October discussion: Practical Magic

[SusanH]

Here is the place to discuss Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. As always, beware of spoilers if you haven't finished!

[Ruby]

I liked it over all - I only vaguely remember watching the movie with Nicole Kidman so I'm glad that I didn't have that to compare it to.

The only thing that really bugged me was that the ending seemed kind out anti-climactic to me. I guess that I was expecting the "ghost" of Jimmy to be more vindictive and actually attack or do something more physicaly than just cause bad luck or things to go missing. I was disappointed that the aunts just did some spell and laid down blue stones.

Other than that I liked the book.

[Maribeth]

I keep forgetting to post about this book. I thought it was a page turner, and I'd like to read more of Hoffman's books. The ending was a bit anti-climatic with the whole Thanksgiving (was it Thanksgiving?) gathering at the aunts'. I almost said the ending was unrealistic but it is an unrealistic book. What I mean is that this ending was unrealistic for THIS type of book. Does that make sense? It was almost sappy. Other than the ending though, I really enjoyed the book.

[SusanH]

I read this book on time but managed to completely forget to post about it. Oops!

I've read it before and I'm sad to say I enjoyed it more the first time. Perhaps that was because I hadn't read any other Hoffman novels at the time. Now that I've read quite a few, they are all beginning to seem a bit too much the same and this novel seemed less creative and fresh this time around. There's so much that I like about it, though - the descriptions of their childhood, the imagery, the magical realism, the language. It's an interesting novel but I agree with Maribeth and Tami that a different ending might have worked better for this novel.

[mom317]

I used to read all of Alice Hoffman's book, I have her last two on my bookshelf still to be read . I love her books. I recommend "Illumination Night" it is still one of my favorites. An oldie but goodie

I read Practical Magic, I am a little sketchy on it, but I remember I liked it It was definitely better then the movie. I know with Alice Hoffman, none of her books really have a tah dah ending ykwim...