Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

43 reviews

scarlett_f's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts

walter_the_wombat's review against another edition

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual assault

cocacolor's review against another edition

hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Rape, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Death of parent

Sally's love interest

, a character we are apparently supposed to find sympathetic, has a moment where he wishes he were the kind of person who might rape someone so he can keep kissing her when she pushes him away.

blewballoon's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

I rated this so low because when I tried to think of things I liked about the book I could hardly come up with any (the small bits of magic stuff, the bonds between the sisters), and I could come up with so much I didn't like or even hated (the portrayal of women in love, the men in general, the animal cruelty, meandering prose that felt like reading a summary of events rather than a book, the toxic relationships, the unnecessary references to sexual assault and harassment, and more). I watched the movie and it was definitely better, but still not great. They changed a lot and left out a lot, which is for the best. If you are worried you are missing out by not watching/reading either, I promise you're not.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

lydia123's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Sexual harassment

uranaishi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

zannayo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Car accident, and Death of parent

claireisagrisha's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

I heard lots of critiques for this book saying that the POV was hard to follow & it was at points. I loved the switching of POVs though because you get to see into the lives and thoughts of so many characters!!!! 

The idea of modern day witches was so fun. Loved that! I also love how love intertwined with magic. 

Two of my favorite quotes:

“Lightning, like love, is never ruled by logic.” Page 203

“But the circumstances of Gary’s Pat aren’t what drives, no matter what his friends think. It’s figuring out the why of things: the final factor that make a person act can be so damn elusive, but you can always find some motivation, if you look hard enough. The wrong word said at the wrong time, a gun in the wrong hand, the wrong woman who kisses you just right. Money, love, or fury - those are the causes of most everything. You can usually uncover the truth, or a version of it at any rate, if you ask enough questions; if you close your eyes and imagine the way it might have been, how you might have reacted if you’d had enough, if you couldn’t find it in you to care anymore.” Page 206-207

I heard there is a movie, so I’m going to watch that soon.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment