Synopsis:
From one of the most captivating storytellers in American fiction comes a tale of two sisters, Gillian and Sally Owens, brought up by their two elderly guardian aunts in a world of spells and exotica.
As the magical charm of their childhood wears away, they escape from this mystical mayhem - one by running away, the other by marrying.
Many years go by before strange circumstances thrust them together again, and once more they are in a place that blends the mundane and mysterious, the familiar and fantastic, the normal and the numinous.
Three generations of Owens women are brought together in an experience of unexpected insight and revelation, teaching all of them that such perceptions are rare and wonderful and - to be sure - practical.
My thoughts: This is a brilliantly written, atmospheric novel that looks closely at life, love, loss, growing up and believing in yourself.
It's nothing like the film - apart from the basic plot in which Gillian kills Jimmy by accident and the sisters bury him in the garden - but the two run alongside each other nicely.
I particularly liked that the small amount of magic that is included - from the potions of the aunts and Kylie's ability to see people auras - was woven in so subtly that Hoffman has managed to make it seem like an ordinary, every day event.
My only complaint is that the end is far too neat and each character is paired off with their perfect match.
Overall though, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel, although I have learnt that in future I should never be surprised by the brilliance of Hoffman's writing...
*****
