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The Probable Future
The Probable Future
Author: Alice Hoffman, Susan Ericksen
Women of the Sparrow family have unusual gifts. Elinor can detect falsehood. Her daughter, Jenny, can see people's dreams when they sleep. Granddaughter Stella has a mental window to the future - a future that she might not want to see. — In Alice Hoffman's latest tour de force, this vivid and intriguing cast of characters confronts a haunting pa...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9781590860441
ISBN-10: 1590860446
Publication Date: 6/26/2003
Edition: Abridged
Rating:
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1

5 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Book Type: Audio Cassette
Other Versions: Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Leigh avatar reviewed The Probable Future on + 378 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
Hoffman once again creates magic through descriptive prose, placing you in the schoolroom with Stella, watching in horror as a fishbone protrudes from the throat of her approaching teacher. Then, in a cab on the way home, she must turn from the driver to avoid seeing his large tumor, so clearly visible in his skull.

To me, this novel served to ask the reader two larger questions: When do you decide not to trust someone you love? and Can you regain the trust of those you love in order to create a different future for yourself, when you've made grave and hurtful errors?
reviewed The Probable Future on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
Loved this book! The characters are so good. I really hated to see it end. It is about the relationship between mothers and daughters during the years when a child is trying to become a woman and discovers she has been granted a special gift that has been handed down for generations. Each daughter on her 13th birthday receives a unique gift and it doesn't always seem like a blessing. Each one has a gift that sets them apart from all others. Combine that with trying to become an adult and trying to establish your own personality and it's fascinating and oh, so hard. I highly recommend this book! I will be looking for other books by this author.
Nancy
reviewed The Probable Future on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
First of all, the current murder plays very little in the story. It really functions to being the whole family back together in Unity, the Sparrows hometown, which was fine with me, but if a reader were looking for a good conclusion to that side plot, it isnt here.

Each of the women has a gift or curse, depending on how you look at it. Stella, as we learn early, can see peoples deaths. She deals with it surprisingly well, actually, and she more than either of the other women, makes good use of her gift.

I loved this book. Jenny and Elinor have been estranged for years. Jenny has managed to drive a wedge between herself and Stella, despite how much she didnt want to.Through the book, though, all three of them grow, learn to see the world and each other in different ways. They also learn about love, both for family and for the men in their lives.

Also, this is a spring book, beginning in March and ending in May. It is full of new beginnings, finding true love, and some losses, too. I have to admit that I needed a few tissues toward the end, just a warning.
reviewed The Probable Future on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
This book was written with such vivid description, I felt like I was right there in the house...I wish I was right there in the house. These women's ives were so clorful and full of mystery, I couldn't wait to find out the details of it all!
reviewed The Probable Future on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I absolutely loved this book. In many ways it reminded me of the classic little women. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves intricate stories woven over many years with ample parts love, mystery, some suspense and the goodness of people sometimes hidden or covered with pain over many years.
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reviewed The Probable Future on + 3 more book reviews
I loved this book. In typical Alice Hoffman fashion, it includes wonderful descriptions and development of characters about which the reader actually cares.
reviewed The Probable Future on + 132 more book reviews
Even with the fantasy in this book I felt it compelling. A story of loving & acceptance. The author does a lot of descriptions in her writing is my only objection to the book. I've read other by this author & found that to be the norm. Rather she would spend more time on story itself.
Yoni avatar reviewed The Probable Future on + 327 more book reviews
This is a very sweet and charming book. It was nice for me to read something joyful for a change since my usual reads are very dark. Alice Hoffman does not disappoint.
c-squared avatar reviewed The Probable Future on + 181 more book reviews
Good, but not great. Enjoyable, but predictable.

I liked the (fictionalized) historical backstory, the themes of forgiveness and family relationships. I wasn't crazy about how conveniently everyone paired up and the conflicts were resolved, although I suppose that's to be expected in this genre.
teacharrgh avatar reviewed The Probable Future on + 28 more book reviews
A great novel full of magic and a bit of mystery.


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