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Blue Diary, Alice Hoffman
Review
Hyperbole is the hallmark of Hoffman's prose. As her 14th novel begins, readers meet Ethan Ford, reliable master carpenter, fire department volunteer and life-saving hero, perfect husband and all-round hunk. In a crescendo of overkill, Hoffman identifies Ethan as "truly an extraordinary person." Readers may mutter "enough already," even while recognizing that such a glorious buildup means that Ethan is riding for a fall. But in this case, Hoffman's strategy is effective, because Ethan is suddenly arrested on suspicion of the rape and murder of teenager Rachel Morris 15 years earlier in Maryland. Ethan confesses to the crime, but says that he is now "a different man,'' who has redeemed himself through exemplary behavior. What this revelation means to his beautiful wife of 13 years, Jorie; his 12-year old son, Collie; his friends and admirers in the small community of Monroe, Mass.; and especially to Collie's friend, Kat Williams, who tipped off the police after she saw Ethan's photo on a TV crime blotter, allows the novel to investigate the themes of devotion, betrayal, guilt and forgiveness in trenchantly effective ways. Hoffman avoids the temptation of a feel-good ending, at the same time providing a sensitive assessment of the moral qualities constituting a good life. Throughout, her observations of the natural world are conveyed with gorgeous clarity and the supporting characters are roundly drawn. If the source of Ethan's monumental selfishness is never adequately explained, perhaps this is Hoffman's intention; evil exists, she suggests, and repentance is often not sufficient to earn true absolution.
What I liked about this book was that it wasn't as whimsical as some of Hoffman's other pieces. I was, however, annoyed by the relentless chipper descriptions of Ethan and his do-no-wrong self, and I don't know that all that build-up necessarily foretold the "fall". I think there could have been a more subtle way to craft this story. Instead, it was largely predictable. Not a bad read, but not something that makes me want to run out and read the rest of the author's shelf here.
Since I finished this one sometime early last week or late the week before, I included the review here. Sadly, I've forgotten some of the details and I needed to sort of remind myself what the story was about, in general. Part of that could be because I spent the last few days inert and feverish; part of that could just be about the book. Anyway, I kinda like the idea of having the review in the entry, so I think from now on, I'll include the reviews--if only for my own use.
Review
Hyperbole is the hallmark of Hoffman's prose. As her 14th novel begins, readers meet Ethan Ford, reliable master carpenter, fire department volunteer and life-saving hero, perfect husband and all-round hunk. In a crescendo of overkill, Hoffman identifies Ethan as "truly an extraordinary person." Readers may mutter "enough already," even while recognizing that such a glorious buildup means that Ethan is riding for a fall. But in this case, Hoffman's strategy is effective, because Ethan is suddenly arrested on suspicion of the rape and murder of teenager Rachel Morris 15 years earlier in Maryland. Ethan confesses to the crime, but says that he is now "a different man,'' who has redeemed himself through exemplary behavior. What this revelation means to his beautiful wife of 13 years, Jorie; his 12-year old son, Collie; his friends and admirers in the small community of Monroe, Mass.; and especially to Collie's friend, Kat Williams, who tipped off the police after she saw Ethan's photo on a TV crime blotter, allows the novel to investigate the themes of devotion, betrayal, guilt and forgiveness in trenchantly effective ways. Hoffman avoids the temptation of a feel-good ending, at the same time providing a sensitive assessment of the moral qualities constituting a good life. Throughout, her observations of the natural world are conveyed with gorgeous clarity and the supporting characters are roundly drawn. If the source of Ethan's monumental selfishness is never adequately explained, perhaps this is Hoffman's intention; evil exists, she suggests, and repentance is often not sufficient to earn true absolution.
What I liked about this book was that it wasn't as whimsical as some of Hoffman's other pieces. I was, however, annoyed by the relentless chipper descriptions of Ethan and his do-no-wrong self, and I don't know that all that build-up necessarily foretold the "fall". I think there could have been a more subtle way to craft this story. Instead, it was largely predictable. Not a bad read, but not something that makes me want to run out and read the rest of the author's shelf here.
Since I finished this one sometime early last week or late the week before, I included the review here. Sadly, I've forgotten some of the details and I needed to sort of remind myself what the story was about, in general. Part of that could be because I spent the last few days inert and feverish; part of that could just be about the book. Anyway, I kinda like the idea of having the review in the entry, so I think from now on, I'll include the reviews--if only for my own use.
