Quirky Cat
Book Summary:
Any reader can tell you that books can save you if you listen. That is more true than usual for Mia Jacob. On one June day, she found her way out of the horror that is her life, and that way out was in a book.
Mia's story is generational in several ways. It's a love letter to The Scarlet Letter – and the author, Nathaniel Hawthorne.
My Review:
The Invisible Hour has got to be one of the most interesting book-about-a-books I've read in quite some time! (And I've read a fair few recently). The biggest deciding factor for your enjoyment of The Invisible Hour will be how you feel about The Scarlet Letter.
While I enjoyed this novel, it was unfortunately not my favorite Alice Hoffman novel. Granted, I adore Practical Magic, so it's pretty hard for any other novel to live up to that expectation, you know?
Part of the problem was that I've never felt a profound connection to The Scarlet Letter. Did I appreciate it? Yes, of course! But it was never one of those novels that resonated with me. As such, it felt like a slight wall between me and Mia.
The first half of The Invisible Hour reads like a classic historical fiction novel. However, it switches to historical fantasy right around that mark, pulling hard on the time travel elements. Even knowing it was coming, that transition was jarring because of how long it took to get there.
Overall, I would have to say that I enjoyed The Invisible Hour, perhaps a little less than I had hoped.
Highlights:
Magical Realism
Books-about-Books
Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Time Travel
Trigger Warnings:
Controlling/Abusive behavior
Cult
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