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euphemiajo's review against another edition
2.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
_mirambo_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Murder
walter_the_wombat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault
kimberg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
cocacolor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'd read another Hoffman before, the historical THE WORLD THAT WE KNEW, and wasn't terribly impressed by it, so I came here expecting more of the same. Here, though, Hoffman's style really does work. Though the characters are also drawn in broad brushstrokes and the romances instant, PRACTICAL MAGIC really makes it feel like more of a conscious nod to fairy tales than simply bland writing. The omniscient narrator, who sometimes switches the character being followed within the same paragraph, the doses of wisdom, and the lyricism all combine to make a great experience; Hoffman knows exactly when to dole out backstory to make the reader appreciate their increasingly more whole understanding of the Owens family and the world.
I'm of two minds, though, because the political imagination at work here isn't great. Everyone is white; everyone is heterosexual. The cure for the characters' flaws is the right man. The main characters are all neatly paired off at the end; just find your true love and you'll be fixed, Hoffman seems to say. The pre-cell phone milieu is interesting and evocative, but drives home the kind of stifling suburban whiteness that characters aspire to.
Overall, a serious and occasionally dark book about sisterhood and female family members in a magical realism milieu, where the cure for all conflict is heterosexual romance.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Rape, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Death of parent
erinalt90's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
To say this book was disappointing would be an understatement. You can tell this was the first book written. I'm not sure that is an excuse for how poorly the characters were developed or the story line that was hardly there. If you're reading this series you will notice that Practical Magic not only does not fit into the series but also contradicts some characters' backstory. It also lacked well established facts of the world it takes place in and there is very little magic.
The characters are not lovable and I would even go to say that I didn't care what happened to them. In fact there were main characters that if they had disappeared I wouldn't have cared.
The plot is put together like leftovers on a plate and then put in a microwave.
There are entire scenes that have nothing to do at all with the book including a scene where a child is almost SA'd.
I would not recommend this book at all. The movie was better and I will pretend like this book doesn't exist in the series. So disappointing.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
blewballoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
lydia123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I was surprised how little magic there was in the book. Definitely something to be aware of if you’re expecting it.
I’d also say that this book suffers from 90s-itis (everything is comforting and whimsical and beautiful) which can be offputting if you aren’t used to it. Personally, I love it.
I also felt that there was soooo much backstory … even at the end!!! What??
Anyway, all that being said - i really liked this book. I wanted something witchy and comforting & that is what I got :)
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
lenagf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism and Bullying
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Car accident, and Death of parent
sarasreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The book meanders about in a way that didn't really grab me, but at the same time, I enjoyed picking it up each time. The atmospheric writing, and the down-to-earth witchy details were wonderful. I was surprised how attached I'd become to the characters at the end.
In the movie, what drives the story forward is the plot, but in the book what drives it forward are the characters, the new and interesting choices they make, and the relationships they mess up, mend, and forge. I'm so looking forward to reading the rest in this series and getting to know more Owens women!
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal death and Sexual violence
Minor: Murder