Staff Picks: Magic Realism

Of course all books are magical, but I like a little magic in a book, especially if it is presented in a realistic way. Here are a few titles Kirtland Public Library has that bring magic into the known world in irresistible ways:

The Probable Future

by Alice Hoffman
2003, 322 pages

Alice Hoffman writes for adults and young adults, and this book can be enjoyed by either. It tells of the Sparrow family, three generations of women who each have a gift. Stella, the granddaughter, can see how people will die, but her prediction leads to her father's jailing. I was engrossed in the family's ordeals as well as the setting.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
by Susanna Clarke
2004, 782 pages

This hefty book tells what happens when magic returns to 19th century England through two very different magicians. Clarke's book is detailed, clever, and imaginative. I loved the characters and the descriptions of their interactions with magic.

The Prestige
by Christopher Priest
1995/2006, 368 pages
Two illusionist magicians spend their lives outdoing each other in this book full of mysterious twists and turns. I was as surprised and intrigued by the book as I was by the 2006 movie by the same name. A good read for those not ready for unexplained magic.

The Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern
2011, 387 pages

You will fall in love with the characters and the circus described in this especially magical book. Two magicians must compete with each other and fall in love in the process. The author cites Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and The Prestige as inspirations.

The Golem and the Jinni
by Helene Wecker
2013, 486 pages

Folklore comes to life in 1899 New York when a golem, a Jewish figure made of clay, and a jinni, a mythical Arab man of fire, try to survive in the hard world. This book is thoroughly researched and presented, and pulls you deep into the lives of the characters.



Have you read any books about magic?