A novel by alice hoffman is one of the most powerful books i have read in a very long time. An ambitious and mesmerizing novel from the bestselling author of rules of magic. Alice hoffman was born in new york city on march 16, 1952 and grew up on long island. 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.
By alice hoffman scribner publishing 2011 the dovekeepers is a book of historical fiction set during the first jewishroman war. The dovekeepers international dublin literary award. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on masada, a mountain in the judean desert. How are these works similar or dissimilar to the marriage of opposites. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for. Book club the dovekeepers by alice hoffman youtube.
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. Alice hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including the world that we knew, the rules of magic, practical magic, the marriage of opposites, the red garden, the oprahs book club selection here on earth, the museum of extraordinary things, and the dovekeepers. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman book club discussion questions and research. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. It was our largest book to date at 500 pages but almost every member managed to finish it in time for our meeting.
Perhaps this is a testament to hoffman s storytelling. All my best, alice hoffman book club talking points. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman 2016 03 17 book club. 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. In 70 ce, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on a mountain in the judean, desert, masada.
She has published a total of twentyeight works of fiction. The setting is ancient roman times and its based on the true story of how 900 jews held out against these warriors in what is now known as the siege of masada. All are dovekeepers, and all are also keeping secretsabout who they are, where they come from. Six smalltown texas women meet once a month to discuss that months book selection and enjoy a delicious lunch together. A letter from alice hoffman once in a lifetime a book may come to a writer as an unexpected gift.
This is a book that is both compelling and thought provoking. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. The dovekeepers audiobook by alice hoffman, heather lind. The difficulty with the dovekeepers is that these moments of hope are too few and far between. This novel is a sprawling tale based on another event in history. Written by alice hoffman, audiobook narrated by aya cash, tovah feldshuh, jessica hecht, heather lind. The dovekeepers is striking hoffman grounds her expansive, intricately woven, and deepest new novel in biblical history, with a devotion and seriousness of purpose entertainment weekly. Her novel, here on earth, an oprah book club choice.
Is the marriage of opposites characteristic of pissarros style. In that moment, the dovekeepers came to life as well. The marriage of opposites by alice hoffman book club. The novel is much too long and, for most of its 500.
The dovekeeper by alice hoffman reading guidebook club. Hoffman grounds her expansive, intricately woven, and deepest new novel in biblical history, with a devotion and seriousness of purpose entertainment weekly. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and. Told in four parts, the first comes from yael, daughter of yosef bar elhanan, a sicarii zealot assassin, rejected by her father because of her.
Apr 20, 2016 the dovekeepers by alice hoffman 2016 03 17. Hoffman weaves a spellbinding tale of four extraordinary, bold, resourceful, and sensuous women, each of whom has come to masada by a different path. Are there paintings that remind you of scenes in the novel. I didnt know what i was getting into with alice hoffman s the dovekeepers, but i had been told by a friend that this was her book club s favorite. After graduating from high school in 1969, she attended adelphi university, from which she received a ba, and then received a mirrellees. Hoffmans 1997 novel here on earth was selected as an oprah book club pick, but even without winfreys powerful endorsement, her books have become huge bestsellers including three that have been adapted for the movies. 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. Novelist alice hoffman s beautiful, harrowing the dovekeepers is based on the siege of masada, where a band of jews made a last stand after fleeing the roman army. The lives of these four complex and fiercely independent women intersect in desperate days. The dovekeepers book ottawa public library bibliocommons. The novel focuses on the lives of four very different women who took refuge at masada. The author of such iconic bestsellers as illumination night, practical magic, fortunes daughter, and oprahs book club selection here on earth, alice hoffman is one of the most popular and memorable writers of her generation. Friday, february 10, 2012 the dovekeepers by alice hoffman.
In 70 ce, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on a. I actually know very little about the history of israel, jerusalem and the legend of masada the last stronghold of the jews during the roman siege in 73 ad. The dovekeepers is alice hoffman s most ambitious and mesmerizing novel. Alice hoffman is the author of more than 30 works of fiction, including 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. She was rightthis was an absolutely stunning novel. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman book club discussion. The book begins during the destruction of jerusalem and the temple in ad 70 and follows the journey of four women who end up together in the last jewish holdout, a mountaintop stronghold called masada.
This is a feminist tale, a story of strong, intelligent women wedded to destiny by love and sacrifice. Select one of alice hoffman s other works, such as the museum of extraordinary things or the dovekeepers, for your next book club meeting. According to the ancient historian josephus, two women and five children survived. Ron charles ron charles writes about books for the washington post. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman alice hoffman, novels. Alice hoffman is the author of more than 30 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. 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. Continuing with a theme of reading historical fiction the book group read the dovekeepers by alice hoffman. The novel is alice hoffman s latest book, the dovekeepers, which attempts to retell the story of the jewish resistance during the roman siege of masada in the first century. Hoffman s first novel, property of, was written at the age of twentyone. First of all, i didnt realize when i began the novel that all roads were leading to the real story of masada, a mountain fortress where 900 jewish rebels held out against the roman. The dovekeepers, and many alice hoffman books, offers unheard stories and perspectives from women. Over five years in the writing, the dovekeepers is alice hoffman. Alice hoffman was born in new york city in 1952 and grew up on long island.
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