Delicious Strangeness: A Pocket Guide to Magical Realism Paperback – March 27, 2018

I have read many magical realism books but this is the first book on how to write it. The author deconstructs the genre into insightful steps that one could personally tweak with many variations. It’s a good start. The author only touches the surface as if it’s her early thoughts on the method but it’s a good introduction. You need to write along as you read the booklet and having read works with magical realism elements helps to ground yourself on the technique. I’m giving it 5 stars for the writer’s love and effort to understand MR and passion to share her findings.

I’m a nonfiction writer. I generally write about human rights and social justice, but I wanted to give fiction, specifically magical realism, a try. I could not figure out how to start, so I took a class with Stephanie and I left with my first chapter! So now I’m reading her book to help me sustain my ideas through an entire novel. Because frankly I’ve never written a novel before so I don’t know what I’m doing. There’s lots of really helpful writing exercises, prompts, as well as reading recommendations and I’m loving it.

excited to at least have a small book about magic realism as I was trying to learn the genre and style as I like to read a lot of it she just goes on and on about fairytales we have no interest in writing. Very disappointed.I gave up halfway frustrated.I don’t believe she’s ever written magic realism in her life.You’re better off researching online with blogs about magic realism for more text and information to get a grasp on the style and I’ve gotten more for free through writing sites than this book.What a disappointment

Filled with humor, thoughtful writing exercises, fun prompts, and well researched reading recommendations, this is a must have pocket book all writers of Magic Realism should have on their desktops! It's as if all you have to do is open the little book and Hammer will so generously share with you her secret writing formula.

I picked up this book several years ago but as I often do, I didn't get to it right away. I went away on a family vacation in July, the first since the pandemic hit, so I packed a few little books with me to read on the plane. As a writer, I have virtually every writers guide there is, but few are as charming as Stephanie Barbe Hammer's. The book combines theory mixed with practical writing prompts grounded in the author's unique voice and welcoming, reassuring tone. It's a wonderful little book for anyone looking to experiment and grow in their writing practice.

If - like me - you regularly stall as a writer, and you're wrestling with writer's block far more than you'd like, give this book a try.I bought it (in print) because "magical realism" is such a quirky - and sometimes controversial - topic. But something about it resonates with me, and I've been trying to identify what it is. I know I want to write in that sub-genre... but also in my own style.The book isn't what I expected. While it gives many insights into the more traditional aspects of magical realism, the exercises in the book take you on your own, very personal journey.I never thought of myself as a short story writer, or a flash fiction writer, until I did the first couple of exercises in this book.Now, even before I'm halfway through the book, I see light at the end of ye olde writer's block tunnel. And it's a whimsical journey that feels authentic (and unique) to me, as opposed to the more structured approach I'd expected from this book.I feel like I'm blathering here, but - really - if even one of these exercises helps you as much as several have helped me, this is a book worth buying.In my opinion, it's key to do the very first exercise. That was a defining moment for me.The second exercise didn't really resonate. Shortly after starting it, I realized it didn't fit my "voice"... the one I was searching for.And that was okay. A later exercise was more on my wavelength.And so on.My point is: This can be an extraordinary book for writers if they treat it less "by the numbers" and use it as the tool it can be, helping you find your own, unique voice in the sub-genre of magical realism... or something simply magical.

Hammer's book propels you into understanding your writing and yourself in new ways. She helps you to a new, more complex vision of yourself and your writing. Beyond everything else, she just gives you great prompts.

This book is the only one I could find on the topic of writing magical realism and it is a good first step though it's on the lean side.I have read other books on writing in specific genres (sci-fi, fantasy, horror) and they were more fully fleshed out.I would advise would be writers to dig out a couple of their favourite magical realism novels to keep on hand and as you read of a particular technique or concept and then check the novels for illustrations of that thing.