Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman

“There are none who can fight as fiercely as a mother and a daughter, and none who can forgive more completely.”

Happy Spring! Boy did March come in like a lion for me, so I hope your March came in and out like a lamb.

It’s spring...finally! What better way to ring it in that with some daffodils and a good book? This month’s BOTM is Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman. First of all, I swear that she is a witch herself. Her knowledge of Wiccan practices really makes the pages of her books radiate magic themselves.

Magic Lessons is the third installment of the Practical Magic series. It follows Sally and Gillian’s ancestor, Maria, and how the curse came to be in the Owens family. In this enchanting novel, we get a glimpse into Maria’s tragic past, and very adventurous future as she sails across the sea and to find the father of her child, only to be heartbroken when he turns against her.

Though the novel filled in many blanks about the Owens’ families' past, it wasn’t as astonishing or emotionally engaging for me as The Rules of Magic. Though it had the same overarching theme of love, I didn’t feel as connected to Maria and her story, and I don’t know if that was because of me or how she was written.

In many ways, though the story was beautifully written, the world and the characters themselves felt far away, unlike the characters from the other two installments. Where Rules of Magic enveloped you in the streets of New York in the 1960s, or Practical Magic had you hoping they would fly each time they jumped off their roof on Halloween, Magic Lessons left me feeling, well, not much at all.

I did, however, really appreciate the recurring message that women have a strength like no other, and that we should hold it close and use it well. Throughout the novel reading comes up as a forbidden strength to women (as we know from our history lessons), as well as other sexist expectations of women in that time that still resonate today. I thought that was both historically accurate but delightfully applicable to young girls and women today who could read this book and get the same message: you are powerful.

It was well-written. The information given was informative and laid out the history of the family well. But I was distant from Maria and her story, emotionally, and for me I need to feel connected not only to the story but to the main character. And this somehow just didn’t do it like the last two books. That’s why it gets a ⅗ stars for me this month.

What’s Next: I’ll be reading and reviewing The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Stay tuned!