Ordinary Enchantments: Magical Realism and the Remystification of Narrative

Faris (English and comparative literature, U. of Texas at Arlington) co-edited the highly regarded book Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community. Here she discusses the importance of magical realism as a trend in international literature (not just in Latin American literature), and describes its characteristics and narrative techniques. The book also explores topics such as the female element within magical realism, the decolonizing properties of magical realism, and the accusation that magical realism can be seen as a form of commodification. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR