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Alan Cumming recommended Matter of Life and Death (1981) in Movies (curated)
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Vegetarian: A Novel in Books
Sep 13, 2017
Incredibly creative and disturbing look at transformation
Han Kang is an absolute gem in terms of creative writing and The Vegetarian does not disappoint. It's difficult to explain without completely spoiling the plot but it consists of a woman becoming vegetarian and her subsequent 'transformation'.
The beautiful imagery and the graphic details about mental health is unique, and at times the insanity of the novel resembles Kafka's Metamorphosis. It is definitely in that league of magical realism.
The beautiful imagery and the graphic details about mental health is unique, and at times the insanity of the novel resembles Kafka's Metamorphosis. It is definitely in that league of magical realism.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Lie Tree in Books
Jul 24, 2017
Deceptively fabulous feminist book
This quaint, quirky mystery novel has so many themes intertwined in a logical fashion that I'm considering it to be near perfect.
With magical realism as a major part of this tale, I was initially apprehensive to what conclusion could be achieved without drifting off on a tangent. However, it came together revealing its true purpose, that of the women who at the beginning seemed meek and mild, but actually were at the heart of the plot. Well written.
With magical realism as a major part of this tale, I was initially apprehensive to what conclusion could be achieved without drifting off on a tangent. However, it came together revealing its true purpose, that of the women who at the beginning seemed meek and mild, but actually were at the heart of the plot. Well written.
Deepak Chopra recommended Midnight's Children in Books (curated)
I had to read this book for my craft of fiction class. This was my first time reading it, but we were able to look at it as more than just plot, and more about how it was written and why it was written that way.
There are spoilers, so read at your own risk.
I very much enjoyed this book. I loved this view into a post slavery world filled of women who have to deal with the grief that has followed them throughout their lives. Sethe, though she has made her mistakes in her life, is still a sympathetic character who relies on her grief to survive through what she has done. Her daughters are strong women in their own rights. Beloved, being childlike and taking out her rage of her death on her mother and her family through stealing the attention and food for herself. She isolates, makes it so the others feel death hanging over themselves to understand her pain.
The format, being more stream of consciousness and not a cohesive, linear narrative, lends itself well to the magical realism of this book. This is nothing like a Harry Potter type of magical realism though. This is steeped in the tradition of former slaves, magical in their beliefs of the world and the afterlife. Not the people being able to control magic, but allowing it to be a real thing in their lives either way.
I really liked this book. If you want to understand why, check it out for yourself.
There are spoilers, so read at your own risk.
I very much enjoyed this book. I loved this view into a post slavery world filled of women who have to deal with the grief that has followed them throughout their lives. Sethe, though she has made her mistakes in her life, is still a sympathetic character who relies on her grief to survive through what she has done. Her daughters are strong women in their own rights. Beloved, being childlike and taking out her rage of her death on her mother and her family through stealing the attention and food for herself. She isolates, makes it so the others feel death hanging over themselves to understand her pain.
The format, being more stream of consciousness and not a cohesive, linear narrative, lends itself well to the magical realism of this book. This is nothing like a Harry Potter type of magical realism though. This is steeped in the tradition of former slaves, magical in their beliefs of the world and the afterlife. Not the people being able to control magic, but allowing it to be a real thing in their lives either way.
I really liked this book. If you want to understand why, check it out for yourself.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated A State of Freedom in Books
Jul 30, 2017
A wonderful array of short stories set in India
An intriguing network of short stories set in modern India with a backdrop of traditional culture. The stories have a vague link with one another, usually focusing on one particular character's narrative. And the nature of each story varies from magical realism to politics. While there were some stories I liked more than others, the animal cruelty of one specific tale was a little gratuitous to my liking. And while I know this happens in India it didn't seem to go anywhere. Other than that a well written cyclical novel.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Physics of the Dead in Books
Jul 31, 2017
A Kafkaesque bittersweet ghost story
For a first novel, Luke Smitherd has done himself justice bringing together classic existentialism, quite literally, with a touch of magical realism. An incredibly interesting concept discussing the in between phase of purgatory and reincarnation and how as humans, we cease to function without the basic notion of togetherness wrapped up in as easy to follow narrative.
While there were a few holes in terms of lack of character development for the the few people in the plot, the author performed his book well and it held together in the end.
While there were a few holes in terms of lack of character development for the the few people in the plot, the author performed his book well and it held together in the end.
This One Sky Day
9.0
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Dawn bread across the archipelago of Popisho. The world is stirring awake again, each resident...
Magical Realism Literary Fiction Speculative Fiction
Paradigm Lost: Jamari and the Manhood Rites: Part 1
Book
A forest paradise surrounded by lands gutted from corporate greed. The Elk Creek Tribe holds the...
Fantasy LGBTQIA+ Dystopian Futuristic Forbidden Love Magical Realism
The Man Who Saw Everything
8.0
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‘It's like this, Saul Adler.' 'No, it's like this, Jennifer Moreau.' In 1988, Saul Adler...
Magical Realism Historical fiction