13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Fun, October 16, 2006
I was first introduced to Klasky through her Glasswright novels, a complex fantasy series that got really stunning in the last few volumes. After the publication of "The Glasswrights Master," Mindy was quiet for a while. I was beginning to worry if she wasn't going to write anything else. When I learned that she was going to write a new book, I was ecstatic. When I learned that it was a chick lit novel, I was confused and worried. After all, The Glasswright series had been rather dark and I'm quite picky with Chick lit titles. Still, I decided to pick up the book when it came out and found myself very pleasantly surprised. Although Mindy has given us a much different offering, it's still a very enjoyable read.
Jane Madison is a young librarian who's life is about to get a lot more complicated. When her boss tells her that she is going to face a significant pay cut, she tries to compensate for it by giving Jane a small cottage to live in by the library. Jane soon discovers a large collection of spell books in the basement. After reading aloud spell, she accidentally turns a cat statue into a familiar and discovers that she's a witch. Confused and intrigued by these new abilities, she tries to manage learning witchcraft while dealing with the other challenges in her life. Recently dumped by her long term boyfriend, Jane lives out her romantic fantasies through a young college professor who she calls her "Imaginary boyfriend." On top of that, Jane is forced to reconnect with her bizarre estranged mother who wants to attempt to forge a relationship with her. What's easier to control? Magic or the trails of everyday life?
I don't typically go for chick lit books, but something about A Girls Guide to Witchcraft connected with me. Perhaps it's the supernatural element. Perhaps is the fact that Jane is a very likable and believable narrator. Save the witch part, she is very easy to relate to. Although she doesn't always react the best in situations (especially where alcohol and magic is involved) you can understand and sympathize with her at all times. The rest of the characters are quite interesting as well, and you'll find yourself instantly connecting with Jane's fun and quirky friends and family. Although this novel is not as complex as say, The Glasswright's Master, it doesn't need to be. Instead it's a fun, light read that will make you smile and laugh. As it says at the end of the novel, Mindy has another book planned for the series, "Sorcery and the Single Girl." Unfortunately, we're going to have to wait a while for it (October 2007) but I already know that I'll be buying myself a copy.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful First Book of the Series, August 29, 2007
I absolutely loved this book. It was light (without being too fluffy), magical (without being too science fiction-y), and romantic (without being too Bridget Jones). The characters are relatable and the story is fantastic. Great read for a chilly fall evening.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some Witchy Fun for Everyone!, October 2, 2007
Chick lit (as it's called since it's so obviously written and marketed toward women) is still a relatively new genre of novel, but more and more I have been noticing that a large number of these types of books are utilizing supernatural or paranormal story elements with incredibly charming and entertaining results!
"Girls Guide to Witchcraft" is a story that follows a young librarian on a journey that leads her to discover her raw talent for witchcraft (accidentally of course, after she stumbles upon a hidden cache of powerful spell books in the basement of her cottage). Jane Madison never thought of herself as a witch, but she was pleasantly suprised to find that she was ready to fully embrace this new and exciting side to herself. Meanwhile, she inadvertantly awakens her familiar (a statue of a cat that she managed to turn into a man, and an extrovertly gay man at that), while also bringing down the irritated wrath of her new Warder, David, who is assigned to help teach Jane everything she needs to know to safely and expertly practice witchcraft. Along with her love sick friend Melissa, her meddling Grandmother, her newly resurrected mother (don't ask), and her desperate crush on a man who frequents her library, Jane definitely has her witchy hands full!
In chick lit novels, it's easiest to allow the character to stumble upon the discovery of their bizarre and hidden talent, such as witchcraft, and therefore this tends to be a storytelling staple in books such as this. Thats not necessary a bad thing, I only mention it because I know there are some who can't stand that sort of lackidasical way of keeping the plot going. It doesn't particularly bother me though. As long as I'm entertained on some level, I'm happy.
If there was a flaw to the writing style, I would have to say that the book is a little too long. It runs a little on the thick side, which is fine, except that I didn't feel the story itself meritted such a lengthy telling. Sometimes the devil is in the details, and it seems like there are a lot of little tangents that could have been edited down, or removed from the story altogether to give it a better flow.
However, that little hiccup aside, I found this novel very entertaining, and I love all the cool witchy aspects to the story. I think Supernatural chick lit is my favorite kind of chick lit, and you are anything like me then I think this book would be a good investment to add to your own collection!
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