Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

What's better for October than magic? I've never been a spooky type of gal, but I love a book with a bit of magic! This week, we are reading a book that has a *touch* of magic -- how much of a touch is up to you!

Best Witch Books: https://bookriot.com/best-witch-books/
30 Magical Realism Books: https://www.beyondthebookends.com/30-...
100 Must Reads of Magical Realism: https://bookriot.com/100-must-reads-o...
42 Books with Magic and Mythology: https://www.epicreads.com/blog/books-...

ATY Listopia: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

What are you reading for this prompt, and how does it fit the prompt?

Highly recommend Alix E. Harrow, T. Kingfisher, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for this one!

I am reading Empire of Wild which seems to have werewolves in it. Hope they are magical enough. I am also reading Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard.

Their Eyes Were Watching God is wonderful on audio. I’m not sure if has any real magic in the plot, but the writing is imaginative, and it has a magical feeling. I would love more like this.

Added - It’s on the “100 must read magical realism books” above, and has a lot of magical realism tags.

I don’t need to plan for this prompt, as it’s so broad. I’ll try to use it for a book that surprises me with a bit of magic or unexplained phenomena.

I've tentatively planned to read Haruki Murakami's A Wild Sheep Chase for this, but I have lots of candidates.

Hope the low fantasy elements are enough for it to workNeedful Things

I've recommended it in another thread but for those interpreting this to mean just a little magic in the story, I'd recommend Fayne. It's mostly historical fiction about a child growing up in Scotland at the end of the 19th century, but then there are just a few magical elements / events.

Anyone have recommendations for where a magic system involves touch, or it's important? I seem to recall that spell casting in the Dresden Files involves items that invoke different senses...

I just came across this list that most definitely has books that fit this prompt!

15 Charming Novels with a Touch of Magic
https://www.bookbub.com/blog/charming...

Joanna wrote: "I've recommended it in another thread but for those interpreting this to mean just a little magic in the story, I'd recommend Fayne. It's mostly historical fiction about a child gro..."

I haven’t read it yet, but the cover makes me think that touch could be involved. It’s been on my radar for years as an essential feminist fantasy, but I’m a little intimidated by it! (it was even on one of Obama’s lists)
The Power

———
Added
sounds really great to me. I could really go for something like this right NOW. Thanks for the recommendation. It sounds like it has a very different vibe from The Power.

Darn, it’s not on audio or large print.

NancyJ wrote: "I haven’t read it yet, but the cover makes me think that touch could be involved. It’s been on my radar for years as an essential feminist fantasy, but I’m a little intimidated by it!"

I'd call it horror more than fantasy. It's very very dark. I'm rarely bothered by books but this was .... woah.

dalex wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I haven’t read it yet, but the cover makes me think that touch could be involved. It’s been on my radar for years as an essential feminist fantasy, but I’m a little intimidated by it..."

That’s what I was afraid of! I shy away from empowerment based on violence.

Joanna wrote: "Anyone have recommendations for where a magic system involves touch, or it's important?..."

In Roshani Chokshi's trilogy starting with The Gilded Wolves, one of the characters can read objects' history through touch. I am sure I've read others with visions triggered by touch but my memory is failing me right now.

On my TBR I have a couple of what seem to be "deadly touch" books, This Vicious Grace and Girl, Serpent, Thorn.

Ellie wrote: "Joanna wrote: "Anyone have recommendations for where a magic system involves touch, or it's important?..."

In Roshani Chokshi's trilogy starting with The Gilded Wolves, one of the ..."
Ooh, that's great about The Gilded Wolves as I own it but haven't read it yet! Will definitely slot that one in.

And thanks for The Power rec, NancyJ, but I have read that one (and yes, very different vibe from Fayne).

NancyJ wrote: "Their Eyes Were Watching God is wonderful on audio. I’m not sure if has any real magic in the plot, but the writing is imaginative, and it has a magical feeling. I would love more like..."




I loved that book, and of course choice is up to each reader on how to interpret "a touch of magic" - but that book has absolutely no magical elements to it, it's entirely realistic.

Nadine in NY wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Their Eyes Were Watching God is wonderful on audio. I’m not sure if has any real magic in the plot, but the writing is imaginative, and it has a magical feeling. I would..."

Nadine, you and I remember it the same way. It’s on some of the popular magical realism lists though, so I second guessed my memory (I have memory issues). It’s on the “100 must read magical realism books” list posted above. I think the things that I interpreted as symbolism, others interpreted as magical (especially the parts about the tree or flowers). I don’t know who is right, so like you said, people can choose for themselves. People who don’t like magical realism or fantasy might opt for it.

I agree, Nadine. I would never have considered Their Eyes Were Watching God as "magical realism" at all!

For those who really do not want fantasy or "magic" ... how about The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett

Book Concierge wrote: "For those who really do not want fantasy or "magic" ... how about The Magician's Assistant..."

Two other books with magicians:

The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths
The Art of Disappearing by Ivy Pochoda

I thoroughly enjoyed both of these books and would definitely recommend them.

(I'm honestly shocked at the number of reads and the average rating for The Art of Disappearing. It's one of my all time favorites. I rarely re-read books and I've read this one three times.)

Book Concierge wrote: "For those who really do not want fantasy or "magic" ... how about The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett"

There's also The Magician, a novel about the writer Thomas Mann.

I'm not sure if it's a touch of magic, a big dollop, or absolutely swimming in it, but I'll be reading about an immortal dog trying to find his human in Tomorrow by Damian Dibben.

@ Marie - I’m reading “Tomorrow” also, but for the Travel prompt (time travel, and I’m guessing other travel as well). For Touch of Magic I’m reading “Forever” by Pete Hamill (main character is immortal).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

NancyJ wrote: "Joanna wrote: "I've recommended it in another thread but for those interpreting this to mean just a little magic in the story, I'd recommend Fayne. It's mostly historical fiction ab..."

I enjoyed The Power. I wouldn't call it intimidating at all.

I'm planning to read Stardust. I haven't seen the movie and it will be my first Gaiman novel. I'm looking forward to reading it before I watch the movie.

I'm more of a magical-realism or witchy vibes kinda girl than high fantasy, so this is what I rustled up on my shelves

- The Gloaming by Kirsty Logan
- Slade Houseby David Mitchell
- The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
- Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi

I am reading Sistersong by Lucy Holland for this prompt.

The Jinn Daughter

For this prompt, I read:
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke - 3* - My Review

Also works for "wings on the cover"

Startet the year with The Hobbit and the The Lord of the Rings trilogy. For this prompt I chose .

by Kayla Cottingham

Joanna wrote: "I've recommended it in another thread but for those interpreting this to mean just a little magic in the story, I'd recommend Fayne. It's mostly historical fiction about a child gro..."

If you’re still interested in a book where “touch” is important, I just read Soulless by Gail Carriger. She has the ability to temporarily humanize magical creatures by touching them. Vampires lose their fangs and werewolves can’t change while she is touching them. It’s a fun steampunk book.

I'll be reading In Five Years

Read, and listened to The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman. This was a short story, however, I don't know how much "magic" was actually in the story. It was in the beginning insomuch as a mysterious letter from an unknown source came to the narrator, but it was quickly discovered who wrote once she went back home.

I read To the Bright Edge of the World and When We Were Birds.

I loved the first book, its combination of semi-historical accounts of an expedition in nineteenth century Alaska, and life in one of its frontier barracks, the life of some of the indigenous peoples, with shamanism and magic. It was so vivid and well handled.

The second book contained shape shifting and spirits. I liked both the story and the rhythm of the writing.

The book I'm planning on reading at this point is Forever by Pete Hamill because it's been on my shelf for years and I don't know where it came from (that's NOT the magical bit). The touch of magic in this book is that the main character is immortal.

The Book I chose for this prompt

short and sweet review: 5.0
The way i enjoy the storyline was insane. Nesta and Cassian is just what the storyline need. Nesta thought she was being punished and in the end she was learning herself. I still can’t figure out when Nesta and Rhys started not likening each other. I hope Nesta finally makes the step. I can’t wait to watch the love manifest between them.

I read The Seventh Bride by T. Kingfisher, which I really enjoyed. It involves sorcery and a witch who has lost (most of) her powers.

Joanna wrote: "Anyone have recommendations for where a magic system involves touch, or it's important?"

The Witching Hour by Anne Rice has a character with touch clairvoyance. No idea how well it holds up.

MC has the ability to "see" other couples' love stories just by witnessing them kiss ... and that includes the future.

✔ - 31Mar24
Instructions For Dancing – Nicola Yoon – 3***
Evie doesn’t believe in love anymore. Not after her Dad left and her parents divorced. But then she finds her way to a dance studio and the next thing she knows, Evie is paired with a boy named X, learning to waltz, fox-trot and tango. This is a charming YA romance with a young couple who have multiple family issues they have to navigate.
LINK to my full review

I read The Okay Witch, a middle grade graphic novel about a young girl who begins to realize that she has magical tendencies and her mother refuses to teach her anything about it.

Im really stuck on this one really not into magical realism what can a touch mean? Would featuring ghosts be a touch? Would mythical creatures be a touch?

Thomas wrote: "Im really stuck on this one really not into magical realism what can a touch mean? Would featuring ghosts be a touch? Would mythical creatures be a touch?"

In my opinion, anything with magic or fantasy tags should count. You can have more than a touch of magic if you want. Take a look at the lists posted above, and the listopia. You’ll see books with ghosts, witches, wizards, mythology, mythical creatures, retellings of fairytales. dragons, vampires, hobbits, miracles, ice princesses and more.

I was in a fantasy challenge last month so I read the wide range.
Fable is about treasure hunters and there is barely a touch of magic (Fable has the power to sense jewels nearby, and identify fakes.). They don’t call themselves pirates, but the books have 100+ pirate tags. These books also work for the Sea.

I read Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez for this prompt. Perhaps the most predictable direction to go.

I read:
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

BIO: A book with the word magic in the title
REJECT: A book that features at least three generations of a family

Finished: 06/12/2024
Rating: 3.5 stars

Not at all what I expected. Not a lot of "magic" in the common sense of the word.

Would one consider vampires to be magical?

I read The Oceanography of the Moon by Glendy Vanderah. Magic is talked about a lot in this book mostly in relation to characters who have the magic of bringing people together or always believing in the good inside of people.

I read Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis. 15 dogs are granted, by the gods Hermes and Apollo, human consciousness and language. I'm calling this magic!

I read Other Birds, it was a sweet little story. Glad this prompt gave me the opportunity to read it.

I read Lanny by Max Porter
I'm not really into Magical Realism, but this was a short book. It was on the Booker Long List, but didn't make the Short List

For this prompt, I read Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg.

A cute and fun fantasy with a side of romance. I was pleasantly surprised and am looking forward to the next in the series.

4 stars

My review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read The Annotated Arabian Nights: Tales From the 1001 Nights by Yasmine Seale

Genies, witches and magicians show up in the stories