A review by writtenontheflyleaves
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

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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