Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published: November 6, 2012
Source: Library
Summary:
Alice Hoffman’s enchanting witch’s brew of suspense, romance and magic – now a major motion picture from Warner Bros.
When the beautiful and precocious sisters Sally and Gillian Owens are orphaned at a young age, they are taken to a small Massachusetts town to be raised by their eccentric aunts, who happen to dwell in the darkest, eeriest house in town. As they become more aware of their aunts’ mysterious and sometimes frightening powers – and as their own powers begin to surface – the sisters grow determined to escape their strange upbringing by blending into “normal” society.
But both find that they cannot elude their magic-filled past. And when trouble strikes – in the form of a menacing backyard ghost – the sisters must not only reunite three generations of Owens women but embrace their magic as a gift – and their key to a future of love and passion.
My thoughts:
Oh, this series has certainly become a favorite! Isn’t it funny how that happens? Now I admit I have never seen the movie, though I am definitely going to have to change that after reading this series, these books have certainly found a special place in my heart.
This particular installment, which ironically is the first book that Alice Hoffman wrote, is not necessarily my favorite of the bunch, though I still did like it. I think there is a definite maturity to her writing with the subsequent books but that’s besides the point. I still found that this book served its purpose.
This book is about sisterhood, and having two sisters myself, I always love stories that explore this relationship. It gives us the story of two strong women who are trying to figure out their role in their family, knowing that things aren’t quite what you would call normal. It is definitely a character-driven story, but again, it’s one that while a bit slower than the other two I’ve already written, did manage to still captivate me.
“There are some things I know for certain: always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.”
All I know is that I need to own these books. I’ve enjoyed listening to them, but I need to have them sitting on my shelf so that I can pick them up when I feel the need. Do you ever feel that way about a series or a specific book?
Audio thoughts:
Again, I continue listening to the audio of this series. This installment is narrated by Christina Moore and I thought she did a great job bringing the book to life. Her intonation and characterization for each character were spot on and I found myself completely glued to the audio, despite the slower parts.
Books in this series:
Chronological Order –
- Magic Lessons
- The Rules of Magic
- Practical Magic
- The Book of Magic
Publication Date –
- Practical Magic
- The Rules of Magic
- Magic Lessons
- The Book of Magic
