Alice Hoffman, the acclaimed author known for her enchanting tales, has recently released her latest novel, *The Witches of Cambridge*, which hit the shelves on 8th September 2023. During a recent episode of Jenna Bush Hager’s *Open Book with Jenna* podcast, Hoffman reflected on her formative years as a reader and the unorthodox path that has shaped her spectacular career as a writer.
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In a candid discussion, Hoffman recounted her childhood, particularly the impact her mother had on her literary journey. After her parents’ divorce at the age of eight, Hoffman lived with her mother, Sherry, whom she described as an “early hippie”. She noted that her mother stood out amongst her peers, particularly at a time when divorce was still a rarity. “I didn’t meet anyone else whose parents were divorced until I went to college,” Hoffman remarked, illustrating the isolation her mother experienced. “She was the kind of person who didn’t clean her house for 30 years. She’d rather read a book.”
It was within the confines of her mother’s home and her shelves of books that Hoffman found a profound connection to literature. She would often sneak a glance at the books that were deemed off-limits, including works by the likes of Shirley Jackson and J.D. Salinger. “I wasn’t supposed to read them,” Hoffman recalled, illustrating how her curiosity led her to explore these authors who ended up influencing her deeply. “But she was really the only mum that I knew who had bookshelves and books. So I think it was a real connection between us.”
Reflecting on her early aspirations, Hoffman confessed that she never considered writing as a viable career for herself. “I was a working-class girl who didn’t do very well at school,” she said, adding that she associated writing with a more privileged class of individuals, often imagining it was reserved for those who attended prestigious institutions like Princeton. Despite her love of reading, she felt that authorship was for “other people, but not for me”.
Hoffman candidly shared her struggles with unhappiness, acknowledging that like many writers and individuals, there was a yearning to create change in her life. “I think I just wanted to change my life and create something different, maybe find out something about my life,” she explained. Remarkably, even after achieving publication success, she hesitated to describe herself as a writer.
Her brother, Ross, played a pivotal role in her academic pursuits, encouraging her to attend Stanford University. It was there she found mentors who recognised her potential. Her academic journey continued at Harvard University’s Divinity School, where her experience would subsequently influence her latest novel. Hoffman mentioned that *The Witches of Cambridge* draws from a term paper she was assigned for a challenging class, which led her to approach her professor about writing fiction instead.
Hoffman’s literary contributions extend beyond her latest release. Earlier this year, she launched a special edition of her beloved work, *Practical Magic*, and recently welcomed the arrival of *Practical Magic 2*, a sequel film based on her 2021 title, *The Book of Magic*, which premiered in cinemas on 11th September.
Throughout her career, Hoffman has emphasised the transformative power of reading. “The way you feel as a reader, that you’re escaping, that you’re becoming a different person…all these gifts that you get from being a reader, I feel like I get it ten times over from being a writer,” she expressed. This immersive experience of storytelling, she explained, allows her to delve into worlds where distractions fade away, and readers become fully absorbed in the narratives created.
As Hoffman continues to inspire readers with her captivating stories, *The Witches of Cambridge* adds to her growing legacy, inviting us all into a magical realm filled with complex characters and intricate plots. For those who have yet to explore this latest addition to her oeuvre, it promises a journey through the power of magic interwoven with the trials of everyday life.