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The Witch House of Persimmon Point
“It's rare to find a novel that sends shivers up your spine. The Witch of Persimmon Point not only leaves you spooked, it'll give you chills whenever you see it on your bookshelf.” – Redbook
This house is a whole other ball of wax. I’m sure its feelings are hurt as I write this. It fancies itself a horror house. Home of witches and murderesses. Of death and decay and destruction. And here I am calling it comforting…
When Byrd Whalen returns to her family’s ancestral home to uncover secrets threatening to destroy a legacy she holds dear, she gets more than she bargained for. Over the course of one harrowing weekend, the dark haunted histories of the Amore women reveal themselves, leading Byrd to question everything she's ever believed about herself.
In 1890, Nan, the Amore family matriarch, was sent away to America with little more than a baby and a rocking chair, quickly finding work on the sprawling estate of the wildly eccentric Green family. This new life is one she loving and free with a family that understands and shares in her magic. But when tragedy strikes, destroying the mansion and the precious lives inside, Nan is left alone and pregnant with Reginald Green’s child. With nothing more than the deed to the property, she builds a house from the rubble and a new, pragmatic life. It would become a haunted life that would lead to other haunted lives. It would become a house both terrible and wonderful. It would become known as “The Witch House.”
An unforgettable family saga in the Gothic tradition, Suzanne Palmieri’s The Witch House of Persimmon Point is her most powerful novel yet.
This house is a whole other ball of wax. I’m sure its feelings are hurt as I write this. It fancies itself a horror house. Home of witches and murderesses. Of death and decay and destruction. And here I am calling it comforting…
When Byrd Whalen returns to her family’s ancestral home to uncover secrets threatening to destroy a legacy she holds dear, she gets more than she bargained for. Over the course of one harrowing weekend, the dark haunted histories of the Amore women reveal themselves, leading Byrd to question everything she's ever believed about herself.
In 1890, Nan, the Amore family matriarch, was sent away to America with little more than a baby and a rocking chair, quickly finding work on the sprawling estate of the wildly eccentric Green family. This new life is one she loving and free with a family that understands and shares in her magic. But when tragedy strikes, destroying the mansion and the precious lives inside, Nan is left alone and pregnant with Reginald Green’s child. With nothing more than the deed to the property, she builds a house from the rubble and a new, pragmatic life. It would become a haunted life that would lead to other haunted lives. It would become a house both terrible and wonderful. It would become known as “The Witch House.”
An unforgettable family saga in the Gothic tradition, Suzanne Palmieri’s The Witch House of Persimmon Point is her most powerful novel yet.
400 pages, Paperback
Published October 11, 2016
20 people are currently reading
1288 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Palmieri
12 books362 followersSuzanne Palmieri is the author of The Witch of Bourbon Street, The Witch of Belladonna Bay, and The Witch of Little Italy. She is also the co-author (as Suzanne Hayes) of Empire Girls and I'll Be Seeing You. Writer. Lost Witch. Mermaid.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
October 3, 2016
Byrd Whalen has returned to her family's ancestral home but is finding that there have been family secrets deeply buried within. Over the course of one very long weekend Byrd begins to dig into the harrowing past and question everything she's ever known about the Amore women and believed about herself.
In 1890, Nan who is the Amore family matriarch was banished from her home and sent off to America with her new baby in tow. Nan searches for a job after her arrival in America and finds herself at the estate of the wildly eccentric Green family. There she finds a couple of new companions who welcome her and share in the magic she had only been told stories of. But after some horrific events at the home it would become known as “The Witch House.”
The Witch House of Persimmon Point is one of those reads that is just so unique that I feel that people will either love it or hate it. The family history involved in this book is not one anyone would be proud of in the slightest. There is a lot of disturbing activities that go on throughout the book that it definitely will not be for every reader.
The story is told switching the POV from Byrd who had just arrived at the family home and has some things begin happening which leads to changing to the past to explain what had gone on with family members then. There's some pretty dark and disturbing things in the read but also with excellent writing it becomes a strangely compelling read learning about these unique characters.
Overall, definitely not for every reader, a dark and disturbing read covering generations of one family making choices that would shock some and repeating terrible patterns in their lives. A unique story though if looking for something a bit darker and different than normal.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
In 1890, Nan who is the Amore family matriarch was banished from her home and sent off to America with her new baby in tow. Nan searches for a job after her arrival in America and finds herself at the estate of the wildly eccentric Green family. There she finds a couple of new companions who welcome her and share in the magic she had only been told stories of. But after some horrific events at the home it would become known as “The Witch House.”
The Witch House of Persimmon Point is one of those reads that is just so unique that I feel that people will either love it or hate it. The family history involved in this book is not one anyone would be proud of in the slightest. There is a lot of disturbing activities that go on throughout the book that it definitely will not be for every reader.
The story is told switching the POV from Byrd who had just arrived at the family home and has some things begin happening which leads to changing to the past to explain what had gone on with family members then. There's some pretty dark and disturbing things in the read but also with excellent writing it becomes a strangely compelling read learning about these unique characters.
Overall, definitely not for every reader, a dark and disturbing read covering generations of one family making choices that would shock some and repeating terrible patterns in their lives. A unique story though if looking for something a bit darker and different than normal.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
March 31, 2018
This is a wonderful October read.
I read it in July.
It's a good story in the summer, too, but probably better in a darkening autumn month. That October 11th release date was a stroke of genius.
I didn't help with this book at all. I think I'd read the first two or three chapters early in the year and was delighted to see my favorite character (Byrd) but equally dismayed to run into my least-favorite character (Elly, now Eleanor). Between them, they have a house, matriarchal history, and a young girl.
That's all I got from what I'd read early on but it was enough to pique my interest and I was excited for this to come out in real time.
Then things got away from me and I forgot all about this book on which Suzanne was working madly (I suspect she works madly on everything she does) until one day in the middle of July, she sent out an email to her readers asking if we'd take a look-see at the final manuscript just to catch any last-minute spelling errors or such.
I was thrilled! I didn't think I'd get to see this one before it went to print. I cackled with glee and started reading that night. The next day, my mom started her final decline.
Backing up: When Mom was first diagnosed with cancer, she was angry because she'd never get to write her book (she was going to pen some troll erotica. Trolls, like the guys that live under bridges, not the ones that live on the internet. She had the entire story mapped out in her head and was trying to get down all the notes and thoughts so that I could write and publish it posthumously. Her posthumous, not mine. At least, I don't think she meant for me to die, though transcribing her story just might have killed me. We'll never know since she told me the outline while in a chemo haze and left a notebook full of random ideas that don't make much sense to anyone)
The Witch of Belladonna Bay had just been released and my name was in the acknowledgements so I bought copies for all my family members because hello! My name was in print! I figured my mom either wouldn't read it or would read it and say snide things about it because that's the kind of woman she was. I was both surprised and delighted when she both read and enjoyed it! She loved Byrd. She said that character reminded her strongly of me at that age. I think that may be one of the nicest things she ever said to me. She followed that up with "I may never write my book but it's just as good to see my child's name in a book I like." Cancer isn't all bad, people. Sometimes, it helps mend a lifetime of little hurts.
Back to the story.
Mom was getting in-home hospice care during the day and we, her kids, would all stop by at different times just to be with her, even though she was completely morphinated into oblivion. While I was there by myself, I started reading the manuscript of this book to her. I know she heard me and was actively listening because she'd get less fidgety when I read and she'd drift back into full sleep. I like to think she was as happy as I had been to see our mutually favorite character.
We read in fits and bursts over the course of a few days and made it through chapter four before she died. We never got into the dark parts and I think I'm glad for that because I'm not sure how that would have translated into her groggy sleep. She left knowing only of Byrd, Eleanor, Maj, and a beautiful old house with geraniums on the porch.
I didn't get back to Suzanne with any corrections in time. I don't even know that I thanked her for including me in the final pass but I am still so incredibly grateful that she did because she gave me this thing, a bridge that I could use to help my mother transition as we lingered together on summer afternoons between life and death. This book ties me to my mother in a dreamy, magical way and I will never be able to thank Suzanne enough for that.
I finally finished reading the story a couple of weeks later during the dark hours of mornings while quietly hiding in corners so as not to disturb the slumbering members of the household. If you've read the other Lost Witch books, you know there's always hope, an element of fun, and some whimsy thrown in. While this is not hopeless, morose, nor completely non-whimsical, it is heavier, darker, meaner, and more painful than the others. Unquiet ghosts full of anger and regret manifest the deeper you get into the tale; hate, guilt, love soured, hubris, murder, they're all there.
For those who dislike multiple viewpoints, be warned they're in abundance here. However, most of the voices come in the retellings of family history. Byrd, Eleanor, and Maj are the main (alive) characters and they all share page time. This one doesn't jump around as much as The Witch of Bourbon Street, it stays fairly linear as the women currently in the house uncover the stories of their ancestors, working from the oldest to newest.
I think some readers will want this to be a quest for absolution. It's not. It's about knowing and embracing one's lineage, accepting the evil, but not letting that knowledge necessitate the perpetuation of the past.
It's a beautiful, horrible story.
Read it this October.
I read it in July.
It's a good story in the summer, too, but probably better in a darkening autumn month. That October 11th release date was a stroke of genius.
I didn't help with this book at all. I think I'd read the first two or three chapters early in the year and was delighted to see my favorite character (Byrd) but equally dismayed to run into my least-favorite character (Elly, now Eleanor). Between them, they have a house, matriarchal history, and a young girl.
That's all I got from what I'd read early on but it was enough to pique my interest and I was excited for this to come out in real time.
Then things got away from me and I forgot all about this book on which Suzanne was working madly (I suspect she works madly on everything she does) until one day in the middle of July, she sent out an email to her readers asking if we'd take a look-see at the final manuscript just to catch any last-minute spelling errors or such.
I was thrilled! I didn't think I'd get to see this one before it went to print. I cackled with glee and started reading that night. The next day, my mom started her final decline.
Backing up: When Mom was first diagnosed with cancer, she was angry because she'd never get to write her book (she was going to pen some troll erotica. Trolls, like the guys that live under bridges, not the ones that live on the internet. She had the entire story mapped out in her head and was trying to get down all the notes and thoughts so that I could write and publish it posthumously. Her posthumous, not mine. At least, I don't think she meant for me to die, though transcribing her story just might have killed me. We'll never know since she told me the outline while in a chemo haze and left a notebook full of random ideas that don't make much sense to anyone)
The Witch of Belladonna Bay had just been released and my name was in the acknowledgements so I bought copies for all my family members because hello! My name was in print! I figured my mom either wouldn't read it or would read it and say snide things about it because that's the kind of woman she was. I was both surprised and delighted when she both read and enjoyed it! She loved Byrd. She said that character reminded her strongly of me at that age. I think that may be one of the nicest things she ever said to me. She followed that up with "I may never write my book but it's just as good to see my child's name in a book I like." Cancer isn't all bad, people. Sometimes, it helps mend a lifetime of little hurts.
Back to the story.
Mom was getting in-home hospice care during the day and we, her kids, would all stop by at different times just to be with her, even though she was completely morphinated into oblivion. While I was there by myself, I started reading the manuscript of this book to her. I know she heard me and was actively listening because she'd get less fidgety when I read and she'd drift back into full sleep. I like to think she was as happy as I had been to see our mutually favorite character.
We read in fits and bursts over the course of a few days and made it through chapter four before she died. We never got into the dark parts and I think I'm glad for that because I'm not sure how that would have translated into her groggy sleep. She left knowing only of Byrd, Eleanor, Maj, and a beautiful old house with geraniums on the porch.
I didn't get back to Suzanne with any corrections in time. I don't even know that I thanked her for including me in the final pass but I am still so incredibly grateful that she did because she gave me this thing, a bridge that I could use to help my mother transition as we lingered together on summer afternoons between life and death. This book ties me to my mother in a dreamy, magical way and I will never be able to thank Suzanne enough for that.
I finally finished reading the story a couple of weeks later during the dark hours of mornings while quietly hiding in corners so as not to disturb the slumbering members of the household. If you've read the other Lost Witch books, you know there's always hope, an element of fun, and some whimsy thrown in. While this is not hopeless, morose, nor completely non-whimsical, it is heavier, darker, meaner, and more painful than the others. Unquiet ghosts full of anger and regret manifest the deeper you get into the tale; hate, guilt, love soured, hubris, murder, they're all there.
For those who dislike multiple viewpoints, be warned they're in abundance here. However, most of the voices come in the retellings of family history. Byrd, Eleanor, and Maj are the main (alive) characters and they all share page time. This one doesn't jump around as much as The Witch of Bourbon Street, it stays fairly linear as the women currently in the house uncover the stories of their ancestors, working from the oldest to newest.
I think some readers will want this to be a quest for absolution. It's not. It's about knowing and embracing one's lineage, accepting the evil, but not letting that knowledge necessitate the perpetuation of the past.
It's a beautiful, horrible story.
Read it this October.
October 13, 2016
2.5 stars
This was a strange read for me. I enjoy supernatural/paranormal books from time to time so when I saw this on NetGalley I thought it would be a good fall fit. I didn't notice (if it even said) that it is a part of a bigger "series" for lack of a better word, with characters from others of her books featured in it. If one has read and liked these others, their experience with this book might be totally different from mine. Especially if they are previously attached to the said characters.
This book tells the story of a family tree of witches and the house they lived in. I've never read any Palmieri before, so I can't say if this is typical for her style, but I just didn't find much to redeem this book for me. The characters aren't likable and are honestly pretty depraved, each in their own way. They neglect their children and so it goes on through the generations. And to be truthful, they don't really have any redeeming qualities. The story is told with 'present day' characters who are seeking info on their family history and past happenings on the home that housed these relatives. In a nutshell, the book tells the story of these past residents. A major issue I had was the confusion of characters. There were so many! I feel like I needed a pedigree chart to refer to... Each generation ran into the other, became muddled and did similar bad things.
I don't like to give unfavorable reviews, but I wouldn't recommend unless you are a previous fan of Suzanne Palmieri.
**Many thanks to NetGalley and Publishers for an ARC to read & review**
This was a strange read for me. I enjoy supernatural/paranormal books from time to time so when I saw this on NetGalley I thought it would be a good fall fit. I didn't notice (if it even said) that it is a part of a bigger "series" for lack of a better word, with characters from others of her books featured in it. If one has read and liked these others, their experience with this book might be totally different from mine. Especially if they are previously attached to the said characters.
This book tells the story of a family tree of witches and the house they lived in. I've never read any Palmieri before, so I can't say if this is typical for her style, but I just didn't find much to redeem this book for me. The characters aren't likable and are honestly pretty depraved, each in their own way. They neglect their children and so it goes on through the generations. And to be truthful, they don't really have any redeeming qualities. The story is told with 'present day' characters who are seeking info on their family history and past happenings on the home that housed these relatives. In a nutshell, the book tells the story of these past residents. A major issue I had was the confusion of characters. There were so many! I feel like I needed a pedigree chart to refer to... Each generation ran into the other, became muddled and did similar bad things.
I don't like to give unfavorable reviews, but I wouldn't recommend unless you are a previous fan of Suzanne Palmieri.
**Many thanks to NetGalley and Publishers for an ARC to read & review**
August 18, 2016
I got my hands on an arc, am not reading this for official review. I have to say I was taken by surprise because it is disturbing, dark and I couldn't look away. The house deserves the title Witch House. I was expecting it to be similar to her other novels which were lighter, nothing wrong with that, but the damaged characters in this novel- delicious! I will write a full review when it releases- I can see why other fans will be shocked by the writing, I however think Palmieri is getting even better! I cannot wait to see what she conjures next.
September 6, 2016
Thanks to Suzanne for an ARC of this beauty. I never know what to expect from one of her books, but she never disappoints. Atmospheric storytelling and hell raising women are always a good combination. I love the whole clan of Amores and Greens and the combination of past and present storytelling makes this book complex and interesting without dragging out things that are unnecessary. There are threads in this book that could make up their own novels (which I hope happens!). I gotta say, Suzy gets better with every book. I only hope I get lucky enough to meet up with her again soon!
November 19, 2016
The Amore family was cursed from the very start. This family history starts in Italy and follows their immigration to America all the way to present time. Eleanore inherited a house she knows nothing about, but it came at the right time. She's on the brink of divorce and doesn't know what to do with her life or the strange daughter she is trying to raise. A reporter wants to do a tell all on the tragic history, and what may be multiple murders, of Haven House. Eleanore and her daughter Maj go there a few days before the reporter is expected to arrive to try and unlock the secret of the witch house before the reporter can. When she arrives she finds 14 year old Byrd Whalen. She's ran away from home and claims the witch house as her birthright. Eleanore may be in the dark of the family history but Byrd knows everything and slowly tells her the stories of the cursed women of the family while they search for the answers they are looking for.
This book had me from the start. I hated to put it down for real live. It got to the point where I was so immersed that I rushed through it just so I could see what happens. My initial thoughts are that it is a lot like Tess of the d'Urbervilles. It is a heartbreaking and seems like that tragedy doesn't end. But you fall in love with the characters despite their major flaws and seem to root for them even when you want to slap some sense into them as a lot of their tragedy is of their own orchestration.
The author opens this narrative with a letter about trigger warnings. The story is riddled with every kind of abuse you can think of: rape, torture, physical abuse, verbal abuse, incest, abandonment. You name it and this family has probably been plagued by it. While some of it was extremely hard to read I don't feel like it was painted in a positive light. I liked how it showed that there are lasting effects from abuse and it can spurn generations of the same abuse if not recognized so one can break the cycle.
I really enjoyed reading this book. And I think it would appeal to anyone who is a fan of VC Andrews books. She also delved into generations of familial abuse. But I think one would have to be in a place where they have come to terms with their own abuse in order to be able to get through this with the Amore family. I give this book a solid 5 out of 5.
This book had me from the start. I hated to put it down for real live. It got to the point where I was so immersed that I rushed through it just so I could see what happens. My initial thoughts are that it is a lot like Tess of the d'Urbervilles. It is a heartbreaking and seems like that tragedy doesn't end. But you fall in love with the characters despite their major flaws and seem to root for them even when you want to slap some sense into them as a lot of their tragedy is of their own orchestration.
The author opens this narrative with a letter about trigger warnings. The story is riddled with every kind of abuse you can think of: rape, torture, physical abuse, verbal abuse, incest, abandonment. You name it and this family has probably been plagued by it. While some of it was extremely hard to read I don't feel like it was painted in a positive light. I liked how it showed that there are lasting effects from abuse and it can spurn generations of the same abuse if not recognized so one can break the cycle.
I really enjoyed reading this book. And I think it would appeal to anyone who is a fan of VC Andrews books. She also delved into generations of familial abuse. But I think one would have to be in a place where they have come to terms with their own abuse in order to be able to get through this with the Amore family. I give this book a solid 5 out of 5.
October 16, 2016
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
3.5 stars
** I received an advanced readers copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
This book was the first by Suzanne Palmieri for me and I have to say that I quite liked her writing. The book started out slowly but gained momentum and before I knew it I was captivated. Like the synopsis stated, this book was the story of the Amore women and their connection to the "witch house." Some would say that they were cursed, some would say haunted and others could say that they were all victims of their own terrible choices. Regardless, this book goes back to tell the tale of these women, one tragedy at a time.
This book was not filled with rainbows and unicorns. Happy is a word that existed in very short supply. It was dark and sometimes hard to read. What these women did or what was done to them was at times hard to take and imagine. At times I wanted to throw my tablet yet something kept me turning the pages. I wanted to know about this family and I wanted to know if their cursed lives would ever end.
I enjoyed the past story more than the present but that is not at all surprising for anyone who has read any of my reviews. I tend to always like the back story. With this book I liked it way more than the present story with Byrd. Her story was quite dull in comparison to her ancestors.
After reading The Witch House of Persimmon Point I will definitely be checking out more work by this author. I really enjoyed the book!
3.5 stars
** I received an advanced readers copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
This book was the first by Suzanne Palmieri for me and I have to say that I quite liked her writing. The book started out slowly but gained momentum and before I knew it I was captivated. Like the synopsis stated, this book was the story of the Amore women and their connection to the "witch house." Some would say that they were cursed, some would say haunted and others could say that they were all victims of their own terrible choices. Regardless, this book goes back to tell the tale of these women, one tragedy at a time.
This book was not filled with rainbows and unicorns. Happy is a word that existed in very short supply. It was dark and sometimes hard to read. What these women did or what was done to them was at times hard to take and imagine. At times I wanted to throw my tablet yet something kept me turning the pages. I wanted to know about this family and I wanted to know if their cursed lives would ever end.
I enjoyed the past story more than the present but that is not at all surprising for anyone who has read any of my reviews. I tend to always like the back story. With this book I liked it way more than the present story with Byrd. Her story was quite dull in comparison to her ancestors.
After reading The Witch House of Persimmon Point I will definitely be checking out more work by this author. I really enjoyed the book!
August 6, 2016
I won this on Goodreads.
“The Witch House of Persimmon Point” left me in a wistful and disturbed state of mind. This story of generations of women who made the wrong decisions. Their lives and decisions are influenced by their special abilities and an evil in their house. I felt for each of these women as their stories unfolded. Will this generation be the one to be free of the house’s history and reputation? I really liked the characters, guess that is why their pain hurt so much. This is a good, thoughtful read.
“The Witch House of Persimmon Point” left me in a wistful and disturbed state of mind. This story of generations of women who made the wrong decisions. Their lives and decisions are influenced by their special abilities and an evil in their house. I felt for each of these women as their stories unfolded. Will this generation be the one to be free of the house’s history and reputation? I really liked the characters, guess that is why their pain hurt so much. This is a good, thoughtful read.
March 29, 2017
2 stars--it was okay.
I thought the tone of the writing (childish, simple, breezy) didn't match the dark subject matter (rape, murder, serial killing, supernatural horror elements). It made the book almost sing-songy. There's also not much plot here and characterization was puzzling. (And this book uses one of my reading pet peeves: using CAPITAL letters for EMPHASIS.)
Note that I haven't read any of the other books by this author; perhaps I'd have liked this more if I'd read others in the series.
I thought the tone of the writing (childish, simple, breezy) didn't match the dark subject matter (rape, murder, serial killing, supernatural horror elements). It made the book almost sing-songy. There's also not much plot here and characterization was puzzling. (And this book uses one of my reading pet peeves: using CAPITAL letters for EMPHASIS.)
Note that I haven't read any of the other books by this author; perhaps I'd have liked this more if I'd read others in the series.
October 9, 2016
I am a huge Suzanne Palmieri fan and have read the other three witch books she has written. They can be read as stand alone, but I recommend reading them in the order they were written for the full effect.
This book had a different tone to it. It was very wounded and sorrowful. I highly recommend it; yet do not expect the same mood as the other three books.
I received a copy of this book from BookSparks as part of their Fall 2016 reading challenge. The opinions expressed are my own.
This book had a different tone to it. It was very wounded and sorrowful. I highly recommend it; yet do not expect the same mood as the other three books.
I received a copy of this book from BookSparks as part of their Fall 2016 reading challenge. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 19, 2016
This book was much heavier than her other books. There were times when I thought some of the plots were unnecessary, but now that I've finished I don't think that anymore. I liked the ending and I wish we could have gotten a little more of adult Byrd because I would very much like to read her love story.
I will say that this book is less about Byrd and more about the five generations that came before her.
I will say that this book is less about Byrd and more about the five generations that came before her.
January 29, 2019
I really enjoyed the way this book told so many people's stories and kept it easy to understand. It was a very tragic book, but I'm a dark kind of person and really liked it.
October 20, 2019
I wasn't a huge fan of this next progression of the story in this "series". I don't feel it's a true series because it doesn't follow a progression of the story in a linear way, but all of the characters in these books are connected, because they're family.
I liked exploring the lineage of the family, but the jumps between the time periods and each ghost's story are clunky and awkward.
I did enjoy that Byrd's character resurfaced because she was my favorite in the last book.
I'm not a huge fan of all the evil throughout the book. In actions, and spells, and things that aren't talked about, but finally revealed. It just makes everything too dark, and it feels like it's evil without a purpose, just evill for the sake of it. Which, while I know there is plenty of that in the world, it doesn't do much to move the story forward.
And while I like Maj's innocence, I never really cared for Elly and Anthony's story from The Witch of Little Italy, so I wasn't too thrilled to see her character show up again.
Another thing that really irked me was the lack of connection of the title to the story. The prior books all fit well, with there being strong ties of the title to the story, but this one just feels like it sits there without meaning. Yes, they focus is on the witch house, but there's really no mention of persimmon point in a tangible way, like there actually being persimmons in the area. With Little Italy, it tied in because they lived there, and cooked Italian food constantly. Belladonna Bay worked because of the location, and the actual use and exploration of belladonna itself. This story should have been named something about red geraniums, because they were mentioned and used so many times.
There's one more book in this set, which I'm going to read, for the sake of finishing it and seeing where all these characters show up. But I can' say that I'll be all too sad to be leaving their universe when I'm done with it.
Now that I'm actually looking at these books, it looks like this one was meant to be the last one. Whoops. Well, I'll read the other one so I can round out this set of books. Maybe I'll enjoy that one better because I already know how this one ends.
I liked exploring the lineage of the family, but the jumps between the time periods and each ghost's story are clunky and awkward.
I did enjoy that Byrd's character resurfaced because she was my favorite in the last book.
I'm not a huge fan of all the evil throughout the book. In actions, and spells, and things that aren't talked about, but finally revealed. It just makes everything too dark, and it feels like it's evil without a purpose, just evill for the sake of it. Which, while I know there is plenty of that in the world, it doesn't do much to move the story forward.
And while I like Maj's innocence, I never really cared for Elly and Anthony's story from The Witch of Little Italy, so I wasn't too thrilled to see her character show up again.
Another thing that really irked me was the lack of connection of the title to the story. The prior books all fit well, with there being strong ties of the title to the story, but this one just feels like it sits there without meaning. Yes, they focus is on the witch house, but there's really no mention of persimmon point in a tangible way, like there actually being persimmons in the area. With Little Italy, it tied in because they lived there, and cooked Italian food constantly. Belladonna Bay worked because of the location, and the actual use and exploration of belladonna itself. This story should have been named something about red geraniums, because they were mentioned and used so many times.
There's one more book in this set, which I'm going to read, for the sake of finishing it and seeing where all these characters show up. But I can' say that I'll be all too sad to be leaving their universe when I'm done with it.
Now that I'm actually looking at these books, it looks like this one was meant to be the last one. Whoops. Well, I'll read the other one so I can round out this set of books. Maybe I'll enjoy that one better because I already know how this one ends.
August 20, 2016
** I received an advanced uncorrected proof of this book by St Martin's Press in exchange for a honest review **
I have no idea how I never heard of this author before this book, but I definitely plan on reading more of her work after reading this book! Call me a little demented (my boyfriend says it's better than being average and boring), but I really loved this story. It's about more than just one main character which normally, though I don't dislike them at all, I have a hard time following a story with way more than just 2 different characters. I loved each and every woman that a place in this book. My favorite was Anne because I'm alot like her as far as I'm not very trustworthy and I've always had the attitude that I don't need a man, I can take care of myself. As I've mentioned before I do have a boyfriend who reminded me of William. I'm getting a little ahead of myself, so let me back up a little first.
This story starts out with Byrd which I've seen from descriptions of Suzanne's other books that Byrd isn't a new character, but she was for me. Next, is Eleanor and Maj (also aren't first time characters) who are moving to the infamous "Witch House" where their ancestors have lived before them and where they meet up with Byrd. When Eleanor and Maj get there they are desperate to crack the mystery of their ancestors before some TV host beats them to it and the whole nation watching live TV.
The book is separated into each ancestors story which did help me be able to follow along pretty easily. Byrd is telling each woman's story but you quickly can forget that since it's wrote as if you're reading a book alone on each different story. It starts with Nan, to Lucy, to Anne, and added in Anne's is her daughter Opal and granddaughter Stella (Stella would be Byrd's mother). Lucy's story was the shortest and I couldn't really get attached to her story as much, especially because of the way she treated Anne. I have a son that I'll admit I had no attachment to while pregnant, but like any normal person I love my son more than myself after he was born. The point is that none of these women are meant to be "normal" and are very independent which makes them hard not to admire despite their mistakes and actions. All of them went through horrible childhoods, some worse than others.
I don't want to spoil anything, but I think majority of women would like this book if they've ever went through a heartbreak or any hard time in their life. I must warn (the author has her own warning as well) this is no happily ever after type of book in any way. To finish my statement in the beginning about Anne and William.. (this is barely a spoiler but just in case I wanted to give a warning)
Anne meets a boy after something tragic happened in her young years and throughout the rest of her life she is in and out of contact with him. His name is William and he loves Anne alot (probably the only good thing that ever happened to Anne except her daughter and granddaughter), but she is reluctant to love and trust. It reminded me of my own relationship because although I met my boyfriend at 13yrs old, we didn't become more than distant pen pals until I was 21, almost 22 and after I just went through a lot of crap things in my life. I was on and off like Anne and William were and was hurt by him leaving me when I needed him most (though I wouldn't have admitted that back then like Anne wouldn't either) just like William left Anne after a series of horrible events one day. William came back later on as my boyfriend did (obviously if he's my boyfriend) and he accepts my son like William did Anne's daughter Opal even though they weren't their own kids. Anne never admits that she loves and needs William until the very end (literally right after he dies) and even though I tell my own boyfriend that I love and appreciate him every day, sometimes, especially in the past, I had a hard time trusting him and my own feelings. Even though we get hurt by those we love, it doesn't mean we don't love them people because we all are in fact human. I hope that helps prove that this book is relatable to anyone who's been through anything in their lives.
I have no idea how I never heard of this author before this book, but I definitely plan on reading more of her work after reading this book! Call me a little demented (my boyfriend says it's better than being average and boring), but I really loved this story. It's about more than just one main character which normally, though I don't dislike them at all, I have a hard time following a story with way more than just 2 different characters. I loved each and every woman that a place in this book. My favorite was Anne because I'm alot like her as far as I'm not very trustworthy and I've always had the attitude that I don't need a man, I can take care of myself. As I've mentioned before I do have a boyfriend who reminded me of William. I'm getting a little ahead of myself, so let me back up a little first.
This story starts out with Byrd which I've seen from descriptions of Suzanne's other books that Byrd isn't a new character, but she was for me. Next, is Eleanor and Maj (also aren't first time characters) who are moving to the infamous "Witch House" where their ancestors have lived before them and where they meet up with Byrd. When Eleanor and Maj get there they are desperate to crack the mystery of their ancestors before some TV host beats them to it and the whole nation watching live TV.
The book is separated into each ancestors story which did help me be able to follow along pretty easily. Byrd is telling each woman's story but you quickly can forget that since it's wrote as if you're reading a book alone on each different story. It starts with Nan, to Lucy, to Anne, and added in Anne's is her daughter Opal and granddaughter Stella (Stella would be Byrd's mother). Lucy's story was the shortest and I couldn't really get attached to her story as much, especially because of the way she treated Anne. I have a son that I'll admit I had no attachment to while pregnant, but like any normal person I love my son more than myself after he was born. The point is that none of these women are meant to be "normal" and are very independent which makes them hard not to admire despite their mistakes and actions. All of them went through horrible childhoods, some worse than others.
I don't want to spoil anything, but I think majority of women would like this book if they've ever went through a heartbreak or any hard time in their life. I must warn (the author has her own warning as well) this is no happily ever after type of book in any way. To finish my statement in the beginning about Anne and William.. (this is barely a spoiler but just in case I wanted to give a warning)
Anne meets a boy after something tragic happened in her young years and throughout the rest of her life she is in and out of contact with him. His name is William and he loves Anne alot (probably the only good thing that ever happened to Anne except her daughter and granddaughter), but she is reluctant to love and trust. It reminded me of my own relationship because although I met my boyfriend at 13yrs old, we didn't become more than distant pen pals until I was 21, almost 22 and after I just went through a lot of crap things in my life. I was on and off like Anne and William were and was hurt by him leaving me when I needed him most (though I wouldn't have admitted that back then like Anne wouldn't either) just like William left Anne after a series of horrible events one day. William came back later on as my boyfriend did (obviously if he's my boyfriend) and he accepts my son like William did Anne's daughter Opal even though they weren't their own kids. Anne never admits that she loves and needs William until the very end (literally right after he dies) and even though I tell my own boyfriend that I love and appreciate him every day, sometimes, especially in the past, I had a hard time trusting him and my own feelings. Even though we get hurt by those we love, it doesn't mean we don't love them people because we all are in fact human. I hope that helps prove that this book is relatable to anyone who's been through anything in their lives.
February 25, 2017
I was provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Witch House of Persimmon Point is a quick and compelling read. This book was unique and pleasant surprise. Suzanne Palmieri's prose was transported me through over 100 years of the Amore women's lives. Through their ups and downs and all of their struggles. I don't want to ruin the ending, but I will say, it was a surprise. A good sort of surprise.
The Witch House of Persimmon Point is a quick and compelling read. This book was unique and pleasant surprise. Suzanne Palmieri's prose was transported me through over 100 years of the Amore women's lives. Through their ups and downs and all of their struggles. I don't want to ruin the ending, but I will say, it was a surprise. A good sort of surprise.
September 7, 2016
Absolutely captivating story in the genre of Magical Realism; where the story is placed in a realistic universe yet edges into those mysterious happenings we all experience that can't be casually explained. What determines a haunted house? Isn't it more our perception than any real provable fact? Here the Witch House is called such mostly because of the women who have inhabited it. For the most part these women are singular in that their actions and temperament do not fit with the social norms of a small village. They are outsiders, hence witches. So for some visitors to the house it is a sinister and unwelcoming place, where others find it a home like any other.
This is a story of women in a family from the time the house was built to present day when it becomes occupied the new heirs to the family's fortunes. Not money, but those situations that developed that created the home and family's karma. An excellent read, tho a bit dark and spooky.
Recommended for those who like the authors: Alice Hoffman, Sarah Addison Allen, Neil Gaiman, Isabel Allende and other authors of Magical Realism.
This is a story of women in a family from the time the house was built to present day when it becomes occupied the new heirs to the family's fortunes. Not money, but those situations that developed that created the home and family's karma. An excellent read, tho a bit dark and spooky.
Recommended for those who like the authors: Alice Hoffman, Sarah Addison Allen, Neil Gaiman, Isabel Allende and other authors of Magical Realism.
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October 12, 2016I'm not going to rate this one because it's my own darn fault that I didn't like this story. I almost always read an excerpt before I buy a book and I didn't this time because I have really enjoyed everything else written by this author. She even included a recurring character from another book. I thought it was basically a guaranteed enjoyable read.
Had I read even a page of the excerpt I would have received the author's very kind warning about upsetting material in the book. Had I realized there would have been rapes in this story, I would have passed.
I still made it half way through the book but there was more yet to come and I couldn't do it.
If the author reads this review, or anyone else who loves her writing, it's nothing personal about her writing. She's a great writer. I was super excited to read another one of her books. I just didn't see her warning before I bought this book and that's my own fault.
Had I read even a page of the excerpt I would have received the author's very kind warning about upsetting material in the book. Had I realized there would have been rapes in this story, I would have passed.
I still made it half way through the book but there was more yet to come and I couldn't do it.
If the author reads this review, or anyone else who loves her writing, it's nothing personal about her writing. She's a great writer. I was super excited to read another one of her books. I just didn't see her warning before I bought this book and that's my own fault.
October 10, 2016
I have just discovered a new author, Suzanne Palmieri. This is the first book I have read from her. I can't compare books but this one is really different in a strange way. She writes about a dysfunctional family. They take you back in time and here is where the ghosts come in. Spouses die and stay to hang around. She has written in a lot of family members and if you stop reading for awhile you can be confused when you start reading again. I wasn't sure when I started but then her vortex pulled me down into the story. Set awhile to read as it is a fairly long book. I would hope you would try reading this story. It does get a lot better as you read on. Give this story a chance. You may need tissues along with putting it down and needing to walk away. Enjoy this book! I have this book for an honest review for NetGalley.
November 27, 2016
Family secrets are the heart of the story and they unfold in the most haunting way. Byrd Whalen returns to her family's ancestral home and discovers that her legacy is a dark and violent one. Multi generations of Amore women have left their mark on the "Witch House" and Byrd is determined to unearth their story before a local journalist airs a program exposing whether the house is haunted or if the rumors surrounding it are true. Bryn reads the journals of her Great-Grandmother crazy Anne Amore and discovers unbelievable horrors in Anne's past.
Reviewed at http://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogsp...
Reviewed at http://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogsp...
September 8, 2016
While this author was new to me, I definitely plan on seeking out more of her work. Told over the course of eventful weekend, and in narrative from various voices and time periods, this story is the unveiling of a family's dark and mysterious, violent and far-reaching history. Each character was more dark and sinister than the last, with depictions of love gone wrong, astray, and completely pathological. There was never a dull moment in this story line.
This book was received as a digital ARC through NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.
This book was received as a digital ARC through NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.
July 28, 2018
Another DNF, 39% read.
Although the author does state at the beginning of the book that it may not be to everyone’s taste and was written solely for her, I was still expecting something else.
For a book about witches, there is very little witchcraft or even spookiness. There is a lot of sadness, almost desperation from the characters but- and here is my biggest gripe- there were a lot of characters introduced only to be killed or dropped off. The deaths had very little emotion in most of the cases.
The book feels underwhelming and disappointing. I don’t wish to read anymore.
Although the author does state at the beginning of the book that it may not be to everyone’s taste and was written solely for her, I was still expecting something else.
For a book about witches, there is very little witchcraft or even spookiness. There is a lot of sadness, almost desperation from the characters but- and here is my biggest gripe- there were a lot of characters introduced only to be killed or dropped off. The deaths had very little emotion in most of the cases.
The book feels underwhelming and disappointing. I don’t wish to read anymore.
September 29, 2016
Well, this is definitely different from what I normally read. It is dark, disturbing and a book you cannot put down because you want to find out what happens next. It is the story of several generations of women and how they could never find everlasting happiness. The Witch House has cast a spell on all of them and refuses to let go.
March 13, 2019
This was an odd book. I have read several other books by the same author that I liked better. This one wasn’t bad it just felt a bit disjointed, less like a story and more like a therapeutic retelling. It was dark and light, but a lot of dark.
2019 reading challenge- a book with a place in the title
Alphabet reading challenge-V:Virginia
2019 reading challenge- a book with a place in the title
Alphabet reading challenge-V:Virginia
September 1, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It explored the very dark, haunted history of the Amore family of women. I loved the way it told each of their stories and showed the family lineage of mistakes and heartbreak.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2016
Thanks St. Martin's Press and netgalley for this ARC.
Love the look back at witches from the past and how their deeds affect the living witches. I've always loved a good witch story, so this series takes me away.
Love the look back at witches from the past and how their deeds affect the living witches. I've always loved a good witch story, so this series takes me away.
November 1, 2016
Suzy has done it again with her fourth novel following the Amore clan and their kin, this time in set beautifully on the coast of Virginia. THE WITCH HOUSE OF PERSIMMON POINT brings the family together to delve into the darker recesses of the past. A must-read for Palmieri fans!
May 7, 2018
Suzanne Palmieri, in my opinion, is a top tier writer, if you can think of "writer" as something separate from "story-teller." In other words, Palmieri writes the most gorgeous sentences and vivid descriptions. Her ability to craft a paragraph makes me swoon, and she really knows how to make the English language bend to her will.
I just wish she could write a story that someone else had outlined for her. Her books contain lots of delicious hints at mystery and the supernatural that are never explored and developed as fully as I would like. And for the million characters she throws into every book, you can really boil them all down to three archetypes: (1) The bold, wild-at-heart, utterly fucked up woman. (2) The purely evil man whose hobbies include rape and torture. (3) The good-hearted man who feels the urge to love and help a woman who treats him like trash.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. It's my fourth book I'be read by her, so I knew to expect chapters that were touching and beautiful, but a plot that didn't cohere quite as tightly as it ought to. If you know that going in, you can really appreciate her way with words.
To compare this book with Palmieri's other books: The Witch of Belladonna Bay is her best book. If you haven't read any of her books, I recommend starting with that one. Witch House of Persimmon Point is her second best. Then Witch of Little Italy and Witch of Bourbon Street are tied.
I just wish she could write a story that someone else had outlined for her. Her books contain lots of delicious hints at mystery and the supernatural that are never explored and developed as fully as I would like. And for the million characters she throws into every book, you can really boil them all down to three archetypes: (1) The bold, wild-at-heart, utterly fucked up woman. (2) The purely evil man whose hobbies include rape and torture. (3) The good-hearted man who feels the urge to love and help a woman who treats him like trash.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. It's my fourth book I'be read by her, so I knew to expect chapters that were touching and beautiful, but a plot that didn't cohere quite as tightly as it ought to. If you know that going in, you can really appreciate her way with words.
To compare this book with Palmieri's other books: The Witch of Belladonna Bay is her best book. If you haven't read any of her books, I recommend starting with that one. Witch House of Persimmon Point is her second best. Then Witch of Little Italy and Witch of Bourbon Street are tied.
November 17, 2016
After reading the other reviews it seems you either loved The Witch House of Persimmon Point or you hated it. I loved it. It's the saga of several generations of strong woman, their history and their legacy. The book is broken up into smaller stories, each telling of the former occupants of the house. All the characters are flawed because of their personality, by what happened to them, by the house itself or any combination of the three. Yes, the book is dark, haunting and tragic but you are drawn into it because it is also captivating and enthralling. Once you get started you will not want to stop. It holds your attention and does not let go.
I had no trouble keeping track of all the characters but the book does need a good editing. There are plenty of typos and misspellings.
I had no trouble keeping track of all the characters but the book does need a good editing. There are plenty of typos and misspellings.
April 25, 2022
Easily my second favorite Palmieri book! My first being The Witch of Belladonna Bay. In the first book I fell in a deep sad love with the Whalen family. Byrd pulled at my heart and mustered up some deep feelings reserved from my childhood. In The Witch House of Persimmon Point, I was so excited to see Byrd again and catch up on her story. This book is deeper and darker than most of Palmieri's books and I LOVE seeing this side of her writing. She does it well. Palmieri has been my "comfort" author for years and I'm so dang excited to add this one to my bookshelf. I'm already ready to devour whatever she creates next.
February 7, 2017
Ok, sort of strange. Many past misdeeds are exposed and magic is involved. There wasn't a good resolution...at least it seemed to me to be a cliff hanger. Will there be another following the next generation of witches at the point?
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