Tag Archives: genre

Suspend Disbelief! Magical Realism!

January 17, 2019 Mo Jayroe

Today we jump into on of my favorite genres of fiction and that is Magical Realism! So what is it you ask? Well, magical realism is defined by a style of fiction that paints a realistic view of the modern world while also adding magical elements. Essentially this genre is a matter-of-fact inclusion of fantastical or mythical elements that suspends our disbelief from the “norm”!

Originating from Latin America, this genre was spearheaded as a genre of political subversion. Authors used the fantastic and magical elements to portray an alternative to reality which can be used against oppressive political climates. Italian author Massimo Bontampelli used his writings to create a “collective consciousness” and inspire an Italian nation under a fascist ruler!

If you’re pulled in by any of that then here are some titles to start you off on your magical journey into the genre of Magical Realism!

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Arguably the most famous out of the genre, One Hundred Years of Solitude is novel that tells the story of the Buendia family, and chronicles the irreconcilable conflict between the desire for solitude and the need for love—in rich, imaginative prose that has come to define an entire genre known as “magical realism.”

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, but after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its owner might suggest.

The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Things have never been easy for Oscar, a sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd. Unfortunately, he may never get what he wants, thanks to the Fukœ—the curse that has haunted the Oscar’s family for generations, dooming them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and, above all, ill-starred love.

Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn’t thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she’d claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

Kafka on The Shore by Haruki Murakami
This story is a tour de force of metaphysical reality, is powered by two remarkable characters: a teenage boy, Kafka Tamura, who runs away from home either to escape a gruesome oedipal prophecy and an aging simpleton called Nakata, who never recovered from a wartime affliction and now is drawn toward Kafka for reasons unknown. Their odyssey, as mysterious to them as it is to us, is enriched throughout by vivid accomplices and mesmerizing events.

Happy Reading!

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Summer Reading: Staff Picks!

June 23, 2016 peaadmin

With another Thursday comes another opportunity for those of us here at the Library to bring you some of our recommendations for summer reading!

The weather seems to be cooperating (finally….for now…), and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed hearing all the details about our Patrons’ many plans for summer getaways, adventures, and staycations, and all the books that you are planning on bringing along with you. For those who are still casting about for some reading material to aid in your rest or relaxations–or excitement and excursions–here are some of our selections. This week, we’re aiming to bring you some series, both fiction and non-fiction, to help you plan for those long, lazy summer days:

From the South Branch:

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater:

This is a series of 4 YA books, the final one just came out a couple of months ago. I’m not usually a YA reader, but this series was definitely something special. It is a magical, breathless series of books with complex characters and a surprising level of great, dry humor that punctuates the nearly ceaseless action with a welcome chortle to break the tension. The stories are balanced and cinematic in their plotting and movement. I devoured them and the final one quite literally left me panting for breath. Highly recommended for a great, fast-paced summer read. A word of caution, though, if you start reading them, you won’t want to stop, so you might just want to put them all on hold so you can read them all together.

From Upstairs at the Main:

Bill Nye Series: For some of us, Bill Nye will always be The Science Guy, and thus, we are all enormously grateful that he has kept teaching us as we grew up. Within the past two years, we’ve had the good fortune to have two books: Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation, which not only deals with the theory of evolution, but also tackles the un-reality of race, the development of genetically-modified food, and the potential for alien life-forms; and Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World, in which Nye issues a new “call to greatness”, challenging people to harness their incredible potential to discover new sources of power, and new energy-efficient machines. In both books, all that infectious energy and joyful curiosity that so many came to love is on full display, making for books that are as fun and engaging as they are informative.

From the Circulation Desk:

The Ravenels Series: Lisa Kleypas

Kleypas was one of the authors who made historical romances into the wonderful genre–and undying staple of the romance industry–that it is today. Now, after a number of years focusing on contemporaries, she has returned to her roots, and is in the process of creating a series that is just as steamy, just as endearing, and just as compelling as any she has ever written. In Cold Hearted Rake, Devon Ravenel has recently inherited an earldom–and also a house mired in debt, and inhabited by three young ladies and Kathleen, Lady Trenear, a beautiful young widow who challenges Devon in ways he never before imagined. In Marrying Winterborne, which I am currently adoring, ruthless tyconn Rhys Winterborne and the innocent, utterly unique Lady Helen Ravenel marry for business purposes, but discover a passion together neither expect. But as Rhys’ business enemies begin to hover around them, they both realize that true love takes far more than passion to create a happily-ever-after.

Safe travels, beloved patrons, and happy reading!

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Happy Birthday, Jules Verne!

February 8, 2016 peaadmin

In his introduction to the reprint of ‘Salem’s Lot, Stephen King explains that he was, and remains a “writer of the moment”, which means that his characters, and the themes in his books, often reflects the ages in which they were written, even though their themes may be timeless. In a recent report from UNESCO, Stephen King was the 9th most-translated author worldwide. The man who occupies the #2 spot on that list is a writer much like King…his writing reflects his world, yet imagines a world altogether new. That man is today’s celebrant: Jules Gabriel Verne, born this day in 1828.

Verne was always an adventurer, and ever the dreamer. Family legend has it that when he was eleven, Jules got himself hired as a cabin boy on a ship bound for the West Indies, so that he could procure a coral necklace for his cousin, Caroline. His father made it to the docks in time to catch his son, and made him promise that, thereafter, he would travel “only in his imagination”.

Verne always loved storytelling, but, as the oldest son of the family, it was expected that we would take a position in the family law firm, rather than try to make a living through his writing. And Jules was truly dedicated to his work, writing furiously only after finishing his studies. But in 1849, he met with Alexander Dumas, and together, the two young men wrote and produced a play called Les Pailles rompues (The Broken Straws), which debuted at the Théâtre Historique in Paris, on June 12, 1850. As his literary successes continued on the stage and in popular magazines, Jules quickly realized that he would only make an indifferent lawyer, at best. Though he would later get a job in a brokerage in order to win favor with his fiancee’s family, Verne’s lifelong passion would be for writing.

One of Jules’ favorite places to work was the Bibliothèque nationale de France (yay libraries!), where he kept up-to-date on the latest scientific and geographical discoveries that were being produced by French cartographers and explorers. This research got him thinking of writing a new kind of novel–a Roman de la Science (novel of science)–that would allow him to incorporate the wealth of facts he was collecting, while still allowing to put his prodigious imagination to good use.

Those novels came to life following Verne’s meeting with Pierre-Jules Hetzel, who was intending to publish a family magazine that would combine scientific information with fun adventure stories. Verne’s “novels of science” were a perfect addition, and Hetzel presented Verne with a contract stating that he would pay a yearly flat fee, and, in return, Verne would produce three novels a year for his magazine. Verne was delighted to find a steady outlet for his writings, and his first novel of science, now known as Five Weeks in a Balloon was published in January, 1863.

Though his work was enormously popular during his life, Verne’s work has always been the focus of a debate that still rages today…can science fiction be considered “literature”, or must it always be relegated to “genre fiction”? For years, Verne’s work was discounted, but a number of scholarly works published in France around the 1960’s and 1970’s brought his work back into the forefront of French literature.

adc97105-8b42-45e9-aca1-09fb4f7cd253-2060x1236 — A still from the 1902 A Trip To The Moon, one of the first films ever, inspired by Verne’s writing

In English, though, Verne hasn’t made the same kind of triumphant return. This is largely due to the fact that traditional translations of his work have been, generally speaking, pretty lousy. During Verne’s lifetime, British and American publisher decided to market his work to young audiences, and thus scaled down a lot of his ideas, and edited out a good deal of the words, as well. As Michael Crichton pointed out in an introduction to Verne’s work, in the publication of Journey to the Center of the Earth, “Griffith & Farran…blithely altered the text, giving Verne’s characters new names, and adding whole pages of their own invention, thus effectively obliterating the meaning and tone of Verne’s original.”

So perhaps today is as good a day as any to rediscover Jules Verne is all his true, wise, and insightful glory. Recently, several publishing houses have begun to reassess Jules Verne and his work, giving Anglophones a new taste of his work. Here are a few that have been widely hailed as rather good translations that will allow you to access all the weird and wild wonder of his work:

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: Oxford World’s Classics are an excellent way to get to know some of the planet’s greatest works of literature, and these new translations by William Butcher actually go back to the original manuscript in order to get at the heart of Verne’s work, rather than relying on previous tradition. Here, Captain Nero and his submarine the Nautilus appear as wild and colorful as they first did in 1870.

From the Earth to the Moon: Walter James Miller translated and annotated this 1865 novel set in Maryland just after the American Civil War, when the Baltimore Gun Club decides to build a massive gun, pointing to the sky, in order to shoot the club’s president and a French poet to the moon. This work was an enormous influence on H.G. Wells, and now, you can discover it, as well, with excellent annotations, to boot! Miller also translated and annotated 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, as well.

Paris in the Twentieth Century: This novel was discovered by Verne’s great-grandson in 1989. It had originally been turned down by Hetzel as being too pessimistic, as well and, comparatively, unimaginative. Today, however, it is recognized by Verne scholars as a massively important work, and by science fiction aficionados as a marvel–none of Verne’s other works went so far as to prophesy the future of an entire civilization so comprehensively, or to include so many ideas about how science would change human society.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, here’s a fun piece from National Geographic discussing eight inventions that Jules Verne accurately predicted in his writings. Enjoy!

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Genre Talk: Be still, my heart….

February 2, 2016 peaadmin

Though I have to admit that the overwhelming wash of pink splashed across every window display in the greater Peabody area is a bit much to handle, February is the ideal month to talk (a bit more) about romance novels, and the genre in general. And since we at the Free For All are firm supporters of reading what makes your heart happy, and trying out new genres–from poetry, to cookbooks, to romance–today seemed like as good a day as any to discuss romance, and help you find a place to start in your exploration of the genre.

Frankly, there has never been a better time to start reading romance. The market for the genre has exploded over the past eight years or so, especially since the advent of the ebooks (because, as we’ve noted before, the covers can be a smidgen much sometimes). According to the Romance Writers of America, some 64.6 million Americans read at least one romance novel in the past year–and 25% of those nice people checked their book out from a library, which makes us happy on a number of levels. In case you needed some further statistical incentive, in 2013, the annual total sales value of romance sales was $1.08 billion, and romance books comprised 13% of all fiction books published. What all these facts combine to show is that, in choosing your romance novel, your options are myriad, and you will be among excellent company.

But how to know what to chose? As with fantasy–indeed, as with most any fiction genre–the categorizations are not hard and fast, and the stickers on the spines don’t always give you the best indication of what is between the covers. So here is a quick break-down of the bigger categories of romance novel for you, with a few suggestions along the way to get you started in the right direction:

Contemporary: By far, this is the largest genre of romance novels, comprising a little less than half of the romance books published in the United States. Interestingly, according to the Romance Writers of America, “contemporary novels” are books that are set after 1950–a date that shifts every few years as time marches on. Largely, though these books are set in the “present day”, which means some older books can feel a bit dated, not only in terms of the fact that the characters don’t text each other, but in terms of some of the social mores between the characters. There are some very definite subgenres within the contemporary heading, and some very familiar tropes including cowboy hero–sometimes they are ranchers, but the word “y’all” comes up a lot, and spurs are worn unironically, military heroes–if anyone finds a romance novel with a military heroine, I will, quite literally praise your name from the rooftops, and, more recently, motorcycle club badboys. And the billionaires (they used to be millionaires, but inflation affects even romance novel characters). Everyone has their favorite tropes, but I love Lauren Layne’s two contemporary series, or anything by the writing team known as Christina Lauren.

Historical: Though contemporary’s hold the plurality on the market, I think it’s fair to say that these are the kind of stories that people think of when they think of romance novels. It’s funny…every single year, publishers claim that the historic romance genre is “dying”, because it is only about 15% of published romances, but every year, historical romances are featured in mainstream trade magazines as the books to read. Though technically, historical romances are any that are set before 1950, the early 19th century is still by far and away the most popular period for these books, particularly the Regency Period (officially 1811-1820). The glittering ballrooms, fancy dresses, and other fun details aside, historical romance novels succeed for a number of reasons–because gender role were so rigidly defined, it’s much easier to talk about challenging gender stereotypes–in the character’s time, and in our own. Sarah MacLean is a marvel at drawing these parallels, but doing so in a novel that is wildly entertaining and genuinely moving. Similarly, by placing romances in a world without cell phones and cars, authors can also get rid of the distractions that keep us apart (even while they bring us together). Eloisa James is really talented at this–and, as a Shakespearean professor in real life, you are also guaranteed a wonderfully thoughtful story, as well!

Paranormal Romance: Though series like Twilight defined this subgenre for many, in reality, it is an enormously diverse one that features a wealth of science-fiction, fantasy, and supernatural elements. Vampires, yes, certainly; but shape-shifters are also hugely popular within the realm of paranormal romance. Increasingly, there are also magicians, necromancers, and gods and goddesses, too! While some paranormal romances are very firmly focused around the central relationship, like Larissa Ione’s Demonica Series, in many cases, they are much more like urban fantasy novels, with a complex world and a larger story arc, like Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series, or Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress books.

Romantic Suspense: Perhaps not surprisingly, these books are ones that feature suspense, mystery, or thriller elements as a major part of the plot. Very often, the two aspects, the suspense and the romance are intertwined and cannot be separated. In Cynthia Eden‘s LOST novels, for example, the main characters are all part of an elite search-and-rescue team, and fall in love as a result of the cases they take on. Many of the books I’ve read in this genre seem to rely on the damsel-in-distress trope to succeed, but some authors, like Jayne Ann Krentz and HelenKay Dimon are great at creating heroines who are just as strong and capable as the heroes.

Inspirational Romance: These books feature faith as a major component of their plots–traditionally Christian, but any number of believe systems can be the focus of these books. These books can be both historical–very frequently, they feature characters living in Amish, or similar religion-based communities–or contemporary. Readers looking for recommendations need look no further than this blog, as our beloved Melissa is the resident expert here!

Until next time, dear readers–Happy Reading!

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The Romance Garden!

January 31, 2016 peaadmin

Since February is The Month With Valentine’s Day In It, we here is the Romance Garden decided to kick-off the month just a bit early with some romantic selections from our shelves. And considering the fact that I saw Valentine’s Day candies in the store the day after Christmas, I think that starting our Valentine’s Day thinking 24 hours early is the height of restraint…..

The motto of the Romance Garden is that “every mind needs a little dirt in which to grow”, and I think this may be more true in the winter months than at any other time. Though this winter has been oddly merciful (thus far), we must still contend with the icy winds, the fast-falling darkness, and the weight these things can add to our thoughts and moods. Now, more than ever, our brains need as much care and attention as our chilly feet and chapped hands–and, as the good Lady Pole pointed out, reading is one of the best kinds of care for your brain. An added benefit of the romance genre? You are guaranteed a happy ending. It is a basic tenant of the genre–the way might not be easy, but the destination is always in plain sight. And, personally, I find that assurance enormously comforting, especially when the going does get tough.

So, without any further ado, here are our selections for this month:

Bridget:

A Lady Awakened by Cecelia Grant

Up until I read this book, I would have argued that inheritance law was definitely a topic that simply wasn’t sexy enough to be in a romance novel. But then Cecelia Grant came along, with her Blackshear Family romances, and proved me wrong.

The recently widowed Martha Russell knows that, unless she can prove she is carrying her late husband’s heir, his home, including the servants and tenants, will be passed on to her brother-in-law, a notoriously violent, odious man. So she does the unthinkable, and approaches Theophilus Mirkwood (the greatest name for a hero in the history of forever), a London gentleman with a rather colorful reputation, and offers him a considerable fee for his, ahem, attentions, for a month. Theo knows he should be scandalized, but he can’t help but be intrigued by Martha’s business acumen–particularly in this unique situation. But the more he gets to know her, the more Theo realizes that Martha thinks of their agreement as nothing but business. And suddenly, he is determined to do everything in his power to teach her how much fun it can be to be bad…

The premise of this story is certainly not your run-of-the-mill trope, which in itself was refreshing, but the relationship that develops between Theo and Martha was so completely, refreshingly different that I couldn’t stop reading. I loved that this wasn’t a “hero teaches heroine how great he is”–instead, Theo teaches Martha how to stand up for herself, and enjoy herself. I also loved that this wasn’t a “heroine accepts hero’s flaws”–instead, Martha encouraged Theo to grow up. Their relationship is all about taking risks and being uncomfortable and making mistakes–and then doing better. Most of all, I loved that they were friends as much as they were lovers. Theo’s devotion to Martha, even after believing he has lost her for good, is still one of my favorites from any romance novel I can remember.

Kelley:

When the Duke was Wicked by Lorraine Heath

In the first book of Lorraine Heath’s Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series, Grace Mabry is determined to marry for love, but the task of finding a husband who loves her in return proves more challenging than she might have imagined. First, her dowry is so large that every unmarried man in London bends over backwards to charm her, and they do it so well it’s difficult to tell their true feelings. Second, Grace is on a deadline as her father’s vision is failing and she wants to marry in time for him to be able to dance with her at the wedding. And third, she has been in love with longtime family friend the widowed Duke of Lovingdon for as long as she can remember, but he is certain he can never love again after the pain of losing his first wife and child just two years ago. Despite Lovingdon’s unavailability as a potential suitor, Grace is in luck. Since the death of his wife, once proper and gentlemanly Lovingdon has become a pleasure seeking rake skilled in the areas of charm and seduction… which makes him the perfect person to help Grace determine which of her suitors is sincere and which ones are charming her for her money!

Readers won’t be surprised where Lovingdon’s lessons in seduction lead. However, they very well might be surprised by the depth of this story. Grace is one of the most likeable heroines I’ve encountered in my romance reading. She is smart, rebellious, caring and strong, with loving family and friends who support her through good and bad. As the story develops, we learn that Grace has a deep pain of her own, which enhances the depth of her character and results in at least one or two scenes that might have caused me to tear up a bit. If you’re looking for a romance that offers both a good cry and a happy ending, this is the book for you. When the Duke was Wicked is a book about scars, emotional and physical, and the love it takes to heal the pain.

Free for All

Tag Archives: genre

Suspend Disbelief! Magical Realism!

Summer Reading: Staff Picks!

Happy Birthday, Jules Verne!

Genre Talk: Be still, my heart….

The Romance Garden!

"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." ~Frederick Douglass