Although I tend to stick to the Young Adult Genre when I read, I do enjoy exploring different genres on long, slow days at the library. Things really start slowing down at work around the time of Thanksgiving and it stays slow until after the New Year. People are busy eating and partying- I get it.
But what is a bored literary enthusiast to do on slow days surrounded by books? Why look for new things to read, of course!
As of late, I have been really into the magical realism genre. Magical realism, according to Emma Allmann, is “an alternative to an accepted reality.” Who doesn’t want that in life? I had never heard of this genre before two months ago, and it might be a new favorite of mine.
I read Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders a few weeks ago, and it is fantastic! I knew from the description it was going to be an interesting novel, but I had no idea how much I would love it and the questions that Saunders poses in it. This novel will really make you think about what happens to your soul after death and how it affects your loved ones when you are gone. That sounds morbid, but trust me, it isn’t. Saunders has a beautiful writing style and does a great job of roping readers in from the beginning.
Another novel I read recently that fits in the magical realism genre is Jesmyn Ward’s Sing, Unburied, Sing. I didn’t love this novel as much as I loved Saunders’, but it is still an interesting read for those who are just getting into the genre. Ward’s characters make you question what is real and what is only desired to be real. It is beautifully written.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32920226-sing-unburied-sing
I hope to explore this genre more as the holidays approach and I’ll have more time to read for fun. Both of these novels really peaked my interest in the concept of magical realism, so I highly recommend both if you are interested in exploring this genre, as well.
Until next time- Go explore a new genre!
-Lit Librarian
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