Teasers and 'Practical Magic' by Alice Hoffman

Practical MagicI've decided I'm in a mighty need of reading the book upon which my favourite witchy film is based. By that I of course mean Practical Magic!! Alice Hoffman is one of my favourite authors and I absolutely love this film. But I've never read it so I'm going to have to rectify that now.
The bestselling author of Second Nature, Illumination Night andTurtle Moon now offers her most fascinating and tantalizingly accomplished novel yet -- a winning tale that amply confirms Alice Hoffman's reputation not only as a genius of the vivid scene and unforgettable character but as one of America's most captivating storytellers.
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. Funny, haunting, and shamelessly romantic, Practical Magic is bewitching entertainment -- Alice Hoffman at her spectacular best. 

Tuesday Intros and Teaser Tuesdays are hosted by Diane over at Bibliophile by the Sea and MizB over at A Daily Rhythm.

Intro:
'For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in town. If a damp spring arrived, if cows in the pasture gave milk that was runny with blood, if a colt died of colic or a baby was born with a red birthmark stamped onto his cheek, everyone believed that fate must have been twisted, at least a little, by those women over on Magnolia Street. It didn't matter what the problem was - lightning, or locusts, or a death by drowning. It didn't matter if the situation could be explained by logic, or science, or plain bad luck. As soon as there was a hint of trouble or the slightest misfortune, people began pointing their fingers and placing blame. Before long they'd convinced themselves that it wasn't safe to walk past the Owens house after dark, and only the most foolish neighbours would dare to peer over the black wrought-iron fence that circled the yard like a snake.' p.1
The Practical Magic film is such a favourite of mine and the way that this opening is shown there is amazing. But I love it in the book.

TeaserTuesdays2014e
Teaser:
'After she found several pairs of handcuffs in Ben's closet - which he often uses in his magical act - ice cubes weren't enough.' p.210
Wait, what?! I can't wait to get to this point because who uses handcuffs in magical acts? This sounds like it could be in 50 Shades although if Alice Hoffman had written 50 Shades it would probably be a masterpiece.

So, that's me done for today! Have you read Practical Magic or have you seen the film?

Comments

  1. No! and No! And after a teaser like that - I NEED to... I haven't come across Alice Hoffman, either. And it sounds like I need to do that, too. Thank you! A GREAT teaser... Here's mine.
    https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/teaser-tuesday-2nd-february/

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  2. Love Alice Hoffman and love the movie. Now I'm wondering why I never read the book ... I may have to remedy that.

    My teaser (w/ a giveaway) is at Beth Fish Reads.

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  3. I've seen the movie but haven't read the book. Enjoy! I hope you can stop by:

    http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2016/02/teaser-tuesday-icecutters-daughter-2216.html

    Colletta

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  4. I just read a Hoffman novel in December (The Red Garden) and am inclined to pick up another one soon. This sounds good!

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  5. Practical Magic was such a good movie. Great teaser choice!

    Here's my TT for this week: Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.

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  6. Based off the cover alone I'd delve in, but the intro definitely holds my attention. Alice Hoffman is an author I hope to discover very soon.

    Reading With Jade

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  7. I love, love, love the movie. And I'm pretty sure that I tried to read the book at some point and bogged down. Hope you have a better experience. Sometimes that happens with me when I've seen the movie first. Or maybe I should try again with the book. Decisions, decisions!

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  8. I haven't read the book or seen the movie. Sounds good though. My teaser this week comes from The Fine Art of Murder by Emily Barnes. Happy reading!

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  9. I love this author and enjoyed this book...but the movie, one I own, I watch over and over, so I remember scenes from the movie more than lines from the book. But the excerpts brought some of it back to me. Time for a reread? Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

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  10. I'm usually not interested in books that feature magic, but this one appeals to me. The opening really sets the scene, and I'm curious about how the two girls learn to make the most of their "gifts." I haven't seen the movie.
    Thank you for stopping by my blog today.
    Sandy @ TEXAS TWANG

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  11. I love the writing but I'm not a fan of witch stories. Sorry. I do hope it's as enjoyable as you hope it to be.

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  12. Loved the book and the movie and that Intro is terrific as well.

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  13. I don't usually go for books featuring 'magic' but I do like the premise and the teaser for this one - to think a whole family could be blamed for a whole village's woes is compelling stuff

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  14. This sounds really good - I haven't seen the film in so long! I hope you enjoy it :D

    My teaser is from The Copper Promise by Jen WIlliams

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  15. I love Hoffman's The Dovekeepers and have read a couple of others but The Dovekeepers will always be my favourite book of all time. As for handcuffs, Houdini used them, for one. Sounds like an interesting read. Here's my intro and teaser: http://wp.me/p4DMf0-19D

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  16. Alice Hoffman has a special section on my bookshelf solely dedicated to her. She's amazing, and my copy of Practical Magic is a little beat up from so much use. I really hope you enjoy it :) It's quite a bit different from the film, but they're both wonderful!

    Keely @ The Ink Blot

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