The Story Sisters

A Novel

By: Alice Hoffman

Narrated by: Nancy Travis

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

A spellbinding coming of age novel about three sisters and the relationships and choices that shape their lives from the best-selling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, The Rules of Magic

"This bewitching novel explores the bonds of sisterhood like a haunting modern fairy tale." (Glamour)

Each of three sisters—Elv, Claire, and Meg—has a fate she must meet alone: one on a country road, one in the streets of Paris, and one in the corridors of her own imagination.

Inhabiting their world are a charismatic man who cannot tell the truth, a neighbor who is not who he appears to be, a clumsy boy in Paris who falls in love and stays there, a detective who finds his heart's desire, and a demon who will not let go.

What does a mother do when one of her children goes astray? How does she save one daughter without sacrificing the others? How deep can love go, and how far can it take you? These are the questions this luminous novel asks.

At once a coming-of-age tale, a family saga, and a love story of sensual longing, The Story Sisters sifts through the miraculous and the mundane as the girls become women and their choices haunt them, change them and, finally, redeem them. It confirms Alice Hoffman's reputation as "a writer whose keen ear for the measure struck by the beat of the human heart is unparalleled". (The Chicago Tribune).

©2009 Alice Hoffman (P)2009 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

“Hoffman’s characters are always moving back and forth, challenging our perceptions, daring us to judge them. Her sentences tremble with allegory. . . . In the end, The Story Sisters, for all its magic realism, is about a family navigating through motherhood, sisterhood, daughterhood. It’s Little Women on mushrooms. (Bookish sisters beware).”–New York Times Book Review

“Hoffman is celebrated for her ability to conjure plausible alternative realities, to sprinkle her landscapes with witches and other mythical creatures, while keeping her stories closely tethered to familiar terrain. There’s a mysticism that swirls about her works but, like a late-morning fog, it eventually burns off to reveal a physical and emotional topography that most all of us can recognize.”–Chicago Tribune

"This bewitching novel explores the bonds of sisterhood like a haunting modern fairy tale."–Glamour

The tragic story....

I loved Hoffman's first books but her tone has turned darker and depressing as the years go by. I keep hoping to find the magic of her first books only to be more and more disappointed. No doubt both the reading and the writing quality are good. However, I wish this was a happier story showing how violent acts can destroy not only the damaged child but have the power to destroy a entire famil with a little less of tragedy. I wonder why Claire never told Annie, or her other sister Meg the reason behind the anger that consumed Elf considering the family's unity and love. Overall, the tale could have been sunnier without deviating from the intent. When I read for pleasure I want to feel hopeful not to feel sad, for that I only have news to read the news. I had a lot of trouble finishing to hear this book. So unless you want to be bummed for the fun of it, spend your money elsewhere or check the book from your local library.

Another great Hoffman story but not the narrator

Alice Hoffman again throws you into an eerie mood of demons and evil and passionate love that sweeps you away, but also love that is calm, and trustworthy. Another listen I stayed out in the garden weeding because I couldn't stop. BUT, the narrator's accent was way too strong. New York or New Jersey, which ever it did not match the characters well. The young girls sounded like middle age women talking fake high voices. She also kept laughing as the narrator, which made the narrator parts (which are large portions of Alice Hoffman's books, distracting and not just build the background mood and ambiance. I would highly recommend reading this book, which I did as well, as the audible version takes away from the depth of the story.

Haunting Hoffman

A quick, happy fix? Not this novel, but magically like life, if you can endure and hold on through the dark, rough squalls of the storm, you will find rich, warm yellow light on the other side. I find this a more satisfying read than "The Third Angel," which I loved, but this "The Story Sisters" is more lyrical, despite the tragedy lurking around every echoing corridor, beauty survives, joy bursts up like tomatoes of gold and green and brown in surprising places. Elv and Meg are fully drawn characters, even if they frustrate you to near death with their angst and self-loathing. But life has bad things, and often we lie to ourselves, hardly admitting that dark secret from back when, but it is always there, the demonic shadow, following along, pouncing upon every doubt, whispering in punctuation to every flaw. Alice Hoffman shows us that despite the bad things in every story, life is worth living, it is magical, and to my heart this story comes close to my two favorites "The Probable Future" and "Practical Magic." No romantic fluff here, but true romance, bone deep, painful, mysterious and haunting. There are funerals, and hardly a wedding, and more than a couple of calamities. But there is also invented language, fireflies of crystalline enchantment flitting all about the story. Read this novel once, and it is assured you will read it again. Art et Amour Toujours

Depressing, somewhat pointless

If you listen for entertainment this is a well written, sad, depressing story. Well narrated. I kept listening, hoping for more than it gave. I realize many families probably live through much of the same but I don't pay for books to be brought down this far.

This was a very haunting book....

....it was also very magical and very sad at times..........the sisters are beautiful and each is damaged in her own way.....the lives they lead are amazing and tragic.....Alice Hoffman uses such beautiful prose when she writes..........you can actually smell the flowers and taste the foods that she writes about.........colors are much more beautiful in her books than in your average book...........I enjoyed this book and it is one that keeps me thinking about it long after I have finished it and put it down.

What A Waste

I have never been so disappointed in an Audible purchase as I have with this one. It seemed like a good read until about half way into part 1. Then I felt like it was a 4th grader writing about their experience at a rehab. It went on and on without any purpose. I finally deleted it from my list.

Different

That is the best way to describe this book. At first I was a little confused about the time period, and that made it hard to follow. Then when the internet was mentioned that helped. I gave it 3 stars because I did listen all the way through (mainly due to the narrator) but not sure I would recommend this audio book. If I had been reading rather than listening to the book, I think I would have abandoned it.

Animal violence

I am sensitive to animal violence, particularly cats and horses. Within the first 30 minutes there are very graphic and unnecessary scenes depicting violence to animals.

Sad Story that Ends Positive

I very much enjoyed the characters and woven storylines. Hoffman uses such beautiful language and matter of fact way of handling difficult or painful topics. Well done.

So good, so tragic

Alice Hoffmann does it again. Beautiful sad story, I would read again Love the Story Sisters ♥️

Darkly Magical

What made the experience of listening to The Story Sisters the most enjoyable?

I loved the style of the writing and the imagery.

What did you like best about this story?

It really pulled you into the story and the relationship between the sisters in the book.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

At times the narrator was a bit flat. I would have liked a bit more colour and expression.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It spoke to my younger self and the emotions you feel as a teenager.