I want to tackle the Practical Magic series so a taste of Alice Hoffman is where I'll begin.
I want to tackle the Practical Magic series so a taste of Alice Hoffman is where I'll begin.
Beautifully written but tragic story of a family keeping their faith secret during the Spanish Inquisition and a young girl betrayed by someone she loved. There are so many thought provoking quotes in this that I need to highlight in my kindle.
“I thought I knew the world. I thought I knew myself. I thought I knew my dearest friend. But I knew nothing at all.” Estrella de Madrigale, Spain 1500. A beautifully written YA novel set in 16th century during the Spanish Inquisition 😞
#authoramonth2021 @Soubhiville
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks #doublespin
#weeklyforecast Two books for reading challenge, and two books just because. We have incredible beautiful weather, perfect for hikes, so this could be also my next week forecast 🤷🏻♀️
Another book I have read before and still enjoyed years later. The story is similar to the recent events in our history so it felt appropriate to read this. My best friend and I read this together and she loved the story so much as well. This story leaves an impact that you will never forget.
A very short novel about the Spanish Inquisition. Stop quoting Monty Python and Mel Brooks right now. This book is. Not. Funny. It is, however, beautiful and so sad. It's incredible how much Hoffman can pack into such a tiny book. I learned so much about the Spanish Inquisition. I didn't realize how little I knew. Loved it.
I forgot I had a signed copy of this! Just picked it up to read it for the first time.
Don't have a lot of time but want to bawl your eyes out? Read "Incantation"!
At just over 150 pages, this historical fiction novel about Jewish persecution in Spain in the early 1500s packs a punch right to your heart! ??
Warning: might ruin "Monty Python" for you. Not sure if I'll be able to laugh at "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition" ever again. ?
I wish the book were longer. I prefer *more* of Hoffman's glowing prose, not less.
From a Q & A at the end of the novel:
Hoffman: "I do imagine Estrella's life after the close of the novel...but I always believe fiction is interactive and that it's up to the reader to decide the ultimate fate of the characters. That's the joy of reading fiction: when all is said and done, the novel belongs to the reader and his or her imagination. "
#respect
"I began to understand that the deeper you looked inside yourself, the more you saw what was infinite and eternal."
Hoffman named one of her characters "Abra," a name I'd never heard, & now I'm slightly obsessed. It's the feminine form of Abraham, & it sounds magical, like the beginning of "Abracadabra." Surprisingly, popular opinion is against it, saying that spliced, it's literally "A bra." So what? Bras are girly, they support women, & you can only have one if you're mature -- which any haters obviously are not. #abraforpresident #imwithabra #futuredaughter
"When I looked at my friend, I saw not only the child she'd been & the girl that she was, but also, the woman she was about to be... She knew who I was deep inside: I could be lazy sometimes; I believed in true love; I was headstrong & loyal, a friend to the end."
This is me & Celia. Our moms hooked us up on a friend-date when we were 9 (we played checkers; she kicked my butt). We've been BFFs for over 20 years. Also, I'm a romantic sloth.
What an amazing, spare, haunting book! Estrella is a young teen growing up at the start of the Spanish Inquisition. Secrets, betrayal, young love, and great evil combine to tell a beautiful story of strength amid hate and intolerance. A very timely read.
Best opening paragraphs I've read in awhile.
I've been in a bit of a reading slump the last few days with a lot on my mind about work. Thinking "Incantation" will draw me in and pull me out.
#readingslump
#bestbeginning
#readingescape