Fall is my favorite time of year.
There’s a certain slant to the light that’s just lovely and there’s a slight chill in the air.
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There’s pumpkins and hot cocoa and boots and sweaters and, of course, Halloween. It’s the perfect time for curling up with a good book and, in honor of the season, I have some bewitching suggestions.
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
This book is a classic. It’s the tale of the Owens sisters and the aunts they live with and the magic they concoct. It’s spellbinding in many ways but at its heart, it’s a book about being who you are.
The book was made into a movie starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock but, as in many cases, the book is better.
The Witches of New York by Ami McKay
I read this book a few weeks ago and it quickly made its way to my list of favorite books. It’s a tale of three witches in New York City in 1880.
The story begins when 17-year-old Beatrice leaves her home in response to an ad which reads, “Respectable Lady Seeks Dependable Shop Girl. Those averse to magic need not apply.” It’s magical.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Okay, I admit it. I cheated a bit with this choice as this is book one in the All Souls trilogy. The books focus on scholar Diana Bishop who is descended from a long line of witches. While vampires are also a large part of the books, this is no Twilight. The books cross time and locations and are spellbinding.
A TV show based on the books is currently in production in England. Every October the author leads a real-time read along on her Facebook page providing additional insights into characters and plot.
A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan
I picked this book up on a whim and ended up quickly devouring it.
The book tells the story of a family of witches; focusing on a different character in a different time period throughout the entirety of the story. It begins in France in 1834 and winds through the years ending up in England in 1937.
The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
I finished this book in three days. It’s the prequel to Practical Magic. It just came out last week so it’s only available in hardback or digital formats. (If you haven’t read Practical Magic, I still suggest reading that one first.)
The story takes you back to New York in the 1960’s and tells the backstory of the aunts. I enjoyed learning more about them and about the “rules.”
There you have it: five bewitching books that cast a spell.
Grab a hot cocoa, a cozy throw and get lost in tales of witches and magic.
