- Poster
- Publisher: Chatto & Windus (Oct 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0701167084
- ISBN-13: 978-0701167080
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
In this first-rate "tape turner" Hoffman once again proves her powers as a storyteller. Dialogue rings remarkably true in this reading by Susan Ericksen, which also brings out the incisive details and keen observations on nature, both human and otherwise, that Hoffman carefully deploys in this masterful narrative. When March Murray travels East with her teenage daughter to attend the funeral of the beloved housekeeper who looked after her when she was growing up, March's past comes rushing up to meet her. The present is quickly dominated by the lurking presence of her former lover, Hollis, who has patiently awaited her long overdue return. The tale is populated by those for whom love brings more sorrow than happiness: a woman afraid to commit to a relationship, a husband in love with someone other than his wife, two young people who fall for each other only to find they are close relatives, and the self-destructing love of Hollis and March. While love has the power to transform those who fall under its spell--devotion to an old racehorse turns March's daughter, a sullen teenager, into a strong young woman--the love March herself suffers robs her of nearly all sense and goodness. Hoffman deftly weaves her characters' stories against a vivid New England landscape where the past always has a grip on the present. And the listener is left at the end both satisfied and longing to hear more. --Anne Depue
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Sunday Times
‘Hoffman is shrewd and witty about the networks of gossip and affection in town, and she evokes place superbly…spellbinding’
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I felt that the story started slowly, but as the relationship between March and Hollis grew, I soon became fascinated by their 'love' for each other, but I don't think that love had anything to do with it. I was shaken by this story, and glad that is was not a slushy romantic, and it teachs us the lesson that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Full marks to Alice Hoffman who is not afraid to write about true human nature, no matter how ugly.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
From the very first page I was embroilled by Hoffman's shrewd nack at sensitively evoking the thoughts and feelings of the reader. Hollis is just wonderful, mysterious and intriguing. The first Hoffman I read was The River King that was great but in my opinion not as good as here on earth which is excellent. Hoffman is a real star find, Go out buy a book and read some!
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'How do you tell an awful truth to someone you care for and wish to protect?' Alice Hoffman explores this question in a tale of passion and adultery in which Wuthering Heights is translated to modern New England. Lovers of Bronte will appreciate the similarities in vivid landscape descriptions, the initmate relationships between the lead characters - and it is no accident that their names begin with H!
Hollis/Heathcliffe is the orphan boy, who becomes embittered through the loss of his childhood love, March until she returns a married woman with a teenage daughter, Gwen. He determines to reclaim her, threatening the fabric of not only March's family, but the whole community, who are forced to examine their consciences concerning the boundaries of small town gossip and taking action over unneighbourly suspicions of abuse.
Whilst initially I feared this was a well worn tale, I was quickly gripped could empathise with the characters and ploughed rapidly though the pages desperate to know the outcome. 'Here on Earth' is an old fashioned story, but with none of the Victorian prudery. The sexual tension aches from its pages and drips from its descriptions. Hoffman's observation of men and women (and adolescents!) in love is impressively keen. As a choice for Oprah's Book Club this was far from disappointing!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Savage contemporary Wuthering Heights
a dark brutal contemporary version of Wuthering Heights, it draws you in deep, without you even realising it. Read more
Published on 19 Jun 2009 by Lala B
More about obsession and spells than love
"Here on Earth" is a rather disturbing book... it is not one of Hoffman's best but is certainly worth reading. Read more
Published on 29 July 2003
Not all it's cracked up to be
I tried hard to like this book after reading very mixed reviews on amazon.com It begins very well with intiguing first few chapters giving some background info on the story. Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2002
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