Introduction & Reading List

[Zoe]

I am new to the group and am a writer and reader of magic realism.

I have set myself the task of reading a magic realist book a week this year. I have drawn up a short list, but would welcome your suggestions.

[Benjamin]

Check out Rubilo Muriao's collection...

You can find a really cheapy copy on Abe books.

[James]

Check the bookshelf for the group, and you are welcome to browse my categories. I have some magical realist works classified by country. :)

[Zoe]

Thank you James and Benjamin. I will take your advice. Already my list stands at about 30 books.

[Michael]

Nice to see things on this list moving. I can't contribute as I'd like, and research demands will now keep me away from reading MR books for a while, but I'm glad to see others take it up.

Zoe, Benjamin, as James says, please do check the bookshelf for the group, and please add any news books that you discover or that are on your list. It's a terrific resource, if somewhat neglected, so your input would be most welcome!

All the best,

Michael.

[James]

Also, check out any criticism related to postcolonial literature (wiki it, and you'll get a list of the head thinkers, etc.). It's really fascinating to see what their takes on magical realism might are. Also I STRONGLY recommend reading J.R.R. Tolkien's essay on Faerie Stories. It'll surprise you as to what he classifies as faerie. Really interesting take that illuminates more facets of magical realism.

[Chrissie]

I just read, but didn't finish Joy of Man's Desiring. I t is early magical realism. Too fantastical for me. I have preferred The Horseman on the Roof and The Man Who Planted Trees and Blue Boy. The Joy book, written before the war has another style, although the topic is always related to nature. The last book is a fictional autobiography. Good author but pick the right book, of course others might adore the total craziness of Joy!

[Zoe]

Thanks Chrissie. Looks like my year-long challenge might turn into a two-year one!

[Chrissie]

Glad to help.

[Janna]

Hi, I'm working on a master's thesis looking at the themes of naming and storytelling and the narrative construction of reality in postcolonial MR. I'm thinking of using One Hundred Years of Solitude (can't not), Beloved, Midnight's Children, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, with some treatment of Borges, but can anyone recommend other works where the themes of naming, storytelling or the linguistic construction of reality figure prominently? I'm actually fairly new to the mode and don't have a lot of time for exploratory reading, so it would be great to know what else might feature these themes that I shouldn't overlook, especially more contemporary works. Thanks for any help!

[Steven]

Janna wrote: "Hi, I'm working on a master's thesis looking at the themes of naming and storytelling and the narrative construction of reality in postcolonial MR. I'm thinking of using One Hundred Years of Solitu..."

I think this one might be worth looking at ;-)
http://www.scholarofmoab.com/