These stories are rather clinical and even disorienting at times - reading them can be jarring, and reading them one after another is even tiring. AndThese stories are rather clinical and even disorienting at times - reading them can be jarring, and reading them one after another is even tiring. And yet the writing is lovely, and the fairy kingdoms are inventive and well-grounded in physical locale, and the stories themselves are truly unique.
Susanna Clark wrote with a touch of the same style - her fairies are cold and mad and amoral, and always at an emotional remove, but her human characters possess a human warmth and connection which allows the reader to relate. I found it impossible to truly lose myself in these stories, I was generally feeling a tad squicked out.
As they say, a nice place to visit, wouldn't want to live there....more
This is the most engaging fairytale redux I've ever read. Not the sweetest, nor the most twisted - those being the two directions that fairy tale reteThis is the most engaging fairytale redux I've ever read. Not the sweetest, nor the most twisted - those being the two directions that fairy tale retellings usually go - but maybe the cleverest. I could have done without some of the descriptive language - HELP me, that fur coat had me wanting to hurl. I don't know how that girl didn't get an infection. But that aside. Liked the girls' voices. Liked their interplay. They all had very different personalities and I think their voices stayed consistent, AND, despite being slotted into a modern setting, the fairy tale elements didn't feel anachronistic.
This book is nearly perfect - the last page or two broke its spell, for me - but you do have to be in the right frame of mind. You have to be ready toThis book is nearly perfect - the last page or two broke its spell, for me - but you do have to be in the right frame of mind. You have to be ready to sink slowly into it, because it's a slow, leisurely drop into the peaceful and uneventful life of a British spinster who, almost without noticing it, becomes middle-aged and taken for granted by a loving family. But sometimes a terror, a longing, grips her without warning, always seasonally, always gone again as soon as it came. Our inkling of the supernatural comes abruptly and yet it's been building up quietly all along
Lolly Willowes is lauded as a feminist text, and - yes. But it partakes of the spirit rather than the letter, and can for that reason be read by anyone, I think - anyone that would enjoy Meet me at the Museum or a Man Named Ove, or any book about any person, man or woman, deciding to live on their own terms, and finding happiness late and in a different form than they'd expected.
It's beautifully written. It makes you feel as if you're experiencing the world with a young child's sense of attention and wonder and complete immersion....more
If you think about it, it's likely you've never read a modern fairy tale. Possibly all the good ones have already been done? I consider that Nicholas If you think about it, it's likely you've never read a modern fairy tale. Possibly all the good ones have already been done? I consider that Nicholas Stuart Gray wrote original fairy tales, and very well, but his books are all out of print, so one has to consider he's failed the foremost fairytale qualification: staying power. These stories have been around for hundreds of years, adapted, expurgated and adulterated, and yet despite whatever new trappings they're dressed in, still recognizably the beauty and her beast, Snow White, Cinderella, the little mermaid, and so on.
So first off, these are not forty new fairy tales. Most of them are riffs on old themes, outright retellings of classic fairy tales. Many are gravid with socio-political commentary. Only a couple are actually original. A few are horrible but really interesting. A few are just horrible. I think two or three are really charming and enjoyable: Neil Gaiman's piece and Kelly Link's, and honestly - OF COURSE. Those two rarely put a foot wrong.
Judging by the commentary following each piece, all of these authors had something to say, but I think a lot of it was too heavy for the supposed subject matter. Fairy tales have endured because they're light and undemanding mental fare, leavened with a lot of charm and whimsy.
Great title! moderately good collection, which I think would read better if it wasn't marketed as 'new fairy tales.'...more
This story is the kind of clever that doesn't hold together that well if you poke at it - a literal sungod, who births mortal women so they can birth This story is the kind of clever that doesn't hold together that well if you poke at it - a literal sungod, who births mortal women so they can birth stars - godlings and demigods and a cosmic warfare that spills over into the mortal world in a literal way.
Buuuuut it's lovely. And while the interactions with the gods and demigods don't ring all that true - unless you picture your gods like the old Greek gods, more or less just autocratic and spoilt human beings with awesome power and ultimate authority - other things, namely the physical toll of being intimately involved with gods, are done very well.
I found this story very odd, very charming, and I enjoyed it very much. I appreciate that the author doesn't cast inflexibility and the fact of being bound to a framework of law, as selfishness or wickedness. I appreciate that she found a way around that for her characters....more
if you're someone who believes in taking personal responsibility then you will appreciate Peterson. That's a very simplistic way to put it; I'm sure tif you're someone who believes in taking personal responsibility then you will appreciate Peterson. That's a very simplistic way to put it; I'm sure there are more and deeper and various reasons to either like or dislike him and what he has to say. BUT. While my attention wandered at times during this very long book (overall, his reading performance is perfect for this book and works with his occasionally peculiar word choice and phrasing), there were also times when he caught my attention absolutely. And in a lot of places, where he said something that resonated with my experience, I agreed with him.
These 12 rules aren't as basic, simple, and retainable as the first 12. But I think it's a good addition to the first....more
Hugely fun. A believably damaged and yet likable protagonist, who finds herself thrust into a world of magic, danger, and bureaucracy, in the company Hugely fun. A believably damaged and yet likable protagonist, who finds herself thrust into a world of magic, danger, and bureaucracy, in the company of similarly damaged allies.
So often, a damaged character comes off as whiny, needy, hugely unappealing and selfish. The other characters seem to love and forgive them for no discernable reason. Millie, on the other hand, is constantly wrong-footing herself and more than once does something aggressive and unreasonable, and she ends up alienating everyone around her AND YET the writing is convincing in making us believe that she's worth the effort. I ended up liking her a lot, along with the other antisocial oddballs she meets in the course of the story. I hope we see more of them.
I particularly liked Caryl, and her unique way of dealing with her emotions. Very cool....more
A slight, original fairytale. McKinley doesn't sit down and explain this world, but she tells the story so well that you get a grasp on the societal sA slight, original fairytale. McKinley doesn't sit down and explain this world, but she tells the story so well that you get a grasp on the societal structure (in which the Master and his Chalice are literally tied to the land) and the disaster that recently befell this particular holding as the story unfolds.
I really enjoyed it. It ends abruptly and it feels like there could have been a lot more in the middle, and possibly other tales told in this world; it has the breadth to bear them. But regardless, her language is so beautiful and Mirasol's strength comes through despite the shortness of the tale (it's the Master who never quite becomes real); she's one of McKinley's successful heroines....more
I enjoy Oyeymi's writing, and some of these stories were lovely; the puppets, and the rose garden in particular - but the narrative thread that binds I enjoy Oyeymi's writing, and some of these stories were lovely; the puppets, and the rose garden in particular - but the narrative thread that binds these stories - the way the story is handed from one secondary character to another - was a bit confusing and distracting....more
This is really well put together and I found myself falling into the rhythm of it as an actual story,A tongue-in-cheek guidebook for tourist Questing!
This is really well put together and I found myself falling into the rhythm of it as an actual story, and of course it's not. That might be considered a weakness, because you want it to progress into a fantasy book with a plot and it's not, although you can practically feel a fantasy world taking shape behind it.
The book is laid out like an alphabetical appendix, with sections like 'ghosts,' 'crones,' 'inns.' The callouts to existing fantasies are frequent and funny, as in the five pages of entries on SWORDS.
It's a labor of love; not for reading straight through, but for picking up now and then. Even writing this review, I picked it up to flip through and found myself engaged again. Good fun for a fantasy reader.
I found this on the Internet Archive's Open Library, which is a lovely if sparse resource. Since it's almost impossible to find some of Gray's stuff tI found this on the Internet Archive's Open Library, which is a lovely if sparse resource. Since it's almost impossible to find some of Gray's stuff these days, I was really excited (nerd).
Gray's plays are cute but very silly. Other Cinderella, along with Gawain and the Green Knight, is the best of them and I can imagine either of them being performed even now; the central premise of an adolescent Cinderella taking out her woes on her longsuffering step-family, and everyone else around her, isn't one I've seen before, although with Gregory MacGuire's love of rehabilitating 'wicked' characters it's probably been done. But because it's Gray, no one in this story is really bad-hearted and all is well in the end.
As with his books, there are places where the prose rises above its source material and is simply beautiful:
Here stands young Cinderella; this her night. Clothe her from head to foot in beauty bright: See that her moment no mistaking mars! Let her wear moonlight, with a crown of stars. Here is the true enchantment. This the dream: The song the poets sing; the glimpse; the gleam Of lovely worlds beyond the spinning earth: The tale in which all magic has its birth; Tender and gentle, sweetest of them all... Dear Cinderella, going to the ball.
And if you've ever seen a very young girl, seeing or being Cinderella for the first time, that is not far off....more
Felt like all the elements of folktale, fairytale and tall tale had been thrown into a bag and shaken together, and the result is this quick, fantastiFelt like all the elements of folktale, fairytale and tall tale had been thrown into a bag and shaken together, and the result is this quick, fantastic tale of high adventure; you can imagine it illustrated by Pyle....more
To be frank, I'm just not smart enough for this book. I don't know anything about analysis, and what brought me to it is an interest in fairy tales. ITo be frank, I'm just not smart enough for this book. I don't know anything about analysis, and what brought me to it is an interest in fairy tales. I will need to read and re-read and probably supplement my reading to ever get what was intended, out of this book.
But even so some of it still resonated for me. Like, 'there are moments of imminent danger when one must not think or feel or try to escape by struggling but must go down into an animal simplicity.' Or, 'generally the anima tends to maneuver a man into a situation which is meant to be without issue' - he is MEANT to fail. That's where the growth or the fortunate turn comes, when he is at bottom. Or, the phrase 'beata culpa', a fortunate guilt, which I've never come across before. I did quite a bit of highlighting in my kindle version, which I never bother with.
So I will come back to this. It was a struggle for me to get through, but... that's how we learn....more
How to review the most sweeping literary accomplishment of MY lifetime. Maybe not the best or most literary or most cutting-edge, or... But the MOST. How to review the most sweeping literary accomplishment of MY lifetime. Maybe not the best or most literary or most cutting-edge, or... But the MOST. The most entertaining, the most breathtaking, the most inventive, the most unique, fantasy experience that I've had. Somehow Gaiman stirred the pot of story and came up with something deeply true and moving and beautiful and sad, something with staying power. I love Dream so much.
So that's how I feel about The Sandman as a literary work. So let us review the audible production.
Good, taken all in all. There's an inherent clumsiness in adapting visual panels to an audio drama; characters have to be described, action that took place on the page has to be translated into something like, 'what are you doing with that sharp knife you pulled out of your jacket pocket?'
I'm not crazy about the voice actors chosen for Dream's siblings. They made the effort to give Dream/s voice some authority and weight, which Despair, Desire, and especially Death's voice actors, lack. The voice actors generally are hit or miss - some very good ones, some so-so.
It's a faithful adaptation. One change which leapt to my ear despite its smallness, because it's so clumsy, was in The Doll's House, when The Connoisseur is speaking about his victim base. In the original book, his victim-base is described as pre-operative transexuals, if I remember correctly, and I can understand why they'd change it, but the replacement is bizarre, I wish I remembered the exact phrase, but something like "unconscious eunuchs."
wtf even is that, and I'd love to know how a serial killer identifies and targets them. I haven't read the books in years, but that phrase hit my ear like a kazoo in a piece of classical music. Because it's ridiculous, and whatever else Gaiman is guilty of, clumsy word choices is not one of them.
Mind you, maybe Gaiman himself made the change. If so, he surely could have done better. Eliminate that little exchange altogether, why not.
Quibbles aside, it's good to revisit this world. But I do prefer the books. Dream has far more solemnity and strangeness, on the page. The mere act of having James McAvoy voice him, renders him corporeal, and in more than one scene he enters like a super hero, with a blast of canned music. Give me my dark, byronic brooding hero....more
I found myself looking down at the creek in front of my house, finding spirals in the water and wondering hoGorgeous and weird and beautifully drawn.
I found myself looking down at the creek in front of my house, finding spirals in the water and wondering how overt a thing has to be for you to notice its strangeness; or how strange YOU have to be, to find the small strangenesses in the world around you, and write a story like this....more
Love, whimsy, and magic; the usual Gray formula. My favorite short story collection is Mainly in Moonlight, but there are a some lovely high notes in Love, whimsy, and magic; the usual Gray formula. My favorite short story collection is Mainly in Moonlight, but there are a some lovely high notes in this book, as in the end of Lullaby for a Changeling, and The Sky-Blue Whistling Spark.
Gray's stories always come out right - except when they really really don't - and he's a master at the deft and wistful ending. His longer novels are perfect, but you get a very, very faint flavor of them in these stories. ...more
I think this is the least of Gray's short story collections. Still, they do have his unmistakable stamp of silliness mixed with real darkness - "I'll I think this is the least of Gray's short story collections. Still, they do have his unmistakable stamp of silliness mixed with real darkness - "I'll put a bone in your tongue!" shrieks the nascent witch to her frightened companion.
The darkest little story of all, and the saddest, is the first of the collection; Gray took a story about witchcraft and turned it at an angle, telling it from the angle of a witch's broom, and a young girl - presenting real wickedness as both a drug that addicts, and a terrifying fate. He seems ambivalent about magic in many of these tales, advising against it, and always reckoning up the price to be paid.
Even if these aren't his best, I love his voice....more
This is Gray at his best - just the right amount of whimsy, just the right amount of magic, and a collection of really likeable characters
I treasure tThis is Gray at his best - just the right amount of whimsy, just the right amount of magic, and a collection of really likeable characters
I treasure the little scene soon after Gawain and Gaheris arrive for a visit to the court; they are with the king, who mentions semi-jokingly that they'll need to scatter largesse to the servants; once they're alone, they empty out their pockets (they are frightfully poor) and start scheming a bit pathetically as to how they're to come up with some money and keep up appearances; the queen walks in on them, and promises to keep their secret. A little later the king comes in, sees the queen standing beside the table with their little bit of coin on it, says ah, yes, still stony broke, they were the same the last time they were at court; I've arranged for a few of the servants to lose to them at gambling.
It's so charmingly done; it illustrates the princes' pride and vulnerability, and gives us a king and queen of really exemplary tact and compassion. In Gray's hands, I'm sure even - especially - Mordred could have been redeemed.
I don't have the edition to hand, so I can't give the illustrator's name, but the little line drawings at the head of each chapter are really delightful.
Highly recommend. I can't quite imagine how the fey elements were done in a play, but I really enjoyed it as a story....more
Perry does a clever job of referencing and folding in the original "Melmoth the Wanderer," by Charles Maturin. Her own version - Melmotka - is unfortuPerry does a clever job of referencing and folding in the original "Melmoth the Wanderer," by Charles Maturin. Her own version - Melmotka - is unfortunately a weak spine to hang this story on. The idea of a wandering spirit, a temptress, a tally-keeper and a witness to all the dark and shameful deeds of mankind, is a good one. BUT, she pales beside the actuality of those deeds; it's hard to set a fictional supernatural creature against the ghastly doings of the Holocaust, the burning of heretics, and other real horrors. Melmotka cannot terrify in that company. She's outclassed.
The portion of the story that is made up of real people, hurting themselves and each other, is beautiful and distressing and in the end finds a way to be hopeful. Towards the very end of the story, there's a place where Melmotka is genuinely terrifying; a shivery moment at the opera that is so beautifully described, I can picture the scene in my mind's eye. That aside, she functions mainly as a connective thread to relate very different stories....more
I think the main point of this collection is that you won't have read most of these anywhere else, and may want to use it as a reference list for authI think the main point of this collection is that you won't have read most of these anywhere else, and may want to use it as a reference list for authors you want to look up; fantasy from this time period can be heavy going, and this selection nicely highlights just how different and how accessible (and sadly, how crap, sometimes) fantasy IS, post-Tolkien.
I think the book is worth owning just for the lovely little 'A Christmas Play' by David Lindsay that rounds it out, which at the time this book was published couldn't be found elsewhere, and is still probably hard to come by....more
