Magical Realism books for Adults: Spark Your Imagination

1. The Lost Story

– The Lost Story does a really good job at implementing magical realism. This book follows two main characters who went missing as boys and are feeling the effects of it. Especially one who doesn’t remember anything from the time he was missing. And it doesn’t help that his best friend won’t tell him. well, “can’t tell him*” It’s a beautiful story of things unsaid and the bond and love between these two men.

Read my review if you want to know more but be warned there are spoilers at the verrryyy end. mainly the Q+A portion. The beginning is a indepth of the characters of the lost story.

2. The Wishing Game

This is such a heartwarming book. It explores the power of imagination and the unexpected magic in everyday situations. A teacher wants to adopt one of her students but she can’t afford to. Then she gets the opportunity of a lifetime. Her childhood favorite author is inviting her and a selected few to join him on his island. To live out as the characters of the book. And at the end of it he determines which one would win his newest book that isn’t published yet.If you don’t find yourself crying by the end of this book, I don’t think you’re human. It delves into themes of hope and dreams, making it a delightful entry into the realm of magical realism.

Check out this book review I wrote on the wishing game where I go deeper into the lovely characters that made me cry

3. The Ten Thousand Doors of January

– In the Ten Thousand doors of January, the main character discovers doors to alternate worlds.It symbolizes the power of choices and the stories we create. This book perfectly captures the essence of magical realism, inviting readers into a world where reality is interwoven with the fantastical.

4. Book of Doors

This story explores themes of fate and destiny through mystical doors that lead to various paths in life. We follow a young woman who works in a bookstore and A old man happens to die as she’s closing up. This isn’t any ordinary old man though- he is a recurring customer and friend. So when he passes and leaves her a book that allows her to open doors to literally anywhere, she wants to get to the bottom of it. Its rich narrative blends magical elements with poignant reflections on human experience, embodying the heart of magical realism.

5. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

– Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont. One day he’s in the library looking for a book when he comes across this particular one that has tales of key collectors, lovelorn prisoners and pirates. Then he sees his own story and wonders how can that be. He goes on a journey to uncover a set of clues that eventually lead him to this doorway of a different world. The starless sea immerses readers in a magical underground world.

6. The Book That Wouldn’t Burn –

The book that wouldn’t burn plays with the idea of books as living entities. Showing the power of stories to shape reality. It beautifully highlights the magical realism genre by blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern –

The night circus is a mysterious circus that only appears at night. But there’s a catch. It doesn’t come every night. This book intertwines magic and competition in a visually stunning narrative. It’s whimsical elements and rich imagery are hallmarks of magical realism, captivating readers with every turn of the page.

8. The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

– This is a historical fiction that follows tessa the main character into a supernatural underwolrd on a mission to find her brother. The blend of magic and reality creates a unique reading experience that fans of magical realism will adore.

9. The Binding by Bridget Collins –

So I’m not sure if anyone has seen the recent disney movie wish, If you haven’t- I’m not going to spoil it. But the premise of the binding reminds me of wish. in the movie there’s a semi evil king who reocrds peoples dremas and wishes and doesn’t give them back. Once they give it up they can’t remember it. It’s sort of the same thing with the binding- Except if people have painful memories they want tto forget they would go to a bookbinder and bound their stories in the pages of the book. In this imaginative tale, books have the power to bind memories and experiences. The exploration of identity and the mystical aspects of storytelling align perfectly with the themes found in magical realism.

10. The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-robinson-

This is another historical fiction of a young girl who happens to be a fortune teller in the 18th century. She searches for answers regarding her long dead mother and that opens a can of secrets that she starts to uncover.

11. Piranesi by Susana Clark-

Piranesi lives in a super large building with only one other person or so he thought. When this person, he’s called “the other” comes to Piranesi for help researching a secret piece of knowledge, thats when Piranesi realizes theres someone else living in this house.

12. Strange the Dreamer Liani Taylor-

Lazlo strange has been dreaming the same dream of this mythic lost city since he was five years old. And he somehow gets the opportunity to actually search for this lost city. And meet this blue skinned goddess who he had dreams of way before he even knew she was real. Because in this world all the gods are dead. So how is she alive. Strange the dreamer really gives me the Disney movie Atlantis: the lost empire vibes and I think that’s what inspired it. Either way the premise sounds super interesting and I’m excited to see how the Magical realism plays out.

13. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender Leslye Walton-

Ava Lavender is a sixteen year old girl who is born with the wings of a bird. She has always wanted to fit in. So she goes on this quest in an attempt to figure out what’s going on with her and why. Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.