At first, she claims to remember nothing, and rumor animates Root—an isolated settlement in the strange wilderness of colonial Floria. Benjamin Knox, the town doctor, attends to her recovery and learns her name is Molly. As the town inspects its spirited new inhabitant, she encounters a world teeming with wonders and oddities. She also hears of the Maimers, masked thieves who terrorize the surrounding woods.
As dark forces encircle the town, the truth of Molly's past spills into the present: a desperate voyage; a genius brother; a tragedy she hasn't fully escaped. Molly and Tom must then decide between surviving apart or risking everything together. Dennis Mahoney's Bell Weather is an otherworldly and kinetic story that blends history and fantasy, mystery and adventure to mesmerizing effect. (Goodreads)
I haven't read anything in the magical realism genre in quite a while, and this felt pretty close. I reflected several times that this novel had a One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez feel to it. The characters were well fleshed out and interesting, though I'll admit to not feeling terribly connected to them. Molly kind of irked me, as some of her behavior felt over the top. Tom was interesting, and I would have probably enjoyed reading the entire novel about just him. It's funny how that happens--being drawn to one character and not the rest. Otherwise, the novel was well written and set up, though there were some slow parts and I did feel as drawn into it as I would have liked. I guess I would say it's just not my kind of book.
Do you enjoy magical realism? Read anything in the genre lately?
I love that cover, the tree is so pretty. I haven't read anything in that category for awhile...I don't think anyway! Eh, brain's mush this morning. =)
ReplyDeleteThe cover is very pretty.
DeleteHmm. It is hard to make all characters likable and connect-able (Is that a word? Well, I'm making it one. Ha-ha), but it isn't good to have a major character that readers have trouble connecting with. I've been told that even the antagonist needs to have that pull. The readers might not like him/her, but they need to believe the character. So hard to do!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've read anything in this genre, unless you count Milayna as falling in it. I don't really see that, but others might. I have to admit, though, this isn't my "go to" genre.
Michelle :)
Good review!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if magical realism counts, but the last one I read featuring magic was a book by Becky Wallace, called The Storyspinner. I liked it.
Magical realism? I haven't heard of that genre!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy magical realism. I've felt a lot for certain characters and not others, although going into a book I hope to connect with all of them.
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered what magical realism was. This sounds awesome and the cover's gorgeous. :)
ReplyDeletesounds mysterious and I like the green cover a lot!
ReplyDeleteThis could be a good addition to my reading list. :)
ReplyDelete