Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman - October 2020

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

The group chose to read Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman in October as our "people who practice magic" themed read. Please discuss here and remember to use spoiler tags as needed, as everyone may start at different times and read at different speeds.



The Owens sisters confront the challenges of life and love in this bewitching novel from New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman.

For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in their Massachusetts town. Gillian and Sally have endured that fate as well: as children, the sisters were forever outsiders, taunted, talked about, pointed at. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, with their musty house and their exotic concoctions and their crowd of black cats. But all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape.

One will do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they share will bring them back—almost as if by magic...

[Renee]

This is one of my favorite books. I hope you all enjoy it.

[Bonnie]

I loved this magical book!

[Zwaantina]

I'm going to see if it is available in the library. If it is I'm going to participate. Seen the movie a couple of times and I adore it!

[Robyn]

I love Alice Hoffman, she is one of my favorite authors so I am definitely looking forward to reading this one with everyone!

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

I've not read this one, but read the prequel that came out about 3 years ago (The Rules of Magic - my review). That was the first Alice Hoffman book I read and I really enjoyed it. I've been looking forward to this one ever since. I know - I was really late to Alice Hoffman. lol

It seems that she is writing this series in reverse. I just noticed that there is a prequel to the prequel expected out soon.

[Denise]

I also read The Rules of Magic recently, and I've seen the movie.. I'm so looking forward to reading the book.

[Sara]

This book is sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. I'm going to finish up my current book and start this one by Oct. 1. I haven't seen the movie yet so bonus points I look forward to watching the movie afterward.

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

I saw the movie when it first came out forever ago. I just checked and it was released in 1998, so I saw it at least 20 years ago. I do still remember some of it, but I'm sure the book has a lot more details and depth anyway.

[Rogue]

Yay! I'm so excited this was already on my Oct. TBR. I've been meaning to read the book for a while because I've only seen the movie. Can't wait to read along with everyone!

[Kteach]

I justfinished this book and I am very curious to see what others think

[Zwaantina]

I just started this book, but I like it already. It gets me in a nice and cozy witchy mood. Hopefully it stays that way.

[Salma]

I'm a bit of a dissenter here- disclaimer- I read this years ago. Not currently reading it for the group. I remember really loving Hoffman's writing style. But, even though I know it's magical realism, I felt the 'magic' aspects didn't quite work. As for the story itself, it was a nice read but not something that really gripped me, or stayed with me after I finished.

[Kteach]

I have to agree with Salma. I recently finished reading Practical Magic. I found it mildly entertaining but i didn't hang on every word. I kept waiting for something big to happen and became tired of Gillian's issues.

[Salma]

Salma wrote: "I'm a bit of a dissenter here- disclaimer- I read this years ago. Not currently reading it for the group. I remember really loving Hoffman's writing style. But, even though I know it's magical real..."

lol- yeah, I'd forgotten about her issues. She had a lot.

[Renee]

I loved the book. Does anyone know if Hoffman is writing another about the sisters? I know there are two.

Did anyone see the movie? I thought it was miscast. Let me know what you think

[Zwaantina]

When I started this book I enjoyed it, but now I'm kind of slipping away. Sometimes I feel like I have read 100 pages and it's only 25 pages. Gillian is really getting on my nerves and Sally is beginning to feel a bit flat.

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

Renee wrote: "I loved the book. Does anyone know if Hoffman is writing another about the sisters? I know there are two."

There are three now:
Practical Magic
The Rules of Magic
Magic Lessons

The last one just published and is a prequel to the prequel. I'm really curious about it. It is set in rural England and Salem, Massachusetts in the 1600s. It tells the story of how the curse began.

[Rogue]

I forgot this was chosen but actually read it last week anyway, LOL.
I really liked it! The characters were very fleshed out and I enjoyed the pacing.

I will say that dialogue was not a strong suit which made the romances suffer IMO. But it wasn't so bad that it made me hate the book.

I'm going to read Rules of magic to get to know Jet and Frances for sure!

[Lexi]

I was really looking forward to reading something appropriate for Halloween, but like some of the others, I'm not really getting pulled into this. I'm only through the first chapter (Superstition), so maybe it's just a slow starter for me!

[Jess]

Finally starting this book today! I loved the movie so I've got high hopes for the book. :)

[Carol]

I’m about half way through and fear that I’m going to be an outlier in this one. Saw the movie long ago and loved it: the book and style of writing isn’t doing it for me so far. I’m continuing on and hoping it clicks for me. I’m starting to do a lot of skimming.

[Zwaantina]

I just finished this book. This wasn't my thing I'm afraid. Maybe it's because I loved the movie and the book is just different. Also I didn't really like the way it was written, the style didn't resonate with me. Gave it 2 stars because it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either.

[Carol]

2.5 stars. Somehow, this appears to be my first Alice Hoffman book. I don’t know if she wrote in a different style in this book than her others. I’m an outlier in this loved book - it just didn’t work for me. I saw the movie many years ago and loved it - googled the movie story line as a refresher and it seems the movie script was changed from the book. I need more dialogue in a book, I think. I believe I was about 70% of the way into the book before there was any dialogue between characters; most of the book was the author telling the story. The warmth and love between the characters we saw in the movie was absent for me in the book. I guess I will need to try another of her books as I know she is a loved author. A little afraid to read the prequel if it’s more of the same although I like the concept.

[Ananya]

I’m a little late in starting as I received my copy today. But I have high hopes for this one.

[Renee]

I liked the movie but I loved the book. I had problems with the casting of the movie. The actresses did not seem like the chars to me. I would have believed it more if the roles were reversed

[Kathryn]

Just starting it now. I'm a little late! I saw the movie years ago and have loved it ever since. I actually didn't know it was a book until I joined this group and saw it as the BOTM. I'm very excited. Although after reading the discussion here I'm a little scared I wont like it as much.

[Renee]

Kristie wrote: "I've not read this one, but read the prequel that came out about 3 years ago (The Rules of Magic - my review). That was the first Alice Hoffman book I read and I really enjoyed it. ..."

I was a little confused myself. I just purchased Magic Lessons, The Rules of Magic, and waiting for Practical Magic to be back in stock on Amazon to order it. Can't wait to start reading!

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

Renee wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I've not read this one, but read the prequel that came out about 3 years ago (The Rules of Magic - my review). That was the first Alice Hoffman book I read and I rea..."

Yes, Practical Magic was the first book book written and meant to be a standalone. Then, she wrote The Rules of Magic which was a prequel. Now she has come out with Magic Lessons as a prequel to the prequel. It's so strange to have a series going backwards. I think you could read them in either order.

[Kathryn]

Just finished it and I have to say I'm a little disappointed. Hoffman's writing style was unique to me. Sometimes, I really liked it but not all the time. There are moments that Hoffman describes that do feel magical even though they might be very ordinary, and that swept me away and into the moment. Other times, it just seemed like too many words. I think I wanted something a little more from it. But I will read The Rules of Magic.

[Elena]

I have finally added that book to my reading list. It should arrive by the end of the week. I don't think it will be done by the end of October, but I am very excited to read it.

[Jess]

I finished the book today and I have to admit, I was disappointed. I loved the movie but just couldn't get into this. I think I just expected it to be more like what I watched on the screen.