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louiepotterbook's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
beckyhofman's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
thebibutterfly's review
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Incest, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
thalia16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
tilde_c_s's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
aislinn_mcd_harrison's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Questions to ask book club:
Is the curse real?
What do you think Alice Hoffman’s writing about youth and beauty and age?
Do you think Franny is consistent?
What do you think of how she portrayed real events like the Vietnam war and the stonewall riots?
Did you like the siblings? Who was your favourite?
This book is a prequel and the ending fairly unapologetically has nothing to do with the book you’ve read and is a preamble to practical magic - did it make you want to read the next one and why?
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War
martamae77's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Suicide attempt
allyhoo811'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? Yes
4.5
My Issues:
2. I wanted more resolution to what the "curse" really was. Towards the end of the book, it seemed like the author was trying to get across the message that the curse had always just been in the minds of the family members, but then when Sally and Gillian's parents died it was written as if the curse had caught up with them. Doesn't ruin the story, but I didn't like feeling that you could actually trick the "curse", by doing things like changing your name or by living separately and not marrying.
Note: This story is told by a third person, omniscient narrator. There is a lot of head hopping. I found it worked fine for me (when it usually doesn't), but just know that going in.
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
apoppyinthewind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'm torn between a 4 or 5. I did truly enjoy it and I can see myself re-reading it again when I'm in the mood for something witchy. I might even pick up a copy to go with the copy of Practical Magic I've been meaning to re-buy (Decluttering remorse 🤦♀️) and yet it is lacking something that Practical Magic holds for me. I can't quite put my finger on it so I may update this review when I do so for now let's say 4.5 stars.
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Homophobia, Incest, and Police brutality