Best Books of the Decade: 2000's
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book data
4,448 ratings,
3.91
average rating, 1,544 reviews
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published
April 29th 2008
(first published 2007)
by Bantam Books
binding
Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
characters
isbn
0553590324
(isbn13: 9780553590326)
description
In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a ve...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 6,293)
All ratings
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5 stars (1226)
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4 stars (1885)
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3 stars (1042)
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2 stars (220)
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1 star (49)
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avg 3.91
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
recommends it for:
fans of Practical Magic
Yes, this book is definitely reminsicent of Practical Magic in plotline. I can't imagine anyone not thinking so...a beautiful old house, two magical sisters whose mother died when they were young, one practical and a homebody, the other a wild woman with a daughter who comes back home to escape an abusive man. Um...sounds familiar. Very.
BUT
The author creates an amazing atmosphere, and the basics of the plot may be the same, but the details are entirely new and lovely. ...more
BUT
The author creates an amazing atmosphere, and the basics of the plot may be the same, but the details are entirely new and lovely. ...more
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(15 people liked it)
6 comments
Chicken soup when you're sick. Chocolate when you're hormonal. Lavender for your bathroom. Citrus for the kitchen. Pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. Peppermint at Christmas time.
This book completely spoke my language - that of food and how we are connected to what we serve, eat and order. We may not be able to put magic into our cooking, but as a mother I know there are certain things to feed my family for certain reasons, and that can be sort of a form of magic (at least to the little ch...more
This book completely spoke my language - that of food and how we are connected to what we serve, eat and order. We may not be able to put magic into our cooking, but as a mother I know there are certain things to feed my family for certain reasons, and that can be sort of a form of magic (at least to the little ch...more
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1 comment
Read in February, 2008
It is really difficult for me to find a book that suits me. I love stories, and I love to read. Since I don’t have a lot of time to read, I have to be really picky. Which means, if it hasn’t grabbed my attention early on, I normally don’t continue.
When I saw Garden Spells on the shelves in the book store I immediately wanted to read it because of the cover, the title and the blurb. I knew for sure that this was a book that I had to read.
I was so excited when I sat d...more
When I saw Garden Spells on the shelves in the book store I immediately wanted to read it because of the cover, the title and the blurb. I knew for sure that this was a book that I had to read.
I was so excited when I sat d...more
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(8 people liked it)
1 comment
recommends it for:
women...and men who appreciate magic
What I learned from this book is...if an apple tree throws its apples at you, for goodness sake, pay attention already!
This book is lovely, magical, enchanting. I sat down to read just one chapter, basically to decide whether it was worth holding onto even though it was already overdue. At 2:30 a.m. I finished the whole darn thing. Couldn't stop myself. I floated in a state of suspended reality, where time had no meaning.
The basic idea of the book: two sisters expe...more
This book is lovely, magical, enchanting. I sat down to read just one chapter, basically to decide whether it was worth holding onto even though it was already overdue. At 2:30 a.m. I finished the whole darn thing. Couldn't stop myself. I floated in a state of suspended reality, where time had no meaning.
The basic idea of the book: two sisters expe...more
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Read in April, 2008
In a small southern town, Claire Waverly runs a catering business out of her small family farm, but her quiet, secure life is turned upside down, when a new next-door neighbor moves in, at the same time that her footloose, wilder younger sister Sydney comes home. Sydney is on the run from an abusive ex, and she and her six-year-old daughter Bay need a place to hide and recover. But Sydney's history, both in the town and out of it, has a way of catching up on her. This book is basically about r...more
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Read in February, 2008
I made one of my departures from YA into the adult book world with Garden Spells. This is a book about place and belonging and love. It centers around the Waverley family, specifically, Waverley women. Claire was only 6 when her mother brought her to the Waverley family home in Bascom, North Carolina, where she has lived quietly ever since, but her early experiences have made her terrified of becoming close to people. Claire's younger sister, Sydney, was born in Bascom but left after high school...more
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Read in February, 2008
Well, this is tricky. I really enjoyed the book. I enjoyed it the first time I read it when it was called "Practical Magic" by Alice Hoffman. Was it plagiarism? I'm not sure - that's for Hoffman's lawyers to decide, but if you enjoyed the following things about Hoffman's book, then you'll enjoy this one:
- a lovely garden where the plants grow in an atmosphere of magical realism, out of time and season.
- two sisters who seem polar opposites, who suffered the loss of thei...more
- a lovely garden where the plants grow in an atmosphere of magical realism, out of time and season.
- two sisters who seem polar opposites, who suffered the loss of thei...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommended to Margaret by:
Bell, Book and Candle Bookstorerecommends it for: adult readers, women, fantasy lovers
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book... but then I never am. That seems to the mantra that I open every book with: distrust of the author's skill, interests, etc. I was encouraged early on by the author's gift for language... Bits like "She was so Southern that she cried tears that came straight from the Mississipi...", and "Memories, even hard memories, grew soft like peaches as they got older."
Ah, you're thinking that this is one of those dreary South...more
Ah, you're thinking that this is one of those dreary South...more
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Read in September, 2008
Two sisters deal with being magical in a small town. Practical Magic by way of Allende.
I don't care if this is almost the same story as Practical Magic; I thought it was lovely. A very fast read, very prettily written, and it has some absolutely beautiful moments. Really nice.
I don't care if this is almost the same story as Practical Magic; I thought it was lovely. A very fast read, very prettily written, and it has some absolutely beautiful moments. Really nice.
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2 comments
Read in August, 2008
The Waverleys are a strange family: each of them has a special gift and a prophetic apple tree grows in their backyard, imbuing the entire garden with magic. But when wandering Sydney escapes an abusive boyfriend and returns back home to live with her introverted sister Claire, the Waverley sisters must learn to step outside of their eccentricities and discover life, love, and happiness. Despite the dark elementsan abusive boyfriend, an abandoning motherGarden Spells is unmitigated fluff. As l...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Bonnie by:
Barnes & Noblerecommends it for: those looking for an easy and enchanting read
I saw Sarah Addison Allen's new book "Sugar Queen" at Barnes & Noble and thought it looked interesting, but was unwilling to pay the price for a hardback book on an untried author. So, instead I picked up "Garden Spells" because of its beautiful cover and interesting synopsis. I'm VERY glad I did.
The story and the magic were...well...magical...and enchanting. I love gardens and books where people have green thumbs, unlike myself. The garden is a main charact...more
The story and the magic were...well...magical...and enchanting. I love gardens and books where people have green thumbs, unlike myself. The garden is a main charact...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
Everyone
Most likely the best book I've read in a while. The story enfolds you from the very first page. And i have nothing but praise for it so i will make it short.
I definitely identified with at least one of the characters if not all of the them. I saw parallels from the novel to my life and i think a lot of readers will feel the same way. I believe that is what makes a story good, when you can place yourself in the situations the characters have placed themselves in. That's what ma...more
I definitely identified with at least one of the characters if not all of the them. I saw parallels from the novel to my life and i think a lot of readers will feel the same way. I believe that is what makes a story good, when you can place yourself in the situations the characters have placed themselves in. That's what ma...more
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Read in September, 2007
I picked this one up because it was $10 at Barnes and Noble (yeah coupons!). I figured that if they recommended it and it cost less than dinner, I'd give it a try.
This was a fun, quick read. I haven't read or seen the movie "Practical Magic", but I do typically like Alice Hoffman's books. I didn't have a problem with this story line being recycled since I've never encountered it before.
This book was entertaining and well written. There were moments that ma...more
This was a fun, quick read. I haven't read or seen the movie "Practical Magic", but I do typically like Alice Hoffman's books. I didn't have a problem with this story line being recycled since I've never encountered it before.
This book was entertaining and well written. There were moments that ma...more
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Read in July, 2008
Set in North Carolina, we explore the lives of the Waverly women and their strangeness in a community where everyone has their expectations for the long family lines native to the area. The Waverley's have a garden where an enchanted apple tree grows and Claire masterfully creates foods with properties that do more than tantalize the taste buds. The ideas behind this are great and this first novel for Sarah Addison Allen might be a fun summer read for someone less picky than me. While I enjoyed ...more
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Read in October, 2007
Garden Spells is a wonderful, gentle romance set in Bascom, North Carolina. Claire Waverly has an orderly life as a botanical caterer. Her flower and herbal recipes are known to help others gain clarity in their lives. Her own life becomes clouded by the handsome neighbor next door and the return of her sister Sydney with her young daughter. The Waverly girls are all gifted with a type of magic, abilities to help others through their various talents. It has a similar feel to "Like Water ...more
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2 comments
This book is completely twee and unoriginal, and I am a little embarrassed to be reading it. It's the literary equivalent of eating a whole box of cookies -- but not even good cookies, more like Snackwell's. Mediocre and unsatisfying.
(And yet I am reading it anyway.)
Now that I've finished it, I can say definitively that the barrage of five-star reviews for this book kind of makes me lose my faith in humanity. Even if you like this kind of writing, it is so clearly a whole...more
(And yet I am reading it anyway.)
Now that I've finished it, I can say definitively that the barrage of five-star reviews for this book kind of makes me lose my faith in humanity. Even if you like this kind of writing, it is so clearly a whole...more
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Read in June, 2008
I loved, loved, loved this book. It reminded me of Practical Magic with a bit of Simply Irresistible thrown in. I had a hard time putting it down because of my enjoyment.
Yes, it is predictable. But I really liked the everyday magic--there's a real feel-good vibe to this book. I liked the characters and the depiction of a small town. Sure, entire families are categorized with specific traits, but there was a part of me that found comfort in that.
Great summmer escape r...more
Yes, it is predictable. But I really liked the everyday magic--there's a real feel-good vibe to this book. I liked the characters and the depiction of a small town. Sure, entire families are categorized with specific traits, but there was a part of me that found comfort in that.
Great summmer escape r...more
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Set in today's world, the family of "Waverly Women" are all enchanted. One works magic with the foods as a caterer from the herbs in her garden. Another "sees" odd things that people need--she doesn't know why they need the things she gives them, but she gifts little things that then become critical in the lives of those who receive them. A fun read.
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Read in September, 2007
I thought the story here was quite charming--although the book itself has a couple of sex scenes (nothing too explicit), which might put off some readers. The writing style was lovely and the characters endearing, however.
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Great book...easy read.
Pleasantly surprised :)
Pleasantly surprised :)
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(2 people liked it)
3 comments
Contemporary Book for February.
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