Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this poignant collection of interlinked short stories. The outer Cape Cod setting was so evocative for me, and following the generations of owners of a particular home from its construction during the pre-colonial era to modern day was enthralling. The stories are often dark and tragic, with a touch of mysticism. Even though the characters shift from story to story, their development is so rich that they feel as robust as those in a full length novel. What resonated most was the author’s depiction of love, whether between a long-married couple, or a mother and child, it was authentic. Hoffman’s love is palpable. This is a really short and delicious read. Try it even if you don’t think you like short stories, because they flow together beautifully with the original homestead providing the architectural framework for several lifetimes of love, pain and salvation. ~ Ms Dimmick