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    The Sparrow Sisters: A Novel
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    The Sparrow Sisters: A Novel
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    The Sparrow Sisters: A Novel
    Ebook378 pages6 hours

    The Sparrow Sisters: A Novel

    By Ellen Herrick

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    “A haunting, magical, modern-day fairytale.  A feast for the senses.” —Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of First Frost

    With echoes of the alchemy of Practical Magic, the lushness of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, and the darkly joyful wickedness of the Witches of Eastwick, Ellen Herrick’s debut novel spins an enchanting love story about a place where magic whispers just beneath the surface and almost anything is possible, if you aren’t afraid to listen.

    The Sparrow Sisters are as tightly woven into the seaside New England town of Granite Point as the wild sweet peas that climb the stone walls along the harbor. Sorrel, Nettie and Patience are as colorful as the beach plums on the dunes and as mysterious as the fog that rolls into town at dusk.

    Patience is the town healer and when a new doctor settles into Granite Point he brings with him a mystery so compelling that Patience is drawn to love him, even as she struggles to mend him. But when Patience Sparrow’s herbs and tinctures are believed to be implicated in a local tragedy, Granite Point is consumed by a long-buried fear—and its three hundred year old history resurfaces as a modern day witch-hunt threatens. The plants and flowers, fruit trees and high hedges begin to wither and die, and the entire town begins to fail; fishermen return to the harbor empty-handed, and blight descends on the old elms that line the lanes.

    It seems as if Patience and her town are lost until the women of Granite Point band together to save the Sparrow. As they gather, drawing strength from each other, will they be able to turn the tide and return life to Granite Point?

    The Sparrow Sisters is a beautiful, haunting, and thoroughly mesmerizing novel that will capture your imagination.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateSep 1, 2015
    ISBN9780062386359
    Author

    Ellen Herrick

    Ellen Herrick was a publishing professional in New York City until she and her husband moved to London for a brief stint; they returned nearly twenty years later with three children (her own, it must be said). She now divides her time between Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a small town on Cape Cod very much like Granite Point.

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    Reviews for The Sparrow Sisters

    4/5

    31 ratings20 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This started off strong, and as others have noted, had the feeling of an Alice Hoffman or Sarah Addison Allen novel. For me, the magic didn't sustain, though. I read through because I was a fair ways into the novel, and wanted to see how the author dug out from the oppressive sadness created. She did, but the enchantment for me had faded. Still it was a decent enough read, and an interesting twist on a certain type of magic in life. There were hints at the end of a sequel.
    • 4/5
      I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED this story! This is one of the best books that I have read in a while. I have not read a story that elicited so many emotions in a very long time. The characters captured my heart, as well as the story. The characters were so real to life, and their dialogue was so believable that I could just picture these characters so easily. I am eagerly awaiting the next Sparrow Sisters novel. There were a few grammatical errors, but in no way did they hinder the flow of this story. If it weren't for these errors, this would have easily been a five star review. Since LibraryThing doesn't allow half stars, I had to give this book four stars, but my rating is actually four and a half stars for this incredible tale. I highly recommend this book.
    • 3/5
      First, I want to say this isn't my preferred genre, but I wished to taste of something different. Perhaps that is why I felt this story is 'okay.' The writing style feels slightly labored, and I wasn't drawn into the characters enough to be bewitched. It has an interesting storyline, and if this is your usual type of read I'm sure you'll enjoy it more than I did--which is why I gave it 3 stars, rather than battled on a lower rating. It's okay, not bad.
    • 4/5
      I received this book from the Early Reviewers program. This is the story of the three Sparrow sisters and their herbal "magic". When Patience Sparrow is accused in the death of a local boy, the town and those that love the Sisters the most are caught in an epic fight with freedom as ultimate prize. This was a great story with an amazing storyline and those characters that you just fall in live with! Ellen Herrick is definitely an author that will be on my must read list- loved this story!
    • 3/5
      Okay, but read Practical Magic instead.
    • 1/5
      When I read the premise for this book I don't remember reading the references to Practical Magic or the Witches of East End. If I had this would have excited me more about reading this book. Now, that I have seen these references and experienced attempting to read this book, I am saddened. This is because this book was nothing like either of these references. I watched Practical Magic and found it charming, funny, and the sisters shared a great bond. Than there is the Witches of East End. I liked the books way better then the television series. It seems a bunch of other viewers felt the same way as the series was cancelled. However again with that series the family shared a strong bond and there was plenty of action to keep things intriguing. The problem with this book is that I felt no strong connection with the Sparrow Sisters. Also, the tone of this book was monotone and I could only read a few pages at a time as I would get sleepy. Even when Patience got mad I felt nothing. I only got six chapters into this book and put it down.
    • 4/5
      What you don’t know about another person is often more important than what you do know. The new doctor, Henry Carlyle, had secrets. In a small town like Granite Point, the community started gathering stories, some true some not. The Sparrow sisters, even though they’ve lived there all their lives, heralded a bit of mystery as well. Most wondered why none of them had ever married. They’d had some tragedy in their lives. Their mother died when young Impatience (Patience) was born. Their father took to himself, leaving the twin older girls to raise the two younger ones. Then one of the twins had been diagnosed with cancer and could not be saved. They had little tolerance for doctors. But, Patience found something very intriguing about this new doctor. He felt the attraction too, but he didn’t move to Granite Point to get involved with anyone, much less a romance.Patience found that she could make many remedies from their lush garden. Many of the townspeople looked to her for healing. Even Henry became very interested in what she actually does. It all seemed fairly benign. That is until the day that an autistic child dies after having received one of her remedies. How quickly people can turn.Uniquely crafted, these characters will pull your heartstrings. This is a very cozy and comfortable ‘stay-in-your-pjs’ day read. It’s hard to believe this is Ellen Herrick’s debut novel. She certainly has a magic of her own in writing very descriptive and beautiful scenes. The novel is well balanced with character detail, dialogue, and narrative. The ending just may suggest a series, and if so, I would like to visit the Sparrow sisters once again. Rating: 4 out of 5.
    • 4/5
      Granite Point is the typical New England small town with three exceptions: The Sparrow Sisters. Sorrel, Nettie and Patience, named after flowers and sometimes acting like them are well known. Healers, gardeners, lovers and, maybe murderers.A young doctor comes to town and is put out that his potential patients prefer to go the Sisters instead of his office. After all, they don’t know him. Plus, you can tell Patience’ humor by her scent. Bee balm, lemon, gardenia.Each sister has her own tale of passion unlived. Sorrel is in love but he married another. Nettie is in love but he won’t give her the time of day. Patience loves everyone which does her no good at all.When something happens in the little town the friends become enemies. The enemies become hunters of witches. It seem the only thing the Sparrow Sisters can do it lay down and give in. Or do they?This was a rather good story but not as good as I had hoped. I think I was going for another Distant Hours which could never be. On it’s own the characters pop out and you can feel Sorrel and Nettie’s sadness at being alone.
    • 5/5
      I received this as a giveaway in exchange for a review. Having read this, I would definitely buy this book as a gift for others! Herrick's story is very appealing from the setting and characters to the mood and plot. One of my favorite parts is seeing how the sisters' emotions affected the garden and the weather. I use the word "seeing" on purpose because the plants and weather were also vividly described characters. Definitely a great read!
    • 3/5
      I received this as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewers. I really enjoyed this one. It reminded me a lot of the way Alice Hoffman writes (LOVE her), so I'm happy to have a new author in that vein. I found the each character appealing in their own way and found it refreshing that each had their own flaws and idiosyncrasies. I enjoyed all the quirky little details!
    • 5/5
      The Sparrow Sisters is a book far removed from the books I usually choose to read. It’s full of all of the things I really don’t like in stories; modern settings, boy meets girl/girl doesn’t like boy/yet love is in the air romance, and that new term in storytelling, magical realism. And yet I was enthralled. The titular sisters are all single and live in Granite Point a New England town with a long history. Their ancestors were among the founders of the town. Now the three of them live in their ancestral house and run a flourishing nursery on land once owned by a very special woman from their past.All is going along well until a new doctor comes to town and questions one of the sisters’ way of helping the townspeople. Patience has always had a way with plants and she uses her knowledge and that of her ancestors to ease some of the complaints they bring her. The doctor, Henry feels this is dangerous – but even more dangerous are the sparks that fly between the two of them. When someone under Patience’s care dies the small town turns against her and history ends up repeating itself with a modern day witch hunt of sorts.You cannot read this book and expect it to make sense or for everything to align. You need to just release yourself to the story and let it happen. If I were to sit and pick it apart I’d find a million reasons to hate this book but if I take reason out of the equation I want to go back and read it again. It’s a real escapist tale – but don’t let that make you think it’s all unicorns and rainbows because it’s not. The worst of human nature takes a starring role. But the best of human nature has equal billing. The characters are unique and I really want to visit with them again and I truly hope the teaser at the end means there will be another book.
    • 4/5
      The Sparrow sisters’ family was among the founders of the small New England town of Granite Point and even though they keep to themselves, they are an integral part of their community. The three adult sisters live together in the family home and run a nursery, providing the town with fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and, thanks to Patience’s special talents, home remedies. There is a bit of magic, a love story, a tragedy, and a courtroom drama, but mostly this is a charming story of the good and bad parts of small town life, family, and friendship. A great way to while away a hot and steamy, or cool and rainy afternoon. For fans of Sarah Addison Allen.
    • 2/5
      I picked up The Sparrow Sisters with some pretty lofty expectations and I suppose I kind of set myself up for failure there. Being that I’ve ran through Sarah Addison Allen’s library, I’m always looking for new magical realism stories but they seem few and far between. This being compared to SAA as well as Practical Magic had me switching this to all signs point to yes. Unfortunately this was nothing but a disappointment and the magical realism tidbits just didn’t do it for me.There are two parts to this story, but neither actually work. First, this is the story of the Sparrow sisters and how their family came to live in the town for generations upon generations. They’re known for being a little quirky but they’ve simply just become a fixture of the town and their strangeness is simply “accepted”. They keep to themselves, all living together in their family home until a new doctor comes to town who becomes instantly interested in the youngest Sparrow sister, Patience, for absolutely no reason at all. Second part of the story is the attempt at providing some semblance of a point, so there’s a bit of a pseudo-mystery, some moral conundrums, and all around pointlessness. See, Patience Sparrow is known for her herbology remedies via the use of herbs from the family nursery. She seems to have a bit of a gift that’s been seemingly passed down from her family and she’s used it to help treat the townsfolk for years on anything from morning sickness to sleeplessness. When a local tragedy occurs, all signs point to Patience’s involvement just out of sheer negligence because of a misuse of herbs.Patience and the good doctor Henry Carlyle are first introduced and immediately butt heads. Naturally, because we’re all adults here, Henry immediately falls for her prickly nature and insists on getting to know her. The two lack any sort of emotional spark and their attraction to one another remains completely hazy especially with their differing opinions on medicines and treatments. Henry has a secure position on his high horse while he rants and raves about Patience needing to send her patients to a “real doctor”. This is where the moral conundrums are in play.“Look, you don’t expect me to stand back and let you treat a potentially sick child without some kind of conventional” – Henry emphasized the word – “medical participation?”High horse. I told you. Henry would go on and on about the possible dangers of what she was doing and how her herbal remedies were going to hurt people someday. So, the books stance is natural remedies are evil and you shouldn’t trust them and just go to a “real doctor” instead. From personal experience, I never went to a “real” doctor when I was a kid and was raised on homeopathatic (note, different than herbology) remedies. I felt that Henry’s stance on what “proper treatments” are and his constant ranting about “real doctors” was entirely unjustified and encompassed far too much of the book. What made it all the more worse was before Henry, Patience was secure in her knowledge and belief of the good she was doing. Enter Henry and suddenly she’s filled with doubt and regret for her negligence. Please. Taking all the good she did and transforming her into a “witch” was only the next logical step, of course.‘One look at the inscription on the band shell was enough to remind everyone in Granite Point how long it had been since panic seized the town, and how fast it had nearly destroyed it. If there was to be another witch hunt, it certainly had a strong start.’ Yes, because all that was missing was a modern day witch-hunt. The story continued unraveling. In addition to the story/plot itself, the writing felt incredibly stilted. There were some beautifully described scenes and I loved the portrayal of the small New England town, however, it lacked conviction. And good news? This is NATURALLY the start of a potential series.
    • 4/5
      I've read through the three previous reviews of this book on LT. My first thought was that all of them applied. The book is story that has been told. It covers subject matters that are pretty predictable. The Sparrow sisters are nothing new to literature. What one has to keep in mind when trying to critique a book is the fact that though these subjects may be "old hat" to heavy readers, new readers are introduced to the joy of the novel every day. This book is nicely written, time place and characters are all made real by Ellen Herrick's prose. The story contained a bit of mystery, a little romance and enough magic realism to be intriguing to many readers. I worked in bookstores for many years and as I was reading this I could picture exactly which customers I could recommend this title to. There were plenty who came to mind. Ellen Herrick is kind of a Berg, Hoffman, Weiner mix up. If you enjoy these authors you will like this book. Ms. Herrick deserves credit for putting together a story that is entertaining and sure to please a certain audience. We read so as to grow......The Sparrow Sisters is a great stepping stone to that end.
    • 4/5
      This was such a surprise, like a summer gift from the gardens, I won this as an early review and so happy this is what I picked that month! The back page had said if you enjoyed the book, The Language of Flowers, then this was another winner. Truth be told, that book was not one of my favorites but this book never let me down. I loved the stories told of remedies and flowers that all grew too well, why not dream right? Looking out at my gardens as I read and twisting and turning to see how it all ends. I won't give away the ending but look forward to more by Ellen Herrick, hopefully soon!!
    • 3/5
      Ellen Herrick's debut novel introduces us to The Sparrow Sisters, residents of a small seaside town in New England where the witchy ways of Sorrel, Nettie and Patience are mostly tolerated by the locals.Patience's skills as a healer seemed to be affected by the arrival of a new doctor, whose mysterious past draws her to him. When a mix of her special herbs is blamed for a local tragedy,along with a bout of blight spread around the area, hints of an old school witch hunt threatens the fate of all three of the Sparrow women.Perhaps with the help of some of the town women, Patience can brew up a solution to all of their troubles but will that help her chance for romance with the doctor? An enchanting mix of heart felt drama and mystical energy makes this dose of practical magic taste seasonally sweet.
    • 3/5
      What a wonderful novel for a few rainy days! Ellen Herrick presents the enchanting Sparrow sisters: Sorrel, Nettie, and Patience; and the mischief begins. Again years with the old doctor, and very few outsiders, a young, new doctor enters town. Henry Carlyle's appearance sets off a disturbing chain of events within the New England town of Granite Point. Herrick conjures a town trying to enter the 21st century, but still based in the 1600's superstitions. Patience reigns as the center of the story, but other characters surround her. Ben, madly in love with Nettie, serves as a Greek chorus whispering the history of the Sparrow sisters and the town of Granite Point. Ellen Herrick presents a bewitching introduction to the story, and ends with a hint of more to come.
    • 4/5
      Patience and her sisters are that last of one of their towns founding families. Patience and her sisters run a nursery that to some seems magical. Patience specialty are herbal remedies that have permeated the town. A new doctor and a young boy will change the sisters and the town they call home. The Sparrow sisters is reminiscent of the Good Witch with some more subtle magical undertones.
    • 4/5
      If you're a fan of Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic (and who isn't - 25th anniversary this year!), you'll enjoy this novel set on Cape Cod. Three sisters live together in a lobstering village settled by their ancestors and run a nursery with flowers and plants that bloom exorbitantly and frequently off-season. When Henry, a new young doctor and Iraq war medic, settles in town, he is fascinated by Patience, the youngest sister, but when a tragic death occurs and the town blames her, he wavers about being in her corner. This is a good beach read, a bit wispy but the writing holds up as does the reader's interest.
    • 5/5
      The Sparrow Sisters is a book far removed from the books I usually choose to read. It’s full of all of the things I really don’t like in stories; modern settings, boy meets girl/girl doesn’t like boy/yet love is in the air romance, and that new term in storytelling, magical realism. And yet I was enthralled. The titular sisters are all single and live in Granite Point a New England town with a long history. Their ancestors were among the founders of the town. Now the three of them live in their ancestral house and run a flourishing nursery on land once owned by a very special woman from their past.All is going along well until a new doctor comes to town and questions one of the sisters’ way of helping the townspeople. Patience has always had a way with plants and she uses her knowledge and that of her ancestors to ease some of the complaints they bring her. The doctor, Henry feels this is dangerous – but even more dangerous are the sparks that fly between the two of them. When someone under Patience’s care dies the small town turns against her and history ends up repeating itself with a modern day witch hunt of sorts.You cannot read this book and expect it to make sense or for everything to align. You need to just release yourself to the story and let it happen. If I were to sit and pick it apart I’d find a million reasons to hate this book but if I take reason out of the equation I want to go back and read it again. It’s a real escapist tale – but don’t let that make you think it’s all unicorns and rainbows because it’s not. The worst of human nature takes a starring role. But the best of human nature has equal billing. The characters are unique and I really want to visit with them again and I truly hope the teaser at the end means there will be another book.