You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
What happens after the fairy tale ends? Is it really "happy ever after"? The short tales in this very readable collection attempt to answer those questions. This one is short, barely 134 pages and I probably could have finished it in one sitting had I started earlier last night. Very enjoyable.
An excellent collection of "fairy tales for adults." Cunningham's writing is gorgeous as usual, and Yuko Shimizu's illustrations are divine. I liked the balance of humor and tragedy in these tales, the mixture of familiar motifs with casual touches of modernity (the witch of "Hansel and Gretel" fame mixing Elmer's glue in with the icing on her candy house, for example). With a retelling, I always want to leave it feeling that the author has brought something new to my understanding of the original story, and that was true for the majority of this collection. Definitely worth checking out.
You know what? This fairy tale retellings collection wasn't as bad as I expected. I wouldn't have read them if it wasn't for Michael Cunningham (even so, it took me almost a year to decide to finally read them). I really cannot understand the fascination with fairytale retellings and solemnly swear not to do it again (unless another one of my favourite writers decides to jump into the trend, which I hope they have the decency not to). So, Michael, we got it. It was nice, but please get you act together and write a novel.
And a thumbs up for Yuko Shimizu's illustrations, Beardsley-esque if I may.
And a thumbs up for Yuko Shimizu's illustrations, Beardsley-esque if I may.
I thought this book was a quick read filled with stories that were perverse, wicked, sometime funny and sometimes even really sweet.
The tale of the tin soldier and ballerina alone was worth the price of admission.
Magical and realistic and wonderful and hard to describe. Just go read it.
3.5 stars.I really liked the writing but a lot of the stories felt a little slight and too literal in their interpretation of fairy tales.