Alice hoffman is probably best known for marrying the magical with the. Continuing with a theme of reading historical fiction the book group read the dovekeepers by alice hoffman. Alice hoffman may be the most uneven writer in america. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman book club discussion questions and research. The dovekeepers audiobook by alice hoffman, heather lind. The novel, which centers on a group of women whose lives intersect at the siege of masada in 70 c. As an audiobook it was great would you be willing to try another book from alice hoffman and heather lind. The novel dramatizes the siege of masada 7374 ce by troops of the roman empire towards the end of the first jewishroman war 6673 ce television film. This is a feminist tale, a story of strong, intelligent women wedded to destiny by love and sacrifice.
Many of her works fall into the genre of magic realism and contain elements of magic, irony, and nonstandard romances and relationships. A trip through her enormous body of work for adults and young people is a. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are aziza, yael. If you have read other alice hoffman novels that include mystical elementssuch as practical magic or fortunes daughterhow do they compare to the dovekeepers and its use of magic. Ive never read alice hoffman before and with close to 600 pages, i feared i may not make it to the end. Buy a cheap copy of the dovekeepers book by alice hoffman.
Praise for the dovekeepers hoffman is a writer of great perception and she captures with precision the complexity of the relationships between the women, their fear and guilt, their courage, their hunger for consolation and companionship guardian fascinating. It was our largest book to date at 500 pages but almost every member managed to finish it in time for our meeting. She will be at the howard county library east columbia branch on thursday at 7 p. Free download or read online the dovekeepers pdf epub book. The dovekeepers ebook by alice hoffman 9781451617498.
Alice hoffmans the dovekeepers is a splendid entertainment, a harrowing, thrilling, feminist historical novel fueled to fever pitch by a rich imagination. Miniseries based on alice hoffmans the dovekeepers airs next week. According to the ancient historian josephus, two women and five children survived. Alice hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including the world that we knew, practical magic, the rules of magic, the oprahs book club selection here on earth,the red garden, the dovekeepers,the museum of extraordinary things, the marriage of opposites, and faithful. The dovekeepers is a 2011 historical novel by american writer alice hoffman. Some might say that all that alice hoffman wrote prior to the dovekeepers was just a buildup to a masterful crescendo, and that this is her greatest masterpiece. Almost too dense to bear, hoffmans 23rd novel is brimming with doom, based on the story of the mass suicide of jewish zealots at masada as. I would be unlikely to buy another book by these authors. The dovekeepers lives are punctuated by prayers, curses and omens. This novel is a testament to the human spirit and to love rising from the ashes of war. Alice hoffman wrote her first novel, property of, when she was 21. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 504 pages and is available in hardcover format. The novel focuses on the lives of four very different women who took refuge at masada. The story of the last zealot stronghold in judea is told from the point of view of four fictional women in the novel the dovekeepers by alice hoffman.
The dovekeepers was the book selection for the month. One of the most prolific novelists in recent memory, alice hoffman is known for magical stories about love, marriage, betrayal, history, and friendship. It was a gift from my greatgreat grandmothers, the women of ancient israel who first spoke to me when i visited the mountain fortress of masada. The dovekeepers is alice hoffmans most ambitious and mesmerizing novel. Named a favorite book of 2011 by npr, the seattle times and the st. The first edition of the novel was published in october 4th 2011, and was written by alice hoffman. In 70 ce, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on a mountain in the judean, desert, masada. Alice hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including the world that we knew, the rules of magic, the marriage of opposites, practical magic, the red garden, the oprahs book club selection here on earth, the museum of extraordinary things, and the dovekeepers. The novel is alice hoffmans latest book, the dovekeepers, which attempts to retell the story of the jewish resistance during the roman siege of. Alice hoffman has 79 books on goodreads with 0147 ratings.
Many of her books have hit the big and small screens with memorable characters and dazzling scenes. Its clear from the outset of the dovekeepers that we are firmly in alice hoffman territory. We see life in the mountain fortress through the eyes of. In her remarkable new novel, alice hoffman holds a mirror to our ancient past as she explores the contemporary themes of sexual desire, womens solidarity in the. A remarkable tale of biblical history and four powerful women. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on masada, a mountain in. An ambitious and mesmerizing novel from the bestselling author of rules of magic. She has published a total of 28 works of fiction, including practical magic which was a major.
A novel by alice hoffman 1451617488 9781451617481 a gently used book at a great low price. Herbs and potions, love charms and secrets, the complex intimacies between mothers and daughters. Miniseries based on alice hoffmans the dovekeepers airs. I am still reeling from the dovekeepers from the history alice hoffman illuminates, from the language she uses to bring these women to life. Alice hoffman born march 16, 1952 is an american novelist and youngadult and childrens writer, best known for her 1995 novel practical magic, which was adapted for a 1998 film of the same name. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman book club discussion. A novel by alice hoffman for this weeks reading wednesday. Perhaps this is a testament to hoffmans storytelling. The novel is alice hoffmans latest book, the dovekeepers, which attempts to retell the story of the jewish resistance during the roman siege of masada in the first century. A letter from alice hoffman once in a lifetime a book may come to a writer as an unexpected gift. A trip through her enormous body of work for adults and young people is a jarring ride, from the loveliness of illumination night. The dovekeepers is alice hoffman s most ambitious and mesmerizing novel. Hoffman grounds her expansive, intricately woven, and deepest new novel in biblical history, with a devotion and seriousness of purpose entertainment weekly.
In ad70, hoffmans characteristic elision of the magical and the quotidian finds its spiritual home. Told in four parts, the first comes from yael, daughter of yosef bar elhanan, a sicarii zealot assassin, rejected by her. It is a masterpiece, but it is also of a piece, of a type. Where does the dovekeepers rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far. This novel is a sprawling tale based on another event in history. Yael was born of a dead mother and father who knows how to become invisible. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the dovekeepers. But instead of the safe suburbs of new england, we have been. Alice hoffmans judean rebels head for their desert fortress.
The dovekeepers tells the story of nine hundred jews living on masada in the desert, under siege by the romans. Alice hoffman s most popular book is the dovekeepers. A novel by alice hoffman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on masada, a mountain in the judean desert. Hoffman grounds her expansive, intricately woven, and deepest new. Alice hoffmans novel reimagines the firstcentury siege, through the eyes of women. Pdf the dovekeepers book by alice hoffman free download. This is a world in which trust in the immutability of ones destiny is matched by the desperate belief that the right magic can change the future. The dovekeepers alice hoffman, 2011 scribner 512 pp.