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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I read this as a book club book. It's not bad, it basically fairy tales stripped of all their magic and take place in a more realistic universe. My favorite part of this entire novel were the illustrations, I would like for Michael Cunningham to remake this book as a graphic novel using those illustrations.
This is a collection of (mostly) fairy tales retold, but, by and large, Michael Cunningham's takes on these classic stories are fairly faithful to the fairy originals, especially in terms of bringing out the darker and more sensual sides of the tales.
I particularly enjoyed his versions of Rumpelstiltskin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Monkey's Paw (though the latter is actually not an old fairy tale but a short story first published in the early 1900s).
This was a very quick, fun read.
I particularly enjoyed his versions of Rumpelstiltskin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Monkey's Paw (though the latter is actually not an old fairy tale but a short story first published in the early 1900s).
This was a very quick, fun read.
It wasn't bad, it just didn't feel like it brought much of anything new to think about in the world of fairytale retelling. The one story I will say touched me was the Rumpelstiltskin retelling- that one really made me reevaluate the original in a way I never had. And the Steadfast Tin soldier- alright, for those 2, I'll make this 3 stars.
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I didn't read The Hours (saw the movie....), and had heard Michael Cunningham was an excellent writer, so when I saw this on the new books shelf at the library, I thought it would be a good taste. Besides loving the adult insights he brought to the retelling of these fairy tales, I really appreciated the cleverness and beauty of his language throughout. I'd highly recommend it to anyone as a good and quick read!
I'm a sucker for fairy tales, so I loved this book of short stories.
Cunningham takes the fairy tales we all know (and a couple of lesser known ones) and builds upon them in a very real-world sort of way. Not so much planting them in the modern world and rewriting them or creating likeable backstories, like many authors have done, but instead blending the two world's together and crafting real world emotions and outcomes.
My only complaint is that the book is too short. I would have read so much more!
Cunningham takes the fairy tales we all know (and a couple of lesser known ones) and builds upon them in a very real-world sort of way. Not so much planting them in the modern world and rewriting them or creating likeable backstories, like many authors have done, but instead blending the two world's together and crafting real world emotions and outcomes.
My only complaint is that the book is too short. I would have read so much more!