The Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah is a thought-provoking novel that explores themes of family, love, and redemption. The story follows Dr. Julia Cates, a child psychiatrist who is haunted by a tragic incident from her past. She is called to a small town in Washington to help a young girl named Jenny, who has witnessed a horrific crime. As Julia tries to uncover the truth about what happened to Jenny, she discovers a world of secrets and lies that will test her own beliefs and force her to confront her own demons. One of the main themes in the novel is the power of love and its ability to heal and transform lives.
Publisher: Atria
Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor s house. Retreating to her small western Washington hometown, Julia meets an extraordinary six-year-old girl who has inexplicably emerged from the deep woods nearby a child locked in a world of unimaginable fear and isolation.
One of the main themes in the novel is the power of love and its ability to heal and transform lives. Throughout the story, Julia forms a strong bond with Jenny and becomes determined to protect her from further harm. This bond not only helps Jenny to heal, but it also allows Julia to confront her own past and begin her own journey of healing and self-discovery.
DRUNK REVIEW: Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
What I drank: red wine after so much delicious food. Today was the best proper lazy day Ive had in a long time!
Goodreads Overview:
Dr. Julia Cates was one of the country’s preeminent child psychiatrists until a shocking tragedy ruined her career. Retreating to her small western Washington hometown, Julia meets an extraordinary six-year-old girl who has inexplicably emerged from the deep woods nearby—a child locked in a world of unimaginable fear and isolation. To Julia, nothing is more important than saving the girl she now calls Alice. But Julia will need help from others, including the sister she barely knows and a handsome doctor with secrets of his own. What follows will test the limits of Julia’s faith and strength, as she struggles to find a home for Alice . . . and for herself.
Drunk Overview: there are two sisters. One is a small town sherrif, the other a disgraced child psychologist. Suddenly a kid appears out of nowhere Alaska in small town sheriff’s town. Obviously the sister (child psychologist) is the right person to call.
Drunk Thoughts: this book was so gripping
- To start off, if you liked the book/ movie Room, you will probably enjoy this book.
- You get a few different perspectives (one of which is less important than the others – but we’ll talk about that later)
- You learn early that this is has no memory of living in “civilization” and this book has a number of statistics about “feral children”
- And oh God does it get dark.
- I feel like a default theme in this book is that the medical profession fails people (specifically people without guardians who care) far too often.
- Most feral children wound up in mental care facilities abandoned as to much work. Which is where dr. Julia comes in. She makes it get Mission to care for the kid
- And there are some gorgeous parallels to the patient she felt she had failed.
- But the way she studies the girl and figures out her past is so fucking cool.
- I took like two psych classes and college and frankly didnt have the patence for it. But I think the field is fascinating which is probably why U had such a hard time putting this book down.
- The book does well to focus on Julia because her story is so much about regaining confidence after catastrophe.
- The sister Ellie isnt quite as compelling. Her story is more about what I like to call “peripheral understanding” or basically paying attention to the impact you have on the world and people around you.
- I think her story is interesting because women are often trained (by society) to consider those impacts and thinking about the background of someone who doesnt do that is cool.
- But as someone who has struggled with overthinking about the impact O have I kind of wanted to scream “oh get over yourself” sometimes
- Then again, Ive heard the phrase “if youre mad at the character it’s goodbwriting, if youre mad at the author its bad writing” so I guess this is good writing.
- Still, I could have used less of the perspective.
- At this point its clear I like a romance novel, but I almost felt like it took away from the main story which was a platonic love story about parenthood and being a sibling
- Which leads me to a strong point that the ending felt too perfect
- Dont get me wrong, I was happy with the perfect ending. But this book had so much tension and it waz solved so quickly that it felt like a bit of a let down.
- Part of this is due to a twist that felt like it was ripped out of headlines (Full disclosure, I liked the twist – I just don’t think it was utilized to the full extent)
- Goodness, I have so many thoughts about this book.
- And I hope it comes through that I thoroughly enjoyed it
- I read through years for about 30 pages
- And it was cathartic as fuck.
- The epilogue was also set in the right time period (i.e. not too far in the future)
- This point isn’t just about this book, but Kristin Hannah writes books that deal with the depth of families being fucked up and how shitty things can bring people back together and Ive just really enjoyed her books.
What it Pairs With: a nice sipping whiskey, lots of depth, plenty of smokiness, and slightly medicinal
Rating:4.5/5
by Colleen Hoover ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 2, 2016
Another important theme in the novel is the idea of redemption. Julia is haunted by the guilt and shame of a tragic event that happened during her childhood. Through her work with Jenny and her growing relationship with her estranged sister, Julia is able to confront her past and find forgiveness and redemption. The setting of the novel, a small town in Washington, plays an important role in the story. The close-knit community provides a backdrop for the events that unfold and underscores the theme of family and connection. The town also becomes a character in its own right, with its own secrets and hidden depths. Kristin Hannah's writing is hauntingly beautiful and lyrical, drawing the reader into the emotional depths of the characters' lives. The Magic Hour is a powerful and moving novel that explores the complexities of human relationships and the ability to find hope and redemption in the midst of tragedy..
Reviews for "The unforgettable characters of 'The Magic Hour' by Kristin Hannah"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Magic Hour" by Kristin Hannah. The story had potential, but it fell flat for me. The characters lacked depth and felt one-dimensional. I found it hard to connect with any of them, which made it difficult to become invested in their journey. The pacing was also off, with the plot dragging in some parts and rushing through important moments in others. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed.
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - While "The Magic Hour" had an intriguing premise, I couldn't help feeling let down by the execution. The story had so much potential, but it didn't quite deliver for me. The writing felt jumbled and disjointed at times, making it hard to follow the narrative. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and development, which made it difficult for me to empathize with their struggles. The magic elements also felt forced and out of place in the overall plot. While there were some touching moments, they weren't enough to redeem the book for me.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I struggled to get through "The Magic Hour" by Kristin Hannah. The pacing was slow, and the plot felt predictable. The characters were also difficult to relate to, as their actions and motivations often felt forced and unrealistic. The writing style didn't engage me, and I found myself skimming through paragraphs without feeling invested in the story. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations and left me disappointed. I wouldn't recommend it to others looking for a captivating and well-written read.
4. David - 2/5 stars - I don't understand the hype around "The Magic Hour" by Kristin Hannah. The story felt contrived and lacked originality. The characters were clichéd and lacked depth, making it hard for me to care about their fates. The writing was overly descriptive and weighed down the narrative, making it a struggle to stay engaged. While there were a few interesting moments, they were overshadowed by the overall mediocrity of the book. Unfortunately, this didn't live up to my expectations and left me feeling unsatisfied.