A New York Times bestseller about a 1950s suburb transformed by the arrival of a divorced mother: “part American Graffiti, part early Updike” (The New York Times). On Hemlock Street, the houses are identical, the lawns tidy, and the families traditional. A perfect slice of suburbia, this Long Island community shows no signs of change as the 1950s draw to a close—until the fateful August morning … close—until the fateful August morning when Nora Silk arrives.
Recently divorced, Nora mows the lawn in slingback pumps and climbs her roof in the middle of the night to clean the gutters. She works three jobs, and when her casseroles don’t turn out, she feeds her two boys—eight-year-old Billy and his baby brother, James—Frosted Flakes for supper. She wears black stretch pants instead of Bermuda shorts, owns twenty-three shades of nail polish, and sings along to Elvis like a schoolgirl.
Though Nora is eager to fit in on Hemlock Street, her effect on the neighbors is anything but normal. The wives distrust her, the husbands desire her, and the children think she’s a witch. But through Nora’s eyes, the neighborhood appears far from perfect. Behind every neatly trimmed hedge and freshly painted shutter is a family struggling to solve its own unique mysteries. Inspired by Nora, the residents of Hemlock Street finally unlock the secrets that will transform their lives forever.
A tale of extraordinary discoveries, Seventh Heaven is an ode to a single mother’s heroic journey and a celebration of the courage it takes to change.
more
Love her books
All of her books are great
I love Alice Hoffman’s full sensory writing style. She captures the heart and soul of all of us in her characters. Seventh Heaven pulls you in to a small neighborhood that appears to be perfect, until divorcee Nora Silk moves in. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. The story is lightly sprinkled with spirits and magic as the people on …
The book itself was well-written, as were the characters. Many characters…married couples and their children. This was a story of a divorced woman moving with her two young sons into a neighborhood where she was very different from the families who lived there and the only one without a husband. She struggled to be accepted.
I loved the book; …
I put it down part way through, too many good books out there to waste my time on this one. Not the worst book I ever started, just not worth my time.
I love Alice Hoffman and this book did not disappoint
The book started in a way that caught my attention, but I realized that the characters were not the kind of people I enjoy reading about.
I forced myself to read half way through it. Did not hold my interest at all.
Beautifully written, captivating characters and couldn’t put it down. Taking place in the 40’s was a true depiction of the times. Really loved this writer.
I usually love anything by Alice Hoffman. This one did not interest me. I didn’t finish it.
A step back into 1959. Interesting characters. I enjoy Alice Hoffman’s stories.
Dumb
Lyrical language and timeless plot that draws you into the characters. Hoffman is a master!
Not the kind of book I usually read, but I really enjoyed it.
Anything written by Alice Hoffman is a page turner. You never know how the characters are going to come together or how the ending will end.
Entertaining with a good message.
A good read. The realization of finding yourself in a life you thought you wanted and then wondered how you got there.
Loved the way she described the era. Characters were interesting. A little bit of magic was thrown in, no extra charge.
The characters and the plot in this book really made me reconsider traditional roles in a good way!
It seems disjointed. It is not of the caliber I’ve come to expect from her books.