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Illumination Night
Beginning on the night of the Grand Illumination, a festival of lanterns held each summer on Martha’s Vineyard, this novel is a modern chronicle of a marriage and a bittersweet exploration of an extraordinary passion. Illumination Night follows the lives of a young blond giant who is as beautiful as he is frightening; an old woman at the end of her life whose last mission is to save her granddaughter’s soul; a family torn apart by a wife’s fears and a husband’s unrealized desires—and the high school girl who comes to Martha’s Vineyard against her will, who steals husbands and cars, and who will bring everyone together in a web of yearning, sin, and ultimate redemption. Both riveting and reflective, this is a story of “parenthood and friendship, self-protection and generosity, dream and disillusionment” ( Newsday ) that brings to light the talent that has made Alice Hoffman an acclaimed bestselling author.
259 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 1987
1781 people are currently reading
5512 people want to read
About the author
Alice Hoffman
117 books25.1k followersAlice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The World That We Knew; The Marriage of Opposites; The Red Garden; The Museum of Extraordinary Things; The Dovekeepers; Here on Earth, an Oprah’s Book Club selection; and the Practical Magic series, including Practical
Magic; Magic Lessons; The Rules of Magic, a selection of Reese’s Book Club; and The Book of Magic. She lives near Boston.
Magic; Magic Lessons; The Rules of Magic, a selection of Reese’s Book Club; and The Book of Magic. She lives near Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 648 reviews
January 16, 2020
Vonny and Andre live in Martha's vineyard with their son Simon and live next door to an old women whose granddaughter ends up moving in. The story just follows them around for two years. There was really no story line or plot here and the characters felt one dimensional. I enjoyed the writing and I loved the giant but everyone else was pretty hard to sympathize with except maybe the old lady. I understand showing a characters weaknesses but you still have to humanize them for the reader, everyone has their strengths as well. Nothing even happens in the story really and the ending felt lke it came out of no where and was pointless. Not sure what Hoffman was trying to do here.
August 3, 2015
Alice Hoffman’s books are not the kind you read and soon forget. Instead, they haunt you for years after you finish them, reminding you to search for light in darkness. They don’t impose their presence, though. They seem to come to us as a memory exactly when we need them to, almost as if they were summoned. They are indeed enchanting, their simplicity absolutely astounding.
Illumination Night reminded me of The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier, the very first book I read in English. I feel like I should revisit it soon for it has been quite a while since I last read it. It was while going through the process of accepting that people must die, with Simon, that I found myself thinking back on Brockmeier’s novel.
Death is, in my point of view, the main theme of Illumination Night. When I say death I don’t mean just the physical one, but also the feeling of death that comes with every breath we take. The constant mutation, the endless goodbyes whispered to the pieces of ourselves that seem to be taken from us by the ones who pass by. I think it’s about accepting that these goodbyes are not as permanent as they sound, as they feel, but mostly see-you-later’s. And rather literal ones, for all these people, all these pieces, they will reside within ourselves forever, even if we can’t quite see them.
There’s absolutely no doubt that Alice Hoffman creates wonderful contexts, brilliant backgrounds, but what I love the most about her books are her characters. They are never secondary, even if they only show up for a chapter. Her words are delicate, even when drawing the portrait of a human being that has taken more than enough wrong turns. She is kind to every soul, no matter what they have done. She gives them a chance, she listens to them… it’s so beautiful. It’s impossible not to be awed by her benevolence, by her humanity.
Her books always convey quite a strong and heavy message, and yet it doesn’t feel like that at all. It’s like she introduces these matters, layer by layer, so you can slowly blend with them. When you reach the end, you feel like you have been a witness to something huge, an event so immense you don’t have enough words or stars in the universe to describe it.
I have said this before, but I believe Alice Hoffman’s novels to be a lesson on how to be human. The only thing you have to do is be willing to listen. Once you are comfortable and about ready, she will start whispering these bittersweet little nothings that suddenly become your everything. It’s quite a breathtaking experience.
Illumination Night reminded me of The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier, the very first book I read in English. I feel like I should revisit it soon for it has been quite a while since I last read it. It was while going through the process of accepting that people must die, with Simon, that I found myself thinking back on Brockmeier’s novel.
Death is, in my point of view, the main theme of Illumination Night. When I say death I don’t mean just the physical one, but also the feeling of death that comes with every breath we take. The constant mutation, the endless goodbyes whispered to the pieces of ourselves that seem to be taken from us by the ones who pass by. I think it’s about accepting that these goodbyes are not as permanent as they sound, as they feel, but mostly see-you-later’s. And rather literal ones, for all these people, all these pieces, they will reside within ourselves forever, even if we can’t quite see them.
There’s absolutely no doubt that Alice Hoffman creates wonderful contexts, brilliant backgrounds, but what I love the most about her books are her characters. They are never secondary, even if they only show up for a chapter. Her words are delicate, even when drawing the portrait of a human being that has taken more than enough wrong turns. She is kind to every soul, no matter what they have done. She gives them a chance, she listens to them… it’s so beautiful. It’s impossible not to be awed by her benevolence, by her humanity.
Her books always convey quite a strong and heavy message, and yet it doesn’t feel like that at all. It’s like she introduces these matters, layer by layer, so you can slowly blend with them. When you reach the end, you feel like you have been a witness to something huge, an event so immense you don’t have enough words or stars in the universe to describe it.
I have said this before, but I believe Alice Hoffman’s novels to be a lesson on how to be human. The only thing you have to do is be willing to listen. Once you are comfortable and about ready, she will start whispering these bittersweet little nothings that suddenly become your everything. It’s quite a breathtaking experience.
September 26, 2019
ILLUMINATION NIGHT is so beautifully written it almost feels like a fairy tale. I don't remember a book by Alice Hoffman which I did not love. I highly recommend giving this wonderful book a try!
February 9, 2010
For a book called Illumination Night , there sure is a shadow over this story. The majority of the time, the characters are all in significant inner turmoil. They have their brief glimpses of joy, but then the perspective shifts back to another character in angst. I also find the dolefulness of the characters overly-contrived for the sake of soap-opera-esque melodrama. It evoked for me the mental eye rolling previously reserved for the Twilight series. The book plays out somewhat like a fairytale for adults in its telling, though without the magic. Also, it doesn't seem like a cohesive story so much as a snapshot of a year or so of the characters' lives and personalities.
The majority of my time spent listening to audio books is while I'm exercising. During this one, I found myself checking how much time I had left in the workouts much more frequently than usual, and counting down the tracks until the book itself was over. When it finally did end, far too much was left unresolved or unanswered.
The majority of my time spent listening to audio books is while I'm exercising. During this one, I found myself checking how much time I had left in the workouts much more frequently than usual, and counting down the tracks until the book itself was over. When it finally did end, far too much was left unresolved or unanswered.
March 27, 2009
one of my favorite alice hoffman books, aside from "the river king". her old stuff is soooooooo much better than the new.
so. much. better.
anyhow, it takes place on the vineyard, which was excellent, becuase i could picture everything in my brain. also, her imagery and prose is aMAZing; it's like one really long poem, rahter than a novel. the characers are facinating too--they are flawed, but you love them, and you hurt for them, and you wish they were actual people that lived next door. and then you cry when everyone is redeemed, but not in a squishy-free love sort of way. in a real way.
p.s. sometimes i get way too into books.
anyhow, it has hoffman's signature mystical aura, but unlike her later works, it kind of takes a back seat to the character development. i loved it, and will read it again.
fin.
so. much. better.
anyhow, it takes place on the vineyard, which was excellent, becuase i could picture everything in my brain. also, her imagery and prose is aMAZing; it's like one really long poem, rahter than a novel. the characers are facinating too--they are flawed, but you love them, and you hurt for them, and you wish they were actual people that lived next door. and then you cry when everyone is redeemed, but not in a squishy-free love sort of way. in a real way.
p.s. sometimes i get way too into books.
anyhow, it has hoffman's signature mystical aura, but unlike her later works, it kind of takes a back seat to the character development. i loved it, and will read it again.
fin.
April 21, 2012
I picked up this book on a summer vacation in Martha's Vineyard and was both charmed and entertained by it. The tradition of Illumination Night and the summer gatherings of Methodist families on the island make a kind of magical, firefly-lit ambiance for this tale of people, young and old, whose lives intersect in unexpected ways.
The most fascinating character for me was the agoraphobic young wife, trapped in her house by fears she can barely articulate. Hoffman's treatment of this characters is so realistic and convincing that after reading the novel I felt for the first time that I not only understood this condition; I had lived it.
While the gentle-giant young man is a bit of a surprise for someone reading Hoffman for the first time, she also makes this character perfectly plausible and sympathetic. You can accept the young girl's falling in love with him because we come to care about him ourselves, while realizing that she has the power to break his heart.
As a writer, Hoffman leaves you with the impression that she feels deeply for her characters, regardless of their weaknesses and shortcomings. And putting down this novel, you can feel in yourself a tender-heartedness for others that most books either don't try to evoke, or try and fail.
The most fascinating character for me was the agoraphobic young wife, trapped in her house by fears she can barely articulate. Hoffman's treatment of this characters is so realistic and convincing that after reading the novel I felt for the first time that I not only understood this condition; I had lived it.
While the gentle-giant young man is a bit of a surprise for someone reading Hoffman for the first time, she also makes this character perfectly plausible and sympathetic. You can accept the young girl's falling in love with him because we come to care about him ourselves, while realizing that she has the power to break his heart.
As a writer, Hoffman leaves you with the impression that she feels deeply for her characters, regardless of their weaknesses and shortcomings. And putting down this novel, you can feel in yourself a tender-heartedness for others that most books either don't try to evoke, or try and fail.
August 3, 2010
Nothing magical in this book by magical realism author, Alice Hoffman. Basically a two year chronicle of people living on Martha's Vineyard, "Illumination Nights" is a lesson in tedium.
First we have Vonny who is treated horribly by her father (a stereotypical New York millionaire) but never deals or reacts to it except to develop a crushing case of agarophobia. Vonny is married to Andre, a man who doesn't communicate. They have a son, Simon, who goes from 4-6 with all of the baggage of a toddler and little of the charm.
The next door neighbor is sinking into blindness and dementia. Her grandaughter, a 16 year old tramp moves in with her and does little besides trying to seduce Andre and flunking her high school classes. Later she abandons Andre and takes up with a local giant, the only likable, and believable character in the book.
Then a 6 year old girl is hit by a car and killed.
Ugh! Was Hoffman battling depression when she wrote this mess? It's too bad she couldn't have kept it to herself instead of inflicting it onto her readers.
Overall this book was a big disappointment.
First we have Vonny who is treated horribly by her father (a stereotypical New York millionaire) but never deals or reacts to it except to develop a crushing case of agarophobia. Vonny is married to Andre, a man who doesn't communicate. They have a son, Simon, who goes from 4-6 with all of the baggage of a toddler and little of the charm.
The next door neighbor is sinking into blindness and dementia. Her grandaughter, a 16 year old tramp moves in with her and does little besides trying to seduce Andre and flunking her high school classes. Later she abandons Andre and takes up with a local giant, the only likable, and believable character in the book.
Then a 6 year old girl is hit by a car and killed.
Ugh! Was Hoffman battling depression when she wrote this mess? It's too bad she couldn't have kept it to herself instead of inflicting it onto her readers.
Overall this book was a big disappointment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2017
The lives of the ordinary year round resident's of Martha's Vineyard are the focus of this story. An elderly woman struggling to cope with the true twilight of her life. A rebellious teenage girl unwillingly designated to be her grandmother's helper. And a young couple and their young son, all with their own inner struggles.Their lives are entangled in the most ordinary yet extraordinary ways.
Alice Hoffman is known for the magical element in her stories. This one had it as well, although it didn't figure as prominently. And while initially I struggled to engage, the prose so beautifully done kept me reading until the characters took hold of me.
Alice Hoffman is known for the magical element in her stories. This one had it as well, although it didn't figure as prominently. And while initially I struggled to engage, the prose so beautifully done kept me reading until the characters took hold of me.
Read
May 31, 2015This was so freaking good. The integration of the mundanity of human life along with the magic of human life was so wonderfully done. The entire story felt real, but Hoffman also managed to maintain the mystical quality of existence.
So, yes, Bert. You were right. I did really enjoy this book.
So, yes, Bert. You were right. I did really enjoy this book.
December 30, 2013
Couldn't put it down. Not once. Read it in a couple of hours straight. Hypnotic. Beautiful. Hoffman is a magnificent storyteller.
November 4, 2012
The first time I read this book I was in my early twenties and never married. At that time, I remember rooting for Jody. I recently re-read Illumination Night and now I find myself looking at the characters in a different way since I am in my early thirties and married. This time I rooted for Vonny instead. My favorite characters in the story are Eddie and Elizabeth Renny.
I love the way so many different phases of life are represented in one story.
Another cool aspect of the book is the town; when I re-read the book it appeared the very same in my mind's eye as it had been the first time I read it. It's like the town had been saved in my memory all along.
Alice Hoffman is a brilliant writer!
I love the way so many different phases of life are represented in one story.
Another cool aspect of the book is the town; when I re-read the book it appeared the very same in my mind's eye as it had been the first time I read it. It's like the town had been saved in my memory all along.
Alice Hoffman is a brilliant writer!
October 8, 2008
Not one of Hoffman's best works. I'm usually a huge fan. The lackluster plot and characters left me feeling blah. The only highlight to me was the references to spots on Martha's Vineyard, which I've been to a few times.
August 11, 2013
I love Alice Hoffman and it pains me to say that I didn't like this book. I wish there was "It was ok" star. The writing itself is beautiful; she writes like no other. I did not believe her characters. I couldn't figure out who they were or really, why I should care about them. I love you, Alice - just not this book.
April 27, 2022
Vonny and Andrew live in Martha’s Vineyard with their five-year-old slow-growing son, Simon. Their next-door neighbor, Elizabeth Renny, falls from a window and must get assistance, which arrives in the form of her rebellious teenage granddaughter, Jody. Eddie, called “the Giant,” lives alone with his chickens, avoiding social contact due to his extreme height. This is the story of people living in this small community. Each of the main characters is dealing with an issue.
I liked parts of this book quite a bit, especially the first half. The description of “illumination night,” an annual event, is beautiful. I enjoyed the relationship between Jody and her grandmother, a much-needed relief from her overbearing parents. The last half of the book is extremely sad. The characters start with problems and end with problems, though perhaps different ones. There is little humor or joy to be found. Surely someone in this town is happy? The storylines are well developed until they just….end. Maybe I missed something, but it seems it seems unfinished to me.
I liked parts of this book quite a bit, especially the first half. The description of “illumination night,” an annual event, is beautiful. I enjoyed the relationship between Jody and her grandmother, a much-needed relief from her overbearing parents. The last half of the book is extremely sad. The characters start with problems and end with problems, though perhaps different ones. There is little humor or joy to be found. Surely someone in this town is happy? The storylines are well developed until they just….end. Maybe I missed something, but it seems it seems unfinished to me.
November 12, 2019
Kävin maailmassa, joka oli olemassa vain näillä sivuilla. Niin kuin kaninkolossa tai Narniassa, paitsi ettei Lyhtyjen yö ollut satua vaan surullisten tarinoiden taikapallo.
Lyhtyjen yö tapahtuu Martha's Vineyardilla ja se on olennaista. Lyhtyjen yön Vineyard ei ole mikään itärannikon kesä-Hanko vaan elämää vähän etäämmältä katsovien turvasatama. Oman elämän protesti. Tai siksi aiottu, mutta toisin kävi.
Luin Lyhtyjen yön, koska pidin Aavikon kyyhkysistä niin paljon. Pidin Lyhtyjen yöstä vielä enemmän.
Lyhtyjen yö sisälsi paljon tuttuja hienon fiktion rakennusaineita. Vaihtuvat ja katoavat kertojat, heidän erilliset maailmansa yhteisen maailman sisällä, vahvojen heikkeneminen ja heikkojen vahvistuminen. Koska Lyhtyjen yö on maagista realismia romanttisella tvistillä, tarina huijasi minut odottamaan sovinnollista loppua.
Nyt kun olen lopettanut kirjan, tuntuu kuin olisin kokenut haikean kotiinpaluun tunteelliselta matkalta. Ja pääsisin haikeudesta eroon vain suunnittelemalla seuraavaa. Ja niin varmasti teenkin seurassasi Alice Hoffman!
Lyhtyjen yö tapahtuu Martha's Vineyardilla ja se on olennaista. Lyhtyjen yön Vineyard ei ole mikään itärannikon kesä-Hanko vaan elämää vähän etäämmältä katsovien turvasatama. Oman elämän protesti. Tai siksi aiottu, mutta toisin kävi.
Luin Lyhtyjen yön, koska pidin Aavikon kyyhkysistä niin paljon. Pidin Lyhtyjen yöstä vielä enemmän.
Lyhtyjen yö sisälsi paljon tuttuja hienon fiktion rakennusaineita. Vaihtuvat ja katoavat kertojat, heidän erilliset maailmansa yhteisen maailman sisällä, vahvojen heikkeneminen ja heikkojen vahvistuminen. Koska Lyhtyjen yö on maagista realismia romanttisella tvistillä, tarina huijasi minut odottamaan sovinnollista loppua.
Nyt kun olen lopettanut kirjan, tuntuu kuin olisin kokenut haikean kotiinpaluun tunteelliselta matkalta. Ja pääsisin haikeudesta eroon vain suunnittelemalla seuraavaa. Ja niin varmasti teenkin seurassasi Alice Hoffman!
May 17, 2015
Ugh. Oh my. UGH!
After this depressive drivel, how on Earth did Hoffman ever get published again?
After this depressive drivel, how on Earth did Hoffman ever get published again?
December 15, 2016
Another good read. Though it was left open ended.
October 10, 2014
For a reason unbeknownst to me, I really wanted to like this book. It may have just been that I love the word "illumination," but ironically enough, I also just read Everything is Illuminated and was similarly unimpressed. Maybe I should avoid forming expectations for a book based on the title, because I was disappointed (probably unreasonably) in Illumination Night.
The novel takes place in Martha's Vineyard and centers around a small group of neighbors. Vonny and Andre live next to elderly Elizabeth Renny, whose granddaughter Jody arrives to be her caretaker and stir things up with her mischievous adolescent disposition. While I enjoyed the writing itself, the story felt very piecemeal, and I could never quite figure out why a certain event was relevant. There was also an unexpected magical realist aspect thrown in there about halfway through. Hoffman demonstrates that she knows how to tell a story about love, marriage, and acceptance, but it seems that she does so in three separate stories, not one novel.
For starters, the back cover is pretty misleading. The summary places undue emphasis on Jody's role in the novel; yes, she does have an affair with Vonny's husband Andre, but it is extremely brief and, incredibly, doesn't even seem to affect how the rest of the story unfolds. When she subsequently hooks up with the Giant, her story kind of faded into the background while Vonny stole the spotlight with her panic attacks. The only time all of these characters really "come together" is when Vonny and Andre's son, Simon, is involved in an accident along with his friend and the Giant, and though Jody is technically there, she doesn't do anything, so how does she "bring them all together"? I honestly found the book completely disjoint. None of the events seemed to connect to me; one story line's plot would develop and suddenly veer off in a totally different direction. In the end, I found myself asking what this book was even about.
Another point of confusion was the character of the Giant. He is introduced by way of a rumor-legend-fable type of story, and it's unclear whether he's truly a mythical being or just an exceptionally tall man. After reading the first half of the novel, I didn't think that magical realism really had a place in the story. The Giant's appearance came very abruptly, and really only seemed to distract Jody from Andre. So why did he have to be a Giant? Was he meant to contrast with Simon's concerning lack of height and, in that case, contribute to the theme of accepting our loved ones? I couldn't discern what place he had in the story, and his fairy-tale like air just confused me.
All in all, I thought Illumination Night kind of just fell apart for me. It started out promisingly, what with the night actually called "Illumination Night" (which, by the way, is barely mentioned after the first chapter) and the sexual tension between Andre and Jody, but then everything panned out in ten different directions, veering sharply away from the story I had come to expect. I'm not arguing for predictability, but a logical progression of events would have been appreciated. I could barely see what each new development meant for the story, and because of this, I couldn't enjoy the novel as much as I'd hoped.
The novel takes place in Martha's Vineyard and centers around a small group of neighbors. Vonny and Andre live next to elderly Elizabeth Renny, whose granddaughter Jody arrives to be her caretaker and stir things up with her mischievous adolescent disposition. While I enjoyed the writing itself, the story felt very piecemeal, and I could never quite figure out why a certain event was relevant. There was also an unexpected magical realist aspect thrown in there about halfway through. Hoffman demonstrates that she knows how to tell a story about love, marriage, and acceptance, but it seems that she does so in three separate stories, not one novel.
For starters, the back cover is pretty misleading. The summary places undue emphasis on Jody's role in the novel; yes, she does have an affair with Vonny's husband Andre, but it is extremely brief and, incredibly, doesn't even seem to affect how the rest of the story unfolds. When she subsequently hooks up with the Giant, her story kind of faded into the background while Vonny stole the spotlight with her panic attacks. The only time all of these characters really "come together" is when Vonny and Andre's son, Simon, is involved in an accident along with his friend and the Giant, and though Jody is technically there, she doesn't do anything, so how does she "bring them all together"? I honestly found the book completely disjoint. None of the events seemed to connect to me; one story line's plot would develop and suddenly veer off in a totally different direction. In the end, I found myself asking what this book was even about.
Another point of confusion was the character of the Giant. He is introduced by way of a rumor-legend-fable type of story, and it's unclear whether he's truly a mythical being or just an exceptionally tall man. After reading the first half of the novel, I didn't think that magical realism really had a place in the story. The Giant's appearance came very abruptly, and really only seemed to distract Jody from Andre. So why did he have to be a Giant? Was he meant to contrast with Simon's concerning lack of height and, in that case, contribute to the theme of accepting our loved ones? I couldn't discern what place he had in the story, and his fairy-tale like air just confused me.
All in all, I thought Illumination Night kind of just fell apart for me. It started out promisingly, what with the night actually called "Illumination Night" (which, by the way, is barely mentioned after the first chapter) and the sexual tension between Andre and Jody, but then everything panned out in ten different directions, veering sharply away from the story I had come to expect. I'm not arguing for predictability, but a logical progression of events would have been appreciated. I could barely see what each new development meant for the story, and because of this, I couldn't enjoy the novel as much as I'd hoped.
March 23, 2019
An early work by one of the great American women authors. Her style was just developing in this story about love, pain, family, growing up, growing, growing old, being little, being big.
As a Hoffman book I would only rate it at three stars. There are glimpses of the amazing talent she has for spinning ordinary words into something you would swear could nourish you like food. But it isn't there yet.
However, taken by itself I rate it at four stars. I recommend "Practical Magic" first of you are just getting into Alice Hoffman, so you can see her at her best. Then go back to her earlier ones.
As a Hoffman book I would only rate it at three stars. There are glimpses of the amazing talent she has for spinning ordinary words into something you would swear could nourish you like food. But it isn't there yet.
However, taken by itself I rate it at four stars. I recommend "Practical Magic" first of you are just getting into Alice Hoffman, so you can see her at her best. Then go back to her earlier ones.
July 9, 2021
4 Stars
October 22, 2020
I have not read many of this author's work but I do find her stories interesting. This one is set on Long Island, New York and involves a small family who are affected by the young woman who moves in next door and becomes obsessed by the husband. The wife becomes aware of the relationship and subsequently becomes agoraphobic, a condition which is well described here.
December 2, 2020
I loved this book. The giant Eddie and gray eyed Jody, Vonny and Andre, Simon and Samantha, and Elizabeth Tenney will stay in my mind for a long time. Having the giant paint miniatures was genius. Having diminutive Simon love basketball was genius. Having Jody become a strong caring women despite starting as a delinquent was wonderful. Having Simon fall in love was tragic and tore me up when Samantha died. Having Vonny create great pottery links her as a mother to Eddie's mythical status as a father with his artistry. Mrs. Tenney starts the book trying to fly by jumping out a window and ends many years later by flying away in death. Eddie recovering at last is a really nice way for the story to end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2019
Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite authors. Illumination Night is one of her less known books,but it does not disappoint the reader.
The story takes place on Martha Vineyard with a young couple that chose to live there permanently. The young couple lived happily with their young son, Simon, till the next door neighbor's granddaughter came to live with her. Jody was there to help take care of her grandmother,but she was also there because her mother was afraid she was heading for trouble.
The book takes a look into a young marriage trying to make it work, a young girl growing up, a young boy learning about death and a giant that comes to play a part in all their lives.
The story takes place on Martha Vineyard with a young couple that chose to live there permanently. The young couple lived happily with their young son, Simon, till the next door neighbor's granddaughter came to live with her. Jody was there to help take care of her grandmother,but she was also there because her mother was afraid she was heading for trouble.
The book takes a look into a young marriage trying to make it work, a young girl growing up, a young boy learning about death and a giant that comes to play a part in all their lives.
November 8, 2017
This book was much different than most of Hoffman's, with little of her trademark magical realism. I still enjoyed the story. The characters in Hoffman's books are always flawed. The love they so desperately want always comes at a cost. There's a darkness, a sadness, a weight. I especially loved the Giant, and Elizabeth Renney. While I have to admit there was a bit of a soap opera-ish element with Jody and the neighbors, the writing was just so beautiful and hit every heart string just where it was meant to.
July 28, 2020
I usually love Alice Hoffman and, while I enjoyed this one, I have to say it was a bit more of a chore to get through than other books I've read by her. Of course, the characterization is strong and her insights into human nature are universal, profound, and touching. Yet the book never really came together for me. I was bored a lot of the time and was relieved when I read the last page. Undoubtedly, I'll read more of her work, maybe this one just didn't come along at the right time for me.
August 15, 2010
I love authors who are able to capture and explore the flaws of humans. Great writing and interesting character development. A very sad book in many ways, but truthful and hopeful.
August 30, 2016
Loved this Hoffman!
November 1, 2017
i loved this one, one of my faves this Fall
October 26, 2016
Much about this book is unusual. Alice Hoffman is great with magical realism elements, and making each of her many books stand apart with them- in this one's case, there is someone afflicted with agoraphobia, a giant, a boy who seems incapable of growing, and a teenage girl who seems hellbound on making messes of things wherever she goes. Jody, the teen, is taking care of her grandmother, Elizabeth Rennie after she had an accident. Elizabeth's neighbors, Andre and Vonnie have a son, Simon who doesn't seem to grow any bigger, causing them to have friction in their marriage. As per usual, more characters are drawn into the plot as the story progresses, but none of them truly stuck out to me as particularly likable, except perhaps Simon.
Nonetheless, this was a hard book for me to put down. Something about it calls you back to it even after you read through some difficult scenes and kind of want to put it down. It's an addictive sort of ambivalence, but I wasn't surprised I finished it given my love of Alice Hoffman's works. Others might find themselves a bit out of their depth with the sudden turns of events, regardless of the gratuitous foreshadowing that is the author's characterizations.
Although I didn't particularly like Vonnie, I could relate to her. She faces many difficult things throughout the course of the book, but remains true to herself. Andre, her husband had me gagging for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes people who have everything get so out of touch that they're willing to ruin everything they have for just a little more. As for Simon, other than the giant (who comes in later in the book), he was my most liked character... and he acted his age.
Jody is pissed that her parents would leave her with her grandmother, who she doesn't really know all that well. She reacts in teenage fashion and rebels in ways that had me alternately rolling my eyes and gritting my teeth. Of course, as a teen, she is bound to be somewhat impulsive, but some of the turns of events in this book left me feeling sad more than anything else.
A favorite snippet:
~Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman, page 28 of my edition.
Illumination Night is an emotional, and sometimes temperamental magical realism novel that makes you wish you could play God a bit with the characters to tweak the eventual outcome. I think it'd be hard not to feel the ups and downs of the characters, and this I admit as someone who was not all that fond of them. For that reason, I don't feel like it's the best book for those unfamiliar with Hoffman's writing and plotting, but it does have enough of what I love about her writing to make me rate it 4 Stars. If you are suffering from a spell of book apathy, for better or for worse, this might be your cure.
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a magical realism fiction that stays with you emotionally.
As posted on my book blog, Victorian Soul Critiques .
Nonetheless, this was a hard book for me to put down. Something about it calls you back to it even after you read through some difficult scenes and kind of want to put it down. It's an addictive sort of ambivalence, but I wasn't surprised I finished it given my love of Alice Hoffman's works. Others might find themselves a bit out of their depth with the sudden turns of events, regardless of the gratuitous foreshadowing that is the author's characterizations.
Although I didn't particularly like Vonnie, I could relate to her. She faces many difficult things throughout the course of the book, but remains true to herself. Andre, her husband had me gagging for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes people who have everything get so out of touch that they're willing to ruin everything they have for just a little more. As for Simon, other than the giant (who comes in later in the book), he was my most liked character... and he acted his age.
Jody is pissed that her parents would leave her with her grandmother, who she doesn't really know all that well. She reacts in teenage fashion and rebels in ways that had me alternately rolling my eyes and gritting my teeth. Of course, as a teen, she is bound to be somewhat impulsive, but some of the turns of events in this book left me feeling sad more than anything else.
A favorite snippet:
Andre lets go of Jody, and as she follows him across the street, Jody knows that on the ride home she will sit in the back of the truck, and by then the stars will be as white and sharp as dragon's teeth.
~Illumination Night by Alice Hoffman, page 28 of my edition.
Illumination Night is an emotional, and sometimes temperamental magical realism novel that makes you wish you could play God a bit with the characters to tweak the eventual outcome. I think it'd be hard not to feel the ups and downs of the characters, and this I admit as someone who was not all that fond of them. For that reason, I don't feel like it's the best book for those unfamiliar with Hoffman's writing and plotting, but it does have enough of what I love about her writing to make me rate it 4 Stars. If you are suffering from a spell of book apathy, for better or for worse, this might be your cure.
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a magical realism fiction that stays with you emotionally.
As posted on my book blog, Victorian Soul Critiques .
July 25, 2013
The title of this book could as easily be Into The Woods, for within its pages can be found an old crone, who wonders if the neighborhood children think she's a witch; a terrifying (if warm and fuzzy and chicken- loving) giant; a wicked step-mother; a wolf, who may be more attacked by Little Red than vice versa; a precocious and gnomish little fellow... No wonder the main character,through whose perspective we meet this motley bunch, has wicked panic attacks!
The novel offers a timeless fairy tale aura perhaps, but nevertheless is set in present day Martha's Vineyard and peopled with characters we care about and root for to make it safely out of the darkest danger and into the light of saving love.
The novel offers a timeless fairy tale aura perhaps, but nevertheless is set in present day Martha's Vineyard and peopled with characters we care about and root for to make it safely out of the darkest danger and into the light of saving love.
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