Here on Earth

Rating:
Summary: Sophomoric
Review: Practically the only promising writing in this book is the title. Past that, the book is disappointing and awkward, feeling as though it were written without experience, thought or care. I tried to keep an open mind -- Oprah's choices have usually been very worthwhile -- and stuck with it to the end, but it really was an embarrassing waste of time. Almost nothing worked -- the characters, the plot, much of the imagery (I didn't get it about the foxes and red dogs, for example, and don't really mind that I didn't), the dialog, the setting -- almost nothing. I guess Gwen and the horse and Hank and his drunken dad almost were interesting; and the premise of how Hollis was brought to the family as a troubled boy could have developed into something interesting. But the March-Hollis stuff was so falsely intense, hard to picture, hard to figure and basically so stultifying that it was a preposterous waste of a book. As such, nit-picking is pretty meaningless, but I also thought it was a bizarre cop-out to just kill Hollis off at the end. I wonder if Oprah read this one before recommending it, or was simply relying on Hoffman's track record and the pleasing title of this book. I've never read another Alice Hoffman book. If I knew which one was most completely opposite this, I might give her another chance. Speaking charitably, writers certainly can fail. They probably even should every so often; otherwise, maybe the writer isn't really trying anymore. But a failure of this magnitude shouldn't have been published until improved; or if published, shouldn't have been so pushed.

Rating:
Summary: Illiterate pot-boiler: abusive relationship w/o insight
Review: This little stinker doesn't belong on any best-seller list. What is described by the publisher as "[Hoffman's most seductive and mesmerizing story" is unremittingly gloomy and pedestrian. It has been compared to Bronte's "Heathcliff", but its insipid prose time and again stirs the pot without illuminating the reader. Ms. Hoffman subscribes to the "whatever" school of description: "There is no measuring love, other than all or nothing or that space in between. [Have we left anything out?]" and "He keeps one hand on March's, but for whose comfort even [he] isn't sure." Ms. Hoffman's command of the English language is so shaky that she employs redundancy for support: "if his reputation hadn't been so notorious" or "The kitchen now has a spartan quality; that which isn't a necessity isn't here." [goes on to describe the Spartan quality in detail]. Finally, Ms. Hoffman's pointless digressions impede the book's narrative progress and fill up pages, reminiscent of athlete's "as told by" biographies. Perhaps her publisher pays her by the word. Example: "Ed Milton is the one who finally informs Susanna Justice of her friend's affair. He tells Susie right after they make love, at her place, a cottage so small he can talk to her from bed while she fixes them hot fudge sundaes. Susie's dogs, Chester, the golden lab, and Duffy, the black one, watch her every move, drooling onto her bare feet." Having lost patience with all this drivel by mid book I skipped to the end only to discover that the book is about an abusive relationship. But the only abuse you'll learn how to deal with in this book is the abuse to your intelligence. And the healthy response is to stop reading this trash.

Rating:
Summary: Good writing...but inconsistent characters
Review: Here on Earth is a richly written novel. The book quickly takes you into its world and keeps you occuppied. Character development is rapid and transitions are smooth. Some of the flaws that are difficult to overlook left me distracted. The town's newspaper journalist, Susie Justice, seemed always the last to know the news of the town. In a town that small, she's clearly in the wrong profession. Also, the main character, March and her daughter Gwen, made some very out-of-character decisions which again, distracted from the richness of the story. Though the juxtoposition of the two character's role reversal is apparent, neither character has very strong convictions which makes the transition hard to believe. Overall, I think the book is worth the read and I really enjoyed the writing.

Rating:
Summary: great beginnig, dissapointing ending!
Review: Alice Hoffman has a great style and prose, but I think she let go of the elements of her characters. They are very convincing in the beginning and by the end, you just cannot trust them anymore. I think she was afraid of the ending and she changed the characters in a not beleivable way. When I close the book I felt cheated. She gave us clues through out the book as to what to expect and at the end and, she didn't deliver. That's why I think many people didn't like this book. Practical magic was much better. It was magical!

Rating:
Summary: A Story We Can All Identify With
Review: This was one of the best books that I have read in some time! There are a few pages which are a little vague and require a second reading. There is also some language used that I do not particularly like to see. But the meaning rings through is loud and clear. Each one of us has had a relationship that was all consuming, but many of us never dare to think of what would happen if given a second chance. Very realistic!

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointed
Review: I have been an Alice Hoffman fan for years and found her books to be insightful and gripping. I, however, found 'Here on Earth' to be a trashy novel with weak characters. March was pathetic, and it angered me as the book progressed through her abuse by Hollis and finally her daughter. March watched a man strike her own child and did nothing. This novel is not based on love for a man, but selfishness of a woman who cares nothing for her 14 year old daughter and husband. I found her character revolting and offensive. I think this book is terrible, in addition to being a total rip off of Wuthering Heights.

Rating:
Summary: Here on Earth reads like a cheap romance novel
Review: I have been an Alice Hoffman fan for many years, always seeking out her new books to read. I loved The Drowning Season, Seventh Heaven, Turtle Moon, Second Nature, and Illumination Night. However, I really felt like Here on Earth was written by a totally different person. I don't read romance novels (trash), but I felt that Here on Earth was geared towards readers of romance novels. Because it was on Oprah's reading list, I will never again trust any book on that list. I bought the book only because it was written by Alice Hoffman, NOT because it was on Oprah's list. I believe it is for people who are not serious readers of literature. Shame on Alice Hoffman for lowering her quality of writing. I'm appalled!

Rating:
Summary: Good... But Flawed
Review: I found that this book was very accessable to the reader and the writing was very descriptive and beautiful. The story, however, was indeed a complete retelling of Wuthering Heights. Does such a classic need retelling? I don't think so. If you are judging solely on the novel, than you won't be disappointed... it really is everything you expect. But I found I couldn't read this book as if I hadn't read Wuthering Heights, which really spoils the experience because the classic is so unreplacable.

Rating:
Summary: Just say no to Ms. Hoffman........
Review: This book was not up to Ms. Hoffman's usual standards. Beyond that, I am becoming more and more disenchanted with Oprah's selections. They are all about women who have horrendous problems and hardships and in some cases, I find I'm mostly tired rather than entertained when I read them. The other reader's references to Wuthering Heights is accurate and was done much better by Ms, Bronte. I think I'll do my own book choices from now on - after "She's Come Undone" and now this newest Oprah selection, I'm convinced I'll come undone if I keep reading this "Oprah Show-type" tragedy and drivel. Skip this book!

Rating:
Summary: My view from California
Review: I enjoyed reading the book and found that Hoffman has touched on a part of our own lives where reality and fantasy intermix. The characters where so believable, that I couldn't help but experience their every emotion as I read each page. With each new chapter I found myself both excited and scared at the prospects of taking chances and risking everything that we believe in to be able to go back in time and experience something we once had. I enjoyed this book and would read it again.