The title, alone, could describe Hoffman's enchanting way with words. Her descriptions and narration place you *right there* with the other characters in Massachusetts. I love the juxtaposition of the two sisters - both pursued different paths, yet are bound by a commonality of the mystical.

If you've seen the movie and liked it, do yourself a favor and read this. It's better than the movie, offers more depth, and if you ask me, a better ending, too.

Share/Like this Review?

This will be one of the hardback favorites I will add to my permanent library. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book and could have easily finished it in a day.

Hoffman's descriptions are rich and captivating, intoxicating.

Share/Like this Review?

Wow. This book is so far from the movie it is a bit difficult to see how they can even say it's the same story. There are a very few things that are the same, and beyond that is a different story. But, it is a wonderful story and I have enjoyed reading it very much. In my opinion, it is better than the movie, as most books are. The characters have more depth and a wider variety of emotions. The story covers a longer period of time. The story is even set in a different town and state than the movie. All in all, I highly recommend this book. And, if you like the movie, you will love the book!!

Share/Like this Review?

I found this book both entertaining and delightful. It is about two sisters Gillian and Sally who grow up in their aunts' house. The aunts seem to have magical or mythical powers and use herbs or potions to accomplish whatever tasks are presented to them. The book started out talking about the sisters as children and ended with them grown up, and Sally has children of her own. I really enjoyed this book. It presented enough mystery and romance to spice up the time spent reading the book. It was definitely a worthwhile experience.

Share/Like this Review?

This book has been into a movie- but the book is MUCH better then the movie.

Share/Like this Review?

Sally and Gillian were taken in by their aunts when they were small after the deaths of their parents. The Owens women have always been considered witches by everyone around them. They use black soap to wash with and have a garden that produces year-round.
Sally and Gillian are like night and day from each other. Sally is the one who works and cooks and cleans, while Gillian plays and makes fun of Sally.
They grow up and have very different lives from each other. Gillian has been away for a very long time and suddenly calls her sister and needs her help with something. They go through some major changes and become real women.
Love puts them in very different arenas.

Share/Like this Review?

An amazing book about the bond between sisters. Witches, Magic, curses, death and most of all love.Need I say more?

Share/Like this Review?

It was a very intriguing book but it jumped around too much and left me confused on some things. A very vulgar book for my taste and sometimes too harsh for my liking. But it did give me a more in depth look into the Owens family than the movie offered.

Share/Like this Review?

This is one of the very few books that have been turned into movies where I actually liked the movie better. The way magic is woven into the lives of the women almost makes it TOO commonplace. A good read nonetheless.

Share/Like this Review?

This wasn't too bad. I wish the movie had followed the book a little bit more. My only big gripe with this book was the way it flowed. Scenes blended in a way that made the interrupted the flow.

Share/Like this Review?

The book differs a little from the movie. (I saw the movie before reading the book.) I thought it was a fun, quick read.

Share/Like this Review?

Nothing like the movie, but it was a very good book. I would recomen that if you like the movie you should read this book.

Share/Like this Review?

Great book!

Share/Like this Review?

Completely different than the movie. But in a good way. Writer sometimes a little too descriptive, and has a tendency to get off track but all in all a good read.

Share/Like this Review?

This is a fun, light fantasy that explores the ideas of love, life, and family with a hint of magic thrown in to spice up the proceedings. Telling the story of two young women born into a long line of witches, and their special sisterly relationship that grows through their various trials and tribulations - both natural and supernatural -, this book is easy to read and is very engaging and ethereal in its writing. The world in which the story is set is exactly like our own, but magic is treated in a drastically understated manner, which makes the references to the supernatural that much more immersive and believable. A true delight to read, the perfect book to read on the porch swing with a cup of steamy tea!

Share/Like this Review?

Decent book. I love the movie, wish the book was more like the movie.

Share/Like this Review?

Absolutely beautiful! Hoffman's prose draws you in and makes you feel you are dreaming.

Share/Like this Review?

thoroughly enjoyed this audio cassette (note that this ISBN is an abridgement, though I don't think the details disclose that!)

Share/Like this Review?

Entertaining.

Share/Like this Review?

This is the book that the eponymous movie starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman was based on; however, as with many movie adapatations, it is extremely different than the book. The book is good, but if you are expecting a repeat of the movie, you'll be disapointed. It stands well on its own.

Share/Like this Review?