The Invisible Hour

This was not a book I planned on reading today but I picked it up and could not stop! Alice Hoffman has a way with words that is so beautiful and unique. I went into this book absolutely blind. I bought a physical copy a few months ago because the cover grabbed my attention. The Invisible Hour is the story of Mia, a young woman looking for a way out of a cult called the Community that she and her mother are a part of. She finds solace inside of a book she stole from the library and clings to it as if her life depends on it. The Scarlet Letter is that book and its story feels very familiar to Mia. I don't want to give away too many details because going in blind was so fun! There is a romantic subplot, but this definitely is not a romance novel. The Invisible Hour is adult literary fiction, 16+ for themes, mild sexual content.

I love when an author can weave magic into a story and make it believable, and that's what Alice Hoffman did. It did throw me for a loop at first, I wasn't expecting it, but it was a beautiful story. If you like magic mixed in with realistic fiction, try Sarah Addison Allen-her stories are wonderful!

It's been a while since I've been able to indulge in a new Alice Hoffman book. For me, it's always the literary equivalent of eating chocolate.[b:The Invisible Hour 62919793 The Invisible Hour Alice Hoffman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1686761095l/62919793.SX50.jpg 98737242] is like dark chocolate, my favorite. It holds all the magical elements that [a:Alice Hoffman 3502 Alice Hoffman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1590599928p2/3502.jpg] is so adept at creating. It like reading a long, intricate dream. I loved the whole premise of connections between mothers and daughters as well as the indescribable bond between readers and authors.Ivy's story to escape judgment regarding her own unplanned pregnancy in a remote commune gracefully evolves into her daughter Mia's escape back to the “real” world for a chance to live free (and invisible.) Ivy's husband, head of the secret community, haunts Mia's every attempt to live her own life. Hoffman warns us about men like him. “Some people are who you think they are. Some people hide the wolf inside of them, but you can hear them howl.”So what does that all have to do with [a:Nathaniel Hawthorne 7799 Nathaniel Hawthorne https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1291476587p2/7799.jpg]? I'm so glad you (well, I) asked. It's was Mia's prohibited trip into a library and her love of his book [b:The Scarlet Letter 12296 The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404810944l/12296.SY75.jpg 4925227] that gave her the courage to escape. Why? Here's how Hoffman explains our undeniable need for a good book.“Real life is unbelievable. Souls are snatched away from us, flesh and blood turn to dust, people you love betray you, men go to war over nothing. It's all preposterous. That's why we have novels. To make sense of things.”Mia is able to connect with Hawthorne in a way only a deft writer of magical realism could connect them. Even though I haven't read The Scarlet Letter in ages, it all came back to me anew with a interpretation that is so poignant in our women's rights-challenged world. Don't just read this book. Live in it. Dream of it. Let it carry to you to places you thought you couldn't go.

3.5⭐
Really enjoyed this one. Some parts of the book I felt like it jumped quickly. Chapters were longer than I would have liked

I just finished The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman and here is my review.

Mia was ready for it all to be over. Just a teen and she could see no way out from the commune.. Then she finds a book... The scarlet letter and she decides that day that she will find a way to survive.

Her mother's death is the catalyst for Mia running away from the evil cult leader and the man who calls himself her father. Books were her savior and she never abandoned them like they never abandoned her.

Spending her life loving an author from another time has kept Mia's sanity but she also discovers that she can travel back in time to where her love lives, proving to Mia that anything is possible if you believe in it hard enough.

I loved every single second of this book. Magical realism is one of my favorite genres and this book did not disappoint. I loved that not just metaphorically speaking but actually, a book gave her the power to travel. It was magnificent yet devastatingly heartbreaking for Mia.

The plot was exciting and rich with lots of descriptive scenes and excellent narrative. I really enjoyed the parts about the cult. What a horrific way to have to grow up. Being a hardcore book lover I felt a kinship with Mia. Books were not tolerated in the community and Mia finding books she fell in love with was like watching a bird taking flight. It was breathtaking to share in her joy.

The book covers Mia's life as a girl all the way up until she finds herself in the past. I hope there is a book 2. I want more of Mia's story. I want to know if she held any book and went to the place the author lived, whether she could travel to their time or whether it was just her connection to Nathaniel.

Beautiful book and 5 stars from me. If you love magical realism like I do, then this has to be your next book.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for my gifted copy

Rating: 4.25 leaves out of 5-Characters: 3/5 -Cover: 5/5-Story: 3/5-Writing: 4/5Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Lit Fic-Historical Fiction: 5/5 -Fantasy: 4/5-Magical Realism: 4/5-Lit Fic: 5/5Type: EbookWorth?: YesHated Disliked Meh It Was Okay Liked Loved FavoritedWant to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.I have only read a couple of books by Alice Hoffman, Green Angel Series, when I was younger and though I found her style of writing to be on the odd side I loved every second. For this novel though, there were times I was just kind of confused. The magical part seemed to have appeared a bit out of no where. There was nothing leading up to it being introduced. Other than that I liked the story well enough. Screw cults, about the nicest thing I could possibly ever say. If you are looking for a quick and little odd read I suggest giving this book a try!