Reviews tagging 'Death'

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

88 reviews

lenorayoder's review

• 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

5.0

Loved this! I can see why people who come here from the movie have a problem - while the plot is similar, the characters, themes, and feeling of the book are pretty removed from the adaptation. I like both for what they are. 

The magical realism, somewhat non-linear storytelling, and flawed characters with distinct personalities are real strengths of this book. The style of writing is so charming and then at times startling, it drew me in immediately and enhances the story and characters. 

By the end of the book I was still irritated by Gillian, but that’s not a fault of the book - like most of the characters she’s excellently written. The characters all feel real, and if I met some of them in real life I wouldn’t like them, but that’s what makes them interesting and propels the story! 

The ending of this book doesn’t wrap everything up neatly in a bow, but that’s kind of the point. Life is messy. We grow and learn and try our best, but we are imperfect. We do what we can with what we have. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Stalking, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

bessadams's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Murder

darkmagic_magic's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment

maite_moonchild's review against another edition

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Alcohol

kelly04's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

izzy_v's review against another edition

dark lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Very different from the movie (read this before seeing the movie for the first time), but still enjoyed the book! Much less magical and witchy than the movie, which was a bummer for an October read but still was sweet and good fall vibes. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

maddireads13's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder

egroetsema's review

adventurous mysterious fast-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? No

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

Moderate: Death and Stalking

qupcns's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Grief

Minor: Domestic abuse and Drug abuse

erinreading's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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? Yes

2.5

Not much like the movie at all. The book has four sections but no chapters so it can drag on. Subject seems to change with almost every other paragraph giving a sense of rambling. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism