Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

104 reviews

genny's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Sexual content

Minor: Animal death and Death of parent

writtenontheflyleaves's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

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: Death and Domestic abuse

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: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Sexual harassment

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

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, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, 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: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Death of parent

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

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, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder