Local Girls

By Alice Hoffman

Book Overview

The New York Times bestselling author of The Rules of Magic is at her haunting, thought-provoking best with these interconnected stories about a Long Island family. Alice Hoffman casts her spell over a neighborhood filled with dreamers and dreams as she evokes the world of the Samuelsons, a family torn apart by tragedy and bound together by devotion. As Gretel grows up, she is witness to the breakup of her parents' marriage, the ups and downs of her cousin Margot's search for love, the deterioration of a brother who passes up Harvard for a job at the Food Star, and emotional explosions that shatter the suburban quiet...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425174344
• ISBN13: 9780425174340
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Another Hoffman Gem

Like another reviewer, I had somehow missed this book of Alice Hoffman's. What an unexpected treat when I found it! This collection of related stories with alternating narrators was wonderful and forced me to use my imagination to figure out what went on between the stories and think about the details that Hoffman had left out. I would have loved to have read more about this family, but perhaps the author intended to leave us wondering. The strong women in this book overshadow the weak men in every way. Gretel's father, her brother, and Sonny offer no support to the women in the book. Gretel endures and triumphs, mostly on her own....a perfect example of that saying "what does not kill you will make you strong"..Like all of Hoffman's books, this was an emotionally moving story but with a few touches (fewer than usual) of her magical realism. And, as usual, the language is PURE magic!

This Should Have Been A Full Novel

Alice Hoffman proves (yet again) what a wonderful storyteller she is. Her novels are so full of power, plot, setting, movement and all the truly wonderful things that make a great book. "Local Girls" is a selection of closely woven short stories about four main characters. The stories are told threw the eyes of young Gretel who you just dearly love. You almost feel cheated that this is a full force novel. The characters that Hoffman created certainly have the power to have carried it. I found myself wanting more and more from each of them. I wanted to see the full arch of the story. But, it certainly didn't distract from how much I enjoyed this selection of stories. I found the struggle of older brother's rise and fall from success especially heartbreaking and readable. With each book Alice Hoffman shows her talent for any subject matter. I find her very talented and very entertaining. I love her stuff.

Hoffman keeps putting brillant books on the table!

I have read Practical Magic, Here on Earth and Property Of, but by far this one captures the essence of an emerging and growing youth beyond what even we can describe it to be for ourselves! I finished the book in under 20 hours, which included sleeping! Hoffman weaves a spell that entraps your mind and keeps you reading in till the book is done and you are wishing it would never end!

Lush and lovely

This book of interconnected short stories is a wonderful look at how sensuous and graceful a story can be. Instead of cramming everything she can into each of the short stories that make up this book, Alice Hoffman lets the tales unfold on their own time. It might take three stories to understand the motivation of one character, but it's worth the time it takes to get there.I don't think this book was intended to read as a novel, so I am mystified at comments of supposed missing depth. Hoffman's book is a connected series of stories in which the reader is free to fill in the gaps. I give her credit for experimenting with this form.

Alice Hoffman has done it again!!

Another great read by Alice Hoffman. Her unique way of writing is captivating. I'm glad I stumbled upon this author years ago when reading "Seventh Heaven". She has a way of making you feel, smell, taste in her writing. I'm looking forward to her next book.