The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker

The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic is an enjoyable, comic fantasy. During a particularly low point in her life, Graduate student, Nora Fischer, finds herself accidentally transported to a magical world.

Among the Faitoren, Nora feels happy and loved but this is just an illusion. The Faitoren use magic to con and betray her. Fortunately, she is rescued by Aruendiel, a magician, and the two develop a complicated friendship.

In Aruendiel's domain and in other non-Faitoren places, women have traditional roles, much like they did in 18th-century England. Women cook, clean, bear children but aren't expected to get an education or learn magic. This leaves Nora, who is highly educated and naturally curious, in a quandary.

In addition, no one seems to know what Nora's role should be. She's not humble enough to be a servant. Conversely, she's not wealthy or well-connected enough to become a lady-at-court. Unfit for marriage in her own world, Nora finds that she is also unfit for marriage in this magical place.

Nora continually challeges the the treatment of women and rules about social status. She does this all the while studying magic and even returning the favor Areundiel once did for her. When a passage opens, however, that allows her to return to her own world, Nora once again feels conflicted. Should she return to her family or stay in this magical world where she is beginning to feel accepted?

Many questions are left unanswered in this magical adaption of Pride and Prejudice. Hopefully, Barker intends to write a sequel.

Similar titles: The Magician by Lev Grossman and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke. 

The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession

The Bookman's Tale is a literary mystery that spans centuries. As its core, the books explores the authorship of Shakespeare's plays. Most concur that Shakespeare is the single author but anti-Stratfordists claim that Francis Bacon or that Christopher Marlowe authored the plays. 

To its credit, The Bookman's Tale unmasks several additional puzzles. In the present century, Peter who is still grieving for his late wife, discovers a watercolor portrait of her in a rare book. What puzzles him is the watercolor portrait was taken during the Victorian era and it bears the initials "B.B."

A second thread, interwoven with the contemporary story, involves seventeenth century London characters.  A particularly avaricious bookseller acquires a rare edition of Pandosto--a source for Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale.

Binding these two stories together is a Victorian mystery involving the proper ownership of the Pandosto and other rare documents, some of which are cleverly forged.

A divisive feud among the Aldersons and Gardners results in animosity and vengeance. Hanging in the balance, is the Victorian era portrait of a woman brushing her hair and her mysterious connection to Peter's deceased wife.

Verdict:
The novel is tailor made for bibliophiles and mystery fans. If you like The Bookman's Tale, try Possession by A.S. Byatt.



Related books:

Byatt, A.S. Possession.

Cook, Judith. Roaring Boys: Shakespeare's Rat Pack.

Greenblatt, Stephen. Will in the World.

Bryson, Bill. Shakespeare.

New! Writing Contest.

Believe it or not, there's no entry fee.

Deadline: 7 January 2014

2013 RRofihe Trophy for an unpublished short story is now accepting entries. Minimum word count: 3,500; maximum to 5,000 words. Winner receives $500 cash and a trophy. Announcement and publication on anderbo.com.

2013 CONTEST READER: JEAN HARTIG

Jean Hartig is a writer and editor living in Brooklyn. She is former associate editor of Poets & Writers Magazine and has served on the editorial staff of A Public Space and Lumina, published by Sarah Lawrence College, where she earned her MFA.

GUIDELINES:

• Stories should be typed, double-spaced, with the author’s name, the story's title, and contact information on the first page
• Submissions must be received by January 7th, 2014
• Limit one submission per author
• Author must not have been previously published in Open City Magazine or on Anderbo
• E-mail submissions to editors@anderbo.com with RROFIHE TROPHY in the subject line
• You must submit your story-manuscript entry within the body of the e-mail—no attachments!
• There is no reading fee and all literary rights will remain with the author

CONTEST JUDGE: RICK ROFIHE

Contest Judge Rick Rofihe is the author of FATHER MUST, a collection of short stories published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. His fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Grand Street, Open City, Swink, Unsaid, and on epiphanyzine, slushpilemag, and fictionaut. His nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, The Village Voice, SPY, and The East Hampton Star, and on mrbellersneighborhood. A recipient of the Whiting Writers’ Award, he has taught MFA writing at Columbia University. He currently teaches privately in New York City, and was an advisor to the Vilcek Foundation for their 2011 prizes in the field of literature. Rick is the Editor of Anderbo.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Questions/ submissions: editors@anderbo.com

Website: http://www.anderbo.com

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.

Gaiman is a master at creating magical stories and this novel is no exception. In this sad, but enchanting story there are "fleas," "varmints," and a diabolical babysitter.

 A "flea" is a monster who embeds a path into its victims that allows it to escape from its own world. Though the boy does not realize it, imprinted on his heart is a portal. The "flea" uses him to gain access to him and his family, nearly destroying them in the process. A "varmint" is a large bird-like creature that is essentially a scavenger. 

George puts his trust in Lettie and her pond, which she calls an ocean. Together they battle the "flea" and the "varmints" that hunt them. Will Lettie's magic and the healing powers of the ocean be enough to save them?

Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt

Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt.

A car wreck nearly ruins a young photographer's life in this riveting novel. A runaway at 15, Isabelle becomes a successful photographer. She marries but never has what she yearns for--a child.
 

When her she learns her husband has been cheating on her, she runs away again. Unfortunately, Isabel's car collides with an approaching car while driving down a lonely, fog-filled backroad near Hartford.

Pictures of You offers a tantalizing mystery. What was April, the other driver, running away from? Why was her car faced in the wrong direction? Why was she standing in the middle of the road? 

Horrified that a young mother has died, Isabelle tries to make a connection with the victim's family. Slowly, as they heal, Charlie and Sam, grow to love Isabelle. Complicating matters, however, is Sam's asthma and his tendency to romanticize the ordinary. Sam is conviced that Isabelle is an angel who can help him reconnect with his deceased mother.

Pictures of You is A bittersweet story about second chances, overcoming fear, and finding love.

http://carolineleavitt.com/