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Alice Hoffman

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Illumination Night: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Alice Hoffman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

3,922 ratings

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A “wondrous” novel of fear, desire, loss, and discovery on Martha’s Vineyard by the New York Times–bestselling author of Practical Magic and Seventh Heaven (Chicago Tribune).

Elizabeth Renny has only made two decisions of consequence in her seventy-plus years. While the first, marrying her husband, had adequate results, the second—deciding she could fly from her bedroom window—is less successful. But her flight sets in motion a series of events that will forever change the lives of six residents of Martha’s Vineyard: a young boy who refuses to grow, a wife stifled by her irrational anxiety, a husband tempted by the unknown, a girl flirting with disaster, a gentle giant tortured by his size, and an old woman with nothing to lose.

Praised as “an intelligent novel” by the New York Times and “achingly vivid” by Newsday, Illumination Night is a sparkling and heartbreaking narrative that explores marriage, friendship, youth, yearning, disillusionment, and desire, a book as bright and memorable as the festival of lanterns for which it is named.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With an eye for household details and respect for daily events, Hoffman (Fortune's Daughter unleashes the mythic forcefulness of ordinary life in this polished story of love and loneliness set on the island of Martha's Vineyard. Simon is in his fourth year and small even for his age when he sees white-robed Elizabeth Renny, a neighbor in her 75th, tumble out her attic window "like a cloud." In her convalescence, Elizabeth is cared for by her rebellious teen-aged granddaughter Jody, sent from off-island. Jody sets her sights on Simon's father, Andre, who restores antique motorcycles, raising doubts and fears in Vonny, Simon's mother, Andre's wife. Elizabeth recovers; Jody pines and plots for the taciturn Andre; Simon doesn't grow; and Vonny's anxieties bloom into full-fledged agoraphobia. Seasons advance. Jody learns the limits of her desires and meets a freakishly tall eggman; a child dies, another grows; Elizabeth decides she'd rather live than die; and Vonny faces her fears. Illumination Night, an annual celebration on Martha's Vineyard when Victorian houses surrounding a park and bandstand are lit with hundreds of magical Japanese lanterns, provides apt title and image for this shimmering, radiant tale.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Daringly mixing comedy with tragedy . . . [Hoffman] has created a narrative that somehow makes myth out of the sticky complexities of contemporary marriage. . . . Her characters are branded onto one’s memory.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Vivid, convincing characters . . . Uncommon insight.” —People

“One of the best writers we have today—insightful, funny, intelligent, with a distinctive voice.” —The Plain Dealer

“There is a cumulative power to Illumination Night that is wondrous.” —Chicago Tribune

“[A] bright constellation of characters . . . draws the reader into the dusky, dreamy world of Alice Hoffman.” —St. Petersburg Times

“Not-so-delicate questions are raised in a wonderfully delicate way. . . . Achingly vivid.” —Newsday

“Alice Hoffman hits bull’s-eyes on the incomprehensions between the young and the old, on the magic and pain of ordinary life. She is erotic and romantic . . . funny . . . clever and humane.” —The Times (London)

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00N5E57X8
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (September 23, 2014)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 23, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4.1 MB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 210 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0099429187

Best Sellers Rank: #112,458 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #128 in Add Audiobook for $3.99 or Less
- #839 in Contemporary Literary Fiction
- #878 in Women's Literary Fiction

Customer Reviews:
3,922 ratings

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Alice Hoffman

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Alice Hoffman is the author of thirty works of fiction, including Practical Magic, The Dovekeepers, Magic Lessons, and, most recently, The Book of Magic. She lives in Boston. Her new novel, The Invisible Hour, is forthcoming in August 2023. Visit her website: www.alicehoffman.com

Customer reviews

3,922 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the story and found it gripping. They appreciated the well-developed characters and the writing quality. The book touched on emotions and was sympathetic, bringing readers into the heart. However, some felt the book was difficult to follow due to the switching topics. Opinions differed on the pacing - some found it fast-paced and enjoyable, while others felt it was slow-paced and not engaging.

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Story quality Character variety Writing quality Emotion Pacing Narrative style Readability Difficulty to follow

195 customers mention "Story quality"165 positive30 negative

Customers enjoy the stories. They find them gripping and satisfying, with a satisfying conclusion. The book is full of trials and tribulations, and it's a joy to read for those who enjoy thinking about life and what it all means.

"...by Alice Hoffman, to anyone who likes a challenge, who enjoys thinking about life and what it all means." Read more

"...prose with such a bare-bones command of the language that it's a joy to read. No extra fluff, no adverbs in the way...." Read more

"...up a book by Ms. Hoffman, that I am in for a treat and this book was no exception. I love the descriptive almost poetic style of writing...." Read more

"...Alice Hoffman is known for the magical element in her stories. This one had it as well, although it didn't figure as prominently...." Read more

77 customers mention "Character variety"57 positive20 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They find the book engaging as it explores each character's growth and struggles with thoughts. The characters are described as vulnerable, magical, and beautifully broken.

"...The Giant is arguably the most interesting character in the book; clearly a symbol of prejudice and fear; yet he is a gentle, sympathetic..." Read more

"In usual Hoffman fashion, the characters develop well as the book goes on. It is also easy to visualize them and their location...." Read more

"Hoffman never disappoints. The characters are real, and I found myself spellbound and laughing at parts, near tears at others...." Read more

"Can't decide how I feel about this book. The characters parallel each other. Their impact on each other is really non-existent...." Read more

58 customers mention "Writing quality"58 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find the prose easy to read and compassionate. The style and phrases are described as descriptive and expressive. Overall, readers describe the book as enjoyable.

"I love Alice Hoffman's style of writing and her development of characters...." Read more

"Alice Hoffman's beautiful writing makes all her stories come to life, and Illumination Night is no exception...." Read more

"...No extra fluff, no adverbs in the way...." Read more

"...I love the descriptive almost poetic style of writing...." Read more

22 customers mention "Emotion"17 positive5 negative

Customers praise the book for its emotional depth. They find the story touching on everyday feelings with empathy and heart. The author uses simple yet unexpected words to describe crushing grief, fear, and paralyzing fear. The book is described as poignant, sweet, and bittersweet, moving readers to tears.

"...after hours of pondering the possible meaning, I think the novel is about fear and how it impacts the decisions a person makes in their life and..." Read more

"...It was a sweet, funny, poignant book and I loved it." Read more

"...uses simple yet unexpected words to describe crushing grief, paralyzingly fear, the slipping away of a character's connection to everything earthly..." Read more

"...assume that is Ms Hoffman's intention, but I was left with a very dissatisfied feeling...." Read more

22 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive12 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it fast-paced and engaging, making them feel deeply for the characters. Others feel the story lacks momentum and leaves some unanswered questions.

"...Did not enjoy the storyline:. The beginning of the book was slow, the middle becomes more interesting but then in my opinion spirals into a mess." Read more

"...It is a book that I read slowly as I savored the writing and character development." Read more

"...The book was a bit slow and disappointing in that nothing much seemed to happen. I didn’t love it nor did I dislike it - just mediocre...." Read more

"...and expressive, “Illumination Night”, reveals the passions, fallibilities and sensitivities of a varied cast of characters, each struggling to cope..." Read more

16 customers mention "Narrative style"11 positive5 negative

Customers have different views on the narrative style. Some find it thought-provoking and engaging, weaving together lives and relationships. They describe it as a story about coming of age, growing old, and fear and shame. Others feel it's disjointed and has a strange structure.

"...a great job of developing a diverse cast of characters and weaving their actions together. I enjoyed this book for the most part...." Read more

"...Ms. Hoffman did an excellent job of weaving their lives together...." Read more

"...While some of the characters are interesting, the plot is loose and disjointed...." Read more

"...Illumination Night was magic. Subtle, full of nuances, wisdom about the characters and what motivates them. Thanks again Ms. Hoffman!" Read more

18 customers mention "Readability"3 positive15 negative

Customers find the book difficult to read. They feel it lacks focus and lacks a satisfying conclusion. Some readers consider it not the author's best work, but still enjoyable.

"it was a good book as I noted but not her best work. I had trouble relating to any of the characters. The old woman was the most real person to me...." Read more

"...The book was a bit slow and disappointing in that nothing much seemed to happen. I didn’t love it nor did I dislike it - just mediocre...." Read more

"...A lot of loose ends didn't get tied up, and the book ultimately felt pointless to me. Too bad..." Read more

"...readying several different stories that were weaved together, but not very well. I was left with more questions such as 1. did Jody ever return, 2...." Read more

15 customers mention "Difficulty to follow"0 positive15 negative

Customers find the book hard to follow due to its switching topics and lack of a clear narrative flow. They find the characters unreliable and the transitions between them difficult to understand. While some readers enjoyed the prose, others struggled to engage with the storyline.

"...And while initially I struggled to engage, the prose so beautifully done kept me reading until the characters took hold of me." Read more

"...AH is a favorite author, but this story did not have the charisma I’ve found in her other works. One setting, a few characters." Read more

"This book was hard to get into. Did not enjoy the storyline:...." Read more

"...The people didn't seem very realistic to me at all. Their responses to situations and interactions with one another weren't believable at all...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

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Noelle Branch
Illumination
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2017
Verified Purchase

'Illumination Night' is one of those novels that leaves you with more perplexing questions than answers. What does 'Illumination Night' refer to? What are the main themes of the story? What can I learn from reading this?

I should begin by saying that I am a huge fan of Alice Hoffman. Her novels always remind me that I actually like not knowing the trajectory of the story, I like not being able to figure out what it is about. In this case, after hours of pondering the possible meaning, I think the novel is about fear and how it impacts the decisions a person makes in their life and how the end results are not always what one would expect. Vonnie is fearful of the unknown, of life, and the outcomes of her actions; she is ruled by agoraphobia and struggles to overcome her inability to deal with what is around the next corner. Her husband Andre fears that his ambition and passions have been sidetracked to the need to take care of his family. Their son Simon is afraid of death. Elizabeth, the elderly next door neighbor, is afraid of losing her independence and her sight. While the "Giant" Eddie has a deep seated fear of rejection, his love for Jody, the teenage seductress, is thwarted by her own fear of unbridled passion and of growing up.

The Giant is arguably the most interesting character in the book; clearly a symbol of prejudice and fear; yet he is a gentle, sympathetic presence.

I would recommend this book, and others by Alice Hoffman, to anyone who likes a challenge, who enjoys thinking about life and what it all means.

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13 people found this helpful

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je_jackson
Good but Not Great
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024
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In usual Hoffman fashion, the characters develop well as the book goes on. It is also easy to visualize them and their location. What fell short for me is the way the story meandered from here to there, with some themes not really having a conclusion and just trailing off. This made the plot feel unfocused to me.

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2 people found this helpful

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abi
Not really "illuminating"
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2012
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I love Alice Hoffman's style of writing and her development of characters. Andre, Vonnie, Simon, Elizabeth, Eddy and Jody are all fascinating and I couldn't wait to read more about them. However, as the story went on and I was getting near the end, I realized that there was going to be no real conclusion, no tying up of loose ends, no satisfying "aha!" moments (except for Elizabeth)...and I assume that is Ms Hoffman's intention, but I was left with a very dissatisfied feeling. I'm sure there are all kinds of deep meanings to be deduced from the story (or perhaps not!). When I read a novel for relaxation I prefer a beginning, a middle and an end, and this book left too many ends hanging loose for my taste.

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55 people found this helpful

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Susan920
Magical!
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2017
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Alice Hoffman's beautiful writing makes all her stories come to life, and Illumination Night is no exception. Its difficult to describe the plot of this story. On the one hand, it is the story of neighbors moving through a year together. The reader gets to know Vonny, Andre and their son, Simon, as well as their neighbor, Elizabeth and her granddaughter, Jody, and all the intricacies that make up their lives. We watch Vonny and Andre lose and find each other, Simon find a real friend, only to lose her, Elizabeth deal with growing old, and Jody find true love in the most unexpected place. Beyond these individual stories, Illumination Night is about facing our fears, learning to let go, and accepting death as part of our lives. It is about relationships and making sure we never take our loved ones for granted. Its a beautiful, magical story about life, as only A!ice Hoffman can tell it.

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18 people found this helpful

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maria flora
Richly written
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2012
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Hoffman never disappoints. The characters are real, and I found myself spellbound and laughing at parts, near tears at others. I couldn't wait to see what happened to the giant and the old woman who couldn't fly. I love how she handled the tryst and really didn't tie up all the loose ends so my imagination can keep these folks going.
And she crafts her prose with such a bare-bones command of the language that it's a joy to read. No extra fluff, no adverbs in the way. She just goes right at it with amazing skill that must be the combination of a supernatural gift and years of honing her talent.

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BJM
Another great story.
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2025
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I love everything Alice Hoffman writes. Every story touches something inside of me that keeps me believing there is just a little bit of magic inside us all. If we just let ourselves see it or feel it. It’s Hope.

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Jennifer Sandell
I am never disappointed in an Alice Hoffman book.
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2003
Verified Purchase
I always feel, when I pick up a book by Ms. Hoffman, that I am in for a treat and this book was no exception. I love the descriptive almost poetic style of writing. From the beginning, the reader is taken on a magical, mystical journey that is not easily forgotten. There are parts of this book that seemingly come from a children's fairy tale or fableyet hey seem entirely plausible because, I think, Ms. Hoffman really cares about her characters and what happens to them.
The reader will enjoy this story of a modern marriage, a young woman who is trapped by her fears, a high school girl that is at the heart of all the sin and passion of the story. This is a good story of myth, magic and reality

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18 people found this helpful

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happy reader
OK, not my style
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2017
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The novel started out OK, but quickly devolved into a series of vignettes, with no easy way to tell how much later each one was. It was written from many different perspectives, which may make it interesting for some, but was at times confusing for me to figure out whose perspective I was getting at the start of a fresh vignette. As I continued on, I wanted to get to the end and see how it all turned out, but it was a fairly unsatisfactory ending as well.

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Top reviews from other countries

MalMonroe
Excellent.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 3, 2014
Verified Purchase

I love this book. As with all Alice Hoffman stories, there is love, laughter and sorrow. But it's the way she tells them. I can never put her books down, until I've read the very last page. I'm not going to write a synopsis, I just want to say if you haven't read at least one Alice Hoffman, you've really missed out.

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Amazon Customer
Wonderfull and enjoyable
Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2018
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A perfect book to get lost in with a lovely array of characters whose lives are well worth exploring. Ms. Hoffman deftly describes the relationships and interconnections between an elderly woman, her teenage granddaughter, the couple next door, their four year old son and a social outcast weaving the decisions they make and the actions they take into an unexpected tale of family, love, loss and redemption. Beautifully written.

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Cleopatra
Well written and thought provoking
Reviewed in Canada on April 7, 2019
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Jody, a rebellious teenager, is sent by her parents to Martha's Vineyard to care for her ailing grandmother. This book is vividly written; you can almost feel the summer heat and dust. The characters are believable, although not necessarily sympathetic.
The story centers around the consequences Jody's presence has on those she interacts with both directly and indirectly. She brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. There are many underlying themes. How does the parent/child relationship change when expectations are not met? How are people treated when rumours are spread about them?
I found this book to be thought provoking and think it would make an excellent selection for a book club.

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Klyn
I found the story to be a little disjointed after ...
Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2016
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I found the story to be a little disjointed after the first few chapters. Perhaps that was a function of vonny's mental issues.

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Susanne
Beautifully written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2012
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Alice Hoffman writes in a deceptively simple way - she writes about the lives of ordinary people with a clear, underlying passion. You get drawn into the story as if they were your neighbours and friends and this book had me reading until the small hours.

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Illumination Night: A Novel Kindle Edition

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Excellent.

Wonderfull and enjoyable

Well written and thought provoking

I found the story to be a little disjointed after ...

Beautifully written