The Magic Shop is a short story written by H.G. Wells. It was first published in 1903 and has since become one of Wells' most famous works of speculative fiction. The story follows a young boy who stumbles upon a magic shop while exploring the streets of London. The boy is immediately drawn to the fascinating and mysterious objects that fill the shop's shelves.
"Balances paranormal whimsy and small-town charm. it's a delight to read about someone whose powers derive in part from stories and the feelings that readers attach to them. This is a fine debut that promises more bookish fun to come." --Bookpage on Bait and Witch
The retreat center is open for its first workshop, the local café is done remodeling, and librarian and witch-in-training Josie Way is hosting her sister--and a few suspicions about the new killer on the loose. The retreat center is open for its first workshop, the local café is done remodeling, and librarian and witch-in-training Josie Way is hosting her sister--and a few suspicions about the new killer on the loose.
The boy is immediately drawn to the fascinating and mysterious objects that fill the shop's shelves. There are boxes that play beautiful music, magic mirrors that show glimpses of far-off places, and even a talking bird. The shop's owner, Mr.
Witch Upon a Star - (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries) by Angela M Sanders (Paperback)
Josie is eager to show off Wilfred's delights to her visiting sister, Jean--even though Josie must conceal her magic from her. In any case, Jean is excited to attend Cookie Masterson's trademark Ready-Set-Go! workshop on becoming a life coach. Then there's the grand reopening of Darla's Cafe, where the doors are thrown open to reveal . . . a dead man, stabbed in the back. That was definitely not on the revamped menu. Even more worrisome, the sheriff receives a report of a fresh corpse at the retreat center. Maybe murder isn't so uncommon in Wilfred anymore, but two unfamiliar bodies within an hour certainly is! Josie's willing to let law enforcement take the lead--after all, she's gotten into some trouble from the hints the library's spellbound books keep feeding her about the patrons. But when her sister receives the killer's chilling calling card, she'll use everything within her otherworldly powers to divine just who in town has homicide as his new slogan . . .--Amazon.
Book Synopsis
Set in small-town Oregon, the latest in the witty, charming Witch Way Librarian series from acclaimed author Angela M. Sanders features a spellbinding librarian, a clever cat familiar, an unfortunately non-magical sister --and of course, murder. The perfect read for fans of Bailey Cates, Adele Abbott, Juliet Blackwell, and all mystery lovers with a taste for the witchy.
Big things are happening in small-town Wilfred, Oregon! The retreat center is open for its first workshop, the local café is done remodeling, and librarian and witch-in-training Josie Way is hosting her sister--and a few suspicions about the new killer on the loose . . .
Josie is eager to show off Wilfred's delights to her visiting sister, Jean--even though Josie must conceal her magic from her. In any case, Jean is excited to attend Cookie Masterson's trademark "Ready-Set-Go!" workshop on becoming a life coach. Then there's the grand reopening of Darla's Café, where the doors are thrown open to reveal . . . a dead man, stabbed in the back. That was definitely not on the revamped menu.
Even more worrisome, the sheriff receives a report of a fresh corpse at the retreat center. Maybe murder isn't so uncommon in Wilfred anymore, but two unfamiliar bodies within an hour certainly is! Josie's willing to let law enforcement take the lead--after all, she's gotten into some trouble from the hints the library's spellbound books keep feeding her about the patrons. But when her sister receives the killer's chilling calling card, she'll use everything within her otherworldly powers to divine just who in town has homicide as his new slogan . . .
Review Quotes
Praise for the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries:
"Red herrings galore compete with witchy library lore in an often humorous mystery." --Kirkus Reviews on Witch and Famous
"This cozy mystery has the right balance of suspense and quirky, small-town humor." --Library Journal on Seven-Year Witch
"Balances paranormal whimsy and small-town charm. it's a delight to read about someone whose powers derive in part from stories and the feelings that readers attach to them. This is a fine debut that promises more bookish fun to come." --Bookpage on Bait and Witch
"Zippy and fun, with just enough ambiance to satisfy readers seeking spooks and humor." --Kirkus Reviews on Bait and Witch
"A really lovely follow-up to the Witch Way Librarian Mystery series debut. A solid treat." --Criminal Element on Seven-Year Witch
"Full of false leads and truly surprising reveals, this terrifically plotted mystery is hard to put down." --BookPage on Seven-Year Witch
"The perfect cozy for fans of the paranormal genre as well as those readers who love a cozy with a library setting." --Fresh Fiction on Seven-Year Witch
About the Author
Angela M. Sanders is the author of the bestselling Joanna Hayworth Vintage Clothing Mysteries, the Witch Way Librarian Mystery series, The Booster Club Capers, and the Kite Shop Mysteries, written under the name Clover Tate. In addition to cozy mysteries, she regularly writes articles on food, vintage clothing, personalities and perfume for Portland Monthly, Now Smell This, the French perfume magazine Nez, and various food magazines. A former congressional investigator, she now writes full-time and is a member of Novelists, Inc., International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Angela has two cats--one of whom is black of course--a witch's freckle in her left eye, and learned to read tarot cards from a pagan priestess. She lives in Portland, Oregon and can be found online at AngelaMSanders.com.
Bensington, is an enigmatic figure who seems to possess a deep understanding of the supernatural. As the boy explores the magic shop further, he becomes increasingly enthralled by its wonders. He is especially fascinated by a white bundle in the corner of the shop that Mr. Bensington calls the "Palace of Beautiful Thoughts." This bundle is said to contain a collection of dreams and visions that can transport a person to another realm. Unable to resist the allure of the Palace of Beautiful Thoughts, the boy convinces Mr. Bensington to let him experience its wonders. He is given a small, glass globe filled with a luminous liquid and instructed to break it when he is ready to enter the realm of dreams. As soon as the boy breaks the globe, he is consumed by a bright light and finds himself in a fantastical world. He encounters strange creatures and witnesses incredible feats of magic. However, the boy soon realizes that this world is not as wondrous as it initially seemed. The dreams and visions within the Globe of Future Concentrated Intelligences can be both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Overwhelmed by the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the dreams, the boy desperately tries to find his way back to reality. He pleads with Mr. Bensington to help him escape the realm of dreams, and the shopkeeper manages to guide him out just in time. As the boy leaves the magic shop, he reflects on his experience and realizes the power and danger of dreams. He has gained a newfound appreciation for the world of the imagination but also a respect for its potential to overwhelm and deceive. In The Magic Shop, H.G. Wells explores themes of curiosity, imagination, and the pursuit of the extraordinary. Through the boy's journey into the realm of dreams, Wells reminds us of the importance of grounding ourselves in reality and recognizing the limitations of the magical and fantastical..
Reviews for "Magical Realism in H.G. Wells' "The Magic Shop"
1. John - 2 stars - While I had high hopes for "The Magic Shop" by H.G. Weols, I was ultimately disappointed. The storyline seemed interesting, but I found the writing to be lacking. The characters were not well-developed and the dialogue felt forced. Additionally, the pacing was slow and I found myself losing interest halfway through the book. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to others.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "The Magic Shop" by H.G. Weols was a complete letdown. The concept had so much potential, but the execution was poor. The plot was predictable, and I could see every twist and turn coming from a mile away. The writing style was also not to my liking - it was overly descriptive and dragged on, making it difficult to engage with the story. I regret spending my time on this book and wouldn't suggest it to anyone looking for a captivating read.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I had heard great things about "The Magic Shop" by H.G. Weols, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The plot lacked originality and felt cliché. The characters were one-dimensional, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The book also suffered from poor editing, with multiple grammar and punctuation errors. Overall, I found the book to be mediocre at best and was left feeling underwhelmed.
4. Emily - 1 star - "The Magic Shop" by H.G. Weols was a complete waste of my time. The writing was amateurish and lacked depth. The dialogue felt stilted and unnatural, making it difficult for me to immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the pacing was off, with certain scenes dragging on while others felt rushed. I found myself skimming through pages just to finish the book. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone who values well-written and engaging literature.
5. David - 2 stars - Although "The Magic Shop" by H.G. Weols had an interesting premise, I was disappointed by the execution. The writing style was choppy and awkward, with inconsistent pacing throughout the book. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. Furthermore, the plot felt disjointed and lacked cohesiveness. While it had potential, the book ultimately fell short and left me unsatisfied.