Within the archaic confines of The Community in Western Massachusetts, runaway Ivy Jacobs and her daughter Mia are dreaming of a better life--a life of freedom in which their every thought isn't decided for them. In The Community, children are shared by all, contact with the outside world is prohibited, and books are forbidden. As Mia grows up under the oppressive eye of The Community's leader, her rebellious spirit and love for books--particularly "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, grows as well.
Before long, Mia's trips to the library lead to that life she's been dreaming of after all.
And so much more.
"The Invisible Hour" is--somehow--my first venture into the magical world of Alice Hoffman. Despite it coming in under 300 pages, it's a well-crafted, wide-sweeping story that surpasses the boundaries of time, place, and generation. Hoffman's descriptive, transportive writing certainly bears an enchanting quality; and, despite the heaviness of the story, there were moments where it felt light, otherworldly, and wonderfully-escapist.
Overall, the plot of "The Invisible Hour" tries to accomplish a lot in a few amount of pages. There were moments when the story felt slightly disjointed or mis-paced a bit, but for the most part I really enjoyed Mia's journey and the magical realism elements to it. Without giving too much away, there was a part of this story that was completely unexpected, and though it was decently-executed, I'm still not sure how I felt about it or its blending of worlds.
Nonetheless, "The Invisible Hour" is an ode to the many lives books allow us to live; this is a read for readers everywhere, and for those longing to find freedom in a place yet unknown. Just lovely.
Rating: 4 Stars
Publication Details: Out 8/15/2023, Atria Books
*Many thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for providing my review copy of this title*
