Reviews with content warning for Death - Practical Magic

First: this isn't a rom-com, and the movie is nothing like the book in terms of atmosphere and tone at all. Tonally, if the entire genre of women's fiction and A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS had a baby, it would be PRACTICAL MAGIC.

I'd read another Hoffman before, the historical THE WORLD THAT WE KNEW, and wasn't terribly impressed by it, so I came here expecting more of the same. Here, though, Hoffman's style really does work. Though the characters are also drawn in broad brushstrokes and the romances instant, PRACTICAL MAGIC really makes it feel like more of a conscious nod to fairy tales than simply bland writing. The omniscient narrator, who sometimes switches the character being followed within the same paragraph, the doses of wisdom, and the lyricism all combine to make a great experience; Hoffman knows exactly when to dole out backstory to make the reader appreciate their increasingly more whole understanding of the Owens family and the world.

I'm of two minds, though, because the political imagination at work here isn't great. Everyone is white; everyone is heterosexual. The cure for the characters' flaws is the right man. The main characters are all neatly paired off at the end; just find your true love and you'll be fixed, Hoffman seems to say. The pre-cell phone milieu is interesting and evocative, but drives home the kind of stifling suburban whiteness that characters aspire to.

Overall, a serious and occasionally dark book about sisterhood and female family members in a magical realism milieu, where the cure for all conflict is heterosexual romance.

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danibailey's review

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lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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lindzt18's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

I love the way Alice Hoffman writes. This is the coziest book. There are touches of magic, but really more about family lore than anything else. The backstory and the exploration of the characters takes center stage over the plot. Honestly some really beautiful reflections about love and family tucked throughout.

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cassielaj's review

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emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

A lot of the literary choices in this novel were impressive to me, and the characters were well characterized and well developed. There’s not a lot of plot, but the vibes are definitely there, and I love the sister/family dynamics

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lydia123's review

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mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

A very cute and Halloweeny read. Alice Hoffman is brilliant at atmospheric and comforting writing so this book is perfect for curling up with a cup of tea on an autumnal day.

I was surprised how little magic there was in the book. Definitely something to be aware of if you’re expecting it.

I’d also say that this book suffers from 90s-itis (everything is comforting and whimsical and beautiful) which can be offputting if you aren’t used to it. Personally, I love it.

I also felt that there was soooo much backstory … even at the end!!! What??

Anyway, all that being said - i really liked this book. I wanted something witchy and comforting & that is what I got :)

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