Practical Magic is a novel written by Alice Hoffman. The story revolves around two sisters, Sally and Gillian Owens, who come from a long line of witches. They grow up in a small town in New England, where they are feared and ostracized by the community. Despite this, the sisters embrace their magical abilities and use them to navigate through life's challenges. The novel explores themes of love, sisterhood, and the power of female relationships. Sally and Gillian's bond is central to the story, as they support and protect each other throughout their lives.
It's the cult classic that started it all. Enter the lives of two witchy women attempting to escape their cursed fates.
There are pages and pages of the two of them having sex and I was a bit annoyed that so many pages were dedicated to this when they could have been used for something else that would ve helped me connect with Gillian and like her more. If a damp spring arrived, if cows in the pasture gave milk that was runny with blood, if a colt died of colic or a baby was born with a red birthmark stamped onto his cheek, everyone believed that fate must have been twisted, at least a little, by those women over on Magnolia Street.
Sally and Gillian's bond is central to the story, as they support and protect each other throughout their lives. Their magical abilities play a significant role in their relationships with others, both romantic and platonic. The narrative moves between past and present, revealing the family's history and the tragedies they have experienced.
The Book of Magic: A Novel (The Practical Magic Series #4) (Hardcover)
This is book number 4 in the The Practical Magic Series series.
- #1: Magic Lessons: Book #1 of the Practical Magic Series (Paperback): $17.99
- #2: The Rules of Magic: A Novel (The Practical Magic Series #2) (Paperback): $16.99
October 2021 Indie Next List
“A wonderful conclusion to the series with a new generation of Owens to charm us. For fans who like their books with a good dose of magic, and readers who enjoy a family saga with characters that win you over. What a treat!”
— Laura Taylor, The Oxford Exchange, Tampa, FL
“Hoffman certainly knows how to enchant” (The New York Times Book Review) in this breathtaking conclusion to the Practical Magic series—a spellbinding and bewitching novel that asks how far will you go to change your fate?
For over three-hundred years a curse has kept the Owens family from love—but all of that is about to change. The novel begins in a library, the best place for a story to be conjured, when beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Jet is not the only one in danger—the curse is already at work.
A frantic attempt to save a young man’s life spurs three generations of the Owens women, and one long-lost brother, to use their unusual gifts to break the curse as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced the Unnamed Art. The younger generation discovers secrets that have been hidden from them in matters of both magic and love by Sally, their fiercely protective mother. As Kylie Owens uncovers the truth about who she is and what her own dark powers are, her aunt Franny comes to understand that she is ready to sacrifice everything for her family, and Sally Owens realizes that she is willing to give up everything for love.
A heartfelt and satisfying conclusion to a beloved series, The Book of Magic celebrates mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, and anyone who has ever been in love.
Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The Book of Magic, Magic Lessons, The World That We Knew, Practical Magic, The Rules of Magic (a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick), the Oprah’s Book Club Selection Here on Earth, The Red Garden, The Dovekeepers, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, The Marriage of Opposites, and Faithful. She lives near Boston.
- Fiction / Historical
- Fiction / Occult & Supernatural
- Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
“Delightfully witchy… Alluring on its own, it’s also a satisfying end to a timeless saga.” —THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, Editor’s Choice
“Some stories begin at the beginning and others begin at the end.” So opens The Book of Magic, the final installment of Alice Hoffman’s popular Practical Magic series, a page-turning fairy tale of a saga that spans three books, one star-studded movie adaptation and multiple centuries of adventure and misadventure, love lost and found and bottomless cauldrons of sorcery in the lives of the bewitchingly witchy Owens family. like the witches who populate her stories, Hoffman certainly knows how to enchant." —NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
"Alice Hoffman has given us such a gift with this series, and this final chapter is sure to be another heartfelt celebration of mothers and daughters and the magic of falling in love." —LITHUB
“I love Alice Hoffman. Full of Hoffman’s bewitching and lucid prose and vivid characters, The Book of Magic is ultimately about the very human magic of family and love and actions that echo through generations. Filled with secrets and splendor and light and dark, the novel works as well as a stand-alone as it does as a conclusion to a mesmerizing series. It casts a spell.” —MATT HAIG, New York Times best-selling author of The Midnight Library
This book is the complete opposite of The Rules of Magic (Read my review here). This prequel to Practical Magic, of which there are two, is all about finding out who you are, accepting who you are, and loving yourself for it. While Franny, Jet, and Vincent fight their mother and rebel against the normal life she wants for them, everything that Sally wants is to be normal, and she denies who she is and lies to herself in order to achieve that sense of normalcy. While Franny, Jet, and Vincent find themselves in Magnolia Street, both Sally and Gillian run from it, and want to be someone they are not.
This adds depth to the characters and highlights the weight of their magical lineage. Additionally, the novel delves into the themes of identity and self-acceptance. Sally and Gillian struggle with their magical abilities and the consequences that come with them. They must learn to embrace their powers and own their unique identities. Overall, Practical Magic is a captivating tale of love, magic, and self-discovery. It highlights the strength of sisterhood and the resilience of the human spirit. The novel seamlessly weaves elements of magical realism into a rich and compelling story..
Reviews for "The Notions of Fate and Free Will in "Practical Magic" Novel: Can Magic Alter the Course of Destiny?"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Practical Magic". The plot was all over the place and the characters felt underdeveloped. It seemed like the author was trying to fit too many elements into one story and it ended up feeling messy and disjointed. I was expecting a captivating and enchanting read, but unfortunately, this novel fell short for me.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I found "Practical Magic" to be quite dull and unengaging. The pacing was slow, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. The story felt predictable and lacked the depth and magic I was hoping for. The writing style was also rather mediocre, making it difficult for me to become fully immersed in the world. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book.
3. Ava - 1/5 stars - "Practical Magic" was a complete letdown for me. The storyline felt forced and cliché, and the magical elements were poorly executed. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, as they felt shallow and one-dimensional. The book had potential, but it fell flat in its execution. I was expecting something more captivating and enchanting, but instead, I was left feeling bored and uninterested.
4. Mike - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Practical Magic", but it fell short in many aspects. The writing style felt disjointed and confusing, making it hard to follow the storyline. The characters lacked depth and their actions seemed inconsistent at times. The book also had a slow pacing which made it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I found "Practical Magic" to be underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it to others.