference. Also there were some serious HIPAA violations going on. LoL. This didn’t bother me too much, it’s no worse than the unreality you see on some medical drama on TV. Same would apply to the court room herring describes in the story. It’s highly dramatized.
Conclusion
The story is engaging, though a bit overly descriptive at times. However, despite my qualms about certain aspects of the story, I enjoyed it a great deal and could barely put it down. The character and places were vividly drawn and I was pulled in almost from the beginning. I would recommend it.
Audiobook Note
Cassandra Campbell narrated the book and she did an excellent job. She has a very soothing voice. The only other time I’ve listen to a book narrated by Campbell, I did not like it because she was trying to do a British accent and she wasn’t very good at it. As long as she sticks with her American accent I’ll be happy to listen to another book narrated by her.
The Sparrow Sisters is Ellen Herrick debut novel. More than a witchy story is contemporary magical realism with a witchy slant.
The story is very reminiscent of Practical Magic. A small town in coastal New England, where a family of peculiar women has lived in the town since its foundation, and where everyone in town “knows” they’re different but they just go along with it, accepting it as part of the town and the families charm. Also, like Practical Magic one of the sisters comes under ”attack” and the women of the town rally around her.
However, unlike Practical Magic, the sisters in this story are not witches per se, they just have a special touch with nature and they know. But they’re not actively casting spells and doing magic.
This story also has a central death but what happens afterwords is very different than what happens in PM.
Brief summary - the book follows the Sparrow sisters who’s family has lived in the town since it’s foundation. The family has always had a peculiarly about it. They were once persecuted for it but it’s been 300 years since then and now the Sparrows are as integral to the town as the land itself.
They story begins with the arrival of Henry Carlyle a Boston doctor seeking to start anew after a tragic experience which left him with a limp. He meets Patience Sparrow and there’s an instant connection though they get off on the wrong foot. Henry a medical doctor is skeptical and distrustful of Patience herbal remedies - which many in the down depend upon. As he gets to know her he comes to understand she has a gift. However, this is threaten when a death is linked to her remedies.
The Highlights
The writing is very good, there’s some beautiful descriptions in this books especially about nature, vegetation, flowers, remedies, etc. The author does a good job of immersing the reader into this slightly magical world.
The intertwining lives of the small town people are richly depicted and the contrast between those who have lived there whole lives and those who are outside are nicely drawn, if not a bit cliché.
Herrick did fine job of weaving the past and present together. I liked that the flashbacks were not extensive, we just get the right amount of information.
The fleshing pit of the main characters, as well as the secondary characters was done well. In fact, there were some secondary characters that I liked better than some of the main characters. I have mixed feeling about the main characters, Patience and Henry (which I mention below) but for the most part I did like them.
The story is subtle in the way it addresses its magical elements and I liked the way Herrick would show how subtle the magic was.
I thought the story elements surrounding the death were well done, more so at the beginning than toward the end. When it first happens there’s a real emotional punch for the reader.
The Lowlights
As I noted above I have mixed feelings about the relationship between Patience and Henry. While I liked some of the “brought together by a magical bond” elements, I’m not a big fan of insta love and the desperate need to always be together or else the world falls apart is not usually my thing. It has to be done really well for me to enjoy that type of love desperation.
I though the magical realism was handled much better at the beginning of the story. The was a real wonder to it at the story It had the right amount of magic and the right amount of realism. Toward the end, however, it got a little too exaggerated and it just felt like one too many impossibilities. Suspension of disbelief with these types of stories is expected but theres is a fine line.
The elements surrounding the court hearing were the least believable of the story. Not the dying of the plants but the actual court preceding and to some extent the growing role Charlotte got towards the end. She was by far the weakest of the secondary characters.
This is a personal thing but as someone who’s worked in medicine for a long time, there was some eyebrow raising elements regarding doctors and their practices. Not only have I worked in medicine, I’ve worked in OBGYN and some of the information used is not very accurate - like a reproductive endocrinologist is not an obstetrician. Two different subspecialties. It’s a small thing but I know the difference. Also there were some serious HIPAA violations going on. LoL. This didn’t bother me too much, it’s no worse than the unreality you see on some medical drama on TV. Same would apply to the court room herring describes in the story. It’s highly dramatized.
Conclusion
The story is engaging, though a bit overly descriptive at times. However, despite my qualms about certain aspects of the story, I enjoyed it a great deal and could barely put it down. The character and places were vividly drawn and I was pulled in almost from the beginning. I would recommend it.
Audiobook Note
Cassandra Campbell narrated the book and she did an excellent job. She has a very soothing voice. The only other time I’ve listen to a book narrated by Campbell, I did not like it because she was trying to do a British accent and she wasn’t very good at it. As long as she sticks with her American accent I’ll be happy to listen to another book narrated by her.
March 9, 2017
As a lover of magical realism I was excited to find this new author. From page 1 it is apparent that Herrick is a fan of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Allen Addison, both favorites of mine. While the story and settings were lovely, I found it kind of flat. Where Hoffman takes you into the character to the point where you have to scream ENOUGH sometimes, Herrick didn't go far enough. I really didn't care about any of them. The story was light, and sweet, then took a dark turn. Herrick's writing is good, her prose poetic and beautiful, but the depth just wasn't there. I will definitely read the next book in this series, to see what Sorrel's story is. I'm hoping for something a bit more. We'll see.
July 4, 2016
I suspect that The Sparrow Sisters is going to draw a lot of comparisons to both Practical Magic and Garden Spells, and I think that’s both fair and pretty apt. You’ll get Alice Hoffman’s New England setting and Sarah Addison Allen’s small town charm. The writing has the gravitas of Alice Hoffman, but also the approachability of Sarah Addison Allen. And, of course, the magical realism of both. The “magic” in The Sparrow Sisters is more of the natural ability or affinity variety, rather than spells, so while it’s very grounded in the realism part, the magical part still manages to feel vivid and important to the story.
Fans of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen will definitely want to give this a try, but I wouldn’t limit my suggestion to just those readers. This is also a really charming, idealized portrait of small town life (both the good and the bad), a story about family and sisters, and a compelling love story. It’s also got a not-quite-a-mystery at the center. The reader knows what happened, which is why it’s not really a mystery, but watching the town react to tragedy was, for me, the most interesting part. The urge to place blame, the rumors, the support. I grew up in a small town, and while I never experienced anything like the events in this book, the dynamics of the town felt very real and accurate. It was a great way to spend some very hot afternoons.
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.
Fans of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen will definitely want to give this a try, but I wouldn’t limit my suggestion to just those readers. This is also a really charming, idealized portrait of small town life (both the good and the bad), a story about family and sisters, and a compelling love story. It’s also got a not-quite-a-mystery at the center. The reader knows what happened, which is why it’s not really a mystery, but watching the town react to tragedy was, for me, the most interesting part. The urge to place blame, the rumors, the support. I grew up in a small town, and while I never experienced anything like the events in this book, the dynamics of the town felt very real and accurate. It was a great way to spend some very hot afternoons.
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.
August 7, 2015
Too plain? Too tepid? Too flat? Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I found nothing particularly worthwhile in this book.
The combination of realistic romance and mysterious magic just didn't mix together well, in my opinion. I can see how the author was trying to sprinkle in charm and whimsical flavor, but it didn't catch my eye or capture my interest. One moment Patience seems to be a real witch aware of her powers over herbal remedies and healing touch, and the next moment the author pulls it back and everything is denied. It never goes anywhere interesting. I was never invested. Not sure if it was the editing, or the plot, or characterization, but this was "meh."
Perhaps it would be better if the presence of modern technology was cut, and it became a strange sort of timeless atmosphere, taking place also in the past, in an alternate reality, or something...?
I received this as galley/ARC at Book Expo in May 2015. And then I gave it away.
The combination of realistic romance and mysterious magic just didn't mix together well, in my opinion. I can see how the author was trying to sprinkle in charm and whimsical flavor, but it didn't catch my eye or capture my interest. One moment Patience seems to be a real witch aware of her powers over herbal remedies and healing touch, and the next moment the author pulls it back and everything is denied. It never goes anywhere interesting. I was never invested. Not sure if it was the editing, or the plot, or characterization, but this was "meh."
Perhaps it would be better if the presence of modern technology was cut, and it became a strange sort of timeless atmosphere, taking place also in the past, in an alternate reality, or something...?
I received this as galley/ARC at Book Expo in May 2015. And then I gave it away.
November 12, 2015
Two stars: A book that starts out strong, but loses the magic and whimsy with a sad turn.
The Sparrow Sisters come from a long line of Sparrow women who have made their home in Granite Point. The Sparrow family has always been known for the eccentricities and healing abilities. Patience, Sorrel and Nettie are mysterious and magical. Patience seems to be able to talk to the plants, and she knows how each and every plant can be used for healing. The sisters run a large nursery, bursting with plants and flowers. Yet, none of the sisters has found love. That all changes when a young doctor moves to town, and becomes enamored with Patience. Just when things are going well for Patience, tragedy strikes. The town is turning against her, and strange things are happening with the weather and the plants. Will Patience be able to clear her name?
What I Liked:
*I always love a book that features a touch of magical realism, so I was eager to dive into the Sparrow Sisters. Even though I was disappointed in the overall story, I did enjoy the magical parts. This book focuses on Patience's ability to work wonders with the plants that she grows. The Sparrow Sisters' Nursery is always exploding with blossoms, fruits and plants, no matter the season. Patience is known for her healing abilities, and the women in the town have long sought her help for all kinds of ailments, and Patience delivers with her herbal tinctures. I loved the luscious nursery and the sense of magic and mystery that surrounded the Sparrow Sisters.
*The books takes a sad turn, and Patience finds herself at the center of a modern day witch hunt. The town immediately begins to falter as the weather turns wild, and the plants begin to wilt and die. The town's fortune seems to be tied to Patience. I liked how it played and out, and that Patience received help from an unexpected source. Even though, I didn't like the tone of the story in the second half, I was pleased with the way it resolved.
*I liked the small town setting. Granite Point is a tight knit, cozy community where the townsfolk all know one another and they reach and help when in need.
And The Not So Much:
*The first portion of the book focuses on the sisters and their nursery and then on Patience's new found romance. Unfortunately, the romance between Patience and Henry lacked chemistry. Henry is inexplicably drawn to Patience from the get go, but their first couple of meetings are full of animosity. Then it moved into this strange lust stage, and it never evolved beyond that. I never felt like the two established a friendship or connection, and their relationship lacked trust. I didn't like that the two were always at odds over the way they healed. Patience didn't believe in modern medicine, and Henry didn't put any stock into Patience's herbal treatments. They never do seem to find common ground on this issue. All in all, the romance was a complete miss for me.
*As I mentioned, the first part of the book is dreamy and magical, and then it takes a dark turn when someone close to Patience suddenly dies under mysterious circumstances, and Patience finds herself accused. The story loses its magic at this point, and I found myself completely disengaging. I didn't like the second portion of the story.
*Sorrel and Nettie, the other two Sparrow Sisters haven't been lucky in love, either. Sorrel pines after her childhood friend, who is now married to someone else, and Nettie longs for a man, but is too afraid to let him know how she feels. I was disappointed that neither of these story lines was well developed. At the end, the book ends with the promise of Sorrel's story, so there are going to be more books.
The Sparrow Sisters was a book I was excited to read as I loved magical realism. While this book has a nice dose of magic, I was disappointed in the weak romance and the dark turn in the second half. The second half of the story was boring and it lacked the magic that I enjoyed in the first half. I would recommend this book hesitantly to those who like magical realism, but I would suggest borrowing it. At this point, I do not think I will continue the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
September 5, 2015
**Received as an ARC**
What an amazing, well developed story. I was sad to see it end, but I am glad that there may be a sequel. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and sitting of this book. Granite Point is a magical place with magical people.
What an amazing, well developed story. I was sad to see it end, but I am glad that there may be a sequel. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and sitting of this book. Granite Point is a magical place with magical people.
March 22, 2016
What an absolutely beautiful book!! Written with some fullness, the descriptions left you seeing and smelling the world Ms. Herrick created. I cried with both joy and sorrow while reading this book and stayed up late because once I passed a certain event in the book, I couldn't put it down. So perfect for a vacation read where you won't be interrupted if you get as enthralled as I did!
September 2, 2022
Read for book club…. This book reminded me of the movie version of Practical Magic from just reading chapter one. Book felt rushed and I more than likely won’t continue with the hint of another book in the making.
The Sparrow Sisters are one of the original founding families in this New England town of Granite Point. Sorrel, Nettie and Patience practice apothecary by growing herbs that treat the local community. They are labeled as modern day witches when someone dies.
The Sparrow Sisters are one of the original founding families in this New England town of Granite Point. Sorrel, Nettie and Patience practice apothecary by growing herbs that treat the local community. They are labeled as modern day witches when someone dies.
October 10, 2015
As a fan of Sarah Addison Allen and magical realism, I was thrilled to find a new author. The setting was beautifully described and filled with charm; Granite Point was vividly depicted by the author, as were the Sparrow Sisters. What made this book a 4 star read for me was a little loss of momentum. The beginning started off holding my interest quite well, and I wish that the entire book had captivated me as much. I am excited about the possibility of a follow-up on the Sisters. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
August 17, 2015
I don't usually reach for books in the magical realism genre, but the title and cover caught my eye. And the novelist is a debut author who has waited a long time to see her first book in print and that appealed to me as a reader and late blooming novelist. I really enjoyed The Sparrow Sisters-- lots of great sister stuff, a touch of witchcraft, a pretty sexy romance and some fantastic gardening scenes. Yes, people, gardening scenes! A delightful, mystical story with a special setting and memorable characters. Well one.
October 4, 2015
Summary: Although there were a few things I didn't like about this book, overall it was exactly what I look for in a cozy, magical realism read.
"The Sparrow sisters are as tightly woven into the seaside New England town of Granite Point as the wild sweet peas that climb the stone walls along the harbor. Patience Sparrow is the town healer and when a new doctor settles into Granite Point he brings with him a mystery so compelling that Patience is drawn to love him, even as she struggles to mend him. But when Patience’s herbs and tinctures are believed to be implicated in a local tragedy, Granite Point is consumed by a long-buried fear—and its three hundred year old history resurfaces as a modern day witch-hunt threatens. The plants and flowers, fruit trees and high hedges begin to wither and die, and the entire town begins to fail; fishermen return to the harbor empty-handed, and blight descends on the old elms that line the lanes." (Source)
The tone of this book was exactly what I want from a cozy, magical realism read. There was some subtle, creative magic and even when things weren't going well, I felt optimistic. The author did an incredible job bringing the characters to life through their individual quirks. I also thought she did a nice job sharing their innermost thoughts, which is something that makes me feel as though I really know a character. I loved the eccentricity of the sisters. It was a perfect for the magical realism in the novel. The insular, gossipy small town setting was also a great fit for the story.
The isn't surprising for me, but the romance wasn't my favorite part of the story. I hate when characters know they like each other but manage to fight and cause their own problems anyway. Fortunately, this part of the story was short and we quickly moved into the mysterious death part of the story. The story also felt a bit sexist to me, with the women believing in Patience's ability to heal and the men readily turning against her. The formatting also wasn't fantastic, with two or three typos (a lot for a finished copy, in my experience). The chapter titles were about the uses of herbs but were strangely unconnected to the contents of each chapter.
Although the things I didn't like take as long to list as the things I did, overall, I really enjoyed this book. At the end, there was a suggestion of a sequel and I was immediately excited about the idea of reading more about these characters. I'd definitely recommend this to any fans of Sarah Addison Allen or Of Things Gone Astray.
For some other perspectives, check out the other stops on the tour.
This review was originally posted on Doing Dewey
"The Sparrow sisters are as tightly woven into the seaside New England town of Granite Point as the wild sweet peas that climb the stone walls along the harbor. Patience Sparrow is the town healer and when a new doctor settles into Granite Point he brings with him a mystery so compelling that Patience is drawn to love him, even as she struggles to mend him. But when Patience’s herbs and tinctures are believed to be implicated in a local tragedy, Granite Point is consumed by a long-buried fear—and its three hundred year old history resurfaces as a modern day witch-hunt threatens. The plants and flowers, fruit trees and high hedges begin to wither and die, and the entire town begins to fail; fishermen return to the harbor empty-handed, and blight descends on the old elms that line the lanes." (Source)
The tone of this book was exactly what I want from a cozy, magical realism read. There was some subtle, creative magic and even when things weren't going well, I felt optimistic. The author did an incredible job bringing the characters to life through their individual quirks. I also thought she did a nice job sharing their innermost thoughts, which is something that makes me feel as though I really know a character. I loved the eccentricity of the sisters. It was a perfect for the magical realism in the novel. The insular, gossipy small town setting was also a great fit for the story.
The isn't surprising for me, but the romance wasn't my favorite part of the story. I hate when characters know they like each other but manage to fight and cause their own problems anyway. Fortunately, this part of the story was short and we quickly moved into the mysterious death part of the story. The story also felt a bit sexist to me, with the women believing in Patience's ability to heal and the men readily turning against her. The formatting also wasn't fantastic, with two or three typos (a lot for a finished copy, in my experience). The chapter titles were about the uses of herbs but were strangely unconnected to the contents of each chapter.
Although the things I didn't like take as long to list as the things I did, overall, I really enjoyed this book. At the end, there was a suggestion of a sequel and I was immediately excited about the idea of reading more about these characters. I'd definitely recommend this to any fans of Sarah Addison Allen or Of Things Gone Astray.
For some other perspectives, check out the other stops on the tour.This review was originally posted on Doing Dewey
September 12, 2015
Favorite Quotes:
“She knew that sometimes Patience’s rich interior life, a thing of bright colors, strong scents, and a good deal of swearing, burst forth. The smells that followed her were the most noticeable, and even the town had learned to interpret at least some of the scents that wrapped around the youngest sister.”
“Matty was the only one Patience shared her secrets with. He listened with rapt attention as if the names themselves held power. As Patience listed the various ailments her plants could help, Matty almost wished he had rheumatism that called for bladderwrack or high blood pressure to be cured by skullcap… Matty thought maybe he could learn to be like Patience, to save someone the way she did. He was sure that if he could, people wouldn’t look away every time they saw him.”
“For her part, Patience felt as if she were holding a soap bubble in her hand. She glided through her day intent on keeping this shiny, temporary, beautiful, perfect thing intact. This in itself was unusual. Patience was adept at snatching misery from the tender jaws of joy.”
“Simon knew that it didn’t matter who was telling the truth, just who told it best.”
“I hate to think what would have happened to be without you. You are the only thing I have ever wanted to keep.”
My Review:
Before I signed on to read The Sparrow Sisters I had checked Goodreads and noticed the reviews were mixed, people either loved it or hated it. I have no complaints as I adored it from the beginning. The written words sparkled, they were more than special, chosen well and smartly written. Like her Sparrow sister character of Patience, Ms. Herrick does indeed have magic, as well as considerable talent and finesse. The writing was crisp, insightful, and keenly observant with an edge of humor. The story was luxuriously detailed, unique, and unfailingly interesting. Ms. Herrick’s characters were as quirky and eccentrically individual as most small town dwellers are. I was transported to that small haven and soon lost myself in the story. I was thrilled when Patience and Henry found their rhythm, and was crushed when they argued. Then I was devastated when something horrible happened and Patience was accused of something heinous, and the small-town people showed their small-mindedness, and became just plain rotten. I will admit to being more than petty enough to enjoy how that bended back on them, as once Patience lost her footing, the town began to fail; birds stop singing, crops and plants died, the weather was frightfully weird, animals acted oddly, livelihoods dried up, and people were angry and snappish to each other. Like the witch hunts of a previous time, all kinds of nonsense circulated and I was afraid things were not going to end well for Patience, Henry, or the town. Thankfully, after a touching revelation that squeezed my heart, they are able to reclaim their smiles and we were all able to breathe deeply again. Sigh.
“She knew that sometimes Patience’s rich interior life, a thing of bright colors, strong scents, and a good deal of swearing, burst forth. The smells that followed her were the most noticeable, and even the town had learned to interpret at least some of the scents that wrapped around the youngest sister.”
“Matty was the only one Patience shared her secrets with. He listened with rapt attention as if the names themselves held power. As Patience listed the various ailments her plants could help, Matty almost wished he had rheumatism that called for bladderwrack or high blood pressure to be cured by skullcap… Matty thought maybe he could learn to be like Patience, to save someone the way she did. He was sure that if he could, people wouldn’t look away every time they saw him.”
“For her part, Patience felt as if she were holding a soap bubble in her hand. She glided through her day intent on keeping this shiny, temporary, beautiful, perfect thing intact. This in itself was unusual. Patience was adept at snatching misery from the tender jaws of joy.”
“Simon knew that it didn’t matter who was telling the truth, just who told it best.”
“I hate to think what would have happened to be without you. You are the only thing I have ever wanted to keep.”
My Review:
Before I signed on to read The Sparrow Sisters I had checked Goodreads and noticed the reviews were mixed, people either loved it or hated it. I have no complaints as I adored it from the beginning. The written words sparkled, they were more than special, chosen well and smartly written. Like her Sparrow sister character of Patience, Ms. Herrick does indeed have magic, as well as considerable talent and finesse. The writing was crisp, insightful, and keenly observant with an edge of humor. The story was luxuriously detailed, unique, and unfailingly interesting. Ms. Herrick’s characters were as quirky and eccentrically individual as most small town dwellers are. I was transported to that small haven and soon lost myself in the story. I was thrilled when Patience and Henry found their rhythm, and was crushed when they argued. Then I was devastated when something horrible happened and Patience was accused of something heinous, and the small-town people showed their small-mindedness, and became just plain rotten. I will admit to being more than petty enough to enjoy how that bended back on them, as once Patience lost her footing, the town began to fail; birds stop singing, crops and plants died, the weather was frightfully weird, animals acted oddly, livelihoods dried up, and people were angry and snappish to each other. Like the witch hunts of a previous time, all kinds of nonsense circulated and I was afraid things were not going to end well for Patience, Henry, or the town. Thankfully, after a touching revelation that squeezed my heart, they are able to reclaim their smiles and we were all able to breathe deeply again. Sigh.
September 15, 2015
Granite Point is an old New England town, its roots stretching back to the earliest settlers. It's the kind of small town where if you weren't born there you will forever be an outsider. Family and tradition are valued above all else and there is no family more ancient or honored than the Sparrow Sisters. Their ancestors were founding fathers of the town but the three Sparrow sisters who live there now are the last of the family.
Sorrell is the eldest, a brunette. She and Nettie, a blonde, were old enough to be aware when their mother died in childbirth. They raised the baby, Patience, who had fiery red hair. The sisters are closer than most siblings having never lived apart from each other. None has ever married as they have not been lucky in love.
What they are lucky at is growing things. The sisters run a nursery and roadside stand as well as doing floral arrangements. Their gardens are fabled for their abundance and the vitality of their plants. Patience goes even further. She has inherited the skills of an early ancestor who was a healer and the town comes to her for potions and ointments to soothe aches and pains.
That kind of unregulated medicine strikes the new doctor in town, Henry Carlyle. Henry has come to Granite Point to recuperate from a war injury that left him unable to handle the stress and frantic pace of a city emergency room. He is not pleased to see that many of the townspeople regard him as a last resort instead of a first stop when something goes wrong with their health. He decides to meet this unlicensed healer and set her straight as to the law and her place. Unfortunately for him, he is immediately struck by Patience's beauty and wild nature and soon the two are involved in a tumultuous affair. Instead of resenting her, Henry finds himself happier than he could ever imagine.
That happiness is put in jeopardy when one of Patience's clients is found dead and the autopsy reveals an overdose of a poison that is grown in her garden. The whispers start to circulate and the rumors of her ancestor, the first healer who was tried as a witch, are revived. Soon Patience finds herself arrested for manslaughter. How will things turn out? Will the town rally behind her or unite to bring her down?
Ellen Herrick has written a fascinating novel that explores several interesting themes. There is the theme of belonging to a place and the inbred societies that tend to be established in small towns where everyone knows everyone else and their business. There is the theme of family and what one will do to support those in their hearts. Alternative medicine and natural remedies are discussed and their efficiency explored. This book seems to be the start of a series as it focuses on Patience. Sorrel and Nettie's stories remain to be told. This book is recommended for readers of modern women's fiction.
Sorrell is the eldest, a brunette. She and Nettie, a blonde, were old enough to be aware when their mother died in childbirth. They raised the baby, Patience, who had fiery red hair. The sisters are closer than most siblings having never lived apart from each other. None has ever married as they have not been lucky in love.
What they are lucky at is growing things. The sisters run a nursery and roadside stand as well as doing floral arrangements. Their gardens are fabled for their abundance and the vitality of their plants. Patience goes even further. She has inherited the skills of an early ancestor who was a healer and the town comes to her for potions and ointments to soothe aches and pains.
That kind of unregulated medicine strikes the new doctor in town, Henry Carlyle. Henry has come to Granite Point to recuperate from a war injury that left him unable to handle the stress and frantic pace of a city emergency room. He is not pleased to see that many of the townspeople regard him as a last resort instead of a first stop when something goes wrong with their health. He decides to meet this unlicensed healer and set her straight as to the law and her place. Unfortunately for him, he is immediately struck by Patience's beauty and wild nature and soon the two are involved in a tumultuous affair. Instead of resenting her, Henry finds himself happier than he could ever imagine.
That happiness is put in jeopardy when one of Patience's clients is found dead and the autopsy reveals an overdose of a poison that is grown in her garden. The whispers start to circulate and the rumors of her ancestor, the first healer who was tried as a witch, are revived. Soon Patience finds herself arrested for manslaughter. How will things turn out? Will the town rally behind her or unite to bring her down?
Ellen Herrick has written a fascinating novel that explores several interesting themes. There is the theme of belonging to a place and the inbred societies that tend to be established in small towns where everyone knows everyone else and their business. There is the theme of family and what one will do to support those in their hearts. Alternative medicine and natural remedies are discussed and their efficiency explored. This book seems to be the start of a series as it focuses on Patience. Sorrel and Nettie's stories remain to be told. This book is recommended for readers of modern women's fiction.
October 31, 2015
When I read the premise for this book I don't remember reading the references to Practical Magic or the Witches of East End. If I had this would have excited me more about reading this book. Now, that I have seen these references and experienced attempting to read this book, I am saddened. This is because this book was nothing like either of these references. I watched Practical Magic and found it charming, funny, and the sisters shared a great bond. Than there is the Witches of East End. I liked the books way better then the television series. It seems a bunch of other viewers felt the same way as the series was cancelled. However again with that series the family shared a strong bond and there was plenty of action to keep things intriguing.
The problem with this book is that I felt no strong connection with the Sparrow Sisters. Also, the tone of this book was monotone and I could only read a few pages at a time as I would get sleepy. Even when Patience got mad I felt nothing. I only got six chapters into this book and put it down.
The problem with this book is that I felt no strong connection with the Sparrow Sisters. Also, the tone of this book was monotone and I could only read a few pages at a time as I would get sleepy. Even when Patience got mad I felt nothing. I only got six chapters into this book and put it down.
July 17, 2015
I was hooked on this book from page 1. I think Sorrel, Nettie and Patience are wonderful sisters who live in a fantastic town. Patience is the town healer and when a young man dies suspiciously she is arrested for murder. The "magic" around town starts dying with the fishermen catching nothing, the trees are dying and the gardens are not growing. Women decide they need to do something to save Patience and their town.
January 7, 2016
Started out strong, and the main couple gave me lots of OTP feelings for another ship of mine. But then around the middle part it slowly fell apart and the author couldn't quite tie off all the strings she had going, not to mention some that weren't needed. The magical realism elements were a bit heavy handed, but then I tend to think of magical realism as being subtle and easy to take one way or the other.
So not a bad novel, just an underwhelming and clumsy one. Very obviously a debut.
So not a bad novel, just an underwhelming and clumsy one. Very obviously a debut.
July 28, 2021
This has been on my TBR stack for quite a while - I'm sure what drew me to it was the comparisons to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman or Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. The Sparrow Sisters - Sorrel, Nettie, and Patience live together and run a nursery in a small New England town. Many of the community members come to Patience for her remedies. The family has been in the town since the 1600's and the ties to the history of witchcraft in New England are strong. When a tragedy occurs, the community questions Patience's role in it - and the town feels the effects. There are elements of magical realism throughout, a love story or two, and themes of how women's power is viewed. I enjoyed the reading experience, although I would put it more in the Lifetime movie bucket rather than Acadamey Award bucket. Satisfying and enjoyable - but I don't know if it will stick with me.
April 6, 2024
My goodness, I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down…I want to be a Sparrow sister. If you like books with a little bit of magic, a few witches, a love story and a mystery, this book is for you….now I need to go plan my garden!
September 8, 2015
The Sparrow sisters - Sorrel, Nettie, and Patience - are just part of the story that is Granite Point. Albeit a very large part considering the girls' ancestors were one of the founding families of the town. History has it that one of the earliest Sparrow women was even accused of witchcraft.
Now, generations later, the sisters run a nursery that brings folks from both near and far thanks to their remarkable green thumbs. And Patience is a known healer, concocting tinctures, teas, and infusions from her garden. The sisters are loved and respected, but all of that is about to change.
The change begins with the arrival of the new town doctor. Henry Carlyle is young, good looking, and a war hero to boot, but Patience doesn't care about any of that. All she sees is another outsider who looks down on her non traditional treatments. Henry doesn't look down on Patience at all - or at least not much. In fact, Henry is quickly smitten by the woman. But when Patience is implicated in the death of a local things start to sour fast. Could history be repeating itself? Is Granite Point turning on Patience as it once did on her long ago ancestor?
Early blurbs for The Sparrow Sisters promised "...a touch of magic..." (Sarah Jio), "...a modern-day fairy tale..." (Sarah Addison Allen), and, according to the publisher, "...echoes of... Practical Magic..." Well, after such promising reviews - and from such fabulous authors - of course I had to get my hands on a copy. As most of us know, though, with such grand comparisons there's always a chance that they might be either overblown or maybe just a little... off. Nope. Not the case at all with this one! Jio, Addison Allen, and the folks at William Morrow had their comps down pat and I was all to happy to discover this for myself.
The Sparrow Sisters is a beautifully written tale that's packed to the brim with lush and vivid imagery. The sisters, their plants, the scents that follow Patience around revealing her moods, everything is detailed so gorgeously it really does make you feel like you're right there with the characters. It's a sensual read in the most literal sense of the word!
It's emotional as well. The sisters haven't had things easy. They were essentially orphaned all at an early age - their mother died giving birth to Patience and their father followed just a few years later. They've stuck together and toughed it all out, though, and have a thriving business to show for it. What's more, they're genuinely loved by most of the townspeople. But there's something missing - a passion, a fire... and they're the last of the Sparrows.
To see how their story unfolds you'll have to read the book yourself. It is quite an enjoyable tale, though, and definitely one fans of both above-mentioned authors - Sarah Jio and Sarah Addison Allen - will adore!
Now, generations later, the sisters run a nursery that brings folks from both near and far thanks to their remarkable green thumbs. And Patience is a known healer, concocting tinctures, teas, and infusions from her garden. The sisters are loved and respected, but all of that is about to change.
The change begins with the arrival of the new town doctor. Henry Carlyle is young, good looking, and a war hero to boot, but Patience doesn't care about any of that. All she sees is another outsider who looks down on her non traditional treatments. Henry doesn't look down on Patience at all - or at least not much. In fact, Henry is quickly smitten by the woman. But when Patience is implicated in the death of a local things start to sour fast. Could history be repeating itself? Is Granite Point turning on Patience as it once did on her long ago ancestor?
Early blurbs for The Sparrow Sisters promised "...a touch of magic..." (Sarah Jio), "...a modern-day fairy tale..." (Sarah Addison Allen), and, according to the publisher, "...echoes of... Practical Magic..." Well, after such promising reviews - and from such fabulous authors - of course I had to get my hands on a copy. As most of us know, though, with such grand comparisons there's always a chance that they might be either overblown or maybe just a little... off. Nope. Not the case at all with this one! Jio, Addison Allen, and the folks at William Morrow had their comps down pat and I was all to happy to discover this for myself.
The Sparrow Sisters is a beautifully written tale that's packed to the brim with lush and vivid imagery. The sisters, their plants, the scents that follow Patience around revealing her moods, everything is detailed so gorgeously it really does make you feel like you're right there with the characters. It's a sensual read in the most literal sense of the word!
It's emotional as well. The sisters haven't had things easy. They were essentially orphaned all at an early age - their mother died giving birth to Patience and their father followed just a few years later. They've stuck together and toughed it all out, though, and have a thriving business to show for it. What's more, they're genuinely loved by most of the townspeople. But there's something missing - a passion, a fire... and they're the last of the Sparrows.
To see how their story unfolds you'll have to read the book yourself. It is quite an enjoyable tale, though, and definitely one fans of both above-mentioned authors - Sarah Jio and Sarah Addison Allen - will adore!
January 11, 2016
The Sparrow Sisters, Sorrel, Nettie and Patience, are famous in Granite Point. Their nursery is flourishing and Patience's healing powers are very important to the inhabitants of the town. When Henry Carlyle moves into town to work as the new local doctor he's intrigued by them. He doesn't understand the sisters very well though. He doesn't believe in anything but science, but he wants to know how Patience works. He's curious and doesn't expect to feel a deep connection to her at all, but something happens to him when he sees her.
When something tragic happens in Granite Point there are people who want to blame someone. Slowly everything the people in Granite Point used to love is changing and Patience is at the center of it. The people in Granite Point used to love her, but now doubt is creeping in and that is the worst thing that could have happened to the town...
The Sparrow Sisters is a beautiful story about a remarkable woman who has the most amazing healing powers. The Sparrow Sisters are fascinating and they each have their own special features. I loved that about them and couldn't wait to find out more about their abilities. Patience is special and she has such a remarkable personality. I enjoyed reading about the way she handles situations very much. Henry is a kind man, but he has his beliefs and it isn't easy to change them. I loved reading about the connection he has with Patience and couldn't wait to find out what would happen to them. I instantly liked the main characters. What I also liked were the setting and Ellen Herrick's way of writing.
I knew I was going to like this book as soon as I read the first sentence. It was love at first sight for me. I think the story is fantastic. It's a contemporary fairytale. There's magic in Ellen Herrick's words, they're both beautiful and enchanting. I think this novel is absolutely brilliant. If you like the genre, you will definitely fall in love with this story. The Sparrow Sisters is a book I want to read again and again and again.
When something tragic happens in Granite Point there are people who want to blame someone. Slowly everything the people in Granite Point used to love is changing and Patience is at the center of it. The people in Granite Point used to love her, but now doubt is creeping in and that is the worst thing that could have happened to the town...
The Sparrow Sisters is a beautiful story about a remarkable woman who has the most amazing healing powers. The Sparrow Sisters are fascinating and they each have their own special features. I loved that about them and couldn't wait to find out more about their abilities. Patience is special and she has such a remarkable personality. I enjoyed reading about the way she handles situations very much. Henry is a kind man, but he has his beliefs and it isn't easy to change them. I loved reading about the connection he has with Patience and couldn't wait to find out what would happen to them. I instantly liked the main characters. What I also liked were the setting and Ellen Herrick's way of writing.
I knew I was going to like this book as soon as I read the first sentence. It was love at first sight for me. I think the story is fantastic. It's a contemporary fairytale. There's magic in Ellen Herrick's words, they're both beautiful and enchanting. I think this novel is absolutely brilliant. If you like the genre, you will definitely fall in love with this story. The Sparrow Sisters is a book I want to read again and again and again.
November 18, 2016
This review and more can be found on the blog: http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
"For a second he was almost frightened. Not by Patience exactly but by this place where sisters sensed each other in the dark, this town that believed a young woman could keep them well with nothing but her garden: an ordinary place where flowers bloomed long past the first frost and people sniffed the air to guess what Patience Sparrow might be feeling before they checked the weather."
I'm a fan of magical realism and Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen is a particular favorite of mine, so the description for The Sparrow Sisters immediately piqued my interest. I dug in eagerly, and whilst it was entertaining and I did like this book, I didn't quite love it.
The premise is interesting, but some of the execution just doesn't deliver. Although there are some wonderful descriptions, the writing overall lacks some of the lyrical quality and charm found in SAA's work. This tale is also considerably darker, with more sadness and tragedy to be found as it unfolds, and there are some inconsistencies in the magical abilities.
Even so, there are several compelling themes explored here which make it a worthy read - small town dynamics, science vs. the mystical, conventional medicine vs. folk healing, the dangers of gossip, public opinion and mob mentality. I also particularly enjoyed the relationships between the Sparrow sisters themselves and even more so the 'sisterhood' of the women of the entire town as this story resolved.
The ending hints that there may be more Sparrow books to come, possibly dealing with the other two sisters, and I would be most willing to give those a read. These characters interested me enough to continue on with their story, and hopefully it will only get better as it goes along.
( This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.)
"For a second he was almost frightened. Not by Patience exactly but by this place where sisters sensed each other in the dark, this town that believed a young woman could keep them well with nothing but her garden: an ordinary place where flowers bloomed long past the first frost and people sniffed the air to guess what Patience Sparrow might be feeling before they checked the weather."
I'm a fan of magical realism and Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen is a particular favorite of mine, so the description for The Sparrow Sisters immediately piqued my interest. I dug in eagerly, and whilst it was entertaining and I did like this book, I didn't quite love it.
The premise is interesting, but some of the execution just doesn't deliver. Although there are some wonderful descriptions, the writing overall lacks some of the lyrical quality and charm found in SAA's work. This tale is also considerably darker, with more sadness and tragedy to be found as it unfolds, and there are some inconsistencies in the magical abilities.
Even so, there are several compelling themes explored here which make it a worthy read - small town dynamics, science vs. the mystical, conventional medicine vs. folk healing, the dangers of gossip, public opinion and mob mentality. I also particularly enjoyed the relationships between the Sparrow sisters themselves and even more so the 'sisterhood' of the women of the entire town as this story resolved.
The ending hints that there may be more Sparrow books to come, possibly dealing with the other two sisters, and I would be most willing to give those a read. These characters interested me enough to continue on with their story, and hopefully it will only get better as it goes along.
( This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.)
September 11, 2015
The Sparrow Sisters is a book far removed from the books I usually choose to read. It’s full of all of the things I really don’t like in stories; modern settings, boy meets girl/girl doesn’t like boy/yet love is in the air romance, and that new term in storytelling, magical realism. And yet I was enthralled. The titular sisters are all single and live in Granite Point a New England town with a long history. Their ancestors were among the founders of the town. Now the three of them live in their ancestral house and run a flourishing nursery on land once owned by a very special woman from their past.
All is going along well until a new doctor comes to town and questions one of the sisters’ way of helping the townspeople. Patience has always had a way with plants and she uses her knowledge and that of her ancestors to ease some of the complaints they bring her. The doctor, Henry feels this is dangerous – but even more dangerous are the sparks that fly between the two of them. When someone under Patience’s care dies the small town turns against her and history ends up repeating itself with a modern day witch hunt of sorts.
You cannot read this book and expect it to make sense or for everything to align. You need to just release yourself to the story and let it happen. If I were to sit and pick it apart I’d find a million reasons to hate this book but if I take reason out of the equation I want to go back and read it again. It’s a real escapist tale – but don’t let that make you think it’s all unicorns and rainbows because it’s not. The worst of human nature takes a starring role. But the best of human nature has equal billing. The characters are unique and I really want to visit with them again and I truly hope the teaser at the end means there will be another book.
4.5
All is going along well until a new doctor comes to town and questions one of the sisters’ way of helping the townspeople. Patience has always had a way with plants and she uses her knowledge and that of her ancestors to ease some of the complaints they bring her. The doctor, Henry feels this is dangerous – but even more dangerous are the sparks that fly between the two of them. When someone under Patience’s care dies the small town turns against her and history ends up repeating itself with a modern day witch hunt of sorts.
You cannot read this book and expect it to make sense or for everything to align. You need to just release yourself to the story and let it happen. If I were to sit and pick it apart I’d find a million reasons to hate this book but if I take reason out of the equation I want to go back and read it again. It’s a real escapist tale – but don’t let that make you think it’s all unicorns and rainbows because it’s not. The worst of human nature takes a starring role. But the best of human nature has equal billing. The characters are unique and I really want to visit with them again and I truly hope the teaser at the end means there will be another book.
4.5
September 16, 2015
I'm sorry to have to write this and potentially spoil the author's day. I truly wanted to like this novel and looked forward to reading it. Ellen Herrick began with an interesting idea. Unfortunately, this book reads like a first draft, not something I'd expect William Morrow to release.
The writing was basic -- way too many sentences began with "It was" -- and jarring summations, phrased almost old-worldly perhaps to mimic the style of Hawthorne or classic New England writers, fell flat and felt awkward. Time after time, the complete lack of craft took me out of the story.
Throughout, the author tells the reader painfully obvious things like "Here was another woman, and the most unexpected, to take Patience's side." Certainly readers could figure that out on their own. So many scenes could have been so much better if Herrick's editor told her to show rather than tell. I know that phrase is used so much, it's almost cliche, but it's very true in this case. I wanted to see the storms brewing or the mob tearing apart what the Sparrow sisters held dear. And the head hopping! My God, we knew every inner thought of every character.
I did finish it, but barely, so I guess the author created a character (Patience Sparrow) well enough for me to care what happened to her. Too bad her editor didn't care enough about Herrick's novel in the same way.
The writing was basic -- way too many sentences began with "It was" -- and jarring summations, phrased almost old-worldly perhaps to mimic the style of Hawthorne or classic New England writers, fell flat and felt awkward. Time after time, the complete lack of craft took me out of the story.
Throughout, the author tells the reader painfully obvious things like "Here was another woman, and the most unexpected, to take Patience's side." Certainly readers could figure that out on their own. So many scenes could have been so much better if Herrick's editor told her to show rather than tell. I know that phrase is used so much, it's almost cliche, but it's very true in this case. I wanted to see the storms brewing or the mob tearing apart what the Sparrow sisters held dear. And the head hopping! My God, we knew every inner thought of every character.
I did finish it, but barely, so I guess the author created a character (Patience Sparrow) well enough for me to care what happened to her. Too bad her editor didn't care enough about Herrick's novel in the same way.
September 19, 2015
The Sparrow sisters’ family was among the founders of the small New England town of Granite Point and even though they keep to themselves, they are an integral part of their community. The three adult sisters live together in the family home and run a nursery, providing the town with fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and, thanks to Patience’s special talents, home remedies. There is a bit of magic, a love story, a tragedy, and a courtroom drama, but mostly this is a charming story of small town life (good and bad), family, and friendship. A great way to while away a hot and steamy (or cool and rainy) afternoon. For fans of Sarah Addison Allen.
September 14, 2015
In the genre of magical realism, like Sarah Addison Allen, the Sparrow Sisters captured my attention as soon as the book started, "all stories are true. Some of them actually happened". Patience, Sorrel and Nettie are the sisters who run a nursery in Granite Point. Using homeopathic type remedies, Patience heals many of the town's ills. The new doctor in town, Henry Carlysle, becomes involved with Patience and the story takes off from there.
August 28, 2015
Very disappointing
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