Magical Realism

REVIEW: Home by Toni Morrison

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Literary Fiction/Historical
Audience: Adult

Summary: Following his return to the States after serving in the Korean War, Frank Money finds coping with “normal life” a challenge. He is haunted by what he has witnessed and by what he has done. Furthermore, he experiences panic attacks and occasional violent spells he has no memory of later. Recently escaped from a mental institution after an “episode,” Frank finds his purpose in a mission to rescue his younger sister from a dangerous situation. But to help Cee, he has no choice but to return to the Georgia hometown he detests.

First Line: “They rose up like men.”

Tracy’s Thoughts:
Why haven’t I read more Toni Morrison? I loved Beloved, but haven’t brought myself to pick up any of her other works until now. Perhaps I am wary of the gut-wrenching, emotional devastation that I associate with her stories? There is certainly plenty of sadness and disillusion to be found in this slim novel, yet there is also redemption. In less than 150 pages, Morrison takes on PSTD, family dysfunction, and the rampant racism of 1950s America. But the heart of this novel is the relationship between brother and sister and their separate journeys to make peace with themselves, the past, and their lives now.

The novel skillfully interweaves the past and present and also offers up the barest hint of magical realism. Morrison’s prose is lyrical, restrained yet startling in its power, the rhythms of her words and sentences resonating like poetry. Her language is clear and accessible, yet still manages to feel lush. This novel is told mostly in third person omniscient tense, occasionally focusing on characters other than Frank, most notably his sister Cee. However, some of the most powerful moments are when Frank “interrupts” the storyteller to provide his own first-person account, which further illuminates and sometimes even corrects the story we have been told thus far. This novel is deceptively simple and could perhaps benefit from a bit more fleshing out, but the spareness has an undeniable power if its own.

REVIEW: Among Others by Jo Walton

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: (Really light) Fantasy, Coming-of-age
Audience: Adult/Young Adult Crossover

Summary: Fantasy and a realistic coming-of-age story merge in this tale of a young outcast who finds meaning in the books she loves. When a magical battle with her insane mother leaves Mori crippled and results in her twin’s death, Mori flees to her heretofore absent father in England. Once there, Mori is quickly shuffled off to a boarding school that is a far cry from the fairy-filled valleys of Wales. There 15-year-old Mori struggles to find friends and dabbles in a bit of magic on her own before the inevitable showdown with her mother.

First Lines: “The Phurnacite factory in Abercwmboi killed all the trees for two miles around…. My sister and I called it Mordor…”

Tracy’s Thoughts:
On the surface, this sounds like a typical genre novel: outsider teenager discovers magical powers, etc, etc. And yet in Among Others, much of the “action” takes place offstage before the novel begins. Instead, the focus is on Mori’s
struggle to find a place and a purpose after losing her sister. Her
innermost thoughts and fears on everything from getting breasts to the
latest Zelazny novel are related through a series of diary entries. The
fantasy elements are very much in the background, but bits of magic slip
though the cracks. Mori sees fairies that look more like plants than the sparkly winged creatures of lore, and her magic doesn’t work like the magic in her beloved books, though she sometimes wishes it did. Instead of grand, sweeping magic, the magic here is ambiguous and inextricably part of the “real” world. It is something that must be taken on faith:

You can almost always find chains of coincidence to disprove magic. That’s because it doesn’t happen the way it does in books. It makes those chains of coincidence. That’s what it is. It’s like if you snapped your fingers and produced a rose but it was because someone on an aeroplane had dropped a rose at just the right time for it to land in your hand. There was a real person and a real aeroplane and a real rose, but that doesn’t mean the reason you have the rose in your hand isn’t because you did the magic.

I love this concept. Mori’s belief in magic of this sort makes so much sense even as I questioned whether Mori’s stories are merely the product of her book-fueled imagination.

In many ways, Among Others it is a love letter to libraries and to books, particularly the science fiction novels of the 1970s. And although I am not a big reader of sci-fi or fantasy, I have a special love for books about books and those who read them. (Case in point: this excellent book, and this book that *might* qualify as my absolute favorite read of 2011.)  Mori’s enthusiasm for the books of Ursula
Le Guin and other giants of the sci-fi/fantasy genres made me want to
hole up for a week (or two) just so I can devour all of the classics she
loves. (Lucky for me, Jo Walton has Mori’s reading list posted on her blog.) Among Others is a wonderful book, with a fascinating and engaging lead character, simple yet elegant writing, and thought-provoking ideas. I recommend it for anyone who has been an outsider, for anyone who has lost someone they loved, and most of all for anyone who loves books even a tenth as much as Mori does.

REVIEW: Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Genres: Romance, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
Audience: Adult

Summary: Shelley is just beginning to heal from her husband’s death three years earlier when a man appears on her doorstep with a set of photos—a man who looks almost exactly like her husband Max. His name is Paulo, and he claims that the bearded man in the photos is his grandfather—and also Shelley’s husband Max, who would only be in his thirties now. It’s impossible, but Shelley has to admit that the similarities between Paulo’s “Nonno” and her Max are too profound to be explained by coincidence. Even stranger, Paulo claims that Max is still alive and living on a secluded boat in the Philippines.

First Lines: “Jasmine. It was not Max Gallus’s top choice for his last thought, but it would have to do.”

Tracy’s Thoughts:
This book instantly reminded me of both Audrey Niffeneger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife and Cecelia Ahern’s P.S. I Love You. At moments, it even evoked The Gargoyle,
one of my absolute favorite books in recent years. Yet Samantha Sotto’s
story is unique. Offbeat and romantic, Before Ever After moves easily from moments
of bittersweet sadness to zany humor. And Sotto’s writing style is fresh
and engaging, although I did find her constant use of metaphors
distracting at times.

Much of the story is told in flashbacks, and each bit
reveals a new aspect of the mystery that is Max. On a plane to the Philippines, Paulo and Shelley share what they know of Max. As she relates her love story with Max—who she first met after impulsively joining a back-roads history tour across Europe where Max was the tour guide —Shelley also reveals the folkloric tales he shared with the tour group at each stop, tales she now realizes to be clues into Max’s past. Each vignette features the struggles and loves of ordinary people during extraordinary times—from the 1871 slaughter of the French Communards to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius—and is interwoven with a stop in Max’s tour. The constant movement from present to past to the even more distant past may prove confusing for some readers, but for me it worked.

Also thrown into the mix are Max and Shelley’s eccentric mix of
traveling companions—whose stories offer intriguing parallels to Max and
Shelley’s—and an ongoing motif of chickens and eggs. I would love to go on a real ‘Slight Detour’ tour through Europe, especially if there was a Max to entertain us with tales and prepare legend-worthy breakfasts. (I really want to try his baked eggs and cheese recipe and wish it had been included in the book. I’ll have to check for a recipe online…Maybe there’s a low fat version?) Anyway, as I’m a total sucker for road trip books and love genre-bending fiction, this book was right up my alley. And although the premise was not as well executed as I had hoped, I still enjoyed it thoroughly. All in all, Before Ever After is a charming read that will particularly appeal to casual history buffs, romantics, and fellow “armchair travelers”.

DUAL REVIEW: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Rating: 5/5 Stars
Audience: Adult/YA Crossover
Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism

Summary: The Cirque des Rêves arrives in the night, without warning, and captivates its audience from dusk till dawn. What the audience—and most of the performers—do not know is that the circus is merely the arena for a much grander scheme. Two magicians have set their protégés on a collision course, a deadly game where not even the participants themselves are sure of the rules—or the consequences. Celia, the daughter of Prospero the Enchanter, is a performer in the circus, pretending that her magical feats are mere illusion. Marco, an orphaned boy trained by Prospero’s greatest rival to defeat Celia, is more covert in his strategy. The Night Circus spans decades and continents as the game plays out slowly—until the two competitors finally meet and fall in love, putting the circus itself at risk.

Lucinda’s Views:
This is a beautifully written intricate tale that seems to be a tale of star-crossed lovers, but is so much more than it seems. The intricate tale weaves in and out of the lives of Celia and Marco effortlessly, while also supporting the depth of the other characters that are inherent to the development of this wonderful story.  I must say that the ending was not what I expected, but was extremely satisfying for all that is was unexpected.  Even the supporting characters were extraordinarily well-developed. Each character was intriguing and kept the story moving towards its penultimate conclusion.  If you haven’t yet had a chance to pick this up, it should be a must on your list.

To see Tracy’s earlier review click here:

REVIEW: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Adult/YA Crossover
Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism

Summary: The Cirque des Rêves arrives in the night, without warning, and captivates its audience from dusk till dawn. What the audience—and most of the performers—do not know is that the circus is merely the arena for a much grander scheme. Two magicians have set their protégés on a collision course, a deadly game where not even the participants themselves are sure of the rules—or the consequences. Celia, the daughter of Prospero the Enchanter, is a performer in the circus, pretending that her magical feats are mere illusion. Marco, an orphaned boy trained by Prospero’s greatest rival to defeat Celia, is more covert in his strategy. The Night Circus spans decades and continents as the game plays out slowly—until the two competitors finally meet and fall in love, putting the circus itself at risk.

Tracy’s Thoughts:
This gorgeously imaginative, genre-blending novel is all about atmosphere and tone. It reminds me of a slightly lighter, Victorian-era Something Wicked This Way Comes. The prose creates a feeling of suspended enchantment, and the reader is made to feel like a spectator to the circus itself. The action develops slowly, and the narrative skips about in time and from one character to the next. Some readers may find this frustrating; and yet, however loosely the threads are woven, they all pull together magically at the end. Readers who loved Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell won’t want to miss it.

REVIEW: Keeper by Kathi Appelt

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Genres: Magical Realism

Summary:  

Ten-year-old Keeper believes in wishes and magic, and truly thinks her long-lost mother is a mermaid. She’s safe and happy living in a small, close-knit Gulf Coast community with her guardian Signe and an extended family made up of eccentric neighbors and pets. But on the day of the blue moon, everything goes wrong. Keeper makes a series of mistakes that angers everyone she loves and the only solution she can think of is to find her magical mother to ask for help. Setting off alone to find a mermaid could be dangerous, but Keeper has a plan and her dog BD and Captain the seagull for company. Unfortunately, not everything goes as planned. 
Tracy’s Thoughts:
It has been months since I first read this book, and yet thinking of this charming tale still puts a smile on my face. The setting is beautifully and evocatively drawn, and a hint of magic runs throughout. It’s not a fairy tale, but there is a dreamy, nostalgic quality to Appelt’s writing that is similar. From the beginning, I doubted Keeper’s belief in magic and mermaids, but her faith had me constantly thinking “what if?” Between Keeper’s rich imagination and Appelt’s lyric writing style, even the most common things are lent a measure of magic. 
Keeper is a clever, loveable girl with a unique personality. In fact, all of Appelt’s characters in this wonderfully written book have a distinct personality and history—even BD and Captain! Keeper contains several flashbacks and is narrated from multiple perspectives, which may challenge some younger readers, but the payoff is definitely worth it. There are actually several storylines woven together here, though Keeper’s adventure remains central. One set of flashbacks involves Keeper and Signe’s neighbor and good friend Mr. Beauchamps, an older gentleman with regrets about a youthful romance and missed chances. His relationship with another young man is mostly implied and contains nothing objectionable for young readers, but some readers/parents might want to be aware of this small piece of the overall storyline.
This is a very quiet book. The action builds slowly, only gradually reaching a point where the tension is so high that I actually, literally, held my breath as I turned the pages. I was genuinely worried about the characters, as if they were real people that I knew. Going into too much detail would ruin this enchanting story of family, love, and secrets—but if you enjoy vivid settings, a touch of nerve-wracking adventure, and colorful characters, this book is a rewarding, unforgettable read. It is especially good for thoughtful tweens who consider most middle grade fiction too childish.
Keeper is one of the featured titles in our Fall Giveaway Event!

REVIEW REDUX: Previously Recommended Titles from our Fall Giveway

Do some of the titles from our Fall Giveaway sound familiar, but you’re not sure why? Several have been featured titles in our Recommended Reading Lists! Here’s a quick reminder of some of the titles I’ve recommended previously. All-new fresh reviews of some of the other titles up for grabs will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.
 

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Comedy

Set in the colorful world of modern India, this novel is a comedy of manners in the tradition of Jane Austen. Simpler in style than Austen’s work—many reviewers have compared it to Alexander McCall Smith’s No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series—The Marriage Bureau for Rich People is a light, engaging novel about relationships, family expectations, and Indian marriage traditions. The novel’s central characters are Mr. Ali, a Muslim retiree who decides to open a marriage bureau out of boredom and Aruna, the poor Hindi girl whom he hires as an assistant. There is nothing catastrophic in the plot, but the lack of angst, the vivid descriptions of everyday Indian life, and the amusing travails of marriage seekers combine to make a very pleasant, relaxing read perfect for an afternoon of lazing outside with a glass of lemonade.

American Widow by Alissa Torres, illus. by Sungyoon Choi
Genre: Memoir (Graphic Format)

American Widow is a beautiful graphic memoir that illustrates the author’s private grief in the wake of a national tragedy. On September 11, 2001, Eddie Torres left for his second day of work at Cantor Fitzgerald and never returned. His wife Alissa was 7 months pregnant. What follows is a raw and lyrical look at her resulting anger, confusion, and depression as well as the weary tenacity that allowed her to carry on—all perfectly highlighted by images that perhaps express more than words ever could. For me, one of the most poignant moments is when Alissa, surrounded in the maternity store by happy couples, shops for a black funeral dress. Thankfully, this novel avoids the pitfalls of over sentiment or self-pity by balancing its focus between Alissa’s life with Eddie, a young Colombian immigrant who “dreamed the American Dream,” and the aftermath of grief, helpless anger, media frenzy, and bureaucratic red tape.

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
Genre: Magical Realism, Women’s Fiction, Southern Fiction

Little Giant is a tall tale with a bit of a dark side. Truly Plaice was born big—so big that half the men in Aberdeen were placing bets on how much the Plaice’s new son (everyone was sure she would be a boy) would weigh. Due to an unusual medical condition, Truly is continuously growing and becomes an object of curiosity and, often, disgust—especially in comparison to her delicately beautiful sister Serena Jane. In addition to a truly unique character, the novel also offers up bits of charming, rural folklore: an heirloom quilt, a rundown family farm, and a family’s healing tradition are all important threads throughout the book. Thanks to an intriguing plot that examines the questions of destiny, life, and death and a narrative style reminiscent of Alice Hoffman, first-time author Tiffany Baker stands out as an author to watch. I wouldn’t be surprised if her debut becomes the next darling of reading groups and book clubs.

I truly enjoyed each of these books. If you haven’t read them yet (or loved them and want a copy of your own), enter our Fall Giveaway Event and let us know which ARCs interest you!