"Everything My Mother Taught Me" by Alice Hoffman- 2019 - A Short Story

 

"Everything My Mother Taught Me" by Alice Hoffman- 2019 - A Short Story

A few days ago I read a very moving short story by Alice Hoffman, "The Bookstore Sisters". The death of the husband of one of the sisters is at the heart of the plot. My own life is now totally overshadowed by the passing of my wife last year. Today's Alice Hoffman story, "Everything My Mother taught Me" centers on a girl in her early teens trying to cope with the way too early death of her very loving father. Upon his death, the girl stops speaking

Her mother is a despicable person, she cheated on her husband and made no efforts to help her daughter cope. She resented her daughter as she felt men would not be interested in her because of what she perceived as an unfair encumbrance.

The mother gets a job on a lighthouse island, doing laundry and being a servant to the wives of the three lighthouse keepers.  

I do not want to give the away how the girl finds a path out of her pain but the plot twists are brilliant and I loved the ending 

I am still seeking suggestions as to further reads in Alice Hoffman

 Alice Hoffman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty works of fiction, including Practical Magic, The Dovekeepers, Magic Lessons, and most recently, The Book of Magic. Her works have been translated into more than twenty languages, she has been 

Nominated for multiple awards, and adapted for the screen. She lives in Boston. Visit her website at www.alicehoffman.com.

Mel Ulm