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loonysaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Antisemitism, Stalking, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual content and Classism
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
booksalacarte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Historical Fantasy
Magical Realism
Witches
Salem witch trials
Witch heritage
Early America
One Bed
Journey
Coming of age
Generational Curse
Kidnapping
Alice Hoffman’s writing often feels like campfire storytelling . It’s such a specific style that is a perfect example of the Art of a tale. With whimsey, magic and love she transports her readers to another place and time.
I found the history of the Owens family and the originator of the love curse to be rich in prose, vivid descriptions and a careful attention to history.
This is a slow moving tale that follows the entire life of the matriarch of the Owen’s family. But Hoffman completely captures the scene of each of the places the MC finds herself, as well as the misogynistic and fearful tone of the time.
“Do as you will, but bring harm to no one.
What you will give will be returned to you threefold.”
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
josephinefarine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, and Blood
kathleencoughlin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Gore, Slavery, Antisemitism, Grief, and Colonisation
primavera's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Blood, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
apoppyinthewind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My only complaint is that Faith’s portion of the story feels like it was wrapped up too quickly and neatly.
In Practical Magic the Owens family has this so-called long-standing curse and the people of the town are scared of them. Yet at the end of Magic Lessons Maria & Faith have a library and a girl’s school so...what led everyone in town to be such assholes to Sally & Gillian?
I get it, time & superstitions could have easily led to the shift in the behaviour of the town for the later book. Not to mention the Owens after Maria & Faith could have caused trouble. Still, it felt a little too neat.
Oh well, I did enjoy it and will likely re-read it in the future.
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, and Dementia