Bibliofreakblog

Wise Children by Angela Carter

I don’t know a whole lot about magical realism.  I know enough to know that I wish I knew more.  Magical realism basically takes plausibility and stretches it just a little further than the bonds of reality.  

I know even less about the carnivalesque, except that if you are feeling uncomfortable, then it is working.

I do know a thing or two about Shakespeare, but not tons.  If you quote something not totally famous, I probably won’t know what it’s from.  But I at least know the stories of most of his plays.  So there’s something.

Now, if you add all of those things up and add a dash of post-feminist giddiness, then you might very well come out with something akin to Wise Children.  

And after you read it, you might not really get it, but at least you’ll have enjoyed the ride.

No, I mean, really, it’s weird:  

• People living vigorously well past 100
• Incest 
• Theater people
• Old people having sex
• Twins

Take in those twists, turns, exaggerations, but remember that you still have the Bard to contend with.  His influence weighs heavily on this book, as well as the characters themselves.  

The story itself is about twins Nora and Dora, and their absentee but very wealthy father, and his twin, their uncle.  Nora and Dora pursue a life in theater, which gets all crazy in its own right, not to mention the family politics and intrigue.  And sex.  

After reading this book, you’ll need to look it up on Wikipedia for the family tree.  

And probably go rent a good version of King Lear.
Buy Wise Children on Amazon

If you like this book/author, you might like:

(my reviews in blue)

Fool by Christopher Moore
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Angelica by Arthur Phillips
The Complete Works of Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk
Girl Goddess #9: Nine Stories by Francesca Lia Block
Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar

Other Works by Angela Carter:

The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman
The Bloody Chamber
The Magic Toyshop
Fireworks: Nine Profane Pieces 
Shadow Dance 
The Passion of New Eve 
Saints and Strangers
Several Perceptions
Nights at the Circus 
Nothing Sacred – Selected Writings
Love 
Five Quiet Shouters: An Anthology of Assertive Verse.
Comix & Curious Cats 
Heroes and Villains
Sea-Cat and Dragon King
Moonshadow
Expletives Deleted. Selected Writings.
Miss Z The Dark Young Lady by Keith
Shaking a Leg: Collected Journalism and Writings
Music People
The Sadeian Woman: And the Ideology of Pornography
Wayward Girls and Wicked Women: An Anthology of Subversive Stories 
Angela Carter’s Book of Fairy Tales 
The Curious Room: Plays, Film Scripts and an Opera
Come Unto These Yellow Sands
The Donkey Prince