Practical Magic

Rating:
Summary: A true delight!
Review: I'm a second year student of english and therefore I'm forced to read all the classics available, maybe that it is why it was such a delight reading this novel. It's easy to read and you just can't put it down. Hoffman has written a truly delightful novel. I've told everybody about it and recommend it to everyone. You'll won't regret reading it.

Rating:
Summary: A Big Disappointment
Review: After being drawn in by the magical possibilities of a Rossetti painting on the dustjacket (of the hardcover) and an epigraph from Mother Goose, I was disappointed that what followed was sheer hokum. Most disappointing: the characters are based on cliched ideas. For example, the author reinforces the tired dichotomy that women are either rational and practical or wild and irresponsible. And the author's primary characterization of all the prominent females in the book is that they are stunningly beautiful, as if she has nothing else in her bag of tricks to make them likable. This is a world where a woman must use her beauty to secure the love of a handsome man before she can like herself, and that is very unfortunate given the possibilities for strong feminine characters in such a storyline. The ending is likewise predictable and cloying, which seems to be a prerequisite for authors who eventually end up in the "Oprah Bookclub."

Rating:
Summary: Mystical, whimsical, wonderful!
Review: I began *Practical Magic* without expectations -- what a fantastic surprise to stumble upon an author with a true talent for creating complex female characters. Hoffman has made me look at the world around me differently -- now the clouds, grass, and flowers seem to positively glow with life. Best advice: read this book when your in love, finished with love, or waiting for that extraordinary someone (i.e. this is a great book for everyone)!

Rating:
Summary: fantastic!!!!!
Review: I think Alice Hoffman would be a wonderful person to sit out on a porch with, drink some ice tea and talk about life and all the forces out there that people are too often not aware of... It seems she has an incredible imagination and a miriad of beliefs. I really enjoyed reading Practical Magic and look forward to discussing it in my next book group meeting. I did not want the book to end and in fact kept a pen handy to underline passages that I want to discuss and lines I want to remember!!

Rating:
Summary: I didn't want the Magic of this book to end!
Review: Alice Hoffman is one of the few writers who really weaves a magic spell with her writing. The writing itself is as captivating as the story. I really enjoyed escaping to her world, and am thrilled that it may be made into a movie.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Hoffman Novel
Review: I'm a big fan of Alice Hoffman. I've read several of her books, but this one definitely takes first prize. She has an incredible gift of saying things you've felt your entire life but have been unable to put into words.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, Whimsical
Review: This book was such an endearing, lovable read and I enjoyed it immensely. My second-favorate Alice Hoffman book, after Seventh Heaven.

Rating:
Summary: Another wonderful Hoffman offering!
Review: Just finished reading PRACTICAL MAGIC and had that rare experience of being sorry to see the book end. It left me wanting to learn more about those intense, lovely, witchy Owens women (and girls). I recently "discovered" Alice Hoffman and have read three of her earlier books, including PRACTICAL MAGIC. Hoffman has the gift! Her artistry is breath-taking. Thank God she is a prolific writer. I have many more titles of hers to enjoy. Can't wait to get to them.

Rating:
Summary: Magical, Mystical, and Magnificent
Review: This is the first book that I have read by Alice Hoffman, but it certainly will not be the last. I enjoy books where the female characters are not the stereotypical bimbos or bitches; this book definitely provides a strong female cast.
This light-hearted tale will boost your spirits; you won't regret buying it!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful read
Review: Having just finished this book, I wanted to share it with other readers. Hoffman weaves a tale full of magic and colors so rich they almost drip off the page. The Aunts, Sally and Gillian, Kylie and Antonia, the Owens women learn about the strength and complete vulnerability that love brings into a woman's life.