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: Classism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Sexism, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Dementia, Chronic illness, Confinement, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Murder
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A recurring line is that what you put out into the world will come back threefold. And I love that it really makes you reflect on your own choices, on your own energy. The book also repeats the line that what has been done cannot be undone. How are you living your life? What can you change?
I love that it made me think and hit me right in the chest with insights and self-reflection right along with the characters. I constantly had a highlighter handy because there was so much that stood out to me that I wanted to go back to. I went back a few times throughout the novel and sayw deliciously perfect morsels of foreshadowing, which makes it perfect book to reread and get something new out of it or notice something that you missed the first time.
I highly recommend this book!
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Antisemitism, Torture, Child abuse, Confinement, Violence, Death, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
fayesreads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Violence, Chronic illness, Confinement, Abandonment, Animal death, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
meganjeg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Minor: Murder, Abandonment, and Religious bigotry
citrinuke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Torture
julianalo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Murder, Colonisation, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion, Sexual assault, and Slavery
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- 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
"Do as you will, but harm no one. What you give will be returned to you threefold. Fall in love whenever you can."
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman is the prequel to Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic. Although this was an enjoyable read with Hoffman's classic style, I definitely enjoyed Practical Magic more, mostly because I've read so many books on the Salem Witch trials, that some elements felt too familiar to other books.
We follow the life of Maria Owens, the original Owens witch. We follow her from Essex County England to Curiçao to Salem to New York and back to Salem. We also learn of her Daughter Faith, who turns to left-handed magic.
We get to see Maria struggling to figure what (romantic) love is, and though she vows not to ever fall in love (spoiler alert) she does, although what she thinks is love, isn't. Unfortunately this leads her to avoid the person who is her true love. She even calls down a curse on any man who falls in love with an Owens' woman.
Although this was a story about the Witch Trials and how women didn't get to do as they as they please, ultimately, this was a story about love: how it can destroy you when it goes wrong and how it can save you when it's true. Similarly it's also the story of a Mother's love and the complicated relationship between mother and daughter that witches and non-witches alike can relate to.
The 3rd person omniscient that Hoffman uses is a bit impersonal and feels a bit like you're floating above the characters. There was also a lot of repetition of the same descriptions and listing out the same ingredients throughout the book. I'm glad I read this prequel and now. Looking forward to seeing where the Owens women go in The Rules of Magic.
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Murder, and Slavery
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: Kidnapping, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Torture, Murder, and Gun violence
Minor: Antisemitism, Colonisation, Gore, Grief, and Slavery
linesiunderline'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? Yes
4.25
While this one didn’t sweep me up quite so entirely as Practical Magic and Rules for Magic did, I still thoroughly enjoyed spending more time with a few of the Owens women, mostly because they are brave and gifted and full of heart. Something about the alternating perspectives didn’t entirely work for me - I wasn’t as consistently engaged as I was with her other two books in this cycle.
Hoffman really creates a strong sense of place, and writes so that all of your senses get involved in the reading process. I love that. Also, you want some strong women? This is a book with many of them.
Hoffman is a gorgeous storyteller. Grab a mulled cider and cozy up.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Torture, and Xenophobia