Saturday, March 05, 2011

Friendly Power

As I mentioned yesterday (just before I jinxed my good news, which turned out to be bad news, which serves me right) I have two books to talk about, and the first is 100% Charlene Teglia's fault. I say this because she sent me Garden Spells, Sarah Addison Allen's debut novel, which otherwise would not have been touched by any ten-foot pole I own.

I am not a fan of magic stories. A) I don't believe in magic and B) most of the time I find it annoying in fiction. Unless the magic is extremely well-written, logical to the world-building and therefore believable (i.e. anything written by Patricia Briggs, Rob Thurman, Marjorie M. Liu, who are masters at this) reading it for me is exactly like watching porn -- what is supposed to excite just ends up looking fake and silly and rather pathetic.

Much to my dismay Ms. Allen did not write the porn-variety kind of magic novel, and now I have to dine on my chapeau (again.) Garden Spells is actually about more than just magic in the real world, though, and tells the story of the Waverly family, a bunch of oddly-gifted characters who are trying (and not trying) to cope with themselves, the past and life in general. They are alternately helped and hindered by their garden, which grows very special flowers, herbs and one very eccentric apple tree with Biblical powers. This all set in a small town in North Carolina populated by the most wonderful assortment of characters I've read in a long time.

I didn't want to like this book, so to end up falling in love with it really singed my southern regions. Who doesn't hate it when they're wrong? But it's worth the pain, because Garden Spells was exactly the book I needed to read right now. I think that makes Charlene psychic, but that doesn't surprise me. Ms. Allen's debut novel does not read at all like a debut novel, and it's the kind of book you end up sharing with everyone you know, even people who don't like to read, so it can work its magic on them. This is a novel that will rejuvenate your faith in great books, and God, we all need that kind of real magic in our lives.

As always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, name an author or title who you think makes something fantastic believable (or if you're still a skeptic, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Monday, March 7, 2011. I will draw five names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners an unsigned hardcover copy of Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something from PBW in the past.

53 comments:

  1. Ilona Andrews is pretty good at making magic believable. :-) The Edge series is especially good.

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  2. Anonymous9:28 AM

    Since I LOVE your books and trust your taste in books please add my name to the hat! :)
    Tara B

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  3. I really like Jim Butcher's Dresden series. I do agree with Anonymous; I'll put my faith in any of your recommendations.

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  4. The first series to come to mind is the Eragon books. I opened that one prepared not to believe, but it wasn't long before I was hooked.

    Garden Spells sounds enchanting. Don't you love it when you're pleasantly surprised?

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  5. I'm reading THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman right now. All of a sudden, ghosts seem a normal part of everyday life, and I don't even believe in ghosts.

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  6. The magic in Kami Garcia + Margaret Stohl's books is believable in their universe. Thank you for the contest!

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  7. Garth Nix does a pretty nice job of describing the whole death/afterlife/necromancy issue in his books. I enjoyed Sabriel a lot because of this, though I'm inclined to flights of fancy anyway, so magical systems aren't too much of a stretch for me.

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  8. I think Seanan McGuire does an excellent job of making the fantastic believable in her October (Toby) Daye series. =o)

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  9. Anonymous10:38 AM

    Don't add my name to the hat. I just wanted to post and say I do so enjoy the books you recommend.
    Thanks,
    Ron

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  10. I, too believed in Neil Gaiman's magic in THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Alice Hoffman works some pretty good magic, too. Thanks for the contest, Lynn!

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  11. Shana Abe is pretty good at it.
    Also remember a short by Liu called "Minotaur In Stone", that virtually staggered me.

    (And so sorry to hear about the bad news...watch, something good's coming right around the corner!).

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  12. Vicki L.11:31 AM

    Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series

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  13. Can't think of anything right now, but throwing my name in because that is a book I normally wouldn't pick up either : )

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  14. I read Garden Spells a few years ago and totally loved it. Addison's next book, The Sugar Queen, was equally wonderful.

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  15. Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury was a novel that was memorable and magical for me.

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  16. I am a skeptic, and do not believe in "real magic", but I find the stories of Jim Butcher and Simon R. Green enjoyable from a "magic in the story" stand point.

    JonathanB

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  17. So glad the book worked its magic on you, too! It did wonders for my head. (Not entering, just commenting)

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  18. A Walk Through a Window transported me to another time and place. SOmething that I appreciate.

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  19. I love the world-building and magic of Karen Marie Moning's work (especially the Fever series).

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  20. Clairecherven1:36 PM

    I, too, look to your recommendations and "your library" for new ideas for my library. Please add my name to the hat; in these hard times, I spend time in the local library and any giveaways that take me to fantasy places.

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  21. Don't enter me in the contest, but I see that the book's available at my library (it's from 2007), so I'll pick it up there.

    And "Graveyard Book" is fabulous. Neil did bookstore readings of all the chapters and put it up on his website, and they're delightful and eventually heart-breaking in a good way, because you wanted to know more.

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  22. Garden Spells sounds like a interesting book to read. I would love to check it out. I am interested in stories that deals with Biblical themes,or have connections to Biblical events.

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  23. I'll have to check this one out as your recommendations are right up my alley :) Tossing my name in the hat...thanks.

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  24. I enjoyed Maria V. Snyder's trilogy beginning with Poison Study; the issues with magic became part of the plot in a real sense.

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  25. Neil Gaiman - American Gods and Graveyard Book

    J.K. Rowling - who doesn't want a wand to get the dinner done and house cleaned?

    George R. R. Martin's - A Song of Fire and Ice Series (can't wait to get the next book)

    Thanks again for the recommendation. And thanks Charlene for sharing with Lyn!

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  26. Anonymous8:31 PM

    I really enjoyed the Maria V. Snyder's books. I like the trilogy and the books that went off on the trilogy too. Great Magic books. So toss my name into the hat I would like to ready another magic book. Thanks Lauraine D.

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  27. Hugs on the bad news. May it turn to good news soon.

    Umm, well, someone already mentioned Ilona Andrews, so how about Wen Spencer. I loved her SF Ukiah Oregon series, but Tinker (urban fantasy sf?) plays with dimensional beings and magic crossed with a mechanical genius who figures things out on the page :).

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  28. Anonymous10:08 PM

    Throwing my name into the hat.

    Sari from MI

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  29. Joann Harris' Chocolat is one of my magical realism faves.

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  30. One word: Rowling. :)

    Sounds a really great book...I love novels that are themed around fantasy/magic. Awesome giveaway! Best of luck to all entrants.

    ~TRA

    http://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com

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  31. I agree Patricia Briggs is great at it and another favorite of mine is Ilona Andrews. Her edge books rocks.

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  32. Laurell K. Hamilton.

    Though her books have gone a bit downhill, I've been a loyal fan since the beginning. Her series was the first I can really remember grabbing me and never letting go. I will follow her characters to the end, no matter what. The world she built feels real to me when I read her novels. And I love it.

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  33. Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, although from something you said once about footnotes, I suspect you don't or may not like it.

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  34. amethyst1:12 AM

    Alisson Croggon's "Pellinor Quartet" and Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"

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  35. I loved LK Hamilton's early Anita Blake books.

    JK Rowling.

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  36. Anytime another writer gushes about a book, it's got to be good. Throwing my name in the hat.

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  37. Mark Chadbourn's Age of Misrule series. Magic and mythology interwoven with modern British life.

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  38. I highly recommend Ms. Allen's books. I have read all three and have them on my keeper shelf. They are just wonderful. There is a fourth book coming out this spring. No need to put me in the hat.

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  39. I don't know that other than Mary Stewart's Merlin that I've spent much time in books with real magic. I don't know that they interested me much. Then again, I suppose it depends on what one considers magic. Moning's Highlanders are druids, Kenyon's women are a variety of things including witches, but the "magic" in that case isn't central to the story so, I guess I'd have to say, probably not. But it looks like I need to!

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  40. Anonymous6:21 PM

    I just read Patrick Rothfus' The Name of the Wind, which I highly recommend. -- Julia

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  41. Much to my surprise, I did enjoy this when I read it. I think there is a sequel but I haven't tried to read it yet.

    I love Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels urban fantasy series. And good worldbuilding wtih Magic, try Anne Bishop's Black Jewels series. It is in the Dark Fantasy genre. The first book is the darkest. But the series is well worth reading.

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  42. I loved Alison Sinclair's novel Darkborn. It features magic and a bit of a nod toward steampunk.

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  43. I'm tossing my name into the hat, mostly because I cannot think clearly (it's so late!). Please let me make it clear: I'm not a skeptic. No, I don't believe in magic, but I find it every time I open a book.
    Lynn, it's always a pleasure to read you, you sold me two books tonight!

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  44. This isn't another throw in the hat, but I just remembered another author I had to recommend. The author is Joan Aiken and her short stories in particular, are wonderful magical-real stories. These are some of her short story collections I enjoyed: A Necklace of Raindrops, A Harp of Fishbones, All You've Ever Wanted, The Kingdom Under the Sea.

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  45. Jim Butcher does a great job making magic, and magically inclined creatures, believable. Love the Dresden Files!

    -Di

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  46. bluebamboo7:42 AM

    It's not high fantasy, but Shanna Swendson's Enchanted Inc. series does this for me. I totally buy even the smallest magical aspects, plus the skillful corporate spin on it all.

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  47. Anonymous8:26 AM

    Lynn,
    I like Tate Hallaway's Garnet Lacey books. I have a good friend who is Wiccan and she approves of these books also! Take care!
    Tami
    Jacksonville

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  48. I've always liked the Runelord series by David Farland, not so much because the magic is believable, but because it comes with such a price.

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  49. Okay, now you have me interested ....and thanks for reminding me to pick out books that i wouldn't ordinarily be interested in from time to time...

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  50. I find most of Elizabeth Moon's fantasies believable, she is a wonderful worldbuilder. Especially her Pakennarion books.

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  51. Janna3:35 PM

    Toss my name in the hat please! Marion Zimmer Bradleys thick fantasy novels always left me feeling as if the magic of her books were just as much a part of the real world. The magic is never easy or simple, it is rough, difficult to conjure and more a part of the setting than an important element of the story.

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  52. I like Alice Hoffman's books, especially Practical Magic for a taste of the "fantastic believable." Tossing my name in the hat for this interesting book! :)

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  53. My name in the hat, please - and I find Juliet Marillier's fantastic elements completely believable :)

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