Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

92 reviews

katisreading's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful 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

“She knows now that when you don’t lose yourself in the bargain, you find you have double the love you started with, and that’s one recipe that can’t be tampered with.”

Finally read through this classic now that it’s celebrating its 25th anniversary...I really enjoyed reading through this one over the last couple of days - and what a ride it was! Can’t wait to watch the movie and see if it lives up to the book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death

Minor: Death of parent

bexi's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Alcoholism

Minor: Child abuse and Drug use

cjeter's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-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

5.0

I love the way Hoffman writes: they way she flows from one perspective to the next, how she describes feelings and emotions, and how she presents all different kinds of love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide

for the suicide warning it is briefly mentioned toward the end of the book on page 261.

puf's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Animal death, Rape, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

galfieri's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Drug use, Death of parent, and Death

caseys_chapters's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

4.0

 What a witchy delight! Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman is the first in her series about several generations of the magical Owens family.

Sisters Gillian and Sally were raised by their aunts after the death of their parents. They go separate ways trying to find happiness as adults, but reconnect when Gillian unexpectedly shows up on Sally’s doorstep needing help.

Honestly, not a whole lot happens in this book. Don’t read this if you need fast-paced action or spectacular magic.

You should read this if you want characters and writing style that are equally enchanting. It’s a story about relationships, vulnerability, and love, not cauldrons of magic potions. I read The Rules of Magic last year (out of order, oops) and the Owens family tugs at my heartstrings so easily. Alice Hoffman’s really strikes me with her balance of heavy themes and heartfelt storytelling.

I heard this is very different than the movie, but I definitely want to watch it now! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

moonlitnox's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Xenophobia

alisylvi's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

2.25

Wanted more magic and witchy things :(

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

claudiamacpherson's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

I was immediately enchanted by this funny, sweet, magical story of sisterhood. The sisters of the Owens family are far from perfect, but so charming that you can’t help but love them. The magic is subtle and satisfying, because everyone gets what’s coming to them (good and bad). I loved how Hoffman wove superstitions and folklore through the story, some common and some I’d never heard of.

I hit a bit of a reading slump mid-read, so it took me a while to finish, but definitely not because I didn’t enjoy the book. I’ve noticed that, for some reason, books with super long chapters (like this one, which is divided into 4 sections rather than traditional chapters) take me a lot longer to finish than books with shorter chapters.

Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the vibe of the ending):

It’s satisfyingly happy.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit

lain_darko's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders