My first book of the year was a historical fiction one. Alice Hoffman's "Incantation" is a breathtakingly beautiful, heartbreaking book. It's about the very ugly part of history known as the Spanish Inquisition, and it brings you right into the world of a young girl who is growing up and trying to figure out the mysterious world around her. Her nickname is Raven, which makes me smile because I love that name so much I chose it as my own last name, and her best friend's nickname is Crow. It's partly a coming-of-age story set in extraordinary circumstances. I fell in love with Esther's pet pig. In addition to the many important points it makes about people, I love the point I feel it also makes about animals, too. The fact that animals are sentient beings who think and feel so much is often dismissed in real-life, let alone in fiction, but I feel like Alice gets it and brings it in to many of her stories, including this one. I don't think anyone can get through this book without tears, but like life, the wonder in it is worth the pain. I just love the work of @ahoffmanwriter - and that's why I'm giving myself the gift of re-reading her wonderful work this year. Photographed here is a statement from the main character on the first page of the book. #historicalfiction #alicehoffman #incantation #alicehoffmanbooks #alicehoffmanquotes