2017 - 02 Magical Realism. What will you read?

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Elvenn is our shelf picker for February 2017 and she has picked Magical Realism as our shelf. Have fun looking over the list!

In addition, Susan has kindly given us a link to her shelf of Magical Realism books for inspiration.

For those of you who are familiar with the genre, what is your favorite MR book?

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

I find that I have really enjoyed some of the Magical Realism books that I have read, others......not so much. I know that Like Water for Chocolate is very popular, but I just didn't get it.

As for February, I plan to read either The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry, which is the second book in her Lace Reader series. I might also try to fit in either American Gods or Practical Magic, both of which I have been wanting to read for quite a while.

[Bea]

Two that stand out to me are First Frost and Invisible Cities. Both have been planned for other group challenges.

Daughter of Fortune is planned for my February Scattergory shelf...so that one will do double duty.

Oh! The Library at Mount Char is currently on my desk. However, I would need to renew it at the library if I hold it for February as it is due 1/31/17.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Bea wrote: "Two that stand out to me are First Frost and Invisible Cities. Both have been planned for other group challenges.

Daughter of Fortune is planned for my Feb..."

I read The Library at Mount Char last year, Bea, and it was really good. I recommend it!

[Tien]

ooh, The Library at Mount Char looks fab -added to tbr though I won't read it in Feb...

I've decided that I'm just not a fan of South American type of magical realism, authors like Isabel Allende, Laura Esquivel, Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez... I've just finished reading Collected Stories and really only liked some of the stories, at least half of them were a chore to read.

I went through pages of this shelf and there were authors I enjoyed; I love Haruki Murakami! And I've discovered 1 interesting novel, Of Bees and Mist but just arrived yesterday was Beauty is a Wound (omg such a MASSIVE tome -as in it's physically 3 times the size of the Indonesian book). I think it's time that I pick this book up... am planning to read, in tandem, English translation and the Indonesian book. A chapter of each book at a time, do you think? I'm really excited to be able to read a book in 2 languages!!

[Sassafrass]

Lyn, I totally agree with you about Like Water for Chocolate, I didn't enjoy it at all.

I have enjoyed Sarah Addison Allen books I have read so I will look to one of those to read for the month.

I've had Lost Lake on my shelf since 2012, so I think I will give that one a go!

[Marina]

Bea, Invisible Cities is among my top 3 favorites of all time. I read it multiple times - go figure, I even read it in English (I'm Italian and the book was originally written in Italian), as it was chosen for my real-life bookclub back when I was in Luxembourg!

I've always thought I didn't care much for Magical Realism, but now I see I have read several books from the shelf, and many are on my wishlist. I might have always misinterpreted the label, probably.

I have the following on my owned TBR, so I will read one among those:

Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands
No One Writes to the Colonel and Other Stories
Bestiario

[Coralie]

I will be reading Grief Is the Thing with Feathers. I will even try really hard to write a review on it as my real-life book group is discussing it in March so I will need to get my thoughts sorted.

[Cecile]

I decided I'll read Life of Pi

[Ariel]

I'm going to read The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton. Works rather well with my Scattershelves for February. ;)

[Susan]

I'm really surprised at some of the books I'm finding on the shelves. I know shelves are open to interpretation, but still ...

I'm going to start with Weetzie Bat.
There are so many others that look good -- I'll see what mood I'm in once I finish that.

[Tien]

Susan wrote: "I'm really surprised at some of the books I'm finding on the shelves. I know shelves are open to interpretation, but still ..."

yes, I thought I saw HP there somewhere :p

[Christina]

I'm going to be reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane for this one.

[LynnB]

Life of Pi for me, too. I need it for another challenge.

[Marie (UK)]

these are my options
Brida
Lily and the Octopus
Revolution

[kay]

I've already started on The Ocean at the End of the Lane!

[Erin]

Hi! I'm new to this but I'm going to read A monster calls by Patrick Ness!

[Katie]

I'll join Sass and read Lost Lake as well.

[Elvenn]

I'll read Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami. I wanted to read Bestiario by Julio Cortázar but I seem to have misplaced it... :)

[Marie (UK)]

I have just reserved The Crane Wife hopefully it will come in time to read

[Rosemary]

I might read Shame by Salman Rushdie but only if I finish all my other planned reads for the month, because I find Rushdie such a chore!

[D.G.]

I have a magical realism shelf too in case some of you want to check it out...https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Not sure what I'll read for this...I don't have many I haven't read anymore...

[Get]

I think I'm quite new to this genre hehe. Can anyone suggest anything from the shelf?

[Susan]

Some are definitely more accessible than others. Check out whether The Lace Reader appeals to you. I think it's among the most accessible among the ones I thought were really good.

[Get]

Susan wrote: "Some are definitely more accessible than others. Check out whether The Lace Reader appeals to you. I think it's among the most accessible among the ones I thought were really good."

Thank you!

[M.E.]

I've decided on The Ocean at the End of the Lane as my Feb magical-realism book. My only problem is that the book is being shipped from the US and might not get here until 4 March.
Sooo, I will read some kind of Sci-fi this month as it's definetly something I've wanted to try for ages and then do two pick-a-shelf books in March.
There, decision made :)
Love this group challenge
x

[Susan]

Marie wrote: "I've decided on The Ocean at the End of the Lane as my Feb magical-realism book. My only problem is that the book is being shipped from the US and might not get here until 4 March.
Sooo, I will read some kind of Sci-fi this month as it's definitely something I've wanted to try for ages and then..."

Have fun, Marie. Science Fiction is a genre I discovered I enjoyed rather late in life (my 50's?), and now it's one of my favorites.

[M.E.]

Hi Susan
It's such a huge genre and I'm not sure where to start. Any suggestions for a novice?

[Susan]

Marie wrote: "Hi Susan
It's such a huge genre and I'm not sure where to start. Any suggestions for a novice?"

Well, let's narrow it down a bit.
Would you prefer plots that focus on the scientific possibilities (often called "hard" science fiction) or plots that focus on the effects these things have on people (what I think of as more humanistic)?

Do you prefer books primarily for adults, or do you like YA books as well?

You're welcome to browse my sci-fi shelf, which is at Susan's sci-fi shelf . But it has 424 books on it, so I should probably point you to a few authors I think are particularly good once I know your preferences.

[M.E.]

This is jolly kind of you Susan. If you don't mind, could you recommend one of each. one hard sci-fi, one humanistic, one adult and one YA. only if you don't mind.

[Karin]

Hooray, I actually found one I'm planning to read this month anyway, The Metamorphosis and Other Stories. I went through a number of pages on the first link before I found one. Magical realism is no longer my cup of tea. There was a time when I enjoyed it, but that was when I was in my teens and 20s.

[Susan]

Marie wrote: "This is jolly kind of you Susan. If you don't mind, could you recommend one of each. one hard sci-fi, one humanistic, one adult and one YA. only if you don't mind."

OK, this is more than you asked for. But it's hard for me to narrow things down. Hopefully you can find something here that appeals to you.

For hard sci-fi, I'd recommend either Eon or Red Mars. Though I think the best sci fi always deals with humanistic elements, too, and these both do, they fall in the "hard" category because the plot is really dependent on things like space travel, being able to live on Mars, things like that. Both are long, as many hard sci fi books are.

The other categories, it's hard for me to narrow to just one or two, because there are such differences. So here are some lists to pick from.

for adults:

Yesterday's Kin is short, a novella, really, and a stand-alone work. Might be a good introduction to one of my favorite authors, Nancy Kress. I first discovered her in Beggars in Spain, which also deals with the possible effect of genetic engineering on our future. BIS is the first of a series of 3, all of which I love.

Kindred is older, the first sci-fi work published by a black woman, in 1979. It's a timeless story that's as much historical fiction as anything. The sci-fi only serves to set the stage for the plot.

The Left Hand of Darkness (1969) is a classic, and terrific, but maybe not the best first book to read. Some of the author Ursula LeGuin's more recent works might be more accessible. She's written for both adults and teens. The Dispossessed (1974) may be a good place to start.

Wool is very recent and very good. But it's long. You may want to start with something shorter.

The Sparrow has to do with extraterrestrial life, and has a heavy religious component.

and J.D. Robb's "In Death Series" is sort of light science fiction mixed with detective fiction. Start with #1, Naked in Death I read one of them when I want something quick and just plain fun.

YA:

Very popular in recent years, and all very good:
Uglies
The Hunger Games
Ender's Game

Less well known, but I think equally as good is Genesis. Very short (150 pages), but terrific. Author is from New Zealand.

Little Brother is timely and great, though in a way I think it's only marginally science fiction, because it's so close to where we are today. It has to do with computers and how attempts to increase our security impact our freedom.

Most of them I've reviewed, so you can look at my shelf and see more details of ones you're thinking about. If you're in Australia or New Zealand, I'd expect Genesis to be easily available. But I bet your library will have quite a few of the others, too.

Have fun choosing!

[M.E.]

Susan wrote: "Marie wrote: "This is jolly kind of you Susan. If you don't mind, could you recommend one of each. one hard sci-fi, one humanistic, one adult and one YA. only if you don't mind."

OK, this is more ..."

Thank you so much Susan.
I've got to read 4 books per month for my 2017 challenge so this will feed nicely into that. I'll let you know how I get on. :)
ttfn
Marie

[Erin]

So it turns out A Monster Calls is out at the library so I'm going to read The Shadow of the Wind instead!

[Kristell]

I'm currently reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and I found it on the shelf. I hope it counts.

[nilskai]

Started reading Gaiman's Neverwhere 2 days ago & love it so far! Magical realism is a great shelf for me anyway :) Question: do I need to create a special shelf for the books I read for this groupe?

[Karin]

I've changed my choice and am going to read one by Sarah Addison Allen. I don't recall the title, but I put a hold on it at my library (or going to be there soon).

[Sue]

My Magical Realism book is One Hundred Years of Solitude which also happens to be on my LOST list :)

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Kristell wrote: "I'm currently reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and I found it on the shelf. I hope it counts."

If it is on the shelf, it counts!

[Kristell]

Lyn (Readinghearts) wrote: "Kristell wrote: "I'm currently reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and I found it on the shelf. I hope it counts."

If it is on the shelf, it counts!"

Thank you

[Nancy]

I'm rereading American Gods which I really enjoyed the first time, but now listening to it on audio it is even better!

[Lisette]

I really like this shelf! I have no idea what I'll read and if I will have time to read. I might read one of these:

[M.E.]

Hi
Just bought the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children books for my step daughter. Reckon I'll be borrowing them before long.
Just starting The Ocean at the End of the Lane now. Really chuffed that I joined this group. :) x

[Bea]

Hey, Marie! Thanks for expanding my vocab. I had no idea whether chuffed was good or bad so I looked it up. Chuffed = very pleased. So am I.

[M.E.]

Bea wrote: "Hey, Marie! Thanks for expanding my vocab. I had no idea whether chuffed was good or bad so I looked it up. Chuffed = very pleased. So am I."

Ha, ha, glad to be of service Bea.