The Sparrow Sisters

A Novel

By: Ellen Herrick

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 11 hrs

Publisher's summary

With echoes of the alchemy of Practical Magic, the lushness of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, and the darkly joyful wickedness of the Witches of East End, Ellen Herrick's debut novel spins an enchanting love story about a place where magic whispers just beneath the surface and almost anything is possible if you aren't afraid to listen.

The Sparrow Sisters are as tightly woven into the seaside New England town of Granite Point as the wild sweet peas that climb the stone walls along the harbor. Sorrel, Nettie, and Patience are as colorful as the beach plums on the dunes and as mysterious as the fog that rolls into town at dusk.

Patience is the town healer, and when a new doctor settles into Granite Point he brings with him a mystery so compelling that Patience is drawn to love him even as she struggles to mend him. But when Patience Sparrow's herbs and tinctures are believed to be implicated in a local tragedy, Granite Point is consumed by a long-buried fear - and its 300-year-old history resurfaces as a modern-day witch hunt threatens. The plants and flowers, fruit trees and high hedges begin to wither and die, and the entire town begins to fail; fishermen return to the harbor empty handed, and blight descends on the old elms that line the lanes.

It seems as if Patience and her town are lost until the women of Granite Point band together to save the Sparrow. As they gather, drawing strength from each other, will they be able to turn the tide and return life to Granite Point?

The Sparrow Sisters is a beautiful, haunting, and thoroughly mesmerizing novel that will capture your imagination.

©2015 Ellen Herrick (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Wonderful & magical story of healing & remorse.

Loved this story of a close knit family of 3 sisters & a small town. Lots of magical emotions, friendships & forgiveness.

Narrator was spot on with her timing & emotion.

I am going to find the sequel right away!

So great ...

Such a lovely story. The characters feel as if they are now friends. The narration was fantastic. These three sisters evoked tranquility for me.

Good narrator, weak story

Cassandra Campbell has a lovely voice that enhances everything she narrates, but she can't make this debt novel anything more than what it is....a first attempt at magical fiction. Alice Hoffman does MF so much better. Maybe this author will improve with practice, but I just found this story predictable and unenchanting.

Really enjoyed.

The story was a bit predictable once it got going but the way it was written was not. I enjoyed the world and felt immersed in the entire plot. I'm hoping there is a follow up with Sorels story. The narrator was good but I disliked the way she did a breathy and floaty voice for the sisters, especially Patience who is so strong willed.

plants hold magic

I enjoyed this book very much. I believe in the magic of plants and the people who hold the gift to use them.

Easy

While I enjoyed this book, I already had it figured out within the first few chapters. It is still worth listening too if you figure it out

Not terrible but slow and so many technical issues.

Not a horrible but, in my opinion, not worth a credit. I hate how disrespectful he is about herbal options. How he can’t even fathom the concept that no, of course it’s not magic! Digitalis is a perfect example of how often our pharmaceuticals started with plants. Yup, sometimes we need antibiotics. But sometimes other things can work too. He doesn’t even consider that he could look up the safety and efficacy of some options.

Then there’s SO many HIPPA violations that are like... incredibly serious.

Also, authors SERIOUSLY need to get some actual information before they talk about birth and homebirths (also that homeopathy isn’t the same as herbalism, but I digress). First, he acts like it’s super concerning that her contraction pattern is accelerating so soon after her water breaks. Newsflash - THATS NORMAL! While membranes can rupture at any point in birth, or even not at all, it’s MOST common for it to happen at the onset of transition. At which point birth is usually eminent. Also, if you’re planning an out of hospital birth, your care provider (usually a midwife but in this case a dr) has very specific instructions. LIKE TELLING THEM WHEN YOURE IN LABOR! There’s NO way that any sane mom, who knows she’s in labor, putz around the office for HOURS without letting her Dr know she’s in labor when the dr has to leave what she’s doing and come to her.
I was OUTRAGED (like I would have smacked him for it later and that would have been the end of any relationship) when he tells her to shut up upon encouraging the mother that she’ll be ok without pain meds. Not because she’s against mom having meds but because options are limited and she needs to feel encouraged. Really!? She (mother) is OBVIOUSLY FINE and so telling her helper to shut up is so inappropriate. THEN he wants to brush off her thistle for milk supply. Uh- dude, modern medicine is almost completely useless if a mom struggles with nursing and milk supply, thistle really IS one of the best options. The info on the birth in particular... of you’re going to write an out of hospital birth, could you please, I don’t know, talk to a freaking out of hospital midwife.

Fabulous! Love finding this author!!

I loved everything about this story! The inclusion of the plants and gardens, and Patiens’ magical touch and expert use of the plants was so engaging! Going to look for more from this author now!!

Fun

This was a fun listen. Nothing to learn from, but fun none the less. A good chewing gum book.

Reviewers Petty in sum

Found the rhythm, texture and pace of the book just fine. Not certain the reviews on the site are really fair or credible. Show me one from a professional or legit source and I would be more ready to take the criticism seriously.