I know that I do; I believe that we all have magic within ourselves that we practice every single day in some way, whether it is in our relationships, through our friendships, in our families, through our work and in so much more…wouldn't the world seem a harsher place if there was no such thing as magic?
The quote that I have used as the title for this post comes from Roald Dahl, a man who was a firm believer in all things magic, and, when I was reading his stories as a child, made me feel as though I could do anything I wished to. As an adult, I have read many books that reinforce this message. The three that I am going to focus on today are: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J K Rowling, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, and, Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult.
"We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are." J K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Usually my intention with a post is to hopefully sell a book so well that it will inspire other readers to give it a try…with the Harry Potter books I have no doubt that there is no need for me to give it the hard sell, surely there won't be anyone who hasn't heard of the Harry Potter series?! I was a bit of a latecomer to this, and it only came to my attention when I caught a bit of the film on TV (yes, I broke my own rule, and watched the film before reading the book!). After this, I became more tuned into the hype, and soon became 'that person' who was waiting outside Woolworths at midnight to get their copy of the latest book, in order for me to read it through the night to avoid finding out the ending through someone else!
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first book in the series; when we first meet Harry he is living with his aunt, uncle and cousin, and treated as somewhat of a slave and dogsbody by them. His living quarters are limited primarily to the cupboard under the stairs, and I think it's fair to say his quality of life is poor. As well as those around him, Harry is aware that there is something different about him, a power within him that enables him to make things happen. As his eleventh birthday draws near, letters start to persistently arrive for Harry, and in an attempt by his uncle to thwart them from Harry, the family are taken to stay at a deserted island where it is believed that the letters will not reach him. However, the power of magic should not be underestimated! As the clock strikes midnight on Harry's birthday, the legend that is Hagrid makes a forceful appearance to announce 'You're a wizard Harry!' Harry finally receives his letter, which contains the exciting news that Harry is due to start school at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…now the fun begins and we are introduced to the wonderful world of Hogwarts! We slowly find out about Harry's past, and the events that have led him to this point. And of course, we meet his two sidekicks Ron (my absolute favourite!) and Hermoine. Each time I revisit the Harry Potter books, I am amazed by J K Rowling's incredible imagination; the names, the spells, the plot lines; truly outstanding.
Please do not rely on the films alone; yes, they are excellent adaptations, but as is always the case, so much of the detail is lost in translation.
"Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic."Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the first in a trilogy, and is probably my favourite of the three books. At the start we meet Karou, a seemingly typical art student in Prague, juggling her studies with her relationships. However, we soon realise that an element of Karou's life is shrouded in mystery, with her regularly disappearing to run secret errands for Brimstone, who raised Karou from a baby. Brimstone, and the others who live in his workshop and shared the upbringing of Karou, are chimera; half human, half beast. The workshop in which Karou was brought up is situated on a site from which both the human world as we know it, and the world of the chimera, Eretz, can be accessed. There are a number of portal doors across the world through which entry can be gained.
So, what happens at Brimstone's workshop, and how does this link to the errands that Karou runs for him, I hear you cry! Well, Brimstone is able to use teeth to rebuild new bodies for souls of the chimera to be reincarnated…enter Karou, who is required to collect teeth from the human world to enable Brimstone to continue his craft.
As you would expect in a fantasy novel of this kind, the chimera have an enemy in the form of the seraphim; angels. Karou gets drawn into the war when the seraphim close down the portals from the human world to Eretz, and Karou is no longer able to access Brimstone's workshop and her beloved chimera family.
Whilst Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a fantasy novel, it explores many themes that we can all relate to in everyday life; loyalty, war, treachery, forbidden love, and of course, magic! The prose is captivating, and Karou's story completely captured me, a true heroine. The fact that it is set against the backdrop of Prague, with its great culture, art and heritage adds to the magic, mystery and romance.
I read recently that Universal Pictures have acquired the rights to make a film adaptation; I can't wait to see what they do with it. As always, I would recommend reading the book first, not waiting for the film!
"I understood the need for miracles - they kept reality from paralysing you."Jodi Picoult, Change of Heart
It is actually quite surprising that I haven't featured a Jodi Picoult book before now; she is one of my favourite writers, always tackling complex and sensitive issues, enabling the reader to consider them from a number of different perspectives. There are many of her books that will stay with me, however the one that stands out is Change of Heart, so much so that I can remember when and where I was when I finished it… it was on my 26th birthday whilst staying in a caravan in Llangennith...Rachael Jones, you may well remember how distraught I was at the end!
At the start of the novel, we learn that Shay Bourne is facing the death penalty after being convicted of two counts of capital murder of police officer Kurt Nealon and his young daughter Elizabeth, leaving his pregnant wife June alone. Eleven years have passed since his sentence; Shay is discussing with his prison mate that he wishes to donate his heart to a young girl he has seen on the news, who has a terminal heart condition. We soon learn that the girl in question, Claire, is the daughter of June and Kurt Nealon.
When Shay's heart is confirmed to be a perfect match for Claire, the book considers the perspectives of all of those involved in relation to law, medicine, religion and ethics. Throw in the added element that Shay appears to be able to perform miracles from which a media frenzy ensues, with him being hailed as a religious figure. This serves to add to the controversy and the torment that June is going through, in accepting the heart of a murderer (who has taken the life of her husband and eldest daughter) in order to enable her child to live. As is usually the case, we learn that all is not as it seems, and there is a mammoth twist at the end…I won't spoil it for you!
So, what did I take away from each of these books? I believe that like Harry, we all have a power within ourselves which enables us to make things happen…like Karou, there may be times when we feel as though all is lost, however with hope and determination we can create our own magic and destiny…and, in the case of Shay, sometimes we all need to believe in something to get us through the darker times.
I believe in magic, do you?
