The Rules of Magic/ Alice Hoffman/ 367 pgs

Hoffman wrote a very popular book in the 90s called Practical Magic. They even made a movie based on it starring Sandra Bollock and Nicole Kidman. Twenty some years later she decided to write a prequel to that book. The Owens family has a history that traces back to Maria Owens, who was labeled a witch in the 1600s. Maria supposedly cursed her descendants in love, meaning anyone they fall in love with will suffer a bad end. Some of the Owens' embrace their magical side while others are slow to accept it. This story focuses on three siblings, Franny, Jet, and Vincent who are growing up in the 1960s. There isn't really much plot to this novel. It weaves in and out of the lives of the three as they grow up, fall in love, try to stay out of love, suffer through tragedy after tragedy, etc. The writing is quite lovely but we never seem to get to know the characters in-depth as we skim through their lives. I have not read the original book so that may or may not have affected my experience with this one.