Review by emergencily - The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories

4.25

a collection of gothic feminist re-interpretations of classic fairy tales that bring the themes of sexuality, violence, taboos and perversion inherent to classical fairy tales to the surface
really beautiful and richly descriptive prose......very decadent & sumptuous imagery. usually a treat to read but occasionally crosses into overindulgent. angela just say what you mean sometimes!
as with any story collection, some shine more than others. personal faves: the bloody chamber (gothic retelling of bluebeard), puss in boots (the sole light hearted story in the collection), the erl king, the company of wolves (retelling of little red riding hood)
preoccupation with virginity & menstruation is a reoccurring theme in these stories that can come off biologically deterministic to a reader in 2024, but maybe its also a reflection of how these old tales were obsessed with teaching lessons about girls' virginity & purity/impurity?