Spotlight on Magical Realism: 13 of the Best Novels

“From exactly midnight until daybreak, the Namiya General Store advice box will be reopening for one night only.” When three delinquents hole up in an abandoned general store after their most recent robbery, to their great surprise, a letter drops through the mail slot in the store’s shutter. This seemingly simple request for advice sets the trio on a journey of discovery as, over the course of a single night, they step into the role of the kindhearted former shopkeeper who devoted his waning years to offering thoughtful counsel to his correspondents.

A baby found in the woods brings together two women who must confront their secrets and decide what they’re willing to sacrifice for family and love.

Also fulfills: Read a romance.

In Soviet Moscow, the devil and his demonic entourage wreak havoc while a madman and his lover Margarita try to restore order. Written secretly during Stalin’s regime.

Also fulfills: Read a translated book.

Rare-book dealer uncovers unpublished volumes revealing a tragic, decades-old romance, becoming obsessed with uncovering the truth behind the doomed lovers’ tale.

Also fulfills: Read a book about books or libraries.

In “The Murmur of Bees,” set in 1918 Mexico, a disfigured child with supernatural abilities and protected by bees is adopted by landowners. His gift of foresight helps his family navigate Revolution and influenza.

Also fulfills: Read a translated book.

A book publicist falls for her temporary roommate, only to discover he’s from seven years in the past.

Also fulfills: Read a romance.
Read a book about time travel.

Read My Review

A young man searches for his missing cat and wife in Tokyo, encountering allies and antagonists in a dreamlike and compelling detective story.

Also fulfills: Read a translated book.
Read a book over 500 pages.

A mysterious child brings two strangers together, teaching them to love and trust again amidst miracles and secrets.

One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the story of the rise and fall, birth and death of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buendiá family. Inventive, amusing, magnetic, sad and alive with unforgettable men and women—brimming with truth, compassion, and a lyrical magic that strikes the soul—this novel is a masterpiece in the art of fiction.

Also fulfills: Read a translated book.
Read a book by a Nobel Prize Winner.
Read a family saga.

A girl named Vasya must protect her family from evil spirits and a harsh stepmother in a Russian village during the winter.

After choking to death on a microwaveable burger, Delphie meets her soulmate in the afterlife. She gets ten days back on Earth to find him among millions and possibly get a second chance at love.

Also fulfills: Read a romance.

Read My Review

In 1886, a magical black-and-white circus becomes a sensation, where two rival magicians, Celia and Marco, engage in a deadly competition while falling in love.

Also fulfills: Read a book over 500 pages.

In post-Civil War Ohio, a former slave’s home is haunted by her murdered baby’s ghost. As past meets present through a mysterious young woman, dark secrets of slavery unfold in Morrison’s “Beloved.” Pulitzer prize winner.

Also fulfills: Read a book by a Nobel Prize Winner.
Read a book that won an award.

Read My Review