Reviews

Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue

marikoreading's review against another edition

emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

amaldae's review against another edition

2.0

nov 11th: the ultimate little feminine comfort read, though disappointingly easy and expected from a writerly point of view and not, I fear, very good counsel for those who might most seek it.

jwsg's review against another edition

4.0

Familiar fairy tales with a lesbian twist. Need I say more?

eehancock's review against another edition

4.0

Last line: "This is the story you asked for. I leave it in your mouth. "

I'd give the first & last chapters 5/5 stars, all the chapters in between: 4/5. In the first chapter Cinderella runs off with the Fairy Godmother. A beautiful woman kisses a witch in the last chapter.

ruthnessly's review against another edition

4.0

I really loved this!!! I loved how each story started, I loved the reinvention, I loved that it was all focusing around similar themes but felt different and fresh with every story. I also just really liked the prose. It was SUPER.

bdfarber13's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this. Donogue has stark language; she doesn't waste words but uses them beautifully. Some of the stories work better than others or are more interesting, but she weaves them together in a way that is quite lovely and most of them have a surprising darkness (that's not depressing) and sensuality. There's some real honest humanity here. Of course, I loved the queer spins on several stories. A quick, engrossing read.

sausome's review against another edition

4.0

This was really an enjoyable read. It's a collection of fairy tale re-tellings with a feminist or queer twist that wasn't preachy or over-the-top. The writing in this book is also really wonderful. I tried reading Donoghue's "The Sealed Letter" and got bogged down in the Victorian-speak. But this book was quick, easy, and quite lovely. Way to go, book!

ripavengers's review against another edition

4.0

a nice mix match of fairytale stories spun on their heads. I was a little confused with some of them but overall very enjoyable

graceless's review against another edition

4.0

Very entertaining, weird and fun retelling of familiar fairytales with a feminist and sometimes queer spin. One of my reading list challenges was to read a re-imagining of old tales and this fit the bill perfectly! It was clever the way the author weaved each story to the next and on the whole an enjoyable quick read.

kittymamers's review against another edition

4.0

ma ei ole alati kindel kas vanu muinasjutte on vaja nii lõputult ümber ja üle jutustada, aga see versioon mulle küll meeldis. jah, siin on see queer-aspekt - enamus lugusid lõppeb mingi naistevahelise suhtega - aga mu jaoks rohkem jäi kõlama kõigi kurjade kuningannade ja võõrasemade ja nõidade jm negatiivsete kangelannade rehabiliteerimine. polnud nad nii kurjad midagi. ja igaühel oli oma lugu ka rääkida.

mulle meeldib Donoghue jutustamisstiil, oligi selline muinasjutukuulamise tunne - ja samas on ta eri minategelastel eri hääled ja toonid, ei ole ühetooniline pajatamine. ja mulle meeldis see struktuur ja ülesehitus, kuidas iga lugu lõppeb noorema naistegelase küsimusega vanemale (Tuhkatriinu ristiemale, Pöial-Liisi pääsukesele, Greteke piparkoogimaja perenaisele, Okasroosike lossitornist leitud vanamemmele, Lumivalgeke võõrasemale - kuigi neid nimesid siin raamatus ei ole, need tulevad lugeja enda peast): kes sa enne olid, kuidas sa siia jõudsid, mis sinu lugu on? ja siis algab järgmine vana muinasjutt peategelasega, kelle varsti ära tunneme.