Lucky charms are a popular cereal brand that is known for its magical marshmallows. These colorful and whimsical marshmallows come in various shapes, including hearts, moons, stars, and clovers. They are often referred to as lucky charms because they are said to bring good luck to those who consume them. The magical marshmallows are a unique feature of Lucky Charms and have become a beloved part of the cereal's identity. Children and adults alike enjoy searching through the box of cereal to find the marshmallows and savoring them in each spoonful. The marshmallows not only add a pop of color and flavor to the cereal but also add an element of fun and excitement to breakfast time.
The marshmallows not only add a pop of color and flavor to the cereal but also add an element of fun and excitement to breakfast time. Many people believe that the lucky charms can bring them good fortune throughout the day, making the cereal a popular choice for those seeking a bit of extra luck. The magical marshmallows have become so iconic that they have inspired various spin-off products and merchandise.
The Wych Elm by Tana French review – a forensic examination of privilege
T he screenwriter Steven Moffat once said that his hit show Sherlock was “not a crime drama, but a drama about a man who solves crimes”. The distinction would work well for Tana French’s acclaimed series of novels featuring the fictional Dublin murder squad (soon to be a TV series, scripted by Sarah Phelps). It’s a source of bafflement to me that French has not yet been nominated for a major literary award, and I can’t help feeling that she almost certainly would have been if her characters weren’t detectives. Her writing is poetic and scalpel-sharp, rich in allusions to literature, myth, history and contemporary politics; her exploration of character is full of insight. But there are murders to be solved, so her books – though garlanded with critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic – have tended to be labelled as genre fiction.
French’s first standalone novel, The Wych Elm, might change that. Leaving the murder squad behind, she flips the perspective of a police procedural to regard the process from the other side, through a narrator who is, at various points, potential victim, suspect and witness. In the process, she carries out a forensic, and timely, examination of the nature of privilege and empathy.
Toby Hennessy is in his late 20s, good-looking, with a beautiful girlfriend and a job in art PR. His charmed life is built on the solid foundation of an affluent, middle-class Dublin family and an expensive education. Toby is so shaped by advantages that he barely notices; in the opening sentence he describes himself as “basically, a lucky person”. Then his luck runs out. During a break-in at his flat, he is beaten and left for dead. A head injury leaves him physically and mentally impaired. He recovers enough to function, but his memory is patchy, and his sense of himself and his place in the world has shattered; he has pitched from alpha male to object of pity.
Tana French: ‘Nobody with imagination should commit a crime. You wouldn't handle the stress' Read moreYou’d think this would be inciting incident enough for a novel, but there are more bombshells in store for Toby: his beloved Uncle Hugo has inoperable brain cancer. Since Toby is not fit for work, it is decided by his extended family that he should help Hugo by moving into the grand old family home where he and his cousins spent childhood summers and where Hugo now lives alone: “The Ivy House, twilight hide-and-seek among the moths and the silver birches, wild-strawberry picnics and gingerbread Christmases, endless teenage parties with everyone lying on the grass gazing up at the stars…”
For a few weeks Toby, his girlfriend, Melissa, and Hugo settle into a peaceful, self-contained routine, until this, too, is upended by the discovery of a skull in the old wych elm in the garden, and a decade-old secret is thrust into the light. The biggest problem for Toby is that his injury makes him an unreliable narrator, even to himself. He no longer knows whether he can trust his memories of the events of that summer 10 years earlier, and he is no more certain of the version told him by his cousins Leon and Susanna.
French has said in interviews that she is most interested in mysteries where “whodunnit” is not the biggest question, and The Wych Elm foregrounds this idea. While there is a murderer to be uncovered, her main preoccupation is the bigger mystery of the self, and how our fixed sense of who we are can be so easily unmoored by events. “My own life blurred and smeared in front of my eyes; my outlines had been scrubbed out of existence (and how easily it had been done, how casually, one absent swipe in passing) so that I bled away at every margin into the world.”
There is little action in the novel, except at the beginning and end; most of the plot unfolds through dialogue, which is one of French’s greatest strengths. She has always had a pitch-perfect ear for the shifting power dynamics in conversation, particularly the police interrogation. Here, Toby is both questioner and questioned, and the nuances of that power play are so cleverly captured that the reader’s allegiance shifts constantly in response. The narrative is slower than in the procedural novels, but the rewards are greater; the big questions linger in the mind long after the superficial ones are resolved. The Wych Elm should cement French’s place in the first rank of literary novelists.
The Wych Elm by Tana French is published by Viking (£14.99). To order a copy go to guardianbookshop.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £15, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99
French has said in interviews that she is most interested in mysteries where “whodunnit” is not the biggest question, and The Wych Elm foregrounds this idea. While there is a murderer to be uncovered, her main preoccupation is the bigger mystery of the self, and how our fixed sense of who we are can be so easily unmoored by events. “My own life blurred and smeared in front of my eyes; my outlines had been scrubbed out of existence (and how easily it had been done, how casually, one absent swipe in passing) so that I bled away at every margin into the world.”
From limited-edition marshmallow-only boxes to clothing and accessories featuring the marshmallow shapes, Lucky Charms has created a whole world around these special marshmallows. While some may view the magical marshmallows as just a marketing ploy, there is no denying the joy and excitement they bring to those who enjoy them. Whether it's the belief in their luck-bringing abilities or simply the joy of eating colorful and tasty marshmallows, Lucky Charms and its magical marshmallows have carved a special place in the hearts of cereal lovers everywhere..
Reviews for "The Superstition of Lucky Charms: Do the Marshmallows Really Bring Good Luck?"
1. Megan - 1 star
I was extremely disappointed with Lucky Charms' magical marshmallows. They were nothing more than artificially flavored sugar bombs, lacking any depth or flavor. The marshmallows were ridiculously sugary and had an artificial, almost chemical-like taste. The colors looked vibrant and fun, but the taste was a complete letdown. I expected more from a brand like Lucky Charms, but these marshmallows were a major disappointment.
2. Jake - 2 stars
I tried the magical marshmallows from Lucky Charms and I have to say, they did not live up to the hype. While the shapes were cute and whimsical, the taste was lackluster. The marshmallows were overly sweet and lacked any real flavor. They tasted more like a mouthful of sugar than anything else. I was expecting a magical experience with these marshmallows, but all I got was a sugar rush and disappointment.
3. Emily - 2 stars
As a fan of Lucky Charms cereal, I was excited to try their magical marshmallows. However, I was left underwhelmed by the taste. The marshmallows were overly sweet and had a strange aftertaste. They lacked the balanced flavor profile that I usually enjoy in Lucky Charms. The texture was also disappointing, as the marshmallows were slightly hard and lacked the desired softness. Overall, I would not recommend the magical marshmallows to anyone looking for a satisfying cereal experience.
4. Michael - 1 star
I couldn't help but be disappointed with Lucky Charms' magical marshmallows. The taste was far too artificial and lacked any real depth of flavor. The marshmallows were so sugary that they overwhelmed the taste of the cereal and left an unpleasant aftertaste. I expected more creativity and innovation from Lucky Charms, but the magical marshmallows fell flat for me. I will not be purchasing them again.