Practical Magic: 25th Anniversary Edition (The Practical Magic Series)

If you saw the film that this book inspired in 1998 and think you know all about the Owens women who "for more than two hundred years...have been blamed for everything that went wrong in their Massachusetts town," then think again. Like most books that make the jump to the silver screen certain changes were made that affected the story as a whole. Some subplots were abandoned while others were expanded.

After the untimely death of their parents in a fire, two sisters Sally and Gillian are taken in by their eccentric Aunts. Due to their family's reputation for being witches, Sally and Gillian are harassed and ostracized by their peers and so have no one to turn to but each other. The two sisters couldn't be more unlike one another. Sally, the eldest sibling, copes by being the perfect child. She cooks nutritional dinners, washes and hangs the laundry and always goes to bed on time. Gillian, however, dreams of being free from the house, the Aunts, the taunting and teasing of the boys who fear her.

However, the sisters have one thing in common. They spend many nights in the shadows of the landing above the stairs in their house listening to their Aunts ply their trade as witches who specialize in affairs of the heart. They listen to the women who come to their Aunts desperate to gain love. The sisters see the toll that unrequited love takes on a woman and are disgusted at the lengths these desperate women will go to in order to obtain the one they desire. Consequently, both of the girls are afraid to love.

In an expanded subplot from the movie, as the story unfolds we actually get to see the long-term results of the love spell performed on behalf of one of the Aunts clients and the consequences of the magic invoked one night with little forethought and much desperation.

Gillian escapes the house on Magnolia Street by running off with a boy in the middle of the night after having spiked their Aunts soup so she wouldn't be caught. She finds herself unable to settle on any one guy, not for very long. However that doesn't stop her from getting married three times. Sally, on the other hand, stays with the Aunts and fills her days working in the garden, doing household chores, and shopping at the hardware store for cleaning supplies.

Sally finally meets a man named Michael at the hardware store. They fall in love, get married and have two daughters Antonia and Kylie. For a time, she is happy. Nonetheless, the death-watch beetle begins to mark off Michael's time on earth and he is doomed to die. At first Sally doesn't believe her Aunts when they tell her, until she slowly begins to believe their warnings and Sally goes to the Aunts for help. Having already secretly done everything they were able, the Aunts could offer no advice but to accept the inevitable.

After Michael's death, Sally goes into a deep depression which last for exactly one year. During that time the Aunts become Antonia and Kyle's main caregivers. When Sally comes out of her depression, she witnesses that her daughters are now being subjected to the same harassment that she and her sisters suffered through so many years ago. She then decides to do just as her sister had done years before. She uses Michael's insurance money and some of her own savings to move away from the Aunts and start a new life in New York. There she attempts to give her daughters something that she herself felt that she never had...a normal life.

Rather than opening her own business as in the movie, Sally takes a job as a school secretary so that she can be home when her daughters come home from school and the job has the added bonus of allowing her to have summers off. Just when it seems that Sally has achieved her goal of a normal life, Gillian shows up on her doorstep one hot summer night with Jimmy Hawkins, her dead boyfriend, in her car.

Gillian fears that she has murdered Jimmy because she had been slipping him nightshade every night to prevent him from getting drunk and consequently hurting her. It seems that though Jimmy has a long history of hurting, even murdering, the ones around him Gillian is compelled to love him and like many abused women, can't seem to leave her abuser. Not even her magic seems strong enough to take away her love for him. This is in direct contrast with all her previous experiences with men, in that since the time she was a teenager men and boys fell in love with her at first sight. She often had them wrapped around her little finger and just when they thought their love was secure---she left the relationship. The sisters ultimately decide to bury Jimmy in the backyard and forget about the entire incident.

The book then begins to focus on the relationship between Sally's daughters Antonia and Kylie. Being teenagers, the girls have a strained relationship. Like Sally and Gillian, they appear to be more unlike that alike in their outlook and attitudes. Antonia is more like her Aunt Gillian--beautiful, spoiled, wild, and carefree; whereas Kylie is more like her mother--responsible, introverted, and sensitive. It is only when Kylie's beauty threatens to outshine her own that Antonia begins to contemplate her future and what she has to offer the world, rather than what the world has to offer her. As Kylie develops physically, she becomes surer of herself and more aware of her own beauty. It is only after she is almost sexually assaulted that Antonia and Kylie renew their sisterly bond.

Throughout these events, Gillian has formed a relationship with Kylie who looks to her Aunt as a role model for what she believes a woman should be. Thus further strains the relationship between Sally and Gillian as Sally feels that her daughters are still babies, and is not eager to see them grow up just yet. Jimmy's ghostly influence uses their resentment for one another to further destroy Sally and Gillian's sisterly bond and drive them apart forever. Jimmy's spirit seems to take over the back yard where he is buried. The lilacs grow great lengths overnight and their scent draws the attention of the neighborhood women who come to the garden gate to look at them. It seems that the scent of the lilacs stir painful memories in these women, who uncontrollably weep when these memories resurface. Jimmy's influence reaches into the house as well, as food begins to spoil overnight and dead creatures are found in the toilet and sink.

On Kylie's 13th birthday, she develops the ability to see auras and other mystical phenomena. It is her that eventually causes Sally and Gillian to realize that Jimmy's spirit is attacking not only the house, but Sally and Gillian themselves. After Sally cuts down the lilacs, things seem to improve. Antonia's biology teacher, Ben Frye, falls in love with Gillian and begins to peruse a relationship with her, although she is adamant that she will be "single forever." Sally too is challenged by love when Gary Hallet, an investigator from Arizona looking into Jimmy's disappearance, arrives at her doorstep drawn by a letter Sally sent to Gillian some months prior. With no where else to turn, Sally and Gillian call the Aunts for help in ridding themselves of Jimmy's ghostly influence.

On the whole, the beginning and ending of the book is somewhat similar to the movie. Although Jimmy's spiritual death is not as dramatic as it was in the movie and no one becomes possessed, however, this is in keeping with the magical realism genre. The middle part of the book focuses more on Sally's daughters as they grow from teenagers to young adults and draws a parallel between them and the generations of Owens women who have come before.

Thankfully the absolutely absurd scene from the movie where the witches jump off their roof with umbrellas is absent from the book. I loved the inclusion of actual spells that are so descriptive of the Aunt's old-world flavor of witchcraft. Although we do get some background information on the Aunts, I think it would be wonderful for Hoffman to write a prequel featuring these wonderful characters.

Practical Magic is a book that I will return to again and again. The author's descriptive prose and attention to detail brings a greater depth to the story. It is rich in imagination, ripe with characterization, and possessed of a wisdom that will not be lost on the attentive reader.

I listened to this book on audible: AND I HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS REVIEW.

This book is such a fun story. It weaves together three generations of Owens women and their bloodline gift of “having the sight, as well as true beauty. “ The story shows how close the 3 generations of women become, even after years of differences and fighting amongst each other, brought on by Maria Owens curse back during the Salam witch trials. The curse was “ ANY MAN THAT LOVES AN OWENS WOMAN WILL FACE AN EARLY DEATH.”’ This curse has negatively affected Frannie, Jet, Gillian and Sally. The curse has created times of depression, bitterness and loneliness amongst all four of them, and directly affected the bonds between them. Practical Magic begins with Sally and Gillian going to live with their Aunt frannie and Jet, when their parents die. Frannie And Jet with no children of their own are so cute at the airport, welcoming Sally & Gillian with open arms. Therefore, I was perplexed when pneither Sally or Gillian become very close to their aunts who graciously took the girls in. Gillian, brings a lot of life to the story, as she is portrayed as a “hot mess” in the book. Sally I just want to shake at times and say lighten up, live a little. I was sad when Gillian leaves the aunt’s home. Equally sad when Sally chooses to move away from the aunts too, with her daughters Antonia and Kylie. You see Antonia and Kylie adored their aunts and both girls seemed ready to embrace and learn from their great aunts, all about their bloodline gift, of having “THE SIGHT” and not only did they have the sight, the three generations of women were all beautiful too. I thought how is it Kylie and Antonia adored Frannie and Jet but Sally and Gillian did not. As the book progresses, It really is a blessing when the three generations of women all come together and magically all bond together. The curse, “ that any man who loves an Owens woman will surly die” is the reason behind the sisters, aunts and Sally’s daughters all being in a position to bond together. In Practical magic, Gillian creates havoc to her sister sally and nieces lives, when she shows up at Sally’s house with her dead boyfriend in the car. It turns out, the aunts are the only ones who can help them. The aunts step in to help, proving how much they love their nieces and grand nieces. Sally and Gillian can’t help but develop loving bonds with their aunts at this point in their lives and start to embrace their bloodline gifts of having the sight.

I’m a fan of the movie “Practical Magic,” so I guess that’s why this book caught my eye. But as is often the case, the book is even better than the movie. Two things I particularly enjoyed about this book: 1) the densely packed narrative style, full of rich detail; and 2) the point of view is third person but isn’t distant, diving naturally into each character to give us the character’s innermost thoughts and feelings. A very enjoyable read - full of magic, love, family, and nature.

I was a child when the film came out. None of us knew it was a book then, though we absolutely adored the film. In fact, we still adore the film as its own thing. I'd say it's one of the better book to film adaptations where the adaptation wasn't accurate to the book. It is a great standalone film, where the film is essentially a fanfic rewrite gone to screen.

Last year I finally purchased the novel, and along with reading it, I listened to the audiobook. I did this after watching the film, because I wanted to note the differences because of the reviews. There are so many reviews: those who turned out to love the book, and those who didn't like it because it wasn't the film. Those who didn't like it because Sally and Gillian argue way more in the book, Antonia and Kylie are older and argue way more in the book. The Aunts aren't involved like they are in the film. No Midnight Margaritas. Gillian has a whole romantic plot that is more than Jimmy. The magic is presented differently than self-stirring teaspoons and candles being lit by the same action they're put out.

If anything, it made me realize the movie became the way it was, probably because people (men) high up in the 90s didn't believe men would watch this book adapted into a film. Men being 'forced' to watch this film with their girlfriends or wives, or daughters or with her whole friend group as chaperone, with almost an all female cast having female feelings and arguments and lives and their own identities and discovering their personalities and who they actually want to be as they grow. It would have been too wishy washy.

If anything, I found this book to be incredibly refreshing and inviting for all. It is an aspect of family and sisterhood and womanhood that is so rarely seen: we are not the same just because we're family (or women), and those arguments are gonna happen. And they're therapeutic. Sisters have rivalries that began in infancy and childhood, and sisters have disagreements, and they disapprove of what the other is doing. You can love someone without supporting their every choice, and it can take YEARS before you have that moment and your relationship becomes like the relationships that are more commonly presented in films and novels between family members. It can take decades before you can really think and say that you like your sibling, and that you would choose to have them in your life.

The omission of these plots is saying the silent part out loud, almost. The film is the feel good version of the book, while the book is the work you do to get there. There is so little time to develop these characters and get the plot rolling, I understand; but though they share the same names, they're different characters who are living vastly different lives. Every character has their own POV, we know what they're thinking about themselves and others. The film did not want to invest in these characters, as if their experiences were inconvenient if not bothersome or too feminine, because you better believe: men. (Female writers, producers, directors include these, as do female authors.) Sally becomes the only character for the film, I love Sally. But the film was made under film guidelines. You've got to have one main character, some sub characters, and a romantic plot. I do not relate to Gillian at all, but I know so many women who are like Gillian, and it actually hurts that her development as a character had no resolution after Jimmy in the film. So many women would benefit from seeing a character such as themselves as more than just in and out of a bad relationship. Gillian gets closure and a healthy relationship, in her mid 30s. Gillian is a wonderful character who couldn't even see her own value in the same way Sally couldn't see her own, even if they were wearing different tinted glasses.

The book does not have to become your favorite. I relate to it because I have sisters and know what the facets of sisterhood looks like. Actual sisterhood with siblings is not the same sisterhood that you have with your friends. It's not. Every character in this book is their own person, with their own personality and developing, evolving identity; you don't just stay one person. You're not the same person you were at 6, as you are at 16, or 36. You're trying to find yourself, and fit in your family dynamic, in a way that allows you to be authentic, and you're gonna ruffle feathers and step on toes.

I'm not a professional book reader or reviewer. I don't know what to scale it on. I just know I enjoyed how incredibly different it was from the film, and for how many people across the variety of platforms complained about the arguing and how it’s not the film. My goodness, was it refreshing.

A history of magic and doomed love runs through the veins of the Owens sisters who grew up in a small town with their quirky aunts and their heritage follows them into adulthood. Practical Magic has been on my radar for oh so long and I had good intentions of reading. I figured it was high time when I caught sight of the 20th Anniversary edtion.

Practical Magic introduces to very different sisters, Sally and Gillian. Sally is the older, responsible, care-giving sister who hopes for true love, but is fearful because she has seen what love can do to people especially those who come to her aunts for their homegrown magics to take love in greedy or possessive ways and are cursed to get exactly what they wanted. Gillian has flair and attracts the attention of every boy and man in sight, but she is flighty and can't seem to keep love and has no desire to stick around any longer than she has to and runs off.

When years pass and Sally is widowed and living on her own with her two girls who have grown into tempestuous teenagers in a house on Long Island, suddenly Gillian is back in their lives once again bringing with her more than any of them bargained for. But, the arrival of Gillian is a catalyst in their quiet lives and suddenly the possibilities of love, life changes, and the strength in the Owens' women of three generations is tested.

I enjoyed this gentle, heartwarming style that portrayed life, family connection, love in it's many forms and a smidge of magic all rolled into one. The magic is there, but subtly though significantly part of the plot. The focus was Sally and Gillian, but the older pair of aunts and the youngest set of sisters were strong and made it a multi-generational story.

Both Sally and Gillian have been disappointed in first love, but no matter how far they are apart, they still have familial love. It is only when they come together as adults that they take chances on love again and see Sally's daughters take steps toward first love and life. Even though, they weren't that present in the story, I was captivated by the connection to the older aunts and the earliest Owen matriarch who started it all. I loved seeing the women conquer their fears and pasts to reach out for new chances with great guys, but also with each other and their whole family.

All in all, I was captivated by this delightful, magical story and want more of the Owens family. Those who enjoy magical realism, women's fiction laced with romance, and stories about multi-generations of women should give this one a try.