Practical Magic

Alice Hoffman

I had watched the film Practical Magic before and enjoyed it. So when I picked up the book, my mental images of the two sisters were that of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. And I think they fit perfectly. This was an enjoyable story told in simple words but told so well. The thing I remember most about this story is the colours, all the vivid colours that Hoffman used to describe the flowers, the house, the grass, everything. I also enjoyed how Hoffman seemed to be able to get into the head of each character and tell the story from each person's point of view. It starts off initially as the story of ... and ..., two sisters whose parents died and were sent to live with their aunts. These aunts were ostracised by the society they lived in since they were considered to be witches. As the sisters grow up, Hoffman weaves in short stories about other inhabitants in the town making it a story of stories somewhat, but all linked by a common thread of the sisters. Then ... has children of her own and the narrative of the book is now driven alternately between the two generations of women. And then as the story reaches its climax, the aunts are brought more sharply into focus when they used to be in the bakground before and you begin to see the ties that bind all these women together. It's an uplifting story wonderfully told. I recommend it when you need to have your spirits lifted.