Five Books For When You Need A Bit Of Magic
Just a little glimmer
Welcome to Five Books For, a newsletter for people who love great stories. I’m so happy you’re here.
I know February can feel like a long month - when I lived in the UK I was always surprised by how the shortest month of the year could feel so long, although of course the cold, wet weather and shorter days made it feel much longer than it actually was. So for any of you feeling the same way at the moment, I thought this might be the perfect time to escape into some magical realism and bring a glimmer of magic to your February.
Magical realism is a fascinating genre which contains magical or fantastical elements, even though the setting is the real world. In this sense it’s very different to fantasy and so if you’re the type of person who doesn’t enjoy dragons and elves, fear not (although please do check out this previous edition of the newsletter where I will make a valiant attempt to persuade you to give dragons a chance). Magical realism also often has a dreamy quality which makes it a real pleasure to read, and there are some absolutely amazing books to choose from here - it was difficult to narrow it down to just five. Excitingly, it’s also a relatively new genre, with the earliest works appearing in the late 1940s and early 1950s, so it really shows a new way of looking at and thinking about the world which had just never been done before. It originated in Latin America, and while it has since spread around the world - with so many great books to choose from! - many of the seminal works have a different perspective, coming from outside the West, especially for those of us who have previously read more European or American literature.
Another great thing about magical realism is that it often incorporates elements of folklore or local belief systems which is fascinating if you love learning about different cultures and archetypes.
I have tried to choose a selection of books here which covers both classics of the genre and newer, contemporary interpretations too, as well as a broader geographical spread, so hopefully there will be something for everyone. As ever, I hope you find something new to surprise and delight you.
Thank you for being here
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Okay, let’s dive in!
100 Years Of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
“Wherever they might be they always remember that the past was a lie, that memory has no return, that every spring gone by could never be recovered, and that the wildest and most tenacious love was an ephemeral truth in the end.”
So what’s it about? 100 Years Of Solitude tells the story of the Buendía family, who live in the fictional town of Macondo, Columbia. Our story begins with José Arcadio Buendía, the founder of Macondo, and follows the lives of his descendants and of the town over the next century, until history repeats itself and the cycles of time find us back to where we began. We see the characters fall in love, fight in wars and deal with loneliness. The various magical elements of the story - including ghosts, plagues, Biblical rains and a child with a pig’s tail - are woven matter-of-factly throughout.
What’s great about it? This is probably the most foundational book of magical realism as a genre as well as being considered one of the best novels of all time. The prose is poetic and some of the most beautiful I’ve ever read and has a dreamlike quality which is a real pleasure to lose yourself in. It’s interesting to imagine now how ground-breaking it would have been when it was published. The rise and fall of the Buendías and of Macondo mirrors the cycles of history so that even as we’re invested in the stories of each character (of which there are many, although they are all distinct and memorable in their own right, another difficult thing to pull off which works brilliantly here), we’re also able to see ourselves reflected. There’s plenty of symbolism to spot as you read which I always find really satisfying when it’s done well, as it is here, and I love how García Márquez manages to explore some profound themes in a very allegorical way, whether it’s colonialism, modernisation, love, isolation and solitude or the cyclical nature of history itself. García Márquez went on to win the Nobel Prize in 1982 and reading this, you can see how well-deserved that was.
Give it a try if: you love literature; you love reading books which are foundational to their genres; you love beautiful prose; you love books which deal with big themes; you like books which are weighty but readable; you like stories set in South America; you love books which are a little unusual.
The Famished Road by Ben Okri
“One human life is deeper than the ocean. Strange fishes and sea-monsters and mighty plants live in the rock-bed of our spirits. The whole of human history is an undiscovered continent deep in our souls. There are dolphins, plants that dream, magic birds inside us. The sky is inside us. The earth is in us.”
So what’s it about? This is the story of Azaro, a spirit child or abiku, who exists between the physical and spiritual worlds. While most abiku die young in order to return to the spirit realm, Azaro chooses to stay, and the tension between his earthly life and his spiritual origins is a constant push-pull throughout the book. As Azaro gets older we see his life and that of community around him. The book is set in an unnamed African country which is going through a period of political upheaval, which we witness through the struggles of his family and the surreal, often chaotic encounters Azaro experiences as he grows.
What’s great about it? This Booker Prize-winning novel is another book with beautiful lyrical prose which really draws you in and creates a world suffused with magic, even as it is grounded firmly in the mundanity of everyday life. It also explores lots of weighty themes, from destiny, political resistance, poverty and the idea of progress. Much of the magic in the book incorporates Yoruba folklore and mythology which makes it feel totally different from the Latin American magical realists even as it has lots in common with them. Azaro’s family and their dreams of a better life will resonate with anyone who has dreamed of that themselves. The structure of the book isn’t linear, which contributes to the dream-like quality of the narrative and helps to transport you into Azaro’s world.
Give it a try if: you love unconventional books; you love novels with big themes; you love books set in Africa; you’re interested in Yoruba mythology; you love characters who are searching for a better life; you love beautiful prose; you love literature; you don’t mind books with unconventional structures.
The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley
“I’ve forgotten a lot. If you go somewhere... very different to home, even for a long time, the memory feels like a dream when you get back.”
So what’s it about? Time for something a bit lighter. The Bedlam Stacks is essentially a historical adventure novel with elements of magical realism. Set in the 19th century, it follows Merrick Tremayne, a former smuggler and opium trader for the East India Company, who is sent to Peru to collect cinchona bark, which the British Empire desperately needs to treat malaria. However, when Merrick arrives in the remote Andean village of Bedlam, he finds that strange things are happening - statues move, there is a strange glowing pollen, and local priest Raphael seems weirdly ageless. As Merrick finds his feet in the village, he finds himself questioning everything he knows about reality, history, and even his own past.
What’s great about it? Pulley is a wonderful storyteller whose work I love and this was such a delight of a book, with the magical elements of the story feeling simpler and more naturally intrinsic to the world of the story than in her other works. The book really brings 19th-century Peru to life, and the settings are so evocative and immersive, whether she is describing the jungles, the old ruins, or Bedlam itself. The mystery of Raphael’s seeming agelessness and the strange happenings in the town help to propel the plot and make it a real page-turner as well as a thoughtful meditation on science and magic, and on colonialism and empire. As always with Pulley’s books, the characters are beautifully drawn with compelling relationships and the emotional depth of the story paired with the vividness of the world she builds is one of the best parts of the reading experience.
Give it a try if: you love historical fiction; you want to dip a toe into magical realism but feel like a lighter read; you love characters who really capture the imagination; you love books which explore issues in a nuanced way and allow the reader to draw their own conclusions; you like books set in South America.
The Murmur Of Bees by Sofia Segovia
“Tell them to walk in the shade. To listen with their eyes, to see with their skin, and to feel with their ears, because life speaks to us all and we just need to know and wait to listen to it, see it, feel it.”
So what’s it about? Set in early 20th-century Mexico during the Mexican Revolution and the Spanish flu pandemic, The Murmur Of Bees is the story of Simonopio, an abandoned baby discovered covered in bees before being taken in by the wealthy Morales family. He has a disfigurement which means that he is shunned by some for his appearance, but he also possesses a supernatural gift, in that he can see the future. He lives his life surrounded by bees and this unique connection to nature allows him to sense when danger is coming to those he loves. As the book progresses, we watch Simonopio and the Morales family navigate the dramatic political and social upheavals of the early 20th century and all that goes with it.
What’s great about it? This is another beautifully-written book which combines historical fiction with magical realism to create a book with real emotional depth. I loved learning more about early 20th century Mexico through the novel and thought the portrayal of social change within the rural setting where the Morales family lives was particularly astute. Simonopio is an unforgettable character and I found myself reading on avidly to see how his story panned out. There’s also a thoughtful exploration of themes of love, family, destiny and navigating upheaval, all things which are as relevant today as they are to the characters in the book.
Give it a try if: you love historical fiction; you love stories with unforgettable characters; you love stories where the magical aspects are blended seamlessly with the day to day; you love stories about families; you love books which cover real historical events; you like books set in Mexico.
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
“A sea roared inside her and made demands, but she waded it, she bobbed up, took a breath, and opened her eyes to the cold winter morning. Then she rose because the day was there, the world was there, and she wanted to be part of it.”
So what’s it about? The Beautiful Ones is a historical romance novel set in Belle Epoque France and centred on Nina Beaulieu, a young lady who is enters high society looking for a marriage match. Nina has telekinetic abilities which set her apart from the other ‘beautiful ones’, as the aristocratic elite are known, and when she meets famous telekinetic performer Hector Auvray, it seems like destiny has brought them together. However, Hector has reasons of his own for drawing close to Nina, and Nina will need to navigate much more than just the marriage market if she is to find happiness.
What’s great about it? This is another story with wonderful characters, not just Nina and Hector but also a brilliant antagonist in Valérie. The writing is beautiful and evocative and really brings the setting to life, and while it is a love story, it’s also about self-discovery, so we see Nina really grow and change as the novel progresses and she learns about herself and the people around her. The love story is a slow-burn, with plenty of longing, and the love triangle at the centre of the plot fuels plenty of tension, with betrayal and heartbreak seemingly ever-near. We see Nina learning to live into her own beliefs and strengths and rejecting the rigid social expectations placed upon her, while Hector goes on his own journey of self-discovery and moral growth. It’s a very satisfying read and all the more so because nothing about it feels rushed; instead, the pacing is just right - not so slow as to be boring but enough to really immerse you in the era and let you feel what the characters are feeling.
Give it a try if: you love period romance such as Jane Austen (or, on TV, Bridgerton); you love novels where the characters really grow; you love a good redemption arc; you love seeing the bad guys get their comeuppance; you love a happy ending; you love stories of women defying expectations and forging their own path; you love books set in France.
Thanks for reading!
I hope you found something good to read here. As ever, I’d love to hear if you’ve read and loved (or even hated) any of the books here, and which ones you’d add to the list. You can reply directly to this email or leave a comment by clicking the button below.
Join me next time for the fun stuff edition, where I’ll share an extra recommendation, a poem and a few great links to read.
In the meantime, I wish you happy reading!
Kate
Oh these are so intriguing!! Thankyou 💗