The Greatest American "Magical Realism, Coming of age" Books of All Time

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 305 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Magical Realism

Magical realism is a literary genre that weaves elements of fantasy into realistic settings, creating a narrative that exists in a harmonious balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary. In magical realist literature, the supernatural is not presented as something to be questioned or explained, but rather as an accepted part of everyday life. Characters might encounter ghosts, engage in telepathy, or experience time in non-linear ways, yet these occurrences are treated as mundane aspects of the world. This genre often explores complex themes such as identity, time, and the interconnection of reality and illusion, blurring the lines between the conceivable and the incredible. Magical realism is rooted in Latin American literature but has become a beloved and diverse genre worldwide, offering readers a lens through which the complexities of life are viewed with wonder and a subtle touch of magic.

Coming of age

The "Coming of age" category of books typically refers to stories that explore the transition from adolescence to adulthood. These books often focus on the challenges and experiences that young people face as they navigate the complexities of growing up, including issues such as identity, relationships, sexuality, and personal growth. Coming of age stories can be set in any time period or cultural context, and may feature protagonists of any gender, race, or background. Overall, the genre offers readers a glimpse into the universal struggles and triumphs of youth, and the process of becoming a fully realized adult.

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  1. 1. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

    The novel explores the life of an African-American man, Macon "Milkman" Dead III, from birth to adulthood. Set against the backdrop of racial tension in the mid-20th century United States, it delves into his journey of self-discovery and understanding his heritage. As Macon embarks on a literal and figurative journey south to reconnect with his roots, he encounters various characters that help him understand his family history and the power of community. The narrative is deeply rooted in African-American folklore and mythology, offering a profound commentary on identity, personal freedom, and the destructive power of racism.

    The 142nd Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 2. Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich

    "Love Medicine" is a novel that explores the lives of several generations of a Native American family living on a reservation in North Dakota. The narrative is presented through a series of interconnected stories, each told from the perspective of different family members, and spans over 60 years, from 1934 to 1999. The book explores themes of love, family, identity, and the struggle between tradition and modernity. It provides a deep and poignant look into the complexities of Native American life and culture, and the challenges faced by the community.

    The 503rd Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 3. Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko

    "Ceremony" is a novel that explores the life of Tayo, a World War II veteran of mixed Laguna Pueblo and white heritage. After returning from the war, Tayo struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. The novel charts his journey towards healing, which involves embracing his Native American heritage and the traditional ceremonies of his people. Along the way, he must confront racism, poverty, and the destructive forces of Western culture, ultimately finding solace and redemption in the ancient rituals and wisdom of his ancestors.

    The 736th Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 4. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

    The novel follows the story of a young boy in New Mexico in the 1940s who navigates the challenges of adolescence, faith, and identity with the guidance of a wise old woman named Ultima. Throughout the narrative, the boy grapples with moral dilemmas, the complexities of his Mexican-American heritage, and the clash between the Catholic faith and the traditional spiritual beliefs of his ancestors. The story is a rich tapestry of folklore, spirituality, and personal growth.

    The 1247th Greatest Book of All Time
  5. 5. The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem

    The novel follows the lives of two boys growing up in Brooklyn, New York in the 1970s. Despite their racial differences, one being white and the other black, they form a deep friendship bonded by their shared interest in comic books, music and a magical ring that grants them superpowers. As they grow older, their paths diverge due to their racial and societal differences, with one becoming a successful music journalist and the other succumbing to a life of crime. The book is a profound exploration of race, identity, friendship and the impact of gentrification.

    The 1519th Greatest Book of All Time
  6. 6. Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

    The novel is a richly layered narrative about a young man's quest to find the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis during World War II. The story is told from two perspectives: a Ukrainian translator with a unique grasp on the English language and the young man himself who is also a budding writer. The book explores themes of memory, history, and the power of storytelling, all set against the backdrop of a tragic and tumultuous period in world history.

    The 1528th Greatest Book of All Time
  7. 7. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

    The novel explores the journey of a 13-year-old boy, his drug-addicted mother, and his baby sister as they travel through Mississippi to pick up their white father from the state penitentiary. The story is steeped in the harsh realities of poverty, racism, and struggle, and is further complicated by the presence of a ghost from the family's past. It's a haunting tale about the legacy of trauma and the power of family ties.

    The 1745th Greatest Book of All Time
  8. 8. Boy's Life by Robert R. McCammon

    Set in the 1960s in the fictional town of Zephyr, Alabama, the novel follows the life of 12-year-old Cory Mackenson, whose life takes a mysterious turn when he witnesses his father attempt to save a man from a sinking car. The man is already handcuffed to the steering wheel, dead by strangulation. This event triggers a series of adventures and mysteries that Cory must unravel, all the while dealing with the challenges and joys of growing up. The book is a rich blend of nostalgia, magic realism, and the dark undercurrents of life in the American South.

    The 2216th Greatest Book of All Time
  9. 9. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell

    "Swamplandia!" is a darkly humorous and poignant story about a family of alligator wrestlers living in the Florida Everglades. The family's way of life is threatened when their mother dies, their tourist attraction business starts to fail, and a rival theme park opens nearby. The novel follows the three children as they struggle to keep their family together and their world intact, embarking on perilous journeys through the swamp and into the underworld.

    The 3022nd Greatest Book of All Time
  10. 10. Stone Junction: An Alchemical Pot-Boiler by Jim Dodge

    This novel follows the life of Daniel Pearse, a young boy who becomes an apprentice in a secretive organization of outlaws, magicians, and gamblers known as AMO (the Alliance of Magicians and Outlaws). As Daniel learns the ways of the AMO, he embarks on a quest for a diamond rumored to possess magical properties. His journey is filled with a series of bizarre encounters and eccentric characters, blending elements of magic, mystery, and adventure.

    The 3598th Greatest Book of All Time
  11. 11. Mama Day by Gloria Naylor

    The novel weaves a tale of the supernatural with the everyday lives of the inhabitants of Willow Springs, a small island off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, where the descendants of a slave and her master reside. At the heart of the story is the formidable Mama Day, a wise and mystical elder who possesses a deep understanding of herbal medicine and the spiritual world. Her niece, Cocoa, falls in love with a man from New York City, and their relationship is tested by the collision of modern city life and the ancient, mystical heritage of the island. The narrative explores themes of heritage, identity, and the enduring bonds of family and community, as it oscillates between the past and the present, revealing the island's rich history and its impact on present-day events.

    The 4963rd Greatest Book of All Time
  12. 12. Seventh Heaven by Alice Hoffman

    The novel is a captivating portrayal of suburban life in the late 1950s, where conformity and appearance are paramount. It follows the story of a divorced woman who moves into a tight-knit community, challenging the neighborhood's rigid norms and expectations. Her arrival sets off a chain of events that disrupts the seemingly perfect facade of the community, as she forms unlikely friendships and inspires other residents to confront their desires and fears. Through her influence, the characters embark on journeys of self-discovery and transformation, revealing the complexities and contradictions beneath the surface of suburban America.

    The 5099th Greatest Book of All Time
  13. 13. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

    The book follows the lives of the Owens sisters, Sally and Gillian, who come from a long line of witches. Raised by their eccentric aunts after their parents' death, the sisters grow up learning about love and magic. However, they face an age-old curse that any man who falls in love with an Owens woman will meet a tragic end, leading them on a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and a struggle to overcome their family's dark past.

    The 5294th Greatest Book of All Time
  14. 14. Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

    The book unfolds in a society that believes it has eradicated all monsters, but when a creature named Pet emerges from a painting, a young girl named Jam learns that monsters still exist. Pet has come to hunt a monster hiding in plain sight, and Jam must confront the reality that not all dangers are as visible as they seem. As Jam navigates this revelation with Pet's guidance, she embarks on a quest to protect her best friend and uncover the truth in a world that prefers to deny the existence of such horrors. The story challenges the concepts of good and evil and the complacency that can arise in a community that believes it has overcome its darkest elements.

    The 6499th Greatest Book of All Time
  15. 15. A Tale For The Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

    In this introspective novel, a diary washes ashore on a remote Canadian island, bridging two disparate worlds. The journal, written by Nao, a troubled Japanese teenager, chronicles her life, her contemplation of suicide, and her relationship with her great-grandmother, a Zen Buddhist nun. The diary is discovered by a novelist, who becomes engrossed by Nao's story and is compelled to unravel the mysteries of Nao's fate and her own connection to the young girl. As the novelist reads, the boundaries between writer and reader, past and present, fiction and reality blur, creating a meditation on time, loss, and the intricate threads that connect human lives across the globe.

    The 6617th Greatest Book of All Time
  16. 16. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

    This novel follows the life of a young slave, Hiram Walker, who possesses a mysterious power related to memory and water, which he discovers after almost drowning. His journey from the plantations of Virginia to the Underground Railroad and the abolitionist movement in the North is filled with loss, love, and a desperate desire for freedom. The narrative explores themes of slavery, racial injustice, and the power of memory and storytelling, all underpinned by the protagonist's supernatural abilities.

    The 8179th Greatest Book of All Time
  17. 17. The Invisible Life Of Addie La Rue by V. E. Schwab

    The book follows the story of a young woman in 18th-century France who, desperate to escape an arranged marriage and yearning for freedom, makes a Faustian bargain with a mysterious god-like figure to live forever without being remembered by anyone she meets. Her immortality becomes a curse as she moves through the centuries, leaving no mark on the world until, 300 years later, she stumbles upon a young man in a bookstore who, to her shock, remembers her name. This encounter unfolds into a tale of love, memory, and the intrinsic value of leaving one's mark on the world.

    The 8327th Greatest Book of All Time
  18. 18. Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older

    In the urban fantasy novel, a young Afro-Latina girl from Brooklyn discovers her family's involvement in a supernatural legacy known as Shadowshaping, where they can infuse ancestral spirits into paintings, music, and stories. However, her world is thrown into chaos when she realizes that a malevolent force is hunting the shadowshapers, aiming to destroy her family's cultural heritage and power. As she delves deeper into this mystical world, she must embrace her identity and heritage to harness her newfound abilities, navigate the complexities of her community and friends, and fight to protect the legacy passed down to her by her ancestors.

    The 8511th Greatest Book of All Time
  19. 19. When The Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

    This novel weaves a tale of love and magic as it follows two characters: a girl with roses growing from her wrist and a boy who paints moons and hides his own secrets. Their deep bond is threatened when their small town becomes engulfed in rumors and the girl's mysterious past begins to surface. As they struggle to protect each other's secrets and navigate their feelings, they must confront questions of identity, family, and the courage it takes to be their true selves. The story is a lyrical exploration of love, friendship, and the acceptance of one's uniqueness, set against a backdrop of magical realism.

    The 8647th Greatest Book of All Time
  20. 20. Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

    In this enchanting tale, two sisters, Blanca and Roja, find themselves ensnared in a cruel family curse that has haunted generations: one sister is destined to become a swan. Their bond is tested when two local boys become entangled in their lives—one emerging from a strange transformation, and the other hiding his true identity. As the sisters grapple with the curse's grip, they must navigate a complex web of love, rivalry, and identity, challenging both societal expectations and their own deepest fears. The story weaves magical realism with themes of family, fate, and the power of self-acceptance, creating a lyrical narrative that explores the blurred lines between fairy tale and reality.

    The 9128th Greatest Book of All Time
  21. 21. The Astonishing Color Of After by Emily X.R. Pan

    In this poignant and magical novel, a grieving teenager grapples with the sudden loss of her mother to suicide, believing her mother has returned as a bird. She embarks on a journey to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time, seeking connections to her mother's past and her own cultural heritage. Through a blend of reality and fantastical elements, she uncovers family secrets, explores her identity, and navigates the complexities of mental illness, love, and forgiveness. The narrative weaves a tapestry of emotion and color, as the protagonist seeks to understand her mother's life and find peace in the wake of tragedy.

    The 9128th Greatest Book of All Time
  22. 22. The House in the Cerulean Sea by Tj Klune

    "The House in the Cerulean Sea" is a heartwarming and enchanting tale about Linus Baker, a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, who is sent on a special assignment to a remote island orphanage. There, he meets a group of extraordinary children, including a gnome, a sprite, and a were-Pomeranian, and their charming caretaker, Arthur Parnassus. As Linus gets to know the children and Arthur, he begins to question the strict rules and regulations he has always followed and learns the true meaning of love, acceptance, and family. This book is a celebration of diversity, kindness, and the power of friendship.

    The 9247th Greatest Book of All Time
  23. 23. Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

    In this young adult fantasy novel, we follow the story of a Lipan Apache teenager with the unique ability to awaken the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her family. When her cousin dies under mysterious circumstances, she sets out to uncover the truth behind his death, delving into a small town's dark secrets. Alongside her ghost dog sidekick, she navigates a world filled with magic, spirits, and creatures from folklore, confronting the intersection of her Indigenous culture and the supernatural realm. Her journey tests her courage and her ancestral gifts, as she seeks justice and upholds her family's legacy.

    The 9401st Greatest Book of All Time
  24. 24. Alif The Unseen by G. Willow Wilson

    In a Middle Eastern city teetering on the edge of revolution, a young Arab-Indian hacker, who goes by the alias Alif, finds himself on the run from the state's oppressive security forces. After his computer-savvy skills and underground network are compromised by a heartbreak, he discovers the existence of the supernatural world of the jinn. With the help of an ancient and mystical book, Alif must bridge the gap between the seen and the unseen, blending technology with ancient Arabic lore, to protect himself and his community from the encroaching forces that threaten to engulf both the physical and the magical worlds.

    The 9969th Greatest Book of All Time
  25. 25. Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser

    The novel follows the life of Martin Dressler, a young entrepreneur in late 19th century New York City. Starting as a cigar shop worker, Martin's ambition and drive lead him to become a successful hotel tycoon. His relentless pursuit of the American Dream, however, leads to his eventual downfall, as his grandiose ideas and projects become increasingly unrealistic and unsustainable. The book explores themes of ambition, the American Dream, and the fine line between success and failure.

    The 10537th Greatest Book of All Time

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download