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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
slow-paced
LOVED Texts from Jane Eyre. But I felt like I never really understood these stories, even when I was familiar with the source material. I would finish the story, feel like the final sentence was supposed to be a punch or have meaning, but just feel like I kept missing it. Creative idea, love what Daniel, as he's known now, did with gender and marriage roles and seeing things from a truly alien perspective at times, but I felt like I couldn't really figure out some of it.
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I thought a few of these stories were well done, but Lavery missed the mark with most of them for me. I like the concept, but felt that for some the weirdness/"meta" nature of the story overpowered the plot. Bummed to say this didn't work for me :(
Those familiar with Mallory Ortberg (recently transitioned to Daniel Mallory Ortberg) from the Toast website or her first book, Texts from Jane Eyre, already know that he is extremely well-read and that his point-of-view can be truly unique and humorous. In his newest book, the Merry Spinster, Ortberg offers a modern and twisted take on 11 well-known fairy tales and children’s stories. Playing with ideas of gender, identity and the perpetuation of cultural norms, the stories in this collection are a mixture of traditional narrative and experimental storytelling. Some of the classics that served as influences include the Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Frog Prince, the Velveteen Rabbit and the Wind in the Willows. The Merry Spinster retains and highlights some of the darker elements of these old favorites while challenging their conventional morality and inherited norms. This quick read would be great for those who adore the old tales of childhood, but also appreciate innovative interpretations of these beloved works.
This short story collection toggles between absurd and profound, and seems just as comfortable being both at once. Some stories are undoubtedly stronger than others, but the recurring themes that run throughout—the burden of unasked-for favors, the loss of autonomy baked into certain gender roles—are thoughtfully and enjoyably fleshed out.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
There are two really great stories here, a couple of okay ones, many pages of beautiful/whimsical/amusing writing, several interesting ideas, and a whole lot of codswallop. Let's call it a 2.5.
As with many other short story collections, like Machado's [b:Her Body and Other Parties|33375622|Her Body and Other Parties|Carmen Maria Machado|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1485266434s/33375622.jpg|54116423], [b:The Merry Spinster|35035160|The Merry Spinster Tales of Everyday Horror|Mallory Ortberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1515148254s/35035160.jpg|56320731] is a mixed bag. With this one, though, I'm leaning more towards declaring it a negative reading experience. There were just too many nonsensical things, too many abrupt and weird endings, too many stories that felt pointless.
By far the best, for me, were "The Rabbit" and "Six Boy Coffins". The first is a retelling of [b:The Velveteen Rabbit|144974|The Velveteen Rabbit|Margery Williams Bianco|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347748913s/144974.jpg|1602074] and it is the stuff of nightmares. Gone is the sob-inducing rabbit of the original and, in his place, is one seriously murderous bunny.
"Six Boy Coffins" is more of a traditional fairy tale with kings, queens, princesses, curses and punishments. The story arc was the most satisfying, and I couldn't look away right from the horrific opening to the very end.
"The Daughter Cells" was also pretty good. This is a Little Mermaid retelling and the narrator had such a snarky, weird and strangely likable voice. It's a perfectly dark and gory opening to the collection.
Some others read well and were engaging, but felt like they were building towards something important only to peter out at the end. You think something dramatic or twisty is going to happen and you wait and wait and it ends with the characters sat around drinking tea (or whatever). The titular "The Merry Spinster" is like this-- an enjoyable [b:Beauty and the Beast|5784403|Beauty and the Beast|Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328106999s/5784403.jpg|21858997] retelling that gets to the end and I had no idea what the point was. I felt like I was supposed to “get” something that I didn’t.
"The Frog Princess", too, is an easy read, but feels pointless in the end-- no message, no twist, no climax. Nothing.
Pretty much all the others did nothing for me. I was intrigued by the gender fluid Cinderella retelling in "The Thankless Child" but I genuinely have no idea what the hell that story was even about. "The Wedding Party" is another that left me clueless.
Overall, [b:The Merry Spinster|35035160|The Merry Spinster Tales of Everyday Horror|Mallory Ortberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1515148254s/35035160.jpg|56320731] was pretty disappointing. I'm glad I was able to find a couple of stand-out stories, but given that they account for less than 20% of the collection, it doesn't make sense to rate this any higher.
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As with many other short story collections, like Machado's [b:Her Body and Other Parties|33375622|Her Body and Other Parties|Carmen Maria Machado|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1485266434s/33375622.jpg|54116423], [b:The Merry Spinster|35035160|The Merry Spinster Tales of Everyday Horror|Mallory Ortberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1515148254s/35035160.jpg|56320731] is a mixed bag. With this one, though, I'm leaning more towards declaring it a negative reading experience. There were just too many nonsensical things, too many abrupt and weird endings, too many stories that felt pointless.
By far the best, for me, were "The Rabbit" and "Six Boy Coffins". The first is a retelling of [b:The Velveteen Rabbit|144974|The Velveteen Rabbit|Margery Williams Bianco|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347748913s/144974.jpg|1602074] and it is the stuff of nightmares. Gone is the sob-inducing rabbit of the original and, in his place, is one seriously murderous bunny.
In the excitement of looking at all the new presents the Velveteen Rabbit was put aside, and he learned for the first time what it was to be ignored, and he did not forget it.
"Six Boy Coffins" is more of a traditional fairy tale with kings, queens, princesses, curses and punishments. The story arc was the most satisfying, and I couldn't look away right from the horrific opening to the very end.
"The Daughter Cells" was also pretty good. This is a Little Mermaid retelling and the narrator had such a snarky, weird and strangely likable voice. It's a perfectly dark and gory opening to the collection.
She had kissed him, and she had kept his lungs from getting wet; this made him hers according to the laws of most commonsensical people.
Some others read well and were engaging, but felt like they were building towards something important only to peter out at the end. You think something dramatic or twisty is going to happen and you wait and wait and it ends with the characters sat around drinking tea (or whatever). The titular "The Merry Spinster" is like this-- an enjoyable [b:Beauty and the Beast|5784403|Beauty and the Beast|Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328106999s/5784403.jpg|21858997] retelling that gets to the end and I had no idea what the point was. I felt like I was supposed to “get” something that I didn’t.
"The Frog Princess", too, is an easy read, but feels pointless in the end-- no message, no twist, no climax. Nothing.
Pretty much all the others did nothing for me. I was intrigued by the gender fluid Cinderella retelling in "The Thankless Child" but I genuinely have no idea what the hell that story was even about. "The Wedding Party" is another that left me clueless.
Overall, [b:The Merry Spinster|35035160|The Merry Spinster Tales of Everyday Horror|Mallory Ortberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1515148254s/35035160.jpg|56320731] was pretty disappointing. I'm glad I was able to find a couple of stand-out stories, but given that they account for less than 20% of the collection, it doesn't make sense to rate this any higher.
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I would rate this 50 stars if possible. Daniel is a genius.
DNF
I just don't like it. I tried. I managed to get through the fourth story.
It was written beautifully, but the stories are not very interesting.
I just don't like it. I tried. I managed to get through the fourth story.
It was written beautifully, but the stories are not very interesting.