MAGICAL REALISM: Magical realism is a genre of literature the depicts the real world as having an undercurrent of magic or fantasy. Within a work of magical realism, the world is still grounded in the real world, but fantastical elements are considered normal in this world. Like fairy tales, magical realism novels and short stories blur the line between fantasy and reality. (from Masterclass.com)
When I think of magical realism, I think of a world in which I would like to live. One where unusual things “could happen” but have no real explanation…little coincidences, legends that seem very real, intuitive talents that some people appear to have…unless…IS that our current world? And, while I’m not really a reader of fantasy, magical realism feels just true enough (in the right hands) that maybe, just maybe… Well, it’s a nice thought.
SOUTH OF THE BUTTONWOOD TREE, by Heather Webber takes us to the small town of Buttonwood, Alabama. Legend says that the Buttonwood Tree has answers for those who believe, but only one question is allowed per year–and you’d better follow the advice the tree offers, or else. The main characters, Blue Bishop and Sarah Grace, friends from opposite “sides of the tracks,” are at crossroads in their lives, with their paths intersecting in the most unusual ways. There’s a bit of magic in the wind, in houses, in books, and in a newborn baby who becomes the center of attention. This book is beautifully written. I highly, highly recommend it. 9.5/10 Stars
OTHER BIRDS, by Sarah Addison Allen, available August 30 is mainly set at The Dellawisp building on Mallow Island, South Carolina. Eighteen year old Zoe has traveled there to visit her late mother’s condo. The other residents are an eccentric bunch–part Melrose Place, part Exotic Marigold Hotel–with their own quirky backgrounds and secrets. The problem is the amount of characters and the lack of individual stories for each. Then there are the three ghosts. And the birds. And the imaginary bird. And…it’s odd and kind of a mess. I would love to see this cast of misfits pared down and reworked, but, alas. 7.5/10 Stars
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