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River King, The
 

The River King

by Alice Hoffman

There are two things any reader can count on when coming to Alice Hoffman: her prose and a remarkable empathy for those who live on the fringes of society. In her 13th novel, the author turns both to good account. Set in a tony private school located in a small New England town, The River King traces an intricate weave of intersecting lives over the course of a year. The Haddan... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  alice hoffman,  contemporary fiction,  magical realism,  new england (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

Karen K (K2)
  • Rated 4 stars

“This is the tale of a divided town, a private school and the students who attend a public school and the town students who resent the students from the private school. It is about hazing, loving the wrong person, and a little bit of ghosts and magic. It is poignant and sad as characters learn about themselves and about other people they thought they knew. It is very well-written. I really like Alice Hoffman’s story.”

Karen K (K2)’s full review »
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Community:
  • Rated 3.832298 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 3.5 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Maryam Al-D

    maryam al-d said:

    “Mmm. (Yes, actually I think I should...)
    I haven't read it again, and I thought that the only other book I've read by Hoffman, The Probable Future, was much better, As for the ending; if you can't solve a mystery through a character, leave it unsolved is what I think.”

    posted Sunday, June 1 2008
  • uplandpoet

    uplandpoet said:

    “actually, on a thorough rereading, i would disagree, this is not her best nor her worst. i thought it ended rather well.”

    posted Saturday, April 26 2008
  • Maryam Al-D

    maryam al-d said:

    “Hah.
    Hah.
    Hah.

    To tell the truth, I've always wondered how books like this are published. Books that have no meaning whatsoever. Books that leave nothing but a taste of bitter disgust in your mouth.
    This is one of them.
    I was very surprised after I read The Probable Future by the same author- the story had so much more in plot, which is the sad flaw of this one. Sick, honestly. Shoving a boy's head down a toilet? True, authors can have the right to put anything in their books, and I guess everyone has a right to one gruesome death. Not.
    Even at the end, there is just no..... POINT! Mystery unsolved! The only way Hoffman can give us her despicable killing technique is through an anonymous third-person narrative at the end.
    In any case, I would not recommend this book to anyone in any way; don't waste your time. Do yourself a favor.
    Cheers!
    M”

    posted Saturday, April 26 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
  • HummingBirdy

    hummingbirdy said:

    “I've started a group called Fans of Alice Hoffman if anyone would care to join. I think it would be fun to discuss her many wonderful books.
    http://www.shelfari.com/groups/20306/about”

    posted Wednesday, January 23 2008
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