"Magic Lessons" by Alice Hoffman is a prequel to the popular novel "Practical Magic." It tells the story of Maria Owens, a young girl living in the early 1600s who discovers her magical powers. Maria is raised in a small English village by her mother, Rebecca, who is shunned by the community due to rumors of witchcraft. Despite her mother's warnings, Maria falls in love with a traveling preacher named John Hathorne, who is later revealed to be a witch hunter. After John betrays her, Maria escapes to Salem, where she seeks refuge with Hannah Owens, a powerful witch. Hannah teaches Maria about herbs and potions, and also introduces her to the concept of the Owens Curse - any man who falls in love with an Owens woman will meet an untimely death.
Book review: The Rules of Magic, by Alice Hoffman
There's something irritating about books that are just… OK. The Rules of Magic is Alice Hoffman's prequel to her bestseller, Practical Magic, and it's competently written and easy enough to read. But the more I think about it, the more it's annoying me.
The Rules of Magic is the story of three siblings – Franny, Jet and Vincent – growing up in New York City in the mid 20th century. They have all inherited magical abilities from their mother, who has run away from her family to try and escape all things magical, and in particular, the family curse. Inherited from a Salem-witch-trials-era ancestor, the curse says that any man who is loved by a woman in the family will die.
The curse really bothered me: it's a strange kind of multi-generational slut-shaming. Women mustn't have sex because death will follow: women's sexuality is to be feared and repressed. This, understandably, makes sisters Franny and Jet pretty neurotic. Vincent, on the other hand, under the classic sexist double standard, has many sexual partners, none of whom die. The question of what would happen if a woman in the family fell in love with a woman is never addressed.
There are weird attitudes towards sex throughout the book. At one point, a middle-aged character has a sexual relationship with a child of about 14, and the other characters look on this leniently rather than treating it as a crime. A character who is gay moves to Paris, because that's where decadent sexual irregularities are indulged, and Hoffman has him change his identity so as to not bring shame on his American family.
I had thought, based on the book's title and on the fact that Franny is repeatedly described as "scientific", that a part of The Rules of Magic would be devoted to investigating how magic works in Hoffman's universe. This does not occur. There is a lot of herbalism, but it's all quite vague.
"They mixed henna with limes, roses, tea, and eucalyptus and let it simmer overnight, for henna's hue reflects the strength of love of a woman for a man, the thicker and deeper the colour, the more genuine the love." (But how much henna, exactly? Which species of rose?)
Hoffman has created an anxious, middle-class white woman brand of magic. There's lots of superstition, candles, gardening, and soap-making. Magic is presented as being mostly feminine, but it's a femininity that is hemmed in and ruled by fear. The Rules of Magic also suffers from the problem of all prequels in that we know how it has to end: we know the curse won't be broken. The whole book has the uncomfortable aura of being mostly superfluous.
The Rules of Magic is one of those books that's easy to pick up and easy to put down. If you're looking for something to read for 20 minutes before going to sleep each night, this would be… OK.
MAGIC LESSONS
Master storyteller Hoffman’s tale pours like cream but is too thick with plot redundancies and long-winded history lessons.
Set in late-17th-century England and America, the pre-prequel to Hoffman’s Practical Magic (1995) and The Rules of Magic (2017) covers the earliest generations of magically empowered Owens women and the legacy they created.
In 1664, Hannah Owens, practitioner of “the Nameless Art” sometimes called witchcraft, finds baby Maria abandoned near her isolated cottage in Essex County, England. She lovingly teaches ancient healing methods to Maria, whose star birthmark indicates inherent magical powers; and since Hannah considers ink and paper the most powerful magic, she also teaches Maria reading and writing. After vengeful men murder Hannah in 1674, Maria escapes first to her unmotherly birth mother, a troubled practitioner of dark, self-serving magic, then to Curaçao as an indentured servant. At 15 she is seduced by 37-year-old American businessman John Hathorne (his name an allusion to Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote about mistreatment of marked women). Enchanted by the island, Puritan Hathorne loses his rigidity long enough to impregnate Maria before returning to Salem, Massachusetts, without saying goodbye. Maria, with new daughter Faith, whose birthmark is a half-moon, follows him. The ship on which she travels is captained by a Sephardic Jew who gives her passage in return for treating his son’s dengue fever, an excuse for Hoffman to link two long-standing unfair persecutions—of smart women as witches and Jews as, well, Jews. That Maria will find a truer love with warmhearted Jewish sailor Sam than with icy Hathorne makes sense in terms of later Owens women’s stories. For the earlier books to work, Maria must found her female dynasty in Salem, but first she and Faith face betrayals, mistakes, and moral challenges. Maria uses her powers to help others but often misreads her own future with devastating results; separated from Maria during her childhood, emotionally damaged Faith is tempted to use her grandmother’s selfish “left-handed” magic.
Master storyteller Hoffman’s tale pours like cream but is too thick with plot redundancies and long-winded history lessons.
Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-982108-84-7
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review: Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman (audio)
In an unforgettable novel that traces a centuries-old curse to its source, beloved author Alice Hoffman unveils the story of Maria Owens, accused of witchcraft in Salem, and matriarch of a line of the amazing Owens women and men featured in Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic.
Where does the story of the Owens bloodline begin? With Maria Owens, in the 1600s, when she’s abandoned in a snowy field in rural England as a baby. Under the care of Hannah Owens, Maria learns about the “Nameless Arts.” Hannah recognizes that Maria has a gift and she teaches the girl all she knows. It is here that she learns her first important lesson: Always love someone who will love you back.
When Maria is abandoned by the man who has declared his love for her, she follows him to Salem, Massachusetts. Here she invokes the curse that will haunt her family. And it’s here that she learns the rules of magic and the lesson that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. Love is the only thing that matters.
Magic Lessons is a celebration of life and love and a showcase of Alice Hoffman’s masterful storytelling.
My thoughts:
Once again, I find myself coming late to the party when it comes to a beloved series. The online book club I co-host selected The Book of Magic as one of our picks this month and as this is the conclusion to the series, I only felt it proper that I read the entire series – not that you needed to, but I knew I would want to and I’m so glad I did…I absolutely loved them!
Now before I get into this review, I have to say coming into this series late, there is now some debate as to what order you should read the series as there really are two options – the order of publication or chronologically. According to the author, you can read either way, so I decided to go chronologically and I’m glad I did…to me the flow made sense.
This book grabbed me from the get-go and I have to say I immediately fell in love with the story. It explores the origination of the Owens women, going all the way back to the 1600s and has us traveling from England to Curacao to Salem and NY. The way that Alice Hoffman was able to build this world that her characters inhabited was just fascinating – I found myself completely captivated and already being a fan of the Salem Witch Trials, I of course loved the way that was tied in.
“These are the lessons to be learned. Drink camomile tea to calm the spirit. Feed a cold and starve a fever. Read as many books as you can. Always choose courage.”
I can already tell this is going to be a series I enjoy…and I’m kicking myself for not picking it up sooner!
Audio thoughts:
Because I was crunched for time, I knew I would get through the books faster if I listened to them and what a fantastic choice that turned out to be. This book is narrated by Sutton Foster and she did an amazing job bringing this story to life. I enjoyed listening to this one and really had a hard time putting it down.
Books in this series:
Chronological Order –
- Magic Lessons
- The Rules of Magic
- Practical Magic
- The Book of Magic
Publication Date –
- Practical Magic
- The Rules of Magic
- Magic Lessons
- The Book of Magic
Hannah teaches Maria about herbs and potions, and also introduces her to the concept of the Owens Curse - any man who falls in love with an Owens woman will meet an untimely death. Despite the curse, Maria falls in love with a sailor named John transforms into a powerful witch after his death. She becomes known as the Devil's Witch due to her extraordinary abilities.
However, Maria's power comes with a price. She is hunted by the witch hunters and lives her life in constant fear. Along the way, she crosses paths with real historical figures, such as the infamous Matthew Hopkins, known as the Witchfinder General. Maria learns to use her powers to protect herself and help others, but ultimately realizes that she cannot escape her fate. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the power of magic. It also discusses the role of women in society during this time period, highlighting the persecution and discrimination they faced. Overall, "Magic Lessons" delves into the origins of the Owens family and provides a rich background for the beloved characters in "Practical Magic." It is an enchanting and captivating tale of perseverance and the enduring legacy of magic..
Reviews for "Understanding the Role of Magic in "Magic Lessons" by Alice Hoffman"
1. John - 1 star
I found "Magic Lessons" by Alice Hoffman to be incredibly disappointing. The summary promised a fascinating and magical storyline, but I found the actual book to be lacking in depth and entertainment. The characters were one-dimensional and the plot was predictable. I was hoping for a captivating tale of magic and adventure, but instead, I was left bored and unengaged. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a truly enchanting read.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really excited to read "Magic Lessons" after hearing so many positive reviews, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype for me. The summary seemed intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was slow, and the story didn't hold my interest. The main character lacked development, and I struggled to connect with her. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and would advise others to proceed with caution if considering reading it.
3. David - 2 stars
"Magic Lessons" by Alice Hoffman was not what I expected at all. The summary made it sound like a thrilling and enchanting tale, but the book failed to deliver. The writing style was overly simplistic, and the plot lacked excitement. The characters were forgettable, and I couldn't find myself invested in their journeys. There were moments where the story had potential, but they were overshadowed by the overall mediocrity of the book. I was left feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled after finishing it.
4. Emily - 1 star
I had high hopes for "Magic Lessons" by Alice Hoffman, but unfortunately, it fell far short of my expectations. The summary hinted at a rich and magical world, but the actual book lacked depth and originality. The story felt cliché and predictable, and the characters were uninteresting. I was hoping to be transported into a captivating and enchanting tale, but I was left disappointed. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a truly magical reading experience.