Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

42 reviews

gissellereads's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book and the entire series is very much outside of my reading comfort zone. I have a hard time with fantasy or magic books but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I loved immersing myself in the Owen sister’s world and ended up really enjoying Alice Hoffman’s writing.

The story was a little bit slow but I didn’t mind it. There is still a plot and I was entertained. I loved the magic and actually wished there was more. I have already started reading The Rules of Magic (second book published in the series but it is a prequel) and I am loving it because there is a lot more magic there. Who knew I was going to want more magic?

I would say it took me a second to get used to Alice Hoffman’s writing but I am in love with it. It is different so I can see some people not loving it but it worked for me and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief

brittishliterature's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Such a perfect October/Halloween read! I was drawn into the narrative very quickly and looked forward to picking the book up every day. I enjoyed Hoffman's writing style and structure for this novel - it often felt like magic weaving in and out through multiple viewpoints and character stories to create a beautiful tapestry. I usually don't read much magical realism, but after this one, I look forward to trying out the genre more! 

The ending felt a little anticlimactic, and I would have liked to spend more time with how it ended. But nonetheless, the ending and the relationships between the Owens family left my heart feeling warm and happy. Overall, I loved it and can't wait to continue with the others in the series at some point! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Grief

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death of parent

genny's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was so readable, I just flew through the pages...the writing style really worked for me, though I can easily see how it may annoy others. It almost reads like a stream of consciousness that jumps from one character to another. This is definitely more magical realism than fantasy. There's no deep lore about the women's magical abilities (though this may be explored in the other books in the series); they're not full-blown witches that just happen to live with mortals a la Sabrina the Teenage Witch. They make potions and curses and there's something magical in their bloodline that no one can run from, but it is primarily a family saga.

I can't help but be weirded out by the portrayal of romantic love throughout this book - it's always this extreme obsession. The love-at-first-sight descriptions are actually insane! Where this book really shines, IMO, is in its portrayal of grief and familial love. To be clear, I liked it! I haven't watched the movie, which everyone seems to love and apparently has a vastly different plot, so I wasn't let down by anything. I'm interested in reading the other books but I need a break first from Hoffman's writing - again, I found it beautiful, but in an exhausting way. 😅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Sexual content

Minor: Animal death and Death of parent

bexi's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse and Drug use

cjeter's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love the way Hoffman writes: they way she flows from one perspective to the next, how she describes feelings and emotions, and how she presents all different kinds of love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide

for the suicide warning it is briefly mentioned toward the end of the book on page 261.

ellensmith's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is pure coziness and comfort. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

alisylvi's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Wanted more magic and witchy things :(

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

claudiamacpherson's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was immediately enchanted by this funny, sweet, magical story of sisterhood. The sisters of the Owens family are far from perfect, but so charming that you can’t help but love them. The magic is subtle and satisfying, because everyone gets what’s coming to them (good and bad). I loved how Hoffman wove superstitions and folklore through the story, some common and some I’d never heard of.

I hit a bit of a reading slump mid-read, so it took me a while to finish, but definitely not because I didn’t enjoy the book. I’ve noticed that, for some reason, books with super long chapters (like this one, which is divided into 4 sections rather than traditional chapters) take me a lot longer to finish than books with shorter chapters.

Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the vibe of the ending):

It’s satisfyingly happy.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

lain_darko's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

ezrah's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Very different from the movie but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Pretty quick read but not intensely paced. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder