Play Book Tag discussion

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman - 3* - My Review

Sisters Sally and Gillian grow up with their two aunts in a Massachusetts town. Their aunts have been involved for many years with herbal cures and rumors of witchcraft. Sally and Gillian each try to escape in her own way, but the family legacy seems to follow them wherever they go. They get involved in unhealthy relationships.

I liked parts of this book. In the first half, the author takes her time with character development and atmosphere. The second half becomes a rather standard contemporary story. It seems to rely on several tropes such as instant love and a relationship as the ultimate goal for women. It was a bit of a mixed bag for me.

I think the interesting thing about Alice Hoffman as a writer is that she encompasses a lot of genres. In fact a good portion of her books are YA, young adult, and this one and in fact the series falls into that category. I have found some of her books very spiritual and beautiful, but the reason I consider her my favorite author is not necessarily because of this series. It’s because of her breakthrough historical fiction novels. Like the Dovekeepers and the Marriage of Opposites. Even the Museum of Extraordinary Things. I felt that these novels were fine and fun. But the historical fiction ones are the ones that elevated and transported me. There are a few others of hers that I’ve also thought we’re really beautiful. But again she encompasses a huge range.

Joy, I think that's a very fair assessment. I think this book is a mixed bag for many people - some prefer the romance, and others prefer the depth of the character development. Many people who loved the movie find that the book drags in comparison. I liked both parts.

I was a fan of the movie. It was one of my favorite romcoms from that era. I enjoy romance in movies, but I need more in books, so I really appreciated the extra character development. My favorite book from this series is the prequel Magic Lessons. It focuses on their ancestor Maria Owens.

Amy, which of her books do you recommend for the character driven tag? I haven't read The Dovekeepers or Faithful yet.

Amy wrote: "I think the interesting thing about Alice Hoffman as a writer is that she encompasses a lot of genres. In fact a good portion of her books are YA, young adult, and this one and in fact the series f..."
Thanks for the info, Amy! I am finding that I enjoy her historical novels more than the others, too. I loved The Marriage of Opposites but so far have not found another in the same league. I will see if I can find The Dovekeepers or The Museum of Extraordinary Things. I am currently reading Illumination Night but after a strong start, it is petering out.

NancyJ wrote: "Joy, I think that's a very fair assessment. I think this book is a mixed bag for many people - some prefer the romance, and others prefer the depth of the character development. Many people who lov..."
You probably know I'm not a romance fan, so once it went there, I became less interested. I also found a peculiar emphasis on female beauty that puzzled me. I have never seen the movie. I'm not generally a movie watcher but when I really enjoy a book, I sometimes look for the film.

For most of my life I have considered the Dovekeepers my favorite book of all time. I’m trying to decide if it was character driven. It feels to me that the answer is obviously yes, but I also feel like it’s tribe driven as well. I’ll be curious what you think if you choose to read it.

I have requested The Dovekeepers from my library but it looks like a few weeks wait time.