Journal Entry 1 by JeepACV from Baltimore, Maryland USA on Thursday, May 13, 2004

"Book Description
For more than two hundred years, the Owens women had been blamed for everything that went wrong in their Massachusetts town. And Gillian and Sally endured that fate as well; as children, the sisters were outsiders. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, but all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape. One would do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they shared brought them back-almost as if by magic... "

I read this book some time ago. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Alice Hoffman's writing is gentle to read. I like the characters and the story. 

Journal Entry 2 by JeepACV from Baltimore, Maryland USA on Sunday, May 16, 2004

Offering this attractive hardcover edition as a bookring. Please journal when you receive and when you ship (so everyone knows the status) and whenever else you feel the urge! Please PM the next person on the list for their address.

Thanks for participating!! I hope you enjoy the book!

Participants:
fanclub (HI) US
kz4ufo (FL) US
Czersk (MN) US
GoryDetail (NH) Int'l OK
redhouse (UK) Anywhere
gerenggat (UK) Europe preferred
Scrawler (Poland) Anywhere
Zarylia (Poland) Anywhere
saram23 (MA)
vayacondia (WV) Anywhere

spiderchic (UK)
Morgaine77 (Switzerland)
Ibis3 (Canada)
JeepACV (MD)
 

Journal Entry 3 by JeepACV at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, May 18, 2004

Released on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring Controlled Releases.

shipped to fanclub (media mail says to expect 3-5 weeks) 

Journal Entry 4 by fanclub from Baltimore, Maryland USA on Tuesday, June 08, 2004

Journal Entry 5 by fanclub from Baltimore, Maryland USA on Saturday, June 12, 2004

Journal Entry 6 by kz4ufo from Panama City Beach, Florida USA on Wednesday, July 07, 2004

Journal Entry 7 by kz4ufo from Panama City Beach, Florida USA on Friday, July 09, 2004

Journal Entry 8 by Czersk from Roscoe, Minnesota USA on Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Just came in the mail today. I have read other works of Alice Hoffman and loved them. I think the same will be for this one, too. 

Journal Entry 9 by Czersk from Roscoe, Minnesota USA on Saturday, August 14, 2004

What a great book, better than the movie, of course (I don't believe I've ever heard of a movie being better than the book). But I guess I don't remember much from the movie. All I really do remember is a man with two different colored eyes and a spoon that moves all by itself-- neither of which were in the book, which didn't surprise me in the least. The book just had so much more character. You'd open the cover and BOOM- Character comes flying out at you. Alice Hoffman always (at least of the books I've read) writes like this, and that's why I love her so much. This was a wonderful book, thanks JeepACV for offering it.

Off to New Hampshire. . . . 

Journal Entry 10 by GoryDetails from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Monday, August 30, 2004

The book arrived safely in today's mail; many thanks! I should be able to read it within the next few days. [Since I've never seen the movie I won't have to worry about possible comparisons {grin}.]

Note: BCer gerenggat is next in line for the book, but his/her profile states that s/he's going to be without internet access until the end of September and asks to be skipped for now. 

Journal Entry 11 by GoryDetails from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, September 10, 2004

Practical Magic is the story of three generations of sisters coping with love and its loss, while their innate magical abilities cause a great deal of turmoil one way or another. Most of the story is told in third-person present tense ("Sally watches her daughter...") with some past tense segments to help distinguish time periods; I mention this because I know some people don't care for books written this way. I don't mind it myself, and here it was effective in maintaining an overall feeling of otherworldliness and mystery.

The book as a whole made me feel as if I were living in a time and place where superstition affected every aspect of life, frightening and uneasy, omens everywhere... There were bursts of joy and beauty, yes, but overall I found it quite unsettling - possibly because stories about the tribulations of mothers and daughters are not my favorite genre, and in this case there were few aspects of any of the characters with which I could empathize. I've never been much of a rebel nor a caretaker, and most of the story made me feel quite the outsider. [Note that I often enjoy books that induce vague unease {grin}.]

The descriptions were lyrical and evocative; there's a passage about love so intense it made the butter melt in the refrigerator, which reminded me of Like Water for Chocolate [another book that gave me that outsider feeling, come to think of it]. And when a ghostly presence begins to manifest itself, the gathering doom is expressed wonderfully. I enjoyed the early chapters describing the aunts and their professional spell-casting, with some very pointed examples of "be careful what you wish for" - and was pleased to see the aunts reappear much later in the book, when we learn a bit more about them. Not my usual type of book, but overall I enjoyed it.

Sending this along to BCer redhouse in the UK to continue the bookring! 

Journal Entry 12 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Sunday, September 19, 2004

Waiting for me when I returned from two weeks holiday.
I'll get to it as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 13 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 06, 2004

I thought I'd get to this sooner but life sometimes gets in the way!
I'm starting it today and I'm a fast reader. 

Journal Entry 14 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Journal Entry 15 by gerenggat on Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Arrived safely. I'm really looking forward to this :-) 

Journal Entry 16 by Scrawler on Wednesday, January 05, 2005

Practical Magic is in Poland! This looks like it will be a great read. I have another bookring to get through first, but this will be next on my TBR list. 

Journal Entry 17 by Scrawler on Sunday, March 06, 2005

This book was beautifully written, there's no doubt about that. Unfortunately, I found I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd thought I would. The characters were so real and I found myself relating to them a lot, but I guess I didn't count on this book being so caught up in romance. Four women fall in love at the same time. By the time Gary came along I was thinking "oh no, not again..." Maybe I just can't relate as well to that, or maybe I was just in the mind-set of the movie (it's one of my favorite movies) but I got tired of all the mixed emotions and wild passion because it just kept coming.
On the whole, though, I did like the book, and it was a good read. Thanks for sharing, JeepACV! Ill pass it on to Zarylia soon. 

Journal Entry 18 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Warsaw/Poland - Scrawler passed this along to me today with the warning not to expect the movie which is rather unfortunate as I love the movie....oh well. It will have to wait a bit before I can read it as I've got several other bookrings here at the moment. Thanks everyone! 

Journal Entry 19 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Friday, June 03, 2005

Warsaw/Poland - Firstly, I must sincerely apologize for holding on to the book for so long, but I just couldn't bear to send it on without finishing it. Secondly, I have to thank Scrawler for warning me that expecting a book version of the movie was NOT a good idea. In reading the book I found, much as I found with Joanne Harris's Chocolat, that book and movie are not meant to be counterparts but individual experiences. Practical Magic is the first book I've read by Alice Hoffman, though I have several others lurking somewhere in the black hole that is my room, and I must confess that I think I'm hooked. Her prose is so lush and the magical realism so well executed that even if the book were completely devoid of plot (which it wasn't by any means) it would be a pleasure to read. I would also agree with GoryDetails and redhouse that there is something vaguely reminiscent of Like Water for Chocolate in this book albeit without so many mouthwatering decriptions. :-D Altogether it was a thoroughly wonderful read. Thank you for including me! I'll pass the book on ASAP and will journal again once it's on its way. Thanks again! 

Journal Entry 20 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Sorry for holding on to the book for so long. I promise it wasn't intentional! :-D I PMed kdhnow 3 times without response so now the book is on its way to saram23. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 21 by saram23 from Lowell, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, July 21, 2005

Just got here today! I have 2 rings and HP HBP to read before this.... It shouldn't be too long though. 

Journal Entry 22 by saram23 from Lowell, Massachusetts USA on Monday, August 08, 2005

Read my notes

Both princessrica and Pyan did not respond to PMs for their address so I am waiting for vayacondia to contact me (hopefully)! 

Journal Entry 23 by saram23 at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (8/25/2005 UTC) at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

The book is on it's way to vayacondia! 

Journal Entry 24 by vayacondia from Huntington, West Virginia USA on Friday, September 09, 2005

Found - in my mailbox! 

Journal Entry 25 by vayacondia from Huntington, West Virginia USA on Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Not bad. I liked the movie better, but that's probably because I saw it first. The book focused more on the two daughters than the movie did, and was less about witchcraft than I expected. I have pm'ed the next person on the list. Sorry I kept this book out so long! 

Journal Entry 26 by vayacondia at to another bookcrosser in to another bookcrosser, By Post -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (1/22/2006 UTC) at to another bookcrosser in to another bookcrosser, By Post -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Back to the originater of this ring!!! 

Journal Entry 27 by JeepACV from Baltimore, Maryland USA on Sunday, January 29, 2006

I picked this up from the post office yesterday. Thanks everyone for making a successful run.

I've got some more people interested, so it'll be traveling again soon! 

Journal Entry 28 by JeepACV at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, March 23, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (3/23/2006 UTC) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 29 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Thursday, March 30, 2006

Received today - am halfway through a book then this is next up. Thank you 

Journal Entry 30 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Monday, April 03, 2006

Finished this book over the weekend. Very enjoyable - I remember watching the film not too long ago and remembered bits from it.

Thank you for sharing have pm'd Morgaine77 for their address 

Journal Entry 31 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Thursday, April 06, 2006

Sent to Morgaine77 today! 

Journal Entry 32 by Morgaine77 from Allschwil, Baselland Switzerland on Tuesday, April 11, 2006

The book arrived safely in Switzerland. The curse of the bookrings hit me, though and I'm up to my ears in wonderful books to read. I will do my best though to read this soon and pass it on to the next reader. Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 33 by Morgaine77 from Allschwil, Baselland Switzerland on Wednesday, May 03, 2006

First of all I must say I'm thoroughly prejudiced, since "Practical Magic" is my alltime favourite movie. I knew the book was different, but I wasn't prepared as to how different it was. And it was not up my alley at all.
I must admit, I didn't finish reading it. After I fought half through the book I put it aside. I couldn't take any more of all this heartbreaking bitter love talk. It was way too cheesy for my taste. For once, I prefer the movie to the book anytime!

Thanks for sharing anyways. The book will travel to Canada soon.
 

Journal Entry 34 by Morgaine77 at BookRing in controlled release, .---controlled release---. Switzerland on Thursday, May 04, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (5/4/2006 UTC) at BookRing in controlled release, .---controlled release---. Switzerland

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Shipped this morning from San Diego, USA to Ibis3 in Canada. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 35 by Ibis3 from Newcastle, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, May 10, 2006

I have a couple of books to finish before this one, but it looks pretty short so it won't take long. 

Journal Entry 36 by Ibis3 from Newcastle, Ontario Canada on Friday, June 02, 2006

The style of this book reminded me quite a lot of One Hundred Years of Solitude with the present told in present tense and past and future digressions sprinkled throughout. Kind of a chick lit version of Marquez (haven't read Like Water for Chocolate, so can't compare). I liked the magical realism, but am unsure if I really cared for the actual story or characters.

Agreed that it was very different from the movie (and was prepared for that thanks to previous journallers). The broad outlines of the plot were similar, but the whole atmosphere was like night & day.


 

Journal Entry 37 by Ibis3 from Newcastle, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, July 26, 2006

I can't believe I've had this for so long. I finished it almost 2 months ago and only put it in the post yesterday. Yikes! Sorry Jeep [sheepish shuffling of the feet]. It's on its way to you now. 

Journal Entry 38 by JeepACV from Baltimore, Maryland USA on Sunday, August 06, 2006

It's arrived home again.

Thanks, everyone, for making this a successful bookring ~ not just once, but twice!!!