Practical Magic Review

Author: Alice Hoffman Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Published: originally 7/1/1995 This edition: Special 25th Anniversary edition 2003

Genre(s): fantasy, drama, comedy, family saga, romance, magical realism

Goodreads Blurb:

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…

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5 stars)

Quite honestly, if I didn’t see the movie first, I think I would have given this book 5 stars, instead of the 4 stars I eventually gave it. I just happen to absolutely love the movie and there are some keen differences between the book and the movie that made me like the movie more. I won’t go into details – I don’t want to spoil anyone’s reading (or watching) experience. But, if you’ve experienced both the book & the movie… you know what I mean.

The movie itself is pure magic in my opinion, and although there are elements of actual magic threaded throughout the book, I would say it falls more in the realm of magical realism. Which is not to say that it’s bad, its not at all bad. In fact, I think the book is great! I just prefer my magic to be more literal, is all. Does that make sense?

The writing in this book was absolutely charming, though! I’m definitely looking forward to reading Alice Hoffman’s other two books, the prequels to Practical Magic–The Rules of Magic and Magic Lessons (I just hauled this one).

I almost didn’t know how to rate this book…..I mean, it’s not the book’s fault I’m partial to the movie, am I right? Anyway, I feel like a solid 4 stars are where I’m at. It’s a great read and I do highly recommend it!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22896.Practical_Magic

What did think of the book? I’d love to hear from you. Happy reading ~Renee