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sofipitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The only thing that irked me is how much of a focus the author has on romantic love. For a story about sisterhood I was kind of disappointed with that recurrent theme. Romantic love is nice, but it's not going to solve all your problems.
So while I enjoyed this I probably won't read more by this author.
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
This is a book I’ve long considered one of my all time favorites, but I think that honor may be given to Magic Lessons (which is part of this series, and tells the story of Maria Owens).
BUT, this book is still great... I just think Alice Hoffman has perfected telling the stories of the Owens women the farther she gets into the series. I cannot wait for the final installment (The Book of Magic) to come out later this year.
Graphic: Death, Rape, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Child death
sglance9's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Animal death and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
syltetoy's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
raesengele's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For starters, it's magical realism, not fantasy, so if you want hard magic systems and Harry Potter esque witchcraft, look somewhere else.
Second, know that it is written in a stream of consciousness style and highly character driven, so if you're more comfortable with linear plot lines or are prone to claiming that "nothing happened" look somewhere else.
Finally, it is nothing like the movie (which was perfect for me since I never did get much out of it beyond the house and Nicole Kidman's face), so if it's one of your absolute favorites, look somewhere else.
For everyone still here, you are in for a treat! Why have I waited so long to read an Alice Hoffman book? Her prose is lyrical, almost fairy tale like, and moves seamlessly from one thought to the next which makes it difficult to put down.
One thing I've noticed a lot in other reviews is people criticizing the fact that every Owens woman is described as some kind of traffic stopping sort of beautiful (some more literally than others), but I'd argue that that's the point. Because it's written in this fairy tale style, hyperbole is to be expected. The princess is never just an average princess, she the fairest in all the land, the prince is always handsome, the witch is always ugly and disfigured. What Hoffman does is take that hyperbole and then makes them real despite of it. Yes, the women are traffic stopping level of gorgeous, but they're also broken, flawed, and struggle with getting through life, understanding what real love is, seeing themselves the way the rest of the world sees them. And that beauty is never treated as "this is a good person because she is beautiful." Sally refuses to see herself as anything other than a mother, as a woman worthy of love and longing. Gillian believes she deserves to be abused and used, never letting men see her for anything other than her beauty. Antonia is cruel and puts all her worth in her looks to the point where when her sister out shines her, she loses her confidence and has to learn what parts of her truly matter. Kylie learns deals with the hazards of beauty from an early age. The lesson is that it doesn't matter how beautiful you are, because that beauty is, after all, only skin deep. From page 227, "Although she'd never believe it, those lines in Gillian's face are the most beautiful part about her. They reveal what she's gone through and what she's survived and who exactly she is, deep inside."
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship