Mind-Bending Books On Magical Realism.
A discussion on few of my all-time favorite books that excelled in the genre mentioned above.
Many a times, people find it hard (or unnecessary) to differentiate books delving in genres like fantasy and magical realism. But there lies a clear-cut contrast between them. FYI, I prefer magical realism over fantasy fiction. So, this newsletter will be a biased one. Apologies in advance if you are a fantasy fanatic!
MAGICAL REALISM VS. FANTASY
Books on magical realism are portals to extraordinary worlds where the line between reality and fantasy thins. Unlike traditional fantasy, the magic isn't put down to distant lands or hidden realms. It flows within the familiar, with ghosts lingering in bustling cities, prophesies whispered on the wind, or characters wielding strange abilities passed down through generations. These elements aren't fantasy spectacles, but accepted subjects that are woven into the fabric of everyday life. The readers are invited to join the characters not into a world belonging to magic, but in experiencing its profound impact on love, loss and the search for meaning in a world much darker than the fantastical.
By now you have guessed that in today’s issue I will be delving into books that I read, which left an indelible mark on my reading experience and redefined the world of literature with its masterful storytelling.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE BY GABRIEL GARCÍA MÁRQUEZ. (GENRE — MAGICAL REALISM, EPIC FICTION)
“It's enough for me to be sure that you and I exist at this moment.”
— GABRIEL GARCÍA MÁRQUEZ.
This novel narrates the saga of the Buendía family across seven generations, intertwined with the rise and fall of their fictional town, Macondo. The story begins with the patriarch, José Arcadio Buendía, driven by a thirst for knowledge and haunted by dreams of a mirrored city. He establishes Macondo, a utopian village initially isolated from the outside world. The narrative unfolds through cycles of love, war, solitude and fantastical occurrences – a plague of insomnia, a rain of yellow flowers, characters with superhuman abilities. As the Buendía family expands, their struggles with love, ambition, and the cyclical nature of life are mirrored in Macondo's own journey, from its innocent beginnings to a decline marked by political turmoil and the arrival of a ruthless banana company. The novel ends with a sense of inevitable repetition, leaving the reader to ponder the themes of solitude, isolation, and the enduring human spirit.
Coming from a Nobel Prize winning author, it tells a long and amazing story that has everything. There's love, there's loss, there's even some magic thrown in. The magical elements like rain made of flowers, feels normal in the story, which makes it even more interesting. The book also made me think about big things in life, like how families can be close but also lonely, and how history keeps repeating itself. It's a book that will stay with me forever.
The next book is from an author whose works dwell in my heart and mind rent-free. This book is the second part of a series. Although I have read all the three parts and have enjoyed them equally, this book is widely read and critically acclaimed as a prominent standalone.
A WILD SHEEP CHASE BY HARUKI MURAKAMI. (GENRE — MAGICAL REALISM, MYSTERY)
“I don't know, there's something about you. Say there's an hourglass: the sand's about to run out. Someone like you can always be counted on to turn the thing over.”
— HARUKI MURAKAMI.
In this novel, an unnamed narrator gets tangled in a mysterious situation. After a seemingly ordinary photo featuring a sheep with a star-shaped marking gets published, he's approached by a mysterious man seeking this very sheep. Thrust into a surreal quest, the narrator finds himself drawn into a world of shadowy figures and cryptic clues. His search for the sheep leads him on a journey of self-discovery, forcing him to confront his past and explore the strange, almost dreamlike reality that unfolds around him.
It started simple enough, but then this whole mystery about a sheep with a star on its back took off! The whole thing felt surreal, like a crazy dream, with the narrator chasing this sheep across Japan and meeting these strange characters. But under the strangeness, there was a deeper story about the narrator finding himself and facing his past. It was like a dreamy adventure that made me think about life in a way that I never thought would be necessary.
Comment down below your favorite reads from the specified genre and feel free to share your recommendations down below.