"The Talisman" is a fantasy novel written by Stephen King and Peter Straub. It was first published in 1984 and follows the story of a young boy named Jack Sawyer. Jack discovers that he possesses a unique ability to travel between parallel universes, known as "Twinners." In one of these universes, called "the Territories," Jack's mother is dying from cancer. He learns that the only way to save her is to find a powerful talisman, which is located in another parallel universe called "the Black Hotel." With the help of a werewolf, who is actually his Twinner counterpart, and other allies, Jack embarks on a journey through various worlds to find the talisman.
So, I did a review on the book Practical Magic a while ago. If you read that, you’ll know how much I hated the book. The prequel Rules of Magic was adorable and I was excited to pick up Practical Magic. Total fail.
Apart from that, we get a stalker who is portrayed to be adorably romantic and a good guy who is exactly that because he only fantasizes about raping somebody but doesn t go through with it. Apart from that, we get a stalker who is portrayed to be adorably romantic and a good guy who is exactly that because he only fantasizes about raping somebody but doesn t go through with it.
" With the help of a werewolf, who is actually his Twinner counterpart, and other allies, Jack embarks on a journey through various worlds to find the talisman. Along the way, he encounters numerous obstacles and enemies who seek to prevent him from achieving his goal. The novel combines elements of fantasy, horror, and adventure, creating a unique and suspenseful story.
Book vs. Movie: Practical Magic
Hello, my darling babes!
It’s August and this month will be another special one! Apart from my regular TMP and T5T posts, I will only be posting book vs. movie reviews.
We kick it off with some thoughts on Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman and the 1998 adaptation. Leave me a comment and tell me what you prefer – book or movie!
The Plot:
The sisters Sally and Gillian couldn’t be more different. However, they have one thing in common: bad lack in terms of love. That’s something they inherited from her ancestors, who were – just like the two women – witches…
Book vs. Movie:
So, I did a review on the book Practical Magic a while ago. If you read that, you’ll know how much I hated the book. The prequel Rules of Magic was adorable and I was excited to pick up Practical Magic. Total fail.
First of all, there was barely any magic in the book. You can’t hand me a novel about witches titled Practical Magic and not do any magic!
Furthermore, the characters were constantly bitching and complaining about everything which got rather tiresome.
What irritated me most, however, is the take Hoffman had on love and sex. The many irritating sex scenes don’t tie in with the overall vibe of the book. Apart from that, we get a stalker who is portrayed to be adorably romantic and a good guy who is exactly that because he only fantasizes about raping somebody but doesn’t go through with it.
You might understand why the book left me rather underwhelmed. So let’s take a look at the adaptation. Maybe we have more luck with that one.
Opinions differ drastically on the film. I took a quick look at Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score is 73% whereas the tomatometer is at 21%. When I first saw Practical Magic I was maybe 10 years old and fell in love with it. I’ve always been a sucker for witches, so this was right down my alley. A few years ago, I re-watched the film and wasn’t as enthusiastic about it anymore.
We get heaps of potential with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock in the lead roles. They are both charming and certainly try their best. They are true witches and conduct a great deal of magic, which gets a bit thumbs up from me. Ultimately, the film is a bit cheesy and the story doesn’t always make sense.
However, in comparison, I would definitely go for the movie. There’s an actual story going on which is mostly missing from the novel. The soundtrack is pretty cool and the leading ladies to a good job.
The adaptation may be cheesy at times but I’d rather watch the rather adorable movie than read the book. The film isn’t perfect but I really hated the novel, so it’s an easy choice for me.
Did you prefer the book or the movie? Let me know in the comments!
Practical Magic has everything. You need romance? I give you Sandra Bullock's Sally Ownes and Aiden Quinn's Henry. You need horror? I give you Goran Visnjic's dead and haunty face. How about a story about sisterhood overcoming everything, including possession? GOT IT. What about accepting yourself and your abilities? SALLY, AGAIN. What about overcoming a town's prejudices and coming together as a community? BOOM. The defense rests!
It explores themes of courage, friendship, loss, and the power of love. Peter Straub's collaboration with Stephen King in writing "The Talisman" resulted in a well-crafted and engaging narrative. The descriptive language and vivid imagery used throughout the book immerse the reader in the various worlds and add to the overall atmosphere of the story. Overall, "The Talisman" is a captivating and imaginative novel that takes readers on an unforgettable journey. It showcases the talents of both authors and has gained a reputation as a classic in the fantasy genre..
Reviews for "The Talisman: A Testament to Peter Straub's Creative Genius"
1. Jessica - ★★☆☆☆
"The Talisman by Peter Straub fell short of my expectations. Although it had an interesting concept, the execution was lacking. The characters felt flat and I couldn't connect with any of them. The pacing was inconsistent, dragging on in some parts and rushing through others. The premise had potential, but the plot became convoluted and confusing. Overall, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story and was ultimately disappointed."
2. Ryan - ★★☆☆☆
I was really excited to read The Talisman after hearing so many positive reviews, but sadly, it didn't live up to the hype. The writing style was overly descriptive, making the story feel slow and tedious. The world-building lacked depth, leaving me feeling disconnected from the narrative. Additionally, the constant shifts in perspective and timelines made it difficult to follow the plot. While the concept of the parallel universes was intriguing, the execution was confusing and left me frustrated. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.
3. Michelle - ★☆☆☆☆
The Talisman was a complete letdown for me. The story felt disjointed and lacked coherence. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions often seemed inconsistent with their development. The pacing was all over the place, shifting from slow to rushed without warning. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the narrative. The numerous subplots only added to the confusion and didn't contribute much to the overall story. Overall, I found this book to be a confusing mess and would not recommend it to others.
4. Mark - ★★☆☆☆
I was really hoping to enjoy The Talisman, but unfortunately, I found it to be a tedious and confusing read. The writing style was overly verbose and filled with unnecessary details, making the story drag on. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many subplots that didn't contribute much to the main story. While the concept of parallel universes was intriguing, it was not well-executed in this book. Overall, I was disappointed with The Talisman and would not recommend it.