7 Enchanting Books of Magical Realism That Will Mesmerize Your Mind

I’m not a huge fan of fantasy—I prefer books where the world is tangible and set in a specific era. But magic? That’s a different story. With magic, you’re always on the edge of belief and disbelief. The genre of magical realism opens up a new dimension. The author tells an ordinary story, then suddenly stuns you with unexpected twists. Here are seven magical realism books that will leave your mind delightfully disordered. Remember, when reading these, engage your senses, not just your logic.

1. “One Hundred Years of Solitude” — Gabriel García Márquez

This novel is one of the brightest examples of magical realism. It tells the century-long story of the Buendía family and the town of Macondo. Márquez has a genius for drawing readers into even the most intricate narratives. His prose is always a wild mix of Spanish color, legends, passionate stories, and original plots. In this novel, he weaves all these elements into a philosophical context of incredible depth.

I recommend reading it in large chunks because keeping up with the story in short bursts can be challenging. You might get confused by the endless repetitions of the names Aureliano and José Arcadio, but that’s not due to a lack of imagination on the author’s part.

2. “Leonardo’s Handwriting” — Dina Rubina

Anna writes in mirror script, excels in exact sciences, travels the world with a circus, and knows everything about mirrors. Through mirrors, she can see the past and the future. “Leonardo’s Handwriting” is the story of a woman who rejects her uniqueness.

He insisted that she was an angel. Not in the heavenly sense, but rather that her nature was akin to certain beings that appear in folklore as angels and archangels. People believe in them because, from time to time, such beings do appear on Earth among humans.

3. “The Garden of Forking Paths” — Jorge Luis Borges

The story begins with the author’s assertion that in Liddell Hart’s book “History of the First World War”—which is a real book—the reasons for the delay in the British troops’ advance in Saint-Montoban on July 24, 1916, are incorrectly stated.

Borges often uses references to real documents, books, or events to lend credibility to his narratives. The author then refers to a statement by a certain Yu Tsun, who becomes the main character of the story.

In “The Garden,” Borges presents his interpretation of the many-worlds theory. He was fascinated by the idea of multiple parallel worlds. The author goes further and suggests that timelines can intersect. Thus, Borges’ world appears as an infinite labyrinth.

4. “Hopscotch” — Julio Cortázar

The novel is filled with the protagonist Horacio Oliveira’s reflections on his existence and complex relationships with the world. His introspection is prompted by encounters with his lover, a Parisian “Club” of intellectuals, and friends from Argentina.

A distinctive feature of the novel is its original structure. As the author explains in the preface, the work contains several books in one. He offers two reading techniques: the traditional one, which includes familiarizing yourself with two parts of the novel, and reading according to a special scheme, which adds chapters from the third part. Indicators at the end of each chapter help follow the scheme.

5. “The House of the Spirits” — Isabel Allende

Another epic narrative about the history of a family, although comparisons with Márquez are not appropriate here. A stirring story of the Trueba family, where the real intertwines with the magical.

Domestic life, political strife in the country, shootings, torture, rebellions, and the extraordinary fate of the Poet and the appearance of a clairvoyant girl with green hair. After such books, it seems that a miracle hides around every corner, and fairy tales and reality are not opposites.

6. “The Big Chariot” — Max Frey

This book will especially appeal to lovers of Europe, but even if you’ve never been there, you’ll surely want to visit. As Frey explains, one day he—or rather she, since the pseudonym Max Frey belongs to a woman named Svetlana Martynchik—traced the constellation Ursa Major onto tracing paper, randomly overlaid the drawing onto a map of Europe, and marked the cities that fell on the brightest points. These included well-known cities like Warsaw and Zurich, as well as small settlements like Marvejols and Ponte-Leccia.

The writer traveled to all these cities and recorded the stories of the local residents. As it turned out, cities willingly share their secrets with travelers. Thus, “The Big Chariot” was born—”the ideal vehicle for traveling around Europe.”

7. “The Shadow of the Wind” — Carlos Ruiz Zafón

In 1945 Barcelona, a ten-year-old boy encounters a mysterious book that changes his life. For twenty years, he tries to unravel the secrets hidden within it. Along the way, he meets many strange people, stunning women, explores the abandoned estates of a cursed family, and tries to understand their fate.

The plot of the novel is as intricate as it is captivating. It is multifaceted and leaves ample room for reflection. The novel by the Spanish writer has been highly successful not only in Zafón’s homeland but also worldwide.

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