Kate - great stuff here. Thanks for breaking down magical realism for us and sharing a few new to me options out there. I tried reading the Latin American authors in my early 20s and didn't get it at the time. However, now I love Murakami's writing so I may go back and attempt to tackle Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende once again with a little more life under my belt.
Same, Matthew! Murakami was probably my first enjoyable experience with this genre. Then the shorter stories, which a writing teacher introduced me to. I hope you enjoy "dabbling" in this genre when you get the chance!
I've heard of magical realism but I didn't know exactly what it meant. This is a fantastic look at some examples of magical realism done well. I love the idea that a writer can create relatable situations and characters - even if what they're going through is so absurd. Thank you for sharing :)
I’d be interested to see what you think if you try any! It’s not something I would read all the time, but it’s an interesting change to dip in and out of :)
Thanks, Kate. A really interesting essay on magical realism. I’ve never been a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, particularly. Though there have been occasional forays… I’m now racking my brain trying to bring them to mind. Great stuff, as always. And thanks for the recommendations! :)
Hey Kate, I fess up here: I am not a magic realism man. I never have been…my brothers both pressed Allende on me (I gave up at a the woman with green hair…it just didn’t do it for me), and I didn’t do well with Garcìa Marquez. Every once in a while, I think I might have another go, but the pull of realism and domestic kind of means that I never seem to leave the earth and go with it. It isn’t that I feel I’m unimaginative, it’s just perhaps that I’m just not magical.
I am intrigued by Mrs Fox, however. Do you know if it’s a reference to David Garnet’s Lady Into Fox? This was made into a ballet (never seen it) by the choreographer Andrée Howard who clearly had an affinity with writing as she also did a ballet based on Le Grand Meaulnes.
Thanks, Nicholas. I know exactly what you mean about being more into the realism/domestic; I am also much more comfortable with both feet on the ground. I have to be really into a writer and in the right mood for a MR story, which is why I have tended more towards shorter fiction in this genre.
Regarding your question on Mrs Fox: yes! You are exactly right, Sarah Hall says she "loosely based" the story on David Garnet's Lady into Fox (I have to confess to having no knowledge of this, I just looked it up!)
Some really interesting short stories here that I’ll have to check out! I’ve thought a lot about magical realism and its definitions, and I’m wondering where you differentiate it from gothic/horror. Also, is magical realism necessarily confined to certain cultures or regions? Would some books by western authors that we call ‘speculative fiction’ be considered magical realism if written by an author of color? Not sure if there are any definitive answers to these questions, but I love thinking about them.
Thanks, Shruti, you raise some interesting thoughts here! I get the connection you make with Gothic, thinking back to my undergrad studies in early Gothic writing in particular. I am also never sure of how 'speculative fiction' differs from this, as the definitions seem very similar. But your idea of an author of colour having an impact on this differentiation is really interesting
Thanks Kate. I didn’t know anything about Magical Realism before reading your article, so this has been very informative. Whilst not a genre that would appeal to me, I still enjoyed your piece because I love your writing style !
Kate - great stuff here. Thanks for breaking down magical realism for us and sharing a few new to me options out there. I tried reading the Latin American authors in my early 20s and didn't get it at the time. However, now I love Murakami's writing so I may go back and attempt to tackle Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende once again with a little more life under my belt.
Same, Matthew! Murakami was probably my first enjoyable experience with this genre. Then the shorter stories, which a writing teacher introduced me to. I hope you enjoy "dabbling" in this genre when you get the chance!
I've heard of magical realism but I didn't know exactly what it meant. This is a fantastic look at some examples of magical realism done well. I love the idea that a writer can create relatable situations and characters - even if what they're going through is so absurd. Thank you for sharing :)
I’d be interested to see what you think if you try any! It’s not something I would read all the time, but it’s an interesting change to dip in and out of :)
Thanks, Kate. A really interesting essay on magical realism. I’ve never been a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, particularly. Though there have been occasional forays… I’m now racking my brain trying to bring them to mind. Great stuff, as always. And thanks for the recommendations! :)
Hey Kate, I fess up here: I am not a magic realism man. I never have been…my brothers both pressed Allende on me (I gave up at a the woman with green hair…it just didn’t do it for me), and I didn’t do well with Garcìa Marquez. Every once in a while, I think I might have another go, but the pull of realism and domestic kind of means that I never seem to leave the earth and go with it. It isn’t that I feel I’m unimaginative, it’s just perhaps that I’m just not magical.
I am intrigued by Mrs Fox, however. Do you know if it’s a reference to David Garnet’s Lady Into Fox? This was made into a ballet (never seen it) by the choreographer Andrée Howard who clearly had an affinity with writing as she also did a ballet based on Le Grand Meaulnes.
Thanks, Nicholas. I know exactly what you mean about being more into the realism/domestic; I am also much more comfortable with both feet on the ground. I have to be really into a writer and in the right mood for a MR story, which is why I have tended more towards shorter fiction in this genre.
Regarding your question on Mrs Fox: yes! You are exactly right, Sarah Hall says she "loosely based" the story on David Garnet's Lady into Fox (I have to confess to having no knowledge of this, I just looked it up!)
Love magical realism and loved hearing your take on it and your suggestions! :)
Thanks, Kate! I hope you get to check some of them out and enjoy them! :)
I'd forgotten how much I loved The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake. I really need to read more Aimee Bender. Thanks for reminding me!
It's so good, isn't it?! And you are welcome; I hope you enjoy discovering more 😀
Great, read this, it makes me want to go and read more magical realism.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it 😀
Some really interesting short stories here that I’ll have to check out! I’ve thought a lot about magical realism and its definitions, and I’m wondering where you differentiate it from gothic/horror. Also, is magical realism necessarily confined to certain cultures or regions? Would some books by western authors that we call ‘speculative fiction’ be considered magical realism if written by an author of color? Not sure if there are any definitive answers to these questions, but I love thinking about them.
Thanks, Shruti, you raise some interesting thoughts here! I get the connection you make with Gothic, thinking back to my undergrad studies in early Gothic writing in particular. I am also never sure of how 'speculative fiction' differs from this, as the definitions seem very similar. But your idea of an author of colour having an impact on this differentiation is really interesting
Thanks Kate. I didn’t know anything about Magical Realism before reading your article, so this has been very informative. Whilst not a genre that would appeal to me, I still enjoyed your piece because I love your writing style !
Thank you so much, Maureen! Yes, it is something I have to be really in the mood for.