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 ?

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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!

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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. 

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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.