Magical Realism

If you're someone who revels in the unconventional, then this anthology will take you on a narrative rollercoaster. Each story bends reality in its own way, offering escapes into worlds where the rules are markedly different from our own. It's like a playground for your imagination—perfect for those moments when you yearn for a departure from the mundane.

Imagine your life set to a soundtrack where each strand of music could alter destinies. "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" by Mitch Albom offers not just a story about talent and fame but a fantastical journey through the music and lives that shape the twentieth century. If music holds a special place in your heart and you're intrigued by how it intertwines with life's moments, this is your backstage pass to a symphonic tale of love, legacy, and magic.

Rainshadow Road is a heartwarming story of love and redemption. Readers who enjoy deep, complex characters will find themselves rooting for Lucy as she navigates the aftermath of a devastating betrayal. With a beautiful setting and intricate plot twists, this book is perfect for anyone looking for a satisfying read full of heart and hope.

This book is ideal for readers who like imaginative, witty and humorous love stories with a hint of satire. Meg Rosoff's "There Is No Dog" is a humorously satirical and imaginative novel that tells the story of Bob, the typical teenage boy who happens to be God and his encounter with Lucy, the most beautiful girl on earth. It's a fun read that will make you laugh out loud with its clever humor and witty observations on love and life.

"Wishtree" isn't just another book—it's an experience wrapped in leaves and bark. If you're looking to escape into a story that intertwines nature, community, and the beauty of acceptance, then this poignant tale by Katherine Applegate is for you. It's a gentle reminder of the importance of empathy, told from an enchanting perspective that will resonate with both young and mature hearts. Red's story is a hug you didn't know you needed.

"The Good Mayor" is an incredibly touching tale of love, fate, and redemption. The story follows the charming and affable Mayor Tibo Krovic as he falls in love with his secretary Agathe, while balancing the demands of his personal and professional life. With rich, vivid characters and a beautiful, idyllic setting, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a heartwarming and uplifting romance.

This book consists of three celebrated short story collections and an early novel, each reflecting Lim’s prowess as a storyteller chronicling a society in transit, where multiethnic characters struggle with their identities as the past and the present intersect, mingle and clash. The Serpent’s Tooth (1982) Within each family lie the proverbial skeletons better left untouched, lest the truths uncovered become to horrifying. The Serpent’s Tooth is fraught with dashed hopes and wasted efforts, where characters grope around desperately in the murky depths of self delusion, where hands reach beyond the grave and resurface to haunt. They Do Return…but gently lead them back (1983) 15 tales of the paranormal. Unlike the bloodthirsty, melodramatic tales favoured at gatherings, the substance of these are commonplace, stories behind the ghost stories: of relationships that death cannot sever; of personalities so forceful they invade the land of the living after death; of rituals and customs, the unexplained and the unexpected. Characters so close to home that you start believing… O Singapore!: Stories in Celebration (1988) From the playfully satirical pen of Catherine Lim comes the wild, weird and wacky world of O Singapore! This is ’90s Singapore where the campaigns and the directives of the unremittingly competent leadership come face to face with the undeniably human fads, foibles and follies of the Singaporean people. The Woman’s Book of Superlatives(1993) Catherine Lim beguiles the reader with a startling contrast: the deification of women in ancient myths, against the degradation of women at the hands of their men. Time and again, an unwonted bond of sisterhood appears, and is affirmed in a final fateful collision

The Golden Umbrella is a fascinating window into the vibrant world of India's past, exploring cultural traditions and customs that will captivate history enthusiasts.

This book is perfect for readers interested in short stories that revolve around Singapore's rich history and complex culture. The author skillfully weaves together tales of the paranormal, societal conflicts, and the deification of women. With captivating characters and themes, it offers a unique insight into the island nation's past and present. Sure to leave readers transfixed and thoughtful.