From the Bookshelf of The Perks Of Being A Book Addict…

Practical Magic (Practical Magic, #1)

Alice Hoffman

Start date: October 1, 2020

Finish date: October 31, 2020

Discussion: Group Books of the Month (BotM)

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What Members Thought

Jan 25, 2009 The Sassy Bookworm rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Enjoyed this a lot!!

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 24, 2012 Salma rated it liked it

Actually, I would add a half a star if it was possible just for Hoffman's style. Every page has odes to the natural world that would make Walt Whitman proud. And I would personally crown her Queen of Metaphors if the title existed. Maybe it's not fair of me, but whenever I read a novel, I compare it to the works of my favorite nineteenth-century authors...Brontes, Hardy, Eliot, etc. My observation is this: the reason I like these authors so much is because their writing hits near perfection in A Actually, I would add a half a star if it was possible just for Hoffman's style. Every page has odes to the natural world that would make Walt Whitman proud. And I would personally crown her Queen of Metaphors if the title existed. Maybe it's not fair of me, but whenever I read a novel, I compare it to the works of my favorite nineteenth-century authors...Brontes, Hardy, Eliot, etc. My observation is this: the reason I like these authors so much is because their writing hits near perfection in ALL aspects of storytelling. Along with style, a TIGHTLY woven story existed together with complex characters. But I feel with modern authors, particularly a lot of "literary novelists," their novels are like unfinished paintings, or lovely quilts with lots of loose threads taking your eye away from the design. I'm not sure what the reason for this is (I don't find the same to be true for some young adult authors, particularly in the fantasy genre).

My problem with this book is that NONE of the characters ever behaved rationally. I know it's magical realism, but even I couldn't suspend disbelief that much. The thing is, in older books, even when you have insane characters driven only by their passions (aka Heathcliff and Cathy), there are always other cast members balancing things out. Here, no chance. I felt that the sisters Sally and Gillian were too stereotypical- the "straight-laced v. rebel." Additionally, I couldn't understand the characters' motivations for doing some things, which is never a good thing in a story. As an example, the protagonists always fall in love with their significant others at first sight, and they realize they're meant to be together forever after looking into each others' eyes for a total of three seconds (there's that suspension of disbelief that doesn't work again). Finally, the ending felt too slapdash, and just left me feeling dissatisfied.

So, I hope I haven't torn apart Ms. Hoffman too much- because her writing really is beautiful. I wonder if perhaps her short stories (and poems, if she writes them) would be more satisfying. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2008 Donna rated it liked it

Mar 11, 2008 Terri marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Sep 14, 2008 Denise rated it really liked it

Oct 16, 2008 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, audiobooks, read-in-2022, do-you-believe-in-magic, women, own-in-book-format, family-relationships, fiction, sisters, contemporary-fantasy