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More About the Author
Product Description
New Yorker
‘Alice Hoffman is a daring and able writer; she plots conjunctions of mundane and magical events with such ease that the reader never doubts her word’
Kate Atkinson, Independent
'A great atmospheric storyteller…Her books are a real pleasure – practical magic’
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Before you pick up this book forget the movie adaptation, Sandra Bullock, and Nicole Kidman.
The film is great, but it's been given the Hollywood treatment.
The book is wonderful.
Like most readers, I expected the quirky tale of two witchy sisters and their crazy old witchy Aunts. I didn't expect the amount of character exploration, the wit, the darkness, and the way that the magic is subtly referred to throughout, but not over-stated. I guess that's the meaning of "Practical" Magic though!
It's a really great read, and well worth the money.
The film is great, but it's been given the Hollywood treatment.
The book is wonderful.
Like most readers, I expected the quirky tale of two witchy sisters and their crazy old witchy Aunts. I didn't expect the amount of character exploration, the wit, the darkness, and the way that the magic is subtly referred to throughout, but not over-stated. I guess that's the meaning of "Practical" Magic though!
It's a really great read, and well worth the money.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I accidently watched the film adaptation one evening when there was nothing else on t.v, the film was quite good considering that it had been given the Hollywood treatment so I thought I'd give the book a go, Im so glad I did its one of the best books I have ever read, the author has the ability to make you really visualise the wisteria, roses etc.. and to feel the weather and moods of all the people in the story, some "witchy, magical" books for adults are written in a very childish manner leaving you feeling a little patronised but this one is a big exception !!.
Highly recommend this book its really a feelgood story which is quite different from Hoffmans other tales which are a little on the depressive side to say the least.... 10 out of 10 for this one though..
Highly recommend this book its really a feelgood story which is quite different from Hoffmans other tales which are a little on the depressive side to say the least.... 10 out of 10 for this one though..
40 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The movie version of this story is one of the most fun, exhilerating movies - a favorite in this household. This book bears very little relation to the movie. The only similarities are that the main characters exist as they do in the movie, but they don't live with the aunts and magic is not quite the focus as it was in the movie.
Now, that said ...
This is one of the best books I've had the opportunity to read. Written in the beautiful prose Alice Hoffman is so well known for, it follows the life of Gillian and Sally as they go on their diverse paths. Sally is the stable widow with two girls in tow. She leaves the aunts in New England, leaving her sad life behind, and moves to a Long Island suburb with her two girls where tries to live a normal life. Meanwhile, Gillian is a bad girl who is in and out of relationships and in and out of trouble. She finds the awful, abusive Jimmy and eventually kills him accidentally while enroute to visit her sister. Unsure of what to do, she brings him to her sister's house dead in the passenger seat of the car - she thinks stable Sally would know what to do to keep her out of jail. Sally meets the situation with borderline hysteria at first, then the two decide to bury him in Sally's backyard. Gillian moves in with Sally and her girls and tries to forget the body in the back yard. Sally's boring, stable life changes dramatically while Gillian's naughty life changes to a more stable one. Meanwhile they are haunted by the evil spirit of Jimmy, threatening to destroy the tenuous stability they try to build.
This book is not written in standard chapters - instead it is written in four large sections. Fortunately there are enough scene breaks in each section that you can put it down and read it in separate sittings. The thing is, once you're drawn into the story, you won't want to put it down. You'll want to read this one in a day, in one sitting if you can read fast enough. It is so beautifully written with an edge of suspense and just a tiny touch of magic. It will become a treasure on your bookshelf and one you'll only loan to your most reliable friends. Excellent!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
practical magic
practical magic is my favourite film and is now my favourite book i just couldn't put it down, it captured my attention the whole way through
Published 9 days ago by nicole
Classic Hoffman - magic, romance and unbreakable family bonds
I'm afraid I ruined this book for myself somewhat by having already seen the film a fair few times. Back before I'd even heard of Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic [DVD] [1999] was... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Miss E. Potten
pleasantly surprised...
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I've seen the film and really enjoyed it even though it is just hollywood fluff, but the book has a bit more depth than the film. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Lauren_3
Excellent
Arrived very fast and in perfect condition. Started to enjoy the book straight away, perhaps enjoyed it too much as I had finished it within 2 days!
Published 9 months ago by 4my101
Magical novel
I stumbled apon the movie whilst flicking through the channels. Loved it. I looked it up and discovered it was a book first! I had to get it. I've just finished it. Read more
Published 10 months ago by H
Who is Alice Hoffman
I was recently introduced to the works of Alice Hoffman by a friend who was quite a fan. I really enjoyed that book and decided to read another by the same author. Read more
Published 10 months ago by kirbygrip
great read!! quite different from the film though!
really enjoyed reading this book but its very different from the film!! if you loved the film you will love this but dont expect the storyline to be the same :)
Published 18 months ago by Lucy89
Preferred the film
Unfortunately I was disappointed with the book as was my mum, whom the book was purchased for. I was a fan of the film before deciding to read the book and although the film is... Read more
Published 23 months ago by J. Moyr
Practically Magic... (Backcover Description and Review)
Book Backover Description:
Sisters Gillian and Sally Owens were brought up by their two elderly guardian aunts in a world of spells and exotica. Read more
Sisters Gillian and Sally Owens were brought up by their two elderly guardian aunts in a world of spells and exotica. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2009 by DIMITRIOS S. MAVROMMATIS
Highly enjoyable read
I was very wary of this book because I have read my fill of magic-oriented books when I was in college and really didn't need another one. The title however is misleading. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2009 by Mrs. V. Sarno
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