Seventh Heaven

By: Alice Hoffman

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Nora Silk doesn't really fit in on Hemlock Street, where everyhouse looks the same. She's divorced. She wears a charm bracelet and high heels and red toreador pants. And the way she raises her kids is a scandal. But as time passes, the neighbors start having second thoughts about Nora. The women's apprehension evolves into admiration. The men's lust evolves into awe. The children are drawn to her in ways they can't explain. And everyone on this little street in 1959 Long Island seems to sense the possibilities and perils of a different kind of future when they look at Nora Silk.

This extraordinary novel by the author of TheRiver King and Local Girls takes us back to a time when the exotic both terrified and intrigued us, and despite our most desperate attempts, our passions and secrets remained as stubbornly alive asthe weeds in our well-trimmed lawns.

©1990 Alice Hoffman (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Mundane

Not up to her usual novels. The narrator was okay but not great. I remember the 50s, but don't see how this was worth writing about. generally I enjoy Alice Hoffman books, this one let me down.

Too Pedestrian

I struggled to finish this book. I kept waiting on a story to emerge. I felt like it was a collection of clichés pertaining to middle class American life in the 50's and 60's. From Mrs. Robinson to Grease and Rebel without a cause, there was no nuance just stereotypical nonsense. Maybe that was the point, but it felt like all character background. It barely touched upon the inner changes of the characters. It wasn't the book for me.

No real story

Not sure if it is just me, but I didn’t feel like it was a complete story or even a story about anything. Too many people were main characters that were focused on.
Overall, it was okay, but not something I would read again.

loved loved loved

A great story about honest human behavior, the need to fit in and the pressure women had to be the perfect house wife. At what cost...
And then an outsider shakes it all up!!!
I looooved this story so much!

Fun story to listen to.

I listened to this kind of by accident, and loved the story! I was surprised to see it was published quite awhile ago.

Give It Time

Initially my opinion was this audiobook was good, not great...This story is all about the slow, simmer not the boil. AH created an entire world of characters whose stories overlap and entwine and frankly, take time to flesh out. But if you stay with it ( and you will because you paid for it or used your solo, precious monthly token) it'll pay off. If you love fully developed characters and details of worlds that seem so real you could drive there, then AH will not disappoint.

weird

I feel odd about this story. While I enjoyed most of it, I couldn't figure out the over all plot. it really didn't seem to have one. Also, something that bothered me a lot....nobody cares that a grown woman is sleeping with a high school kid?

no point story.... seriously

this story is splattered with metaphorical phrases and poetical nuances and in the end means nothing. the story has no point whatsoever.

I thought it was good til…

I thought it was good and I was enjoying it…. til I got to the end…and there was no end! It just left me hanging there wondering about Bille, Ace, Rikki and Danny.

Enjoyable though not what I was expecting...

Then again I don't know what I was expecting. I became interested in this writer and did some searching. The story was kind of all over the place but somehow remained cohesive. I loved all the characters and would actually like more on them.