Magic for Beginners is a collection of short stories written by Kelly Link. These stories explore various themes such as love, loss, and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy. One of the standout stories in the collection is the titular story, "Magic for Beginners." It follows a group of teenagers who are obsessed with a mysterious television show called "The Library." The show is aired at unpredictable times, and its storyline is constantly shifting, making it difficult to follow. However, the teenagers are captivated by the show and desperately try to unravel its secrets.
Kelly Link’s engaging and funny second collection — call it kitchen-sink magical realism — riffs on haunted convenience stores, husbands and wives, rabbits, zombies, weekly apocalyptic poker parties, witches, superheroes, marriage, and cannons — and includes several new stories. Link is an original voice: no one else writes quite like this.
But when I came back to it and and reread this story for the first time, the first sentence of the second paragraph was almost a shock In one episode of The Library , a boy named Jeremy Mars, fifteen years old, sits on the roof of his house in Plantagenet, Vermont. Audrey Niffenegger These exquisite stories mix the aggravations and epiphanies of everyday life with the stuff that legends, dreams and nightmares are made of.
However, the teenagers are captivated by the show and desperately try to unravel its secrets. In another story, "The Faery Handbag," a young girl named Genevieve inherits a magical handbag from her grandmother. The handbag is capable of containing an entire mythical world inside it, including a lake inhabited by a friendly Loch-Ness-like creature.
Magic for Beginners
Genevieve's journey with the handbag leads her to discover family secrets and confront the complexities of her own identity. Kelly Link's writing style is imaginative and thought-provoking. She effortlessly weaves together elements of fantasy and reality, blurring the boundaries between the two. Her characters are relatable, and the stories resonate with readers emotionally. Link's prose is lyrical and evocative, creating vivid imagery that transports readers to surreal and captivating worlds. One of the strengths of Magic for Beginners is its ability to explore complex themes through the lens of fantasy. Link delves into topics such as adolescence, family dynamics, and the challenges of navigating relationships. The stories are often bittersweet, offering a mix of hope and melancholy. Overall, Magic for Beginners is a mesmerizing collection of stories that pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling. Link's unique blend of fantasy and reality, combined with her striking prose, makes this collection a must-read for fans of speculative fiction. Whether you are new to the world of magic or a seasoned enthusiast, this collection will leave you enchanted..
Reviews for "Harnessing the Power of Magic: Lessons from Kelly Link's Stories for Beginners"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "Magic for Beginners" based on all the positive reviews, but I have to say that it was a huge disappointment for me. The stories felt disjointed and confusing, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the narratives. Additionally, I found the characters to be underdeveloped and unrelatable, which made it hard for me to invest in their journeys. Overall, I just couldn't connect with the book and was left feeling unsatisfied.
2. Sarah - 3/5 - I can appreciate the unique and imaginative elements in "Magic for Beginners," but I struggled with the lack of coherence throughout the collection. Each story seemed to start off promising, but then veered off into strange and nonsensical directions. This made the book a bit frustrating to read, as I couldn't fully grasp the author's intentions. While I enjoyed some individual moments and concepts, the overall execution left me feeling underwhelmed.
3. Alex - 2/5 - "Magic for Beginners" was not what I expected at all. I found the writing style to be overly complex and pretentious, making it difficult to follow the stories. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be clever, and it just didn't resonate with me. Additionally, I found the book to be unnecessarily dark and depressing, which further added to my overall disappointment. I can see why some may enjoy the unconventional nature of the stories, but it just didn't work for me.
4. Emily - 2/5 - I thought "Magic for Beginners" had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The stories lacked depth and substance, leaving me wanting more from each narrative. I also found the constant shifts in perspective and timeframes to be confusing and jarring. While I appreciate the author's creativity, I believe the execution could have been stronger to fully engage readers. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unimpressed with this collection.