Top 5 Magical Realism Books I Want to Read

The title is a lie. But first things first, I was tagged by Mandy @ Devouring Books who hosts this top 5 series. So thank you Mandy for bringing me back from my hole of completely ignoring this blog. I have actually been wanting to get back into blogging what with the obscene amounts of time I have on my hands due to the quarantine going on at the moment. So this is the perfect opportunity to do so.

This week’s theme is top 5 magical realism books and here are the rules of the game:

• Share your top 5 books of the current topic– these can be books that you want to read, have read and loved, have read and hated, you can do it any way you want.
• Tag the original post (see the link above)
• Tag 5 people

Now to the reason why the title is a lie. I’m not a huge fan of magical realism. The only magical realism book I’ve read was The Night Circus and while I did like it, I don’t love it the way everyone seems to. I think it was a 4 star read for me, but it was a 4 star because I appreciate how well and beautifully written a book it is, rather than 4 stars based on how much I enjoyed it. It’s just not a genre I click with. As such, I only have 2 books that I’m interested in from this genre at the moment.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

I think her writing is really beautiful and her stories are really creative. If there’s one magical realism author I’m interested in reading, it’s her. I’ve actually started reading this book and have not finished it, but I do intend to finish it because I was enjoying it. I just picked it up at the wrong time.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

I have started reading this one as well and I think I actually enjoyed it a little bit more than The Starless Sea, however it was a bit too romance heavy for me to cope with at the time being. So again, I picked it up at the wrong time and I do plan to read it at some point in the future.

So there you have it, a really short post to ease me back into blogging. Now for tagging 5 people, I’m going to tag my latest 5 book blogging followers because what better way to get to know you guys. So if you decide to do this, please comment a link to your post.

Kathryn @ Metaphors and Miscellania

The Hungry Book Dragon (awesome name btw)

Amanja @ Amanja Reads too Much

Abookblog

Jen @ Jenniely

 

 

MASSIVE Book Haul – 25+ Books

I’ve been buying books like crazy over the past few of months. So a book haul is long overdue. This is going to be pretty long, so let’s get right to it. If I have a review of a book, it’ll be linked.

 

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson | The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton | Sabriel by Garth Nix | Temeraire by Naomi Novik | The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare | City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare | Harry Potter and the deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling | The Bat by Jo Nesbo | Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

The School For Good and Evil by Soman Chainani | Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo | A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas | Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (20th anniversary Ravenclaw edition) by J. K. Rowling | The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

The Wrath and the Dawn by Rene Ahdieh | Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman| Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey | Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare | What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

Sketchy, Doubtful, Incomplete Jottings by Johann van Goethe | Ready Player One by Ernest Cline | Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Mass | Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff | The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valante | The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

The Pride and Prejudice Book Tag

I was tagged by Angelica @ The Book Cover Girls to do this. Thank you Angelica! I love P&P. This should be fun.

How it works

• Link back to Laura and Emma’s original posts so we can see all of your answers! (Just copy and paste these instructions)
• Thank the person who tagged you
• Answer the questions
• Tag a maximum of 10 people

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While Mr. Bennet silently reads in the study, and Mrs. Bennet’s tales of woe can be heard from miles away, you spend a lovely afternoon in the garden with your dramatic and doting sisters. What is a favourite novel of yours that features a strong sibling relationship?

Here I’m gonna go with Fred and George Weasley from the Harry Potter series. I just love their relationship.

You and Mary have decided to walk to the bookshop in Meryton to search for the newest releases. Which book or books are you likely to purchase?

I still haven’t got this, for some reason.

Netherfield Park has been let at last, and the owner, a Mr. Charles Bingley, hosts a magnificent ball at his new estate. What fictional ball gown would you wear?

Hmmm… maybe Feyre’s Starfall dress? (image credit)

Or Tessa’s Dress.

It is the Christmas Ball and Maria has asked you to join her at the piano. What music or song would you choose as an accompaniment to your current book?

Well, I just started reading The School for Good and Evil, but I’ve only read one chapter so far, so I don’t really know what song would fit it.

You’re helping Jane to take care of her younger cousins whilst staying with the Gardiners. Which fictional children would you include in your own family?

 ARTEMIS FOWL!

It’s a sombre evening at Hunsford Parsonage, and after dinner, Mr. Collins stands by the fireplace and quotes from the Good Book, while the party tries not to yawn too obviously. What is a memorable quote from a novel that has always stuck with you?

There are many. In fact, I have a whole series of posts dedicated to quotes, because I am a quotes aficionado (you can check that out here). But I’ll go with the first line of what is probably my favourite non-fiction.

"No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear."
-C.S. Lewis (A Grief Observed)

You’ve been invited to dine at Rosings Park by none other than the infamous Lady Catherine de Bourgh, but the evening ends in disaster as the pompous Lady insults you and your family. Who’s your favourite fictional villain?

Hmm… this is hard. I tend to love a lot of villains. Sebastain Morgenstern from The Mortal Instruments maybe? Oh… Light from Death Note. Or Johan Liebert from Monster. Also, I’ve recently read Illuminae and I really loved AIDAN.

As Lydia has gone down to Brighton with the Forsters, and Elizabeth is off on her jaunt to Derbyshire with the Gardiners, you also want to go away for a quick break. Which fictional location would be your perfect holiday destination?

Um… not many of the books I read, that’s for sure. People tend to die a lot in those places. I’m gonna go with Le Cirque des Reves from The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I feel like from all the places, my life would be least threatened there and it would be so freaking awesome.

You’re running to the fine horse chestnut tree on the green to relive some of your favourite childhood reading memories. What is one that you remember most fondly?

My grandfather used to have this giant collection of stories and fairytales. It was yellow and very old and every time I would go there, he would read to me from it for hours and hours. I know that’s not really me reading, but it’s a very fond memory. And I’ve read the book by myself as well. I’m pretty sure I now have the book at home (I stole it from him muahahah)

You’re on a tour at Pemberley and you come across Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy emerging from the pond, scandalously clad in only his wet underdrawers and shirt. You can’t help but swoon at the sight. Aside from Mr. Darcy, who is your favourite romantic interest?

Rhysand from ACOTAR, Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows, Will Herondale from The Infernal Devices and more recently, Elend Venture from the Mistborn series. There are others, of course, but these are my top ones.

Rhys credit Kaz credit Elend credit

I tag all P&P lovers to do this!

May 2017 Wrap Up

May has been a busy, busy month for me. Loads of exams, very little time for reading. As such, I’ve only read 3 books and a poem in May. Here they are.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

4.5/5 stars

I really enjoyed this, I can see why it’s so beloved, but I can also see why some people just can’t get into it. It requires a patient reader and if you don’t like magical realism, which many people don’t, you will not like this. But it very well written, very atmospheric and if you do enjoy that genre, it’s definitely a must read. I have a full review of it if you want to know more of my thoughts.

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

5/5 stars

I don’t read poetry very often, but I always love Poe’s poetry and my reading this was long overdue.

 

 

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

4/5 stars

A bit disappointing for me, I was expecting a lot more from it after ACOMAF. Still loved it, but I did have some problems with the execution, I think it was a bit rushed in places. I also felt like a bit of ToG was bleeding into it, especially in Feyre’s character. I talk more about these things in my review, if you’re interested.

 

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

4/5 stars

I really enjoyed this, though it’s not nearly as good as Six of Crows. Which makes sense, since she’s had time to grow as an author between the two. I did still really like it, I loved learning more about Ravka (I love how Russian it was, I wasn’t expecting that) and the Grisha, which is something that Six of Crows wasn’t as focused on. Wasn’t a fan of the love triangle and I thought the “romance” between Alina and The Darking was unnecessary and unbelievable. But all in all, I did really enjoy it and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Review to come soon.

 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern – Spoiler Free Book Review

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Genre: YA, historical fiction, magical realism

First published: 2011

Author: Erin Morgenstern

Synopsis: In 1886, a mysterious travelling circus becomes an international sensation. Open only at night, constructed entirely in black and white, Le Cirque des Rêves delights all who wander its circular paths and warm themselves at its bonfire. At the heart of the circus is the tangled relationship between two young magicians, Celia, the enchanter’s daughter, and Marco, the sorcerer’s apprentice.

Book Depository | Goodreads

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This is a weird book for me to review. I had a hard time deciding what rating to give it. Sometimes it felt like a 5 star book, other times like a 4 star book. I think my main problem with it was that it had a very fragmented timeline and it was difficult at times to tell where in time you were.

This is a very slow-burn book. I personally didn’t mind that much because I enjoy these type of stories, but it does require patience. You as the reader sort of have an idea of what’s going on, but the characters don’t and it takes them forever to figure it out, which can be a bit frustrating.

Now on to the things that I loved about this book and which truly make it a book worth reading. The atmosphere. That is the best thing about this book. The way that it’s written is so magical and atmospheric and it just transports you into this wonderful, magical circus. It’s beautiful. There are little interludes from time to time that are told from the perspective of someone attending the circus and it just really transports you there and you get to experience the circus.

The characters. It’s so interesting to see the dynamics between the people who know what’s going on, those who have no idea what’s going on and those who have some idea of what’s going on. I thought that was so well done and so interesting to read about. Also, the two main… antagonists, I suppose, are so morally grey. I love those types of characters who are not quite entirely aware of how warped their worldview is. I find them so interesting to read about. It explores the idea of losing one’s humanity as time goes by, which I found really interesting and I thought it was very well done.

I liked the different perspectives of the different characters on the circus. I can’t say much without spoilers, but I like the idea of how the same thing can mean such monumentally different things to different people. And also how those people interacted with each other and with the circus. Again, I thought it was so well done.

I don’t really know what else to say without giving too much away. It’s a difficult book to review. You have to experience it for yourself and I don’t think it really can be explained without ruining it. So I recommend just going into it and enjoying the experience.