317 pages
English language
Published Aug. 7, 1996 by Berkley Books.
Practical Magic is a tale of two sisters, Gillian and Sally Owens, brought up by their two elderly guardian aunts in a world of spells and exotica from which they eventually escape - one by running away, the other by marrying - but which never escapes from them. Many years go by before strange circumstances thrust them together again, and again they are in a world that blends the mundane and the mysterious, the familiar and the fantastic, the normal and the numinous. Three generations of Owens women are then united in an experience of unexpected insight and revelation, teaching all of them that the perceptions provided by what is called the magical are rare and wonderful endowments.
This book ends strong but the first 3/4 is quite slow and muddling. In general, the tale is okay; but, I doubt I'll invest time in future novels.
With a dash of obsession thrown in.
This book must've came to me at the right time and place because I fell in love with it. It's probably just a hex put on me by the author. I'm okay with that.
This was a nearly perfect book. I have loved the film a long time (ever since before it was released, thanks to the old Victoria Magazine's photo shoot of that yummy magical kitchen). And have watched it multiple times.
Since my friends warned that the book was not the same, I sort of avoided reading the book. But finally got around to it, and I am so glad.
No, it's not the same as the film, more subtle. But oh -- the writing is pitch perfect and glorious. Magic weaves in and out of every paragraph, and the characters are so much more fully defined.
I LOVED everything about it. Really might be one of my favorite books in years. Thank you, Alice Hoffman!
