Magic Street
I just finished Magic Street by Orson Scott Card. His science-fiction classic Ender's Game is easily one of my top five novels of that genre, and I was interested in reading something completely different by him. Completely different it was. Magic Street is the story of Oberon, Puck and Titania as faeries, interfering with the mortal world as an infant black child named Mack Street is created, who can feel others' deepest wishes in his dreams. The story takes place over his childhood, and when he lets his dreams reach completion, the person's wish comes true, but in a horrible way (for example, a girl who wishes that she could swim all of the time, getting transported to the inside of her parents' waterbed).
I'm finding it difficult to accurately describe this novel, or even if I liked it all that much. I've read fantasy novels, and science fiction novels, but not anything like this before: set in modern times, with modern culture, and magical faeries fighting over the mortals. It strikes somewhat new ground in that the hero of the book is African-American. It would not be a stretch to claim that the novel has three heroes, all of whom are African-American. Card's acknowledgement in the back of the novel was as interesting to read as the story itself, as he explains how he came to write this novel while being white himself.
Were there any lessons to be learned regarding race issues in this novel? I don't think so, or they were hidden well, or I just glossed over them trying to get into the story. I really couldn't get into the story, unfortunately. It wasn't difficult to finish, but it's not one I'm likely to recommend that strongly to others.
I think it's time for something non-fiction.
I'm finding it difficult to accurately describe this novel, or even if I liked it all that much. I've read fantasy novels, and science fiction novels, but not anything like this before: set in modern times, with modern culture, and magical faeries fighting over the mortals. It strikes somewhat new ground in that the hero of the book is African-American. It would not be a stretch to claim that the novel has three heroes, all of whom are African-American. Card's acknowledgement in the back of the novel was as interesting to read as the story itself, as he explains how he came to write this novel while being white himself.
Were there any lessons to be learned regarding race issues in this novel? I don't think so, or they were hidden well, or I just glossed over them trying to get into the story. I really couldn't get into the story, unfortunately. It wasn't difficult to finish, but it's not one I'm likely to recommend that strongly to others.
I think it's time for something non-fiction.
posted by Dagrims @ 4:41 PM
1 Comments:
At 3:03 PM, August 09, 2006,
Anonymous said…
I think it's admirable that you have the discipline to finish reading a book of which you are not particularly fond. I will do that with movies, but haven't been able to slog through a book that takes more than a chapter to hold my interest (after the initial reading of the dust jacket).
There have been occasions, however, when I put a book down because I couldn't "get into it" only to pick it up at a later date and find myself able to breeze right through it. Kind of gives me an additional reason to buy my books rather then check them out of the library.
You know I think books are as vital as water. I think it is commendable that you've made a "list". Personally, I would find a reading list counterproductive only because my interest in various subjects is so mercurial, and because I'd eventually feel guilty for neglecting my "list".
I still recommend "The Jester" by Patterson (another one of those out of the genre books). I believe he was very successful with that effort. (Yes, and I want you to read it because I really want to know what you think of it.)
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