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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.
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.
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
soph_mills's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
ash_mac's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Car accident, Drug use, Death of parent, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry
karaswils's review
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment
kaayaak's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.75
Was really cute and cozy, I enjoyed getting extra details. It was like a behind the scenes of one of my favorite comfort movies
I do think the movie is way better though. I know - how sacrilege!
I do think the movie is way better though. I know - how sacrilege!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse
favvn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After seeing the movie for absolute years, I decided to finally read the book and wow the changes between the two! I don't know what it was about the 90s and adapting books for film in such a way as to create a wholly separate yet good adaptation but Practical Magic is one of them. (As far as I'm aware because I have yet to read the book, Fried Green Tomatoes is another example of this.)
Super poetic prose which I didn't entirely mind (I wouldn't call it purple prose), but the lack of chapter breaks or nice paragraph breaks sucked as a reader with Other Things To Do than spend the whole day reading.
Super poetic prose which I didn't entirely mind (I wouldn't call it purple prose), but the lack of chapter breaks or nice paragraph breaks sucked as a reader with Other Things To Do than spend the whole day reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
oh_bother's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wanted to love this as much as I adore the film adaptation. The stream of consciousness and switching between narrators randomly was jarring and hard to follow. A lot of boring stuff. Not enough magic. But still found myself rooting for the characters and being charmed a few times. The movie was better but this is different enough that maybe they should be judged separately.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Abandonment
lahariel's review against another edition
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
I was surprised that the movie was so much better than the book. It's written in a manner that is purely exposition, with only a few moments of character dialogue sprinkled in for flavor. If you're looking for something "witchy," you're going to be disappointed. Only the aunts dabble in any sort of spellwork and they're barely in the book. I guess you could consider Jimmy's situation a bit spooky, but he's often treated as a lingering afterthought until an ending is finally needed.
Hoffman loves to wax poetic about every character's entire background (and I mean EVERY character) for pages on end before getting back to the heart of the plot. There are multiple times when I felt like the story just ambled away on me, because ultimately this book is about seizing love in the moment, so it's all about the characters falling in and out of love, seemingly at random, the second they look at anyone.
My recommendation is to just watch the movie.
Hoffman loves to wax poetic about every character's entire background (and I mean EVERY character) for pages on end before getting back to the heart of the plot. There are multiple times when I felt like the story just ambled away on me, because ultimately this book is about seizing love in the moment, so it's all about the characters falling in and out of love, seemingly at random, the second they look at anyone.
My recommendation is to just watch the movie.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
thesonnetsilence's review against another edition
I tried to get into it, but I just couldn't. It started off very slow and just meh for me. I kept finding excuses to not pick this book back up. When I finally mustered up the energy to try it again, I couldn't get past the triggering content. I was not in the right headspace for this one and I'm happy I didn't torture myself to the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexism