Easy Listen

It was an easy listen, and I liked the narrator. I just wish I enjoyed the book more, as the Practical Magic movie is one of my all time favourite films. However, this was one of the rare exceptions of the movie being better than the book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

bad narrator

The book is a good story but the narrator voices and accents are terrible

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Magical, beautifully read and written

I have listened to all the Practical Books but kept this one to last as I didn’t want them to end and loved the film so much. It didn’t disappoint. Absolutely lovely and magical as are all Alice Hoffmann books.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Couldn’t get through it

Enjoyed the prequel but this one I couldn’t get to the end. Wasn’t a single character I cared about (okay maybe the rabbit).
Narrator did well enough but the story didn’t work for me.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

excellent

a magical tale read very well. I had seen the film many times, but this book contours up a magical image.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

mixed feelings

I really wanted to like this story however I found the pace too slow (nothing to do with the narration, simply how plot progresses and characters develop). Secondly, at times because of this slowness I found myself bored and questioning why there was soo much detail which seemed unnecessary at times. I could put all that aside however if the story itself was worthwhile and amazing. unfortunately, I find it to be a toxic message of beauty gets the guy, beauty gets the happily ever after and pretty much every page has something about someone's good looks on it. I don't know why this series is so popular, honestly, it's nothing like the movie which, in this instance, is a rare case of the film is better. I am an avid fantasy reader, watcher and, player and this just was disappointing and very aged. The book goes steadily downhill with each chapter. I do not recommend.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

.

3.75/5

As we approach autumn (my favourite season), I've been looking for books with a more spooky or cosy feel to them, books you would read under a blanket on a rainy day, drinking hot chocolate. Practical Magic was recommended to me as a fit for the above vibe. The plot follows Sally and Gillian Owens, sisters who are raised by their witchy aunts.

- This book is less of a story and more of a meandering journey. There are themes that pervade through the entire book or large parts of it but a lot of it seems to be just a meandering biography of the Owens sisters' lives. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but for those expecting a distinct plot line will be disappointed.

- The magical elements are well done and told in such a way that you can imagine some of those things being real occurrences. It's an undertone to the plot rather than dominating it and it works well in this sense.

- I enjoyed the different characters however, some of their choices appear to be incredibly sudden or not clearly motivated and it does feel jarring at time. People change within short periods of time for seemingly little reason and it just felt a little odd.

An atmospheric, witchy book which is worth a read by those who enjoy the journey of a book more than the destination, cottage magic vibes and books with an autumnal feel.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

very enjoyable

I enjoyed this very much, it makes me curious about other books from the author, the storyline is a little different from the film but if you loved the film you will appreciate this book

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

the film took the best bits

& made a much better story out of it. if I were you I wouldn't bother with this book!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Beautifully written

Alice Hoffman is a wonderful author, Her characters are complex, and her stories are a beautiful compelling mixture of real life themes and important life lessons wrapped in a bow of the strange and magical.
This book is full of love and grief, the very real themes of personal growth and the fears that never go away. The importance of family and the need for meaningful connections.

The book is very different from the film, focusing less on the magic and more on the people in the story.
(There is less about the Aunts and more about Sally's daughters growing up... if you want more of the Aunts I Highly recommend the next book in the series "the rules of magic" which is even more beautiful than this story)

For those that haven't seen the film this book is about 3 sets of sisters. The Aunts, their Orphaned niece's Sally and Jillian and finally Sally's 2 daughters. They are Owens women. That means they are witches, and that means they are cursed.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful