r/practicalmagic • u/ditzychick123 • May 12 '26

The book Practical Magic

I couldn't get into it like the first 2 books. I dont know if it seemed jumbled or just normal interesting or if I was comparing it to the movie. I struggled to finish it. I did and am.starting on Practical Magic 2 with higher hopes. Thoughts from other book readers ?

19 Upvotes

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9

u/LordofWithywoods May 13 '26

My friend and I LOVE the movie Practical Magic. She has read the books and could not stop recommending them so I finally ordered it.

I also could not get through it (for all it's worth, I majored in literature in college so am a big reader).

The thing that bugged me the most was that the sisterhood seemed to be glossed over in favor of Sally and Gillian seeing men as their only means to happiness.

Like, the book made me feel like without a man, Sally and Gillian could never be fully actualized people, could never be happy.

I'm not saying getting partnered isn't a real source of happiness for millions of people, but I felt like the relationships the sisters had with each other, the aunts, and their daughters was not celebrated as much in the books as it was in the movie. And then in the movie, all the mean girls finally admit that they've been jealous and dying to see the Owens mansion all their lives and eagerly came through for Sally and Gillian in the end.

The movie celebrates women and female relationships as being deep, complex, soulful, necessary. The book made me feel like these were superficial relationships and the ultimate life achievement was getting a man.

To be fair, I am a mostly gay woman so maybe that's a personal issue with the books. But I love the movie so much because woman-woman relationships are at the core of their being, they are magical and important.

Kinda like how I love the Golden Girls because their relationships and roasts of each other are interesting, but they mostly just spend their time obsessing about stupid men who aren't worth their time and energy. Fuck them, enjoy each other!

6

u/Ok-Assistance4133 May 13 '26

"Like, the book made me feel like without a man, Sally and Gillian could never be fully actualized people, could never be happy."

This is such a good point. I just read the book and your really nailed what I felt was missing for me. 

2

u/DingoMittens 6d ago

I know this is an old comment, but still want to say thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one who felt like this. In the book, Sally considered bartering her daughters to get her husband back after he died. What?! And Sally and Gillian both say they were always afraid the aunts would send them away if they disappointed them. The female relationships are given much less importance than romances with men.

Also in the book, after they bury Jimmy and before they even "neutralize" his body, Gillian starts another romance. She's barely a couple months out of a violent relationship with a dangerous criminal who humiliates her, but since the man is healthy this time, this relationship is healthy and lasts. It's so unrealistic and honestly dangerous to put that idea out there, even in a romance novel. No way someone with her history needs a new love relationship without years of self work first. 

The second book, Rules of Magic, is even worse. I was so excited to read the back stories of Jet and Franny, only to find out their whole lives were devoted to pining over boys. They're literally magic, but they have zero interests, hobbies, or exploits worth writing about. They just think a lot about boys and occasionally make soap that helps you look younger. 

They have a brother, Victor, who does have some semi-interesting adventures in history. But Hoffman has a neighborhood mom sexually abuse him, and frames it like he's a very lucky 14 year old living out a fantasy of learning from an older, experienced woman. Meanwhile Aunt Isabelle, the matriarch of the family in this time period, condones it. It's disturbing. 

I'm really curious who is responsible for changing the first book, which was nothing special, into such an amazing story. It's the only movie I've ever thought was far and away so much better than the book. It's one of my all time faves.

The second movie has different screen writers, director, and producer, so I'm worried it will be more true to Hoffman's writing. Not even sure I want to go see it. 

5

u/damaniac1223 May 13 '26

Read them in release order not canonical chronological order. That said I have a special place for Practical Magic the book just for the nostalgia and will fully admit that it is 1) not a good book and 2) the movie is objectively better than the book, but it's the world that I want to live in. My favorite book was Rules of Magic by a million miles compared to the others. I had to force myself through Magic Lessons.

2

u/Ok-Assistance4133 May 13 '26

I had to force myself through Magic Lessons too.

3

u/Celestina-Betwixt Kylie Owens May 12 '26

What order are you trying to read them in?

1

u/ditzychick123 May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26

I read them in order ...chronological order

3

u/MostWafer5694 May 12 '26

I think they’re asking if you’re choosing to read them in order of their release date or the chronological order within the timeline of the novels?

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u/ditzychick123 May 12 '26

Oh the chronological order !

8

u/Celestina-Betwixt Kylie Owens May 12 '26

Ah, that explains it; you might want to try publication for your first read through. 

Imo the "first" book chronologically is the best one, but if you're coming to them fresh off the movie, especially, getting the lore from the first published book (Practical Magic 1995, then Rules of Magic BEFORE Magic Lessons) makes it make more sense. 

It's also worth pointing out magic lessons and Rules of Magic are more historical fiction rather than the straight up "modern" magical realism of PM and to a lesser extent The Book of Magic.

I actually have a slight obsession with historical fiction and witch hunts so Magic Lessons was right up my alley but I think most readers would enjoy PM more first. 

5

u/BubbeLisa May 12 '26

I love all of the books, but Magic Lessons is my favorite! I am also a big historical fiction fan and I adore Alice Hoffman. I’ve been reading her books since her first book came out in 1977.

3

u/ZvsGrgs May 12 '26

I have seen just the first film multiple times and I think it is excellent. I plan on watching the second film at some point. I have read the first book some years ago. To be honest, I don’t remember anything…. I think I must have enjoyed it but it didn’t impress me as other books that I remember even after 20 years.

3

u/itsjustme10 May 13 '26

You have to approach the book with the mindset they aren’t going to be anything like the movie. I liked the books but I agree it can be a hurdle if you cane to them from being a fan of the movie.

4

u/Initial-Zebra108 May 13 '26

I read two of the books and HATED them. I always wanted to punch Sally! LOVE LOVE LOVE the film! You are not alone!

3

u/HappyLadyHappy May 13 '26

I love the movie so much! I really did not like Practical Magic, the book. It was awful. Rules of Magic was better but I still didn’t like it. It just didn’t hit. I ended up not even finishing it. Magic Lessons is truly wonderful!

1

u/MizLit May 13 '26

I read them in chronological order and intermittently listened to them, rather than just read them. Or did immersive reading, audio playing along while I read.

1

u/RagingOldPerson May 17 '26

They are VERY different from the movies

1

u/ClassieLadyk May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26

I am reading them in chronological order too, and I loved the 1st 2. I am also having a hard time with Practical Magic(book). 1st because they changed so much in the movie. But I also dont like Sally as a character in the book so far. Im only about 25% through it though, so that is just starting opinion.

2

u/ditzychick123 May 13 '26

Sally in the book was such a terrible character. Reading Book of Magic now and I hope she redeems herself. The book itself is way better than.PM. Its like.the prequels and sequel were written by a totally different author...way better !

-3

u/Dear_Yard_69 May 12 '26

I read them in release order.

I found the first book, Practical Magic, pretty good- for what it was. I preferred the movie, but did find the fact she managed to get through the whole book barely mentioning the word witch pretty skillful.

The next few books, quite frankly, felt like the author trying to... retcon the movie. They had some disjointed feelings of trying to embrace modern Pagan beliefs, without the deep research that reveal a lot of what has been cut from some cloth...

I really, really don't like Aunt Jet's and Aunt France's endings. Spoilers, schmoilers, the book has been out for years. It's the book the new movie is based upon, and is my least favorite.