Books to Help You Believe in Magic: My Reading Prescription for You

Is life getting you down? Do you find yourself focusing too much on daily drudgery rather than wonder? You can be helped!

A Prescription To Add Magic Back to Your Life

• Week One: Turkish Delight
  Yes, I know Turkish Delight is actually pretty disgusting, but no one said this would be easy! Buy yourself one package of Turkish delight and eat ne piece for each chapter of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Though you’ll likely gag your sway through the candy, the connection will make sense soon enough. Take your time reading this book. (And eating the Turkish Delight!) If you find you read the whole thing in less than a day, then read the rest of the Narnia Chronicles. Let yourself go on a week-long adventure with the Pevensie children.
• Week Two: A Visit to Your Local Magic Shop
  It might seem too obvious that I would recommend you visit a magic store to help you believe in magic, but trust me here. At the store, you’ll want to purchase a deck of cards and book about card tricks. Aim for something simple for your first trick. The purpose of this exercise is to appreciate the work that goes unto a successful sleight of hand. After you’ve thoroughly mastered one trick – and one really is enough! – then you’ll want to pick up The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Savor this book. If you need to stretch it out to two weeks, that’s okay!
• Week Three: Up, Up, Up!
  It might be a little tricky, depending on the weather where you live, but your next task is to go on a hot air balloon ride. Yes, I know it’s quite frightening to go up so high suspended in just a little basket, but do it you must. Once you find yourself back on the ground, pick up a copy of The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. If, when you finish, you find that you just must read the other two novels in His Dark Materials, go for it. The magic prescription can wait while you catch up!
• Week Four: Make a Wish
  Even if it means visiting several towns to do so, the next phase of this prescription means visiting at least three different fountains and dropping a coin into each while making a wish. It is essential that you visit at least three fountains. More is okay! Each fountain will bring with it it’s own magic. After your wishes are tossed out, get your hands on The Magicians by Lev Grossman. This book is also a trilogy, and as your prescribing practitioner, I cannot discourage you from reading the rest of this this series.
• Week Five: X Marks the Spot!
  Get your hands on a paper map – they still exist – and go on a GPS-free trip. You need’t go far but far enough that getting lost is an option. After you’ve had your adventure, check out Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. (The second in this trilogy is also good. The third is sitting in my To Read pile so I cannot speak to its effectiveness in helping you reclaim a belief in magic.)

After five weeks, with some possible extensions added on for extra books, you should find yourself back fully believing in magic. Sure, everyday life might still get you down, but you’ll know that something more exciting might be just around the corner.

This post was inspired by the novel The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, where Monsieur Perdu–a literary apothecary–finally searches for the woman who left him many years ago. Join From Left to Write on October 8th as we discuss The Little Paris Bookshop. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.