60 pages • 2 hours read
Blackbird House
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Book Brief
238
Novel • Fiction
Cape Cod, Massachusetts • Various Decades
2004
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Published in 2004, Alice Hoffman’s novel Blackbird House chronicles a house on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and its inhabitants over a 200-year span. The story, which invokes elements of magical realism, begins during the War of 1812 and ends in the present day. Shifting between first-person and third-person points of view, the novel delves into themes of love as motivation, resilience resulting from adversity, and the power of place in shaping lives. The source material contains depictions of rape, domestic violence, and death by suicide.
Mysterious
Bittersweet
Melancholic
Contemplative
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
21,462 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Alice Hoffman's Blackbird House has garnered mixed reviews. Readers praise the novel's lyrical prose and the evocative depiction of the New England setting. The interwoven stories of the house's inhabitants over generations are engaging, though some found the narrative structure disjointed. Character development is generally strong, but certain plot lines feel underdeveloped.
Who Should Read Blackbird House?
Readers who would enjoy Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman are drawn to lyrical, multi-generational family sagas with a touch of magical realism. Fans of Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits or Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude will appreciate Hoffman’s weaving of historical and mystical elements set in New England.
21,462 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Ruth (Declan) Blackbird Hill
Ruth (Declan) Blackbird Hill
A young woman deeply connected to nature and her animals, who faces hardship with strength and resilience, leading some townspeople to perceive her as a witch, despite her nurturing nature.
Violet West
Violet West
An ambitious and stubborn woman who pursues what she wants with determination, notably influencing her son's life choices, and driving the dynamic in her family relationships.
George West
George West
Violet's quiet and compassionate husband, who demonstrates unselfish love and a nuanced understanding of family complexities, standing as a supportive and perceptive presence.
Emma
Emma
A joyful and kindhearted child, whose return to Blackbird House as an adult reignites her appreciation for life and connection, reminding her of the beauty and wonder she once embraced.
238
Novel • Fiction
Cape Cod, Massachusetts • Various Decades
2004
Adult
18+ years
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