Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Il giardino delle magie by Alice Hoffman

17 reviews

noraestelle's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

So I wanted to read this book before ever watching the movie. I always heard the movie was a classic, so I figured the book is too. Honestly, it took me way too long to figure out if I was even reading the first/right book or not. My opinion, the aunts are the only like-able characters in the whole book and I find they’re not in it enough. If you came for a cute witchy book, you’ve come to the wrong place. The only time there is any “witchy” elements in the book is when the aunts are around which isn’t often. They had too many side characters that they would insert their thoughts in, but didn’t really build those characters. Over half of the side characters I did not care about. Honestly, I would have much rather listen to Sally and her husbands love story which we barely got any of. To me that was the only love story in the book, the others were all rushed and felt forced. Not to mention literally every sexual scene feeling uncomfortable and on the verge of not consent. I kept reading this book waiting for it to get good and don’t get me wrong there were cute moments. Maybe I just had too high expectations going into it, but I don’t know. I’d say for 75% of the book I was just waiting for it to be over. I will say the narrator I liked. She sounded like Cher and I lowkey loved that. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Minor: Animal cruelty, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Blended reading (audiobook + physical)

The Details:
Narrated by Laurence Bouvard
Unabridged

Mild spoilers will be in this review as I talk about different parts of the book.

I was initally apprehensive about the lack of chapters, but I needn't worry about that because everything just flowed in such a gentle storytelling way. It was also helpful that it was broken into parts.

I wasn't expecting such a generational saga, but I loved growing up with the sisters Sally and Gillian as they went to live with their peculiar aunts in Superstition. It was interesting to see little bits of witch craft, and from the little snippets of the movie I've seen (only very small scenes out of context), I was surprised that there was a lot of hexing and manipulation of love. It was fascinating to see how both of the very opposite sisters felt about it and also how everyone around them changed their views in different ways as they grew up. I felt like Sally was always getting the short straw of life, rather unfairly, just for being kind and not as bold and carefree as her little sister, so when she finally got a chance at love later on in this part and had a family I was so happy.

In Premonitions I'm happy that Sally was still a main character but the focus shifted on her two children growing up and mirroring the experience her and her sister had with school. I also loved seeing the OG sisters, who had become more and more estranged, reconciled at last.... but not over wholesome circumstances.
The lilacs haunting the sisters, suddenly reminded me of a scene from Weep, Woman, Weep and I wonder if that was inspired by Practical Magic. A pivotal development in this part was Kylie's 13th birthday and that did not go anyway I was expecting it to!

With the way that part ended, I was super interested to see how Clairvoyance would progress the story futher, now that Kylie was coming into her own. The story really developed here as powers were further unearthed and consequences began to come to a head for the run up to the conclusion.

It's weird how fond of the aunts I was, despite them feeling more like off page characters. I missed them and the cats so much when we were following everyone else living their lives.

The whole feel of this story was very whimsical and cosy and felt as if you were being narrated through this odd life, that wasn't super out of the ordinary, but enough to make you second glance. I absolutely adored it and am looking forward to reading the sequel and two prequels.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Addiction, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Stalking, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Blood, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Car accident

colorwriter's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It took me a bit to get into it as it's a very different style of writing than I'm used. This is a charming and unique style of prose and the author did a great job of describing each person's perspective of the family dynamics, making if feel realistic. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Car accident, Drug use, Death of parent, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry

passionatereader78's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• 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

This was an enjoyable read. I loved the movie and wanted to read the book. I liked plot, but the pace was slower than I thought it should be. I didn't like the profanity used in the story. I loved the ending. Sally and Gillian were raised by their aunts who were called Witches. When they grew up Gillian looked for love in all the wrong places and Sally just gave up on it. When tragedy strikes the sisters have to face the lifestyle they left behind and decide if love is worth fighting for. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Death

Moderate: Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use

Family drama, ghost, spirit, sisters, daughters, potions

euphemiajo's review against another edition

adventurous

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Blood, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Animal death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Murder, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Violence

nicolewhopickedthisbook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Maybe it’s because I love the movie but the book just didn’t do it for me… it was similar enough where it was still enjoyable but it didn’t have the same wonder and, quiet frankly, magic, as the movie did… maybe if I’d read the book first 🤷🏼‍♀️ 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual violence, Bullying, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Drug use, and Death of parent

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

fast-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Animal death, and Physical abuse

uranaishi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Death, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Pregnancy, Drug use, Abortion, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Alcohol, and Blood

madison26_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Animal death, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence

lldavey's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Child death, Suicide, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Murder