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Turtle Moon
When Keith Rosen runs away from his Florida home—inexplicably taking along a motherless baby—his mother is perplexed, terrified, and ultimately takes off on her own journey to find him. The story of a divorced woman, her disillusioned teenage son, and the events that change their lives in ways both simple and extraordinary, Turtle Moon follows their path, in a suspenseful, beautifully written story that confirms once again the exquisite talent of Alice Hoffman.A
Hardcover
First published May 1, 1992
363 people are currently reading
7425 people want to read
About the author
Alice Hoffman
130 books25.4k followersAlice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The World That We Knew; The Marriage of Opposites; The Red Garden; The Museum of Extraordinary Things; The Dovekeepers; Here on Earth, an Oprah’s Book Club selection; and the Practical Magic series, including Practical
Magic; Magic Lessons; The Rules of Magic, a selection of Reese’s Book Club; and The Book of Magic. She lives near Boston.
Magic; Magic Lessons; The Rules of Magic, a selection of Reese’s Book Club; and The Book of Magic. She lives near Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 694 reviews
August 10, 2018
Impresionante! Es increíble cómo un libro que no te atrae, es capaz de convertirse en una maravillosa sorpresa. Una novela que ha llegado a mis manos por azar y se ha convertido en una de las mejores lecturas de este año.
June 30, 2019
After leaving her New York husband, Lucy finds herself in the midst of like women who have happened upon Verity, Florida. The Florida heat, the jungle-like forests, the insects, and the powerful force of May madness thrust Lucy in the midst of a murder and the mysterious disappearance of her 12 year old son. All of these characters are interesting, entertaining, and surprising when Hoffman unveils their true selves. The scene stealer, though, is Arrow, the barely civilized tracking dog that teaches Lucy’s son a valuable lesson about himself and life.
There was just enough whimsy in this Alice Hoffman novel to make it a perfect summer porch read. Entertaining and smoothly written, it’s recommended for lazy summer days.
There was just enough whimsy in this Alice Hoffman novel to make it a perfect summer porch read. Entertaining and smoothly written, it’s recommended for lazy summer days.
March 13, 2016
Μια γυναίκα δολοφονείται, δυο παιδιά εξαφανίζονται, ένα κακό αγόρι πιάνει φιλία με έναν τρελό σκύλο, ένας άσχημος άντρας ερωτεύεται μια όμορφη γυναίκα και ένας άγγελος προσπαθεί να συγχωρέσει για να περάσει στον Παράδεισο. Καταπληκτικός συνδυασμός μαγικού ρεαλισμού και αστυνομικού αναγνώσματος. Διαβάζεται ευχάριστα χαρη στην τρυφερή και ονειροπόλα αφήγηση και γρήγορα χάρη στην ελαφρώς αγωνιώδη δράση. Μου αρεσε πολύ.
November 22, 2007
The first Hoffman book that I ever read (it was recommended to me by another librarian--Karlan Sick). It started me on a frenzy of reading her books. I read everything of hers that had been published up to then, and I've read most of her books since. She's one of my very favorite authors.
June 27, 2020
I first read "Turtle Moon" several years ago. At the time, I was reading every book written by the author, Alice Hoffman. I loved her stories and the way she wove in magical realism. In deciding to read "Turtle Moon" again, I found that the book was still absorbing and fresh. This time however, it was Hoffman's descriptions of Florida's wildlife, trees and marshes which captivated me.
The story itself centers around people who are all running away from something in their lives. Julian is a man who had a rough upbringing and is more comfortable with dogs than people. Lucy is a divorcee who wants to begin a new life for herself and her son in Florida. Her son, Keith, wants to be in New York with his dad and has some emotional problems to work out. Their lives become intertwined in interesting ways. Lest one think that "nothing happens" in this book, the story also revolves around a murder of Lucy's neighbor, the kidnapping of the neighbor's baby girl, and Keith's running away.
This is a book that will stay with me. Hoffman is a superb story teller!
The story itself centers around people who are all running away from something in their lives. Julian is a man who had a rough upbringing and is more comfortable with dogs than people. Lucy is a divorcee who wants to begin a new life for herself and her son in Florida. Her son, Keith, wants to be in New York with his dad and has some emotional problems to work out. Their lives become intertwined in interesting ways. Lest one think that "nothing happens" in this book, the story also revolves around a murder of Lucy's neighbor, the kidnapping of the neighbor's baby girl, and Keith's running away.
This is a book that will stay with me. Hoffman is a superb story teller!
May 24, 2008
I bought this book today for a long subway ride to Morningside Heights. I thought I'd read a chapter or two. I finished it a few minutes ago. I tried to do other things but I just couldn't put this book down. Like a lot of Alice Hoffman's work, it has a magical realistic touch. And unlike a lot of magical realism, it feels very realistic; its details evocative of a real life somewhere. Yet, there is still magic. I think this is why I love Alice Hoffman's work. She creates worlds where magic is entirely credible, like it could happen to me or someone close to me. She also creates such richly human characters that it feels like they are the someone close to me.
The heat of this book is palpable. In other books, people talk about it being hot but in this one, somehow, she made me really feel Florida. It might warm a person up in the middle of winter!
The heat of this book is palpable. In other books, people talk about it being hot but in this one, somehow, she made me really feel Florida. It might warm a person up in the middle of winter!
May 9, 2008
It took ten years, but I finally finished "Turtle Moon" by Alice Hoffman, an off-beat magical, romantic, mystery journey that several characters embark on after a runaway wife is murdered and her baby taken. Some reviewers called this novel suspenseful and thrilling, but its beat sways to the lazy, hot weather in Verity, Florida, where emotions drip like the sap from a gumbo tree and relationships are as messy as the squashed turtles on the road in May. One must wade through a muddled beginning, but the story line eventually straightens out, clarifying the obstacles each character must overcome. Some wonderful moments and insights, especially concerning "...the meanest boy in Verity," kept this reader reading on. However, spread some pixie dust to believe the resolution of the plot, the murder, the kidnapping, and the redemptions. Through all this, it is a good read, and I anoint with a 4.
August 8, 2025
Siempre enamorada del estilo de Hoffman, de sus veranos eternos, sus fantasmas, asesinatos y mujeres enfadadas.
Y especialmente de cómo va hilando todas sus historias y a sus personajes.
Este libro me gustó mucho por los personajes secundarios: el niño que no puede evitar ser infeliz, la anciana que cuida niños que sus madres abandonaron, la joven que se escapa con su bebé e incluso ese perrazo al que nadie puede acercarse... O casi nadie.
Lo peor quizás sea la historia central, algo incongruente a veces y con una de esas parejas enamoradas por la magia y el calor, que tanto le gustan a la autora y a mí pues... Me son indiferentes.
De todas maneras lo disfruté, me transportó a un verano tórrido con ese punto (bastante leve en este caso) de realismo mágico y de personajes atípicos que tanto me gustan.
Y especialmente de cómo va hilando todas sus historias y a sus personajes.
Este libro me gustó mucho por los personajes secundarios: el niño que no puede evitar ser infeliz, la anciana que cuida niños que sus madres abandonaron, la joven que se escapa con su bebé e incluso ese perrazo al que nadie puede acercarse... O casi nadie.
Lo peor quizás sea la historia central, algo incongruente a veces y con una de esas parejas enamoradas por la magia y el calor, que tanto le gustan a la autora y a mí pues... Me son indiferentes.
De todas maneras lo disfruté, me transportó a un verano tórrido con ese punto (bastante leve en este caso) de realismo mágico y de personajes atípicos que tanto me gustan.
July 5, 2018
This was my first Alice Hoffman novel and she immediately became my absolute favourite author. I can only describe Alice's writing as poetry in the novel form. I often have to stop at the end of a sentence and close my eyes, so I can imagine it, smell it, or feel it brush past my skin. Her writing is so vivid I sometimes think I absorb her words rather than just read them. Quirky, raw, heartbreaking and lovely. Treat yourself to every single one.
January 24, 2010
I often pick a favorite quotation from a book and keep it in my own personal list of books I've read. Here's my favorite from this one. The book was written poetically and had a sad and accepting feel to it. "He was waiting to see if his mother would come back for him, even after it became clear that she never would. With every night he spent at the window, his heart closed up a little more, and it would have stayed that way if Bobby hadn't come looking for him. He remembers exactly the way it felt, sitting on the porch with his bucket of toads, blinking in the sunlight, not quite believing that someone had actually found him. He knew, even at the age of seven, how dangerous it was for someone like him to have hope. He knows how to have no expectations. He can completely control not just what he wants, but what he needs."
September 4, 2017
I loved the unique and odd characters. I hated the ending which left me grieving for days.
STORY BRIEF:
Karen is divorced with a baby. She is on the run from her ex-husband and moves to Verity, Florida. Twelve-year-old Keith is the meanest boy in town and lives with his divorced mother Lucy. Julian is a policeman who uses dogs for police work. Julian rarely uses words and believes that bees and mosquitoes don’t sting or bite him because he is too ugly. There is a murder. Keith runs off and may be a witness.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This book is fantastic for its unique, odd and mesmerizing characters. I loved reading about these odd people, but as a story, there were too many unanswered questions and too much sadness for me. Throughout the book, too many people lose loved ones. The worst part of the book was the death of a character at the end. Two days after reading the book, I was still grieving. Why must great authors do this? Why do authors want to depress their readers? On balance, I do recommend the book, but only if you think you can handle the sadness at the end.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 275 pages. Swearing language: moderate to strong. Sexual language: none to mild. Number of sex scenes 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 3. Setting: unspecified time, think 1980s, Florida and New York. Copyright: 1992. Genre: human relationships fiction with mystery and romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Karen is divorced with a baby. She is on the run from her ex-husband and moves to Verity, Florida. Twelve-year-old Keith is the meanest boy in town and lives with his divorced mother Lucy. Julian is a policeman who uses dogs for police work. Julian rarely uses words and believes that bees and mosquitoes don’t sting or bite him because he is too ugly. There is a murder. Keith runs off and may be a witness.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This book is fantastic for its unique, odd and mesmerizing characters. I loved reading about these odd people, but as a story, there were too many unanswered questions and too much sadness for me. Throughout the book, too many people lose loved ones. The worst part of the book was the death of a character at the end. Two days after reading the book, I was still grieving. Why must great authors do this? Why do authors want to depress their readers? On balance, I do recommend the book, but only if you think you can handle the sadness at the end.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 275 pages. Swearing language: moderate to strong. Sexual language: none to mild. Number of sex scenes 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 3. Setting: unspecified time, think 1980s, Florida and New York. Copyright: 1992. Genre: human relationships fiction with mystery and romance.
February 18, 2014
This review has been more difficult than any other I've written. There are some good things to this book, but they are so overshadowed by the bad that it's sometimes hard to see them.
I read the first few paragraph of Turtle Moon in another book, and decided to give it a shot. Though I didn't enjoy it, Turtle Moon gave me the opportunity to parse exactly what makes a good book, one full of potential, go so, so, so bad.
To start with the book as a whole, there are a few glaring problems. First, this book might be described as magical realism by those trying to emulate the form. Realistic/real-world environment? Check. Unexplained phenomenon (ghosts, characters afflicted with inexplicable conditions, a boy crying pebbles)? Check. Association of bizarre events with a particular time of year? You bet. The problem is it fails in some of the more subtle means the genre employs.
If this were magical realism, it lacks the political and social advocacy that informs much of the traditional works in the genre. The focus is primarily on middle class (actually, upper-middle class) divorcees who moved to Florida with their kids. I was born and raised in Florida, in a town where a large number of such people moved. Trust me, they usually aren't the type to garner much sympathy. And Hoffman's characters aren't either. If this were about how hard it is to raise a child on your own, I'd give it a pass. Instead, it's a clichéd washing of "kids grow up and it's hard to let go."
On the topic of Florida, a few words must be said about Alice Hoffman's treatment of the state. Like most non-residents and non-natives, she treats Florida as just a coastline with some other stuff attached somewhere. The only real place she mentions is Tallahassee. All her other places are fictitious, which is fine, except the way she describes them violate the suspension of disbelief if you know anything more about Florida than beaches. She describes her town of Verity on the ocean. That means easy. She describes it as a short drive on the Interstate (presumably 95) from Miami. Then she describes it as extremely rural and small, with lots of wild spaces, and trees, and lakes, and... There's nothing like that on the eastern coast of Florida, but particularly anywhere in the southern part of the state. Her description of how it feels in rural Florida in the summer drew me in, but her flawed geography broke that sense of reality and turned me off. Even worse, by the middle of the book, even that initially decent description becomes a pastiche: it's hot, it's humid, there are palm trees. Moving on.
I know at the top I said there was some good to this book, and I'm getting there. There's just one more thing I have to note. Hoffman makes the dubious decision to write in present tense for much of the book. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for her shifting tenses mid-paragraph. You start reading a sentence of present action, which becomes a flashback to past action, and then changes just as abruptly to future. It doesn't make the book difficult to read; it makes it feel less real. Every time you are pulled out of the story because of a change of tense, it's a mark against the style. And trust me, it'll happen at least a few times. And I've avoided mentioning her using overwrought clichés to the point of absurdity.
The plot itself isn't terrible, but it's not good either. A synopsis of the main conflict reads like a Lifetime Original movie. Don't believe me? "When her son is suspected of murdering a neighbor and kidnapping her baby, a mother must work with a loner cop to clear her son's name. But can she help falling for the gruff policeman?" When you take out the poetry of Hoffman's language, that's really what you get. And it's not very exciting, either. There are no shocks, no twists, nothing to differentiate this story from how you expect it will turn out.
Now, that promised good thing. When she's not using clichés, or hackneyed dialogue (which is more than prevalent), or restating the same thing for the tenth or fifteenth time that does nothing to drive plot or character, Hoffman's language can be brilliant. Downright poetic. There are true moments of lyrical beauty in this book, and when you find one, it's very nice. But there aren't enough to make up for the bad that surrounds it. As a vehicle for pretty words, this one is missing all four wheels.
In the end, I'm glad I read this book, but not because there was a modicum of enjoyment to be had. Sometimes it helps to read something bad to remind yourself what makes another book great. And this shows what is bad in spades. By the end, even the attempts to raise the stakes feel hollow, and the imagery around it is boring. I feel like this is an example of a book that could've been great in the hands of someone who knows how to write characters that aren't flat, that can use less clichés, that makes plots better than Lifetime, that knows the area she's writing about better than a tourist, and that knows it's better to tell a story well than try to be cute with the verb tenses.
I read the first few paragraph of Turtle Moon in another book, and decided to give it a shot. Though I didn't enjoy it, Turtle Moon gave me the opportunity to parse exactly what makes a good book, one full of potential, go so, so, so bad.
To start with the book as a whole, there are a few glaring problems. First, this book might be described as magical realism by those trying to emulate the form. Realistic/real-world environment? Check. Unexplained phenomenon (ghosts, characters afflicted with inexplicable conditions, a boy crying pebbles)? Check. Association of bizarre events with a particular time of year? You bet. The problem is it fails in some of the more subtle means the genre employs.
If this were magical realism, it lacks the political and social advocacy that informs much of the traditional works in the genre. The focus is primarily on middle class (actually, upper-middle class) divorcees who moved to Florida with their kids. I was born and raised in Florida, in a town where a large number of such people moved. Trust me, they usually aren't the type to garner much sympathy. And Hoffman's characters aren't either. If this were about how hard it is to raise a child on your own, I'd give it a pass. Instead, it's a clichéd washing of "kids grow up and it's hard to let go."
On the topic of Florida, a few words must be said about Alice Hoffman's treatment of the state. Like most non-residents and non-natives, she treats Florida as just a coastline with some other stuff attached somewhere. The only real place she mentions is Tallahassee. All her other places are fictitious, which is fine, except the way she describes them violate the suspension of disbelief if you know anything more about Florida than beaches. She describes her town of Verity on the ocean. That means easy. She describes it as a short drive on the Interstate (presumably 95) from Miami. Then she describes it as extremely rural and small, with lots of wild spaces, and trees, and lakes, and... There's nothing like that on the eastern coast of Florida, but particularly anywhere in the southern part of the state. Her description of how it feels in rural Florida in the summer drew me in, but her flawed geography broke that sense of reality and turned me off. Even worse, by the middle of the book, even that initially decent description becomes a pastiche: it's hot, it's humid, there are palm trees. Moving on.
I know at the top I said there was some good to this book, and I'm getting there. There's just one more thing I have to note. Hoffman makes the dubious decision to write in present tense for much of the book. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for her shifting tenses mid-paragraph. You start reading a sentence of present action, which becomes a flashback to past action, and then changes just as abruptly to future. It doesn't make the book difficult to read; it makes it feel less real. Every time you are pulled out of the story because of a change of tense, it's a mark against the style. And trust me, it'll happen at least a few times. And I've avoided mentioning her using overwrought clichés to the point of absurdity.
The plot itself isn't terrible, but it's not good either. A synopsis of the main conflict reads like a Lifetime Original movie. Don't believe me? "When her son is suspected of murdering a neighbor and kidnapping her baby, a mother must work with a loner cop to clear her son's name. But can she help falling for the gruff policeman?" When you take out the poetry of Hoffman's language, that's really what you get. And it's not very exciting, either. There are no shocks, no twists, nothing to differentiate this story from how you expect it will turn out.
Now, that promised good thing. When she's not using clichés, or hackneyed dialogue (which is more than prevalent), or restating the same thing for the tenth or fifteenth time that does nothing to drive plot or character, Hoffman's language can be brilliant. Downright poetic. There are true moments of lyrical beauty in this book, and when you find one, it's very nice. But there aren't enough to make up for the bad that surrounds it. As a vehicle for pretty words, this one is missing all four wheels.
In the end, I'm glad I read this book, but not because there was a modicum of enjoyment to be had. Sometimes it helps to read something bad to remind yourself what makes another book great. And this shows what is bad in spades. By the end, even the attempts to raise the stakes feel hollow, and the imagery around it is boring. I feel like this is an example of a book that could've been great in the hands of someone who knows how to write characters that aren't flat, that can use less clichés, that makes plots better than Lifetime, that knows the area she's writing about better than a tourist, and that knows it's better to tell a story well than try to be cute with the verb tenses.
August 22, 2015
I really do like Alice Hoffman, I promise! But for some reason the last 3 or 4 books I've read by her were all rather flawed. The writing style is there, but the plots are not.
This particular book seems really lacking in solid motivations. Why did Keith take the infant? Why did the police let Keith's mother investigate? How likely is it that Keith's mother and the infant's mother would have come from the same area of the country and that the infant's mother would have admitted to that?
And what commercial airline would allow a full grown German Shepherd into the passenger cabin AND would have enough leg room that the dog would have room to lie at the owner's feet? Yeah right.
Then for the more spoilery things that bugged me:
This particular book seems really lacking in solid motivations. Why did Keith take the infant? Why did the police let Keith's mother investigate? How likely is it that Keith's mother and the infant's mother would have come from the same area of the country and that the infant's mother would have admitted to that?
And what commercial airline would allow a full grown German Shepherd into the passenger cabin AND would have enough leg room that the dog would have room to lie at the owner's feet? Yeah right.
Then for the more spoilery things that bugged me:
August 12, 2016
ugh. I absolutely do not like to read books after just reading a really good one. Everything pales in comparison. That's what happened here with Turtle Moon. After reading Skylight Confessions, I decided I wanted to read more books by Alice Hoffman, so I made a list of the ones I wanted to read and figured I'd buy any of them that I saw in the thrift stores I frequent. Well, I saw Turtle Moon and Here On Earth both at a Goodwill in La Crosse and was pretty torn between which one looked better. (didn't want to spend a lot of money) Neither were on my list because Here On Earth had some negative reviews on the first page (and was about an affair apparently? not interesting to me) and Turtle Moon's synopsis just sounded boring. I wouldn't say it was boring.. it kept me interested. The problem I had was with the main mom in the book. She came off as pretty arrogant and conceited. She left her husband awhile ago and when she went back to her hometown to get info on the woman that was killed (all while her son is MISSING, no less) she demands her ex-husband take her to their high school reunion. Even though he had a date. And then she's stealing the poor gal's clothes while she stays at this ex's house.. I don't know, that character just really pissed me off. She acted concerned for her son, but yet... not. All the other characters were either well liked or tolerable. The Angel was the most interesting character but NOTHING HAPPENED in his story, if that even makes any sense. Love the way this author writes, still plan on reading more of hers in the future. This book didn't turn me off from her too much. :)
February 8, 2020
I have read 1 short story, Everything My Mother Taught Me, and loved it. I had tried one other book, The Dovekeepers, and put it on the back-burner because of its length.
Turtle Moon is good, but nothing spectacular. The characters are too predictable. I guess I like to be surprised every once in a while.
Lucy Rosen - a divorced woman in her early 30's. Ran away to Florida when her son was a baby. Her son is now 12 and wants to live with his father.
Keith Rosen - the now 12 year old son: the meanest boy in Verity Florida.
Julian Cash - a police detective in Verity who trains dogs. He was abandoned as an infant but brought up by a caring spinster, Miss Giles.
Bethany Lee - a mother who has fled from her husband and changed her identity in the process.
The Angel - the ghost of Julian's cousin, Bobby.
There is a murder and Keith is suspected. Read the book to see who really did it.
The title of the book is somewhat ambiguous. Turtle Moon refers to baby turtles who are born on land and need to find the sea. The light of the moon over the water draws them. Frequently with the bright lights seen from land, the turtles get confused and go the wrong way. In turtle season, those who live by the shore are asked to turn off these confusing lights. I suppose if I thought about it, I would see some symbolism here, but what that is has not come to me yet.
3 stars
Turtle Moon is good, but nothing spectacular. The characters are too predictable. I guess I like to be surprised every once in a while.
Lucy Rosen - a divorced woman in her early 30's. Ran away to Florida when her son was a baby. Her son is now 12 and wants to live with his father.
Keith Rosen - the now 12 year old son: the meanest boy in Verity Florida.
Julian Cash - a police detective in Verity who trains dogs. He was abandoned as an infant but brought up by a caring spinster, Miss Giles.
Bethany Lee - a mother who has fled from her husband and changed her identity in the process.
The Angel - the ghost of Julian's cousin, Bobby.
There is a murder and Keith is suspected. Read the book to see who really did it.
The title of the book is somewhat ambiguous. Turtle Moon refers to baby turtles who are born on land and need to find the sea. The light of the moon over the water draws them. Frequently with the bright lights seen from land, the turtles get confused and go the wrong way. In turtle season, those who live by the shore are asked to turn off these confusing lights. I suppose if I thought about it, I would see some symbolism here, but what that is has not come to me yet.
3 stars
September 26, 2011
This book centers on a small town in Florida that seems to draw single mom's running from their past. They know each other in a superficial way but they keep their secrets to themselves. Until one of them is murdered . .
Lucy's young, troubled son Keith (12 going on 18) turns up missing, along with the murdered woman's baby. This brings her closer to officer Julian who is a bit of an enigma. He believes he's ugly and relates better to his canine companions than to people. If this were written by another author I'd expect the two to track down the missing kids and fall into a blissfull love affair but it's a Hoffmann novel and her stories are more complicated and melancholy.
This book, like the others I've read by Hoffmann, focuses more on its offbeat characters than it does it's mystery and that's fine by me. It's bittersweet and doesn't go where you expect it too.
Lucy's young, troubled son Keith (12 going on 18) turns up missing, along with the murdered woman's baby. This brings her closer to officer Julian who is a bit of an enigma. He believes he's ugly and relates better to his canine companions than to people. If this were written by another author I'd expect the two to track down the missing kids and fall into a blissfull love affair but it's a Hoffmann novel and her stories are more complicated and melancholy.
This book, like the others I've read by Hoffmann, focuses more on its offbeat characters than it does it's mystery and that's fine by me. It's bittersweet and doesn't go where you expect it too.
September 23, 2017
I don't think I finished this as she just rambled on and on and on.........in the strangest most pointless fashion. A couple of her books are excellent but this is NOT one of them. I got very bored.
May 25, 2016
“Every May, when the sea turtles begin their migration across West Main Street, mistaking the glow of the street lights for the moon, people go a little bit crazy.”
– This is a novel about loners; dogs; vagabond spirits; angels; and the magical words that swirl around them. Once you enter Verity, you will not want to leave. Even with heat so hot you could fry an egg on the concrete. And once you meet Julian Cash and Keith Rosen, you’ll know. You just will.
“Since Verity is the most humid spot in eastern Florida, local people know enough to drink their coffee iced in the morning. The air all around the town limits is so thick that sometimes a soul cannot rise and instead attaches itself to a stranger, landing right between the shoulder blades with a thud that carries no more weight than a hummingbird.”
The characters jump off the pages, and everything that happens including the murder and kidnapping will keep you riveted.
– This is a novel about a sensual chemistry between two loners; the suspense that slowly creeps-up before you know you’re right in the thick of it; and the seductive lure of a small town – where nothing happens ….. I’ve fallen in love with Alice Hoffman.
“At 27 Long Boat Street, just off West Main, in a pink stucco condominium facing the flat blue bay, there lived a twelve-year-old boy, a mean little Scorpio named Keith Rosen, who would have liked nothing better than to knock someone’s block off.”
When I turned the last page, I actually blurted ‘No’ out-loud, then turned back to the ’last’ page and read it again. I wasn’t ready for my trip to Verity to end. But it was over. I didn’t want it to be. I already missed everyone, and the book was still in my hand.
Great place to escape – if you’ve a mind to ….. Even in the sweltering heat. Even in the month of May.
– This is a novel about loners; dogs; vagabond spirits; angels; and the magical words that swirl around them. Once you enter Verity, you will not want to leave. Even with heat so hot you could fry an egg on the concrete. And once you meet Julian Cash and Keith Rosen, you’ll know. You just will.
“Since Verity is the most humid spot in eastern Florida, local people know enough to drink their coffee iced in the morning. The air all around the town limits is so thick that sometimes a soul cannot rise and instead attaches itself to a stranger, landing right between the shoulder blades with a thud that carries no more weight than a hummingbird.”
The characters jump off the pages, and everything that happens including the murder and kidnapping will keep you riveted.
– This is a novel about a sensual chemistry between two loners; the suspense that slowly creeps-up before you know you’re right in the thick of it; and the seductive lure of a small town – where nothing happens ….. I’ve fallen in love with Alice Hoffman.
“At 27 Long Boat Street, just off West Main, in a pink stucco condominium facing the flat blue bay, there lived a twelve-year-old boy, a mean little Scorpio named Keith Rosen, who would have liked nothing better than to knock someone’s block off.”
When I turned the last page, I actually blurted ‘No’ out-loud, then turned back to the ’last’ page and read it again. I wasn’t ready for my trip to Verity to end. But it was over. I didn’t want it to be. I already missed everyone, and the book was still in my hand.
Great place to escape – if you’ve a mind to ….. Even in the sweltering heat. Even in the month of May.
January 20, 2023
When you read a book by Alice Hoffman, you never really know what you’ll get. I have absolutely loved some of her books, and thoroughly disliked others. One thing’s for sure. You have to CALM DOWN to read anything she writes. Her writing is usually very whimsical and full of magic, and she is never in a rush to get to the point. There are times when I need this style of hers. This one, for me, didn’t work.
The small town of Verity in Florida harbors many divorced women. Lucy has a 12 year old son who is defiant and rebellious. Karen has a baby daughter. Julian is the town canine cop. When there is a murder and a runaway kid, their lives collide.
I think the reason this fell flat for me is because the dreamy, magical atmosphere just didn’t go with the subject matter. The plot seemed to make sense when I was reading it due to the hypnotic writing style, but once I put the book down and thought about it, things didn’t add up at all. Motives just weren’t rational. Motives don’t always need to be completely rational in an Alice Hoffman story (it’s not Dragnet after all) but when the law and crime is involved, things change and the book needs to at least try to resemble reality as much as possible or the story becomes silly.
I did enjoy much of the gorgeous descriptive writing, though, and for that I will give it 3 stars.
The small town of Verity in Florida harbors many divorced women. Lucy has a 12 year old son who is defiant and rebellious. Karen has a baby daughter. Julian is the town canine cop. When there is a murder and a runaway kid, their lives collide.
I think the reason this fell flat for me is because the dreamy, magical atmosphere just didn’t go with the subject matter. The plot seemed to make sense when I was reading it due to the hypnotic writing style, but once I put the book down and thought about it, things didn’t add up at all. Motives just weren’t rational. Motives don’t always need to be completely rational in an Alice Hoffman story (it’s not Dragnet after all) but when the law and crime is involved, things change and the book needs to at least try to resemble reality as much as possible or the story becomes silly.
I did enjoy much of the gorgeous descriptive writing, though, and for that I will give it 3 stars.
August 1, 2018
So torn. I wanted to love this, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, with reservations. It’s quite good, don’t get me wrong. The beginning scenes are difficult to follow, and the characters hard to put in context. Things seem to jump around oddly, and maybe that was Hoffman’s intent. Anyway, it’s best to just press on, as it all sorts itself out eventually. Pretty much all of the cast are somewhat whacked, and it got in my way a bit at times. As well, the denouement left a bit to be desired for me. OK, so I’m a sucker for happy endings, and this wasn’t that. Nothing really negative or devastating, but the story just sort of ground to a halt, with no resolution. Rereading this, I sound rather negative, but in fairness it’s an interesting story, it’s definitely alluring, I just have an undefined feeling that it could have been a more satisfying journey...worth a read, I like Hoffman, and I will read her again.
May 29, 2020
My Original Thoughts (1999):
Very Good! I couldn't put it down, yet didn't want it to end. Magical realism. Murder mystery. Romance. Better than Here on Earth. I like her writing style. Very quick and easy to read. Good entertainment!
My Current Thoughts:
I only have a vague recollection of this novel, but it sounds like I really enjoyed it.
Very Good! I couldn't put it down, yet didn't want it to end. Magical realism. Murder mystery. Romance. Better than Here on Earth. I like her writing style. Very quick and easy to read. Good entertainment!
My Current Thoughts:
I only have a vague recollection of this novel, but it sounds like I really enjoyed it.
December 3, 2025
When I first read this book years ago I was so taken by Hoffman's unusual style that I gave it five stars. Now on a second reading, I give it three. Maybe my taste has matured, or maybe I've simply become more critical. In the meantime I've read other Hoffman books, and I know that she very much likes the occult, birds, dogs and all three of these things together. This time around I felt she overdid it and it rather got on my nerves. Nonetheless, it is a good story with snappy characters.
October 4, 2009
Take another journey into the heart. That is what all of Alice Hoffman's books will do for you. She is an old soul who knows how to spin a fantastic tale ripe with the beingness of the human experience. This book is no exception.
Turtle Moon was actually the first of her books which I read. I became an avid fan following this first experience. Ms. Hoffman delves into the richness of human relationships while exploring the mystical dimensions which we can all experience if we open ourselves to them. This book may just give you a hankering that will lead you in that direction.
Turtle Moon is a book with a strong spiritual theme. Being the author of a spiritually-oriented book entitled "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude," I always appreciate books that explore this oftentimes hidden dimension of the human experience. Turtle Moon will help you make a soul connection.
Davis Aujourd'hui, author of "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude"
Turtle Moon was actually the first of her books which I read. I became an avid fan following this first experience. Ms. Hoffman delves into the richness of human relationships while exploring the mystical dimensions which we can all experience if we open ourselves to them. This book may just give you a hankering that will lead you in that direction.
Turtle Moon is a book with a strong spiritual theme. Being the author of a spiritually-oriented book entitled "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude," I always appreciate books that explore this oftentimes hidden dimension of the human experience. Turtle Moon will help you make a soul connection.
Davis Aujourd'hui, author of "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude"
August 21, 2007
This is really stupid, but months after reading it, I'm still *mad* at this book! I really enjoyed the first half, and then it just tanked into this terrible, pointless ending. I've been using the book to hold down the cover on my dried soup mixes after I've added hot water to them, and it's water-damaging the book--which I feel *deserves it*. I love Hoffman's writing, but sometimes her plotting just isn't up to the task.
April 13, 2022
This book felt so raw and emotional to me. I think it’s the kind of thing that has to be read at a specific time in your life, though. I’m a mom, and a grandma, but I still feel like a teenager trying to figure out what to do with my life. This book spoke to that trifecta. It’s about life and loss, moving forward and remembering the past, getting on with things and getting over things. I can see why people would hate this. I can see why people would love it. I’m one of them.
June 10, 2019
A murder, a baby, romance and magic realism. What is not to like? This is one of the better books I have read by Alice Hoffman.
December 19, 2018
Loved all the characters in this story. Just a great read. I love magical, quirky, life-affirming stories.
April 15, 2025
"He's made of straw
and bones and teeth, furious and ignitable. If someone came up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder, he would turn and bite, then run."
In the thick Florida air I found myself entangled in a life of the residents of hot and humid Verity. From the very beginning I was drawn into following the fates of mothers and children whose lives suddenly fell apart, like the shattered shells of sea turtles. In the face of tragedy and mystery, characters make difficult decisions and form unexpected alliances.
The author of the novel brilliantly shows how the lives of the characters intertwine and connect in an irreversible dance. The interesting way of narration gave me the feeling as if I was wandering along the town's roads surrounded by the buzzing of mosquitoes and the smell of hot asphalt.
The characters' stories and the decisions they made encouraged me to take a journey deep inside myself and ask myself difficult questions.
I didn't expect this novel to charm me so much and to be so captivated in the story. I was pleasantly surprised and the only thing I regretted was that the events in the novel unfolded so quickly. I think it would have been worth developing the characters even more and keeping the reader in suspense a little longer.
and bones and teeth, furious and ignitable. If someone came up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder, he would turn and bite, then run."
In the thick Florida air I found myself entangled in a life of the residents of hot and humid Verity. From the very beginning I was drawn into following the fates of mothers and children whose lives suddenly fell apart, like the shattered shells of sea turtles. In the face of tragedy and mystery, characters make difficult decisions and form unexpected alliances.
The author of the novel brilliantly shows how the lives of the characters intertwine and connect in an irreversible dance. The interesting way of narration gave me the feeling as if I was wandering along the town's roads surrounded by the buzzing of mosquitoes and the smell of hot asphalt.
The characters' stories and the decisions they made encouraged me to take a journey deep inside myself and ask myself difficult questions.
I didn't expect this novel to charm me so much and to be so captivated in the story. I was pleasantly surprised and the only thing I regretted was that the events in the novel unfolded so quickly. I think it would have been worth developing the characters even more and keeping the reader in suspense a little longer.
October 7, 2022
“I could had sent her away right then. But my father has told me that if the devil ever appeared at my door, I should invite it in and act polite, even if I wasn’t feeling much like it. So I invited her in.”
June 27, 2024
I was overdue for a deliciously descriptive Alice Hoffman book. This one is a lot more character driven than ones I’ve read in the past, which are usually plot driven. I really loved the characters, I wish it could have been longer ❤️
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