Questions About The Rules of Magic (Practical Magic, #0.2)

by Alice Hoffman (Goodreads Author)

Reader Q&A

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Answered Questions (31)

Do you need to read Practical Magic before reading this? Or can it be read as a stand alone?? I absolutley loved the movie version of Practical Magic and have seen it many many times. I would love to read The Rules of Magic but might find it hard to read PM because of how many times I have seen the movie.

Simon & Schuster Goodreads While The Rules of Magic is a prequel, you certainly do not need to read Practical Magic first. The Rules of Magic works beautiful as a stand-alone! Y…moreWhile The Rules of Magic is a prequel, you certainly do not need to read Practical Magic first. The Rules of Magic works beautiful as a stand-alone! You'll find some characters you know and love from watching the movie over and over (if you're like me, at least once a year!)--but you'll also find new characters to fall in love with in the pages of this novel. I hope you enjoy reading The Rules of Magic, and I hope you'll let us know what you think once you do!

-Dana(less)

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Why does the dad have the last name Burke Owens? Wasn't the mom the Owens line?

Ceallaigh It's not a mistake. It's not that unusual for a man to take his wife's name when she's the last in a long family line and they don't want the family n…moreIt's not a mistake. It's not that unusual for a man to take his wife's name when she's the last in a long family line and they don't want the family name to be lost. It happened once in my family, and it happened to a friend of mine. Since we still abide by paternalistic tradition of giving a child the father's surname, even when the wife retains her "maiden" name, the only way for a child to carry the mother's name is for the father to take his wife's name. And It's not hyphenated in the book I read. The husband is Burke Owens, but the children are Owens.(less)

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I am listening to this and am wondering if anyone else has a problem with Vincent's age (14) and somethings that are going on with him (i.e. the neighbor next door)?

Dh Yes. I found the matter-of-fact acceptance of that disgusting and offensive. That was the worst part of the book. Franny's supposed to be obsessed wit…moreYes. I found the matter-of-fact acceptance of that disgusting and offensive. That was the worst part of the book. Franny's supposed to be obsessed with protecting Vincent and yet she doesn't mind that he's being treated like that? It didn't even work as as a plot point.(less)

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I know Alice Hoffman has written books for the YA audience in the past...is this one of them?! Kind of thinking my 12 yo daughter might enjoy. If not, pretty sure I will! Thanks, all. ~Leslie

Linda C Personally, I don't believe in censoring what kids read. I know that's just me and many people will disagree but there it is. Good readers know what t…morePersonally, I don't believe in censoring what kids read. I know that's just me and many people will disagree but there it is. Good readers know what they want to read and I won't discourage that. My daughter read Twilight (yuck!) but she also read Lolita and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas when she was 14, neither of which I've read, at the same time as re-reading Little House books. Take them to the library and turn them loose. Let them choose.(less)

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I read Practical Magic and saw the movie a hundred years ago. Should I read again first before reading Rules of Magic?