25th Anniversary Edition—with an Introduction by the Author!The Owens sisters confront the challenges of life and love in this bewitching novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Rules of Magic and Magic Lessons.For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in their Massachusetts town. Gillian and Sally have endured that fate … Massachusetts town. Gillian and Sally have endured that fate as well: as children, the sisters were forever outsiders, taunted, talked about, pointed at. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, with their musty house and their exotic concoctions and their crowd of black cats. But all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape. One will do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they share will bring them back—almost as if by magic…
“Splendid…Practical Magic is one of [Hoffman’s] best novels, showing on every page her gift for touching ordinary life as if with a wand, to reveal how extraordinary life really is.”—Newsweek
“[A] delicious fantasy of witchcraft and love in a world where gardens smell of lemon verbena and happy endings are possible.”—Cosmopolitan
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Better than the movie!!!
I like new perspectives, and this novel offers a different perspective regarding witches.
Much different than the movie. I really enjoyed the unexpected twists. I read it in one day.
Alice Hoffman always delivers. I have read this book twice now.
Really good book.
A book you want read again and again
True five-star book. Not just “good for its genre” but good as in literature. There’s humor but it tackles many of the complexities of creating and maintaining family relationships, surviving the inevitable wounds of childhood and finding your way in the adult world. Oh, and there’s magic. Because so much of the narrative takes place within the characters’ heads, I kept wondering how on earth they made it into a movie. I found the ending very satisfying.
I didn’t like it
I love the movie and enjoyed the book as much. I think reading the prequel “The Rules of Magic” added to the story and made it even more enjoyable.
Very slow moving. I finally skipped the last 1/3. Movie was much better.
For me, this is my favorite kind of Alice Hoffman novel: magical happenings described as common place. There’s a real plot, and it’s quirky. It can get a bit scary at times, but it’s also light and amusing. There are well-rounded, well-adjusted characters. The ending is a reasonable end, and reasonably happy.
It’s one of few novels that I enjoy re-reading every once in a while. Reading Practical Magic is more than just a pleasant way to spend time–it sticks to the ribs.
I enjoyed it.
I liked the movie better. The plot held together better.
Alice Hoffman never disappoints.
I loved this book I think more than the Movie which I really liked a lot! It was very very good with a little magic added..
Disappointing. Read first part and didn’t like it so didn’t read the rest of the book.
Could not finish it. Not good at all.
I understand where the premise of the “movie” came from, but this book is horrid and makes the characters bitter, mean and unloving people.
This remains one of my two favorite books.
Can’t put it down! Despite “magic” the characters feel real and believable. The romance is not soppy.