Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - Practical Magic

Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

92 reviews

lisa_m's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book. I started reading it because it was the only book I had but I loved it. I read it almost in one go and I still thought about the characters days after I finished it. It is unlike the books I usually read but it absolutely surprised me.
I'm looking forward to reading more books by Alice Hoffman :)

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gissellereads's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-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? No

4.0

This book and the entire series is very much outside of my reading comfort zone. I have a hard time with fantasy or magic books but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I loved immersing myself in the Owen sister’s world and ended up really enjoying Alice Hoffman’s writing.

The story was a little bit slow but I didn’t mind it. There is still a plot and I was entertained. I loved the magic and actually wished there was more. I have already started reading The Rules of Magic (second book published in the series but it is a prequel) and I am loving it because there is a lot more magic there. Who knew I was going to want more magic?

I would say it took me a second to get used to Alice Hoffman’s writing but I am in love with it. It is different so I can see some people not loving it but it worked for me and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.

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justnei's review

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dark funny lighthearted 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

3.0

This was cute! It's the perfect puzzle audiobook, if such a thing exists. It had an 80s soft shimmery kind of vibe, and so I was always thrown off when the writing got crude. I thought the romance aspects very silly and I was convinced the book would end with "surprise! Everyone was under the spell of a love potion" but I guess the obsessive level of love was just a thing for these characters though I am unclear on whether it was specific to this family or not. I found it creepy however.

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aurorasandsadprose13's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

I just did not love the writing style of this book at all. It felt like jumps in time were very abrupt and it took the book forever to actually introduce the storyline of the book….there was so much background. It was entertaining but again not my favorite to actually read.

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shel_bay11's review against another edition

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slow-paced

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

1.0

This was painful. Entire thing felt like one long run-on sentence (which there were many of). Needs major editing. Has potential. Stick to the movie on this one

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thesalalmon's review against another edition

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Oof. I was recommended this when looking for books that were lighthearted with strong female leading characters. It was a ruse. The story is not at all centred on the women it is about, but on their impact or influence on the men around them. It’s also rapey and I got too uncomfortable to continue.

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jude7's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A great book and I'm super excited for the prequels and sequel!! It's a bit different from the movie but I don't think I would say I like one more than the other - the ways the movie is different actually add to the story and simplify some of it. I really enjoyed more of the backstory of Sally and Gillian that is in the book vs barely any in the movie!

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brittishliterature's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

Such a perfect October/Halloween read! I was drawn into the narrative very quickly and looked forward to picking the book up every day. I enjoyed Hoffman's writing style and structure for this novel - it often felt like magic weaving in and out through multiple viewpoints and character stories to create a beautiful tapestry. I usually don't read much magical realism, but after this one, I look forward to trying out the genre more!

The ending felt a little anticlimactic, and I would have liked to spend more time with how it ended. But nonetheless, the ending and the relationships between the Owens family left my heart feeling warm and happy. Overall, I loved it and can't wait to continue with the others in the series at some point!

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genny's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted mysterious slow-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

This was so readable, I just flew through the pages...the writing style really worked for me, though I can easily see how it may annoy others. It almost reads like a stream of consciousness that jumps from one character to another. This is definitely more magical realism than fantasy. There's no deep lore about the women's magical abilities (though this may be explored in the other books in the series); they're not full-blown witches that just happen to live with mortals a la Sabrina the Teenage Witch. They make potions and curses and there's something magical in their bloodline that no one can run from, but it is primarily a family saga.

I can't help but be weirded out by the portrayal of romantic love throughout this book - it's always this extreme obsession. The love-at-first-sight descriptions are actually insane! Where this book really shines, IMO, is in its portrayal of grief and familial love. To be clear, I liked it! I haven't watched the movie, which everyone seems to love and apparently has a vastly different plot, so I wasn't let down by anything. I'm interested in reading the other books but I need a break first from Hoffman's writing - again, I found it beautiful, but in an exhausting way. 😅

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writtenontheflyleaves's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.0

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman 🐈‍⬛
🌟🌟🌟🌟
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🔮 The plot: Sisters Gillian and Sally Owens are raised by their elderly aunts in a house where there is a magical solution to any problem, even love - though sometimes spells and potions cause more issues than they solve. They each escape by different paths: one by running away, the other through marriage and having daughters of her own. But you can’t outrun trouble, and when fate brings them back together years later, it will take three generations of Owens women, and a bit of magic, to restore peace.
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This is a book about love, sisterhood, and everyday magic. There’s something really charming about it (pun intended) - I knew I would love this book when one of the sisters falls in love and it makes her whole house change. The bats that have been nesting in the eaves move out to the shed; the roses win their battle with the weeds; drafts disappear and the front path doesn’t freeze over any more. It was a sweet kind of magical realism that articulated the way the world can feel when you’re in love, like everything you touch is charmed. I feel like this would be a good book for the heartsick, as it believes in the abundance of love. It reminded me a lot of “Don’t Hesitate” by Mary Oliver - “Joy was not made to be a crumb.”
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All this blends into an overall fairytale style of storytelling that I really enjoyed, and which keeps things moving along at a decent pace. It did take me a couple of weeks to read, but I think that’s just because I was so busy last week and so ill this week! At another time I would have devoured this book.
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🍄 Read it if you’re looking for a cosy autumnal read, and enjoy magical realism, stories about families and particularly stories about sisters.
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🚫 Avoid it if you don’t want to read about abusive relationships, as that is a big theme, or if you’re looking for a book that sits more squarely in fantasy - the magic here is pretty understated for most of the book, and serves mainly to advance the emotional storylines.
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Now that I’ve finished the book I need to watch the 1998 film adaptation! All I know is that it stars 90s Sandra Bullock which is honestly all I want from any film

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