Book Review: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: February 2013
Pages: 320
Source: ARC from publishers
For: Review
Series: Finishing School, Book 1

When Sophronia is sent off to be finished, she little expects the kind of finishing that goes on at her new school. On the remote, floating school, she begins to learn the arts of deception, diversion, and espionage...in addition to etiquette and decorum. But she also discovers a lot of secrets, including one that threatens the school and all she's coming to love.

Things I Liked:
I always enjoy a good steampunk novel.  For some reason, they contain just the right amount of quirky fun and strange inventions, so that I can't stop reading them.  I fell in love with Sophronia, who was such a great character to follow around in her mostly historical setting also populated with supernatural creatures and other strange inventions.  There's nothing quite like a girl who doesn't know where she fits, finds a place, and it certainly isn't where she's expected to fit.  I love all the friends she makes too - especially Sidheag, for some reason.  I like her prickly exterior and her complete lack of concern over what makes a lady.  Just an all-around fun steampunk adventure with loveable quirky characters.

Things I Didn't Like:
The plot was a little bit slow and seemed to not be getting anywhere anytime soon.  But the everything else (setting, steampunk fun, characters, etc) kept my attention engaged (though I have to admit it took me almost a month to finally finish it - mostly because I had other books that HAD to be read right away).  Also, there was an inordinate number of side characters introduced, which I assume will play larger roles in future books - a bit of setup-itis I think.  Pick this one up when you need some fun entertainment!

Read-alikes:
Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld
Also, a tiny bit Harry Potter-ish

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe one or two mild ones

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none
despite the numerous run-ins with flywaymen and picklemen :)

Overall rating: ****

Are you a steampunk fan?  What are your favorite steampunk books?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Top Ten Tuesday: Pretend I Did This Two Weeks Ago...

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

So this Top Ten topic, Top Ten Best Bookish Memories, was from two weeks ago and I really wanted to participate because I LOVED everyone's answers, but just didn't get myself motivated enough then.  So now, I'm going to take that plunge and write about some of my favorite bookish memories. 

1 - One of my earliest is not a one time memory, but more of a combination of several.  I remember reading The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner and just adoring the idea of being a runaway kid and living in a boxcar (this was fueled by the creepy and very dirty boxcar parked in the fields of my grandmother's house).  Mixed with that was one of my other early favorite books with a similar runaway kid theme - Enchantress of Crumbledown by Donald R. Marshall, now out of print. There was just something about runaways that sounded so glamorous and exciting, but in real life would definitely NOT have been.  

2 - A number of years later, I recall discovering (and devouring) Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.  I think this book impacted me so much because it was my first introduction to a story that did not have a happy ending!  I couldn't believe how much more I thought about and wondered about the characters when I didn't know exactly what happened.  This was my first book/movie obsession and it was pretty obsessive (I've spared you the pain of seeing evidence, mostly because I'm not sure where all my GWTW paraphernalia went).

3 - Around the same time, when I was 14, I remember discovering Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte accidentally in the school library.  I was sucked into the story and first felt the power of romantic classics.  I adored Mr. Rochester and Jane with my simplistic understanding of their relationship.  This also happened to encourage my desire to find and watch every Jane Eyre movie made at the time.  And there were a lot even back then!

4 - One of my earliest favorites, and still a favorite, is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (what happened to my classics obsession?!?).  I can't even recall the first time I picked it up, but I remember reading and rereading that big (although, I discovered later it was abridged), battered paperback that was handed down from older siblings.  I couldn't believe Dumas could write such a complex story with so many characters and still make it exciting enough that I wanted to plow through it again and again.  Still one of my favorite stories and I've yet to find a movie that does it justice.

5 - I remember being completely engulfed in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien the first time I read it in high school (pre-movies) and being totally blown away with the complexity and just epic nature of the story.  I have since become rather fanatic in my love for LOTR, though that has cooled somewhat.  It still stands as one of my all-time favorite fantasy series and it is just incomparable in my opinion.

6 - Again, not a one-time memory, but when I first started meeting authors it felt like a dream come true!  I remember hearing some young tweens comment at a Brandon Mull event that people were acting like he was a rock star.  And then saying that he kind of was like a rock star.  That is how I feel pretty much every time I meet an author. I've had favorite events, but each one has been such a treat for me.

7 - Along those same lines, meeting bloggers for the first time has definitely been a highlight in my reading life.  Since that first Utah Blogger social I attended, I have really enjoyed every chance I get to hang out with my fellow book-obsessed friends and it made me so happy to realize just how fun it is to hang out with like-minded folks.  

8 - Finally joining a book group!  I can't believe how long it took me to come out of my shell and find (and then start) a book group.  I adore the chance I get every month to chat about books with people who just love to read.  There's something about your bookish friends that just makes you feel at home.  

9 - I loved the few times I've managed to "make" readers out of those in my family who are not readers.  For a long time, this was mostly my sister, who suddenly began reading books I suggested and found she loved it.  But the ultimate achievement for me was when I finally got my husband (who had never liked reading) to pick up the Harry Potter books and he just ripped through them. While he doesn't have much time for it while he's in school, it's always so fun to introduce him to a new series (Maze Runner or Hunger Games) that he just can't put down.  One of the most rewarding experiences in a readers life, I think.

10 - This last memory is from this summer when I finally got to attend an ALA conference.  Despite not being able to afford going to any events or panels, it was so fantastic to just go and feel the excitement.  Even if I never get a chance to attend another bookish conference like this, I will consider that dream as fulfilled and count myself fortunate.

Any bookish memories you want to share? 

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Mini Reviews 10

It's been months since my last mini reviews and it's about time I get some of these books reviewed!  So, enjoy.

The Candy Shop War, Book 2: Arcade Catastrophe by Brandon Mull
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publication date: October 2012
Pages: 416
Source: ARC from ALA
For: Review
Series: Candy Shop War, Book 2

The kids are now battling for stamps that give them magical powers.  They are caught up in a plot by another evil magician to find a magical object so powerful he would control the world.  They must fight and race against each other and against other kids in order to gain access to this magical

My thoughts:
This book definitely has the signature Mull imaginative story.  With stamps that give magical powers and an evil magician seeking to take over the world, the kids face seemingly insurmountable odds.  There are so many strange and quirky characters and artifacts that it seems Mull has unlimited stores of weird ideas.  There's plenty of action and the end will keep you guessing right to the last page.  But, I had a really hard time wanting to keep reading.  It seemed to drag on for a really long time and I lost interest often in what was happening with the kids.  I got annoyed at the many side tracks that seemed to happen throughout.  I put down the book a number of times and finally had to force myself to finish.  I think fans of Fablehaven will get a kick out of this story.
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The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Publication date: originally published 1961
Pages: 6 hrs 57 min
Source: Audiobook from library
For: Driving Sanity

Daniel's one purpose in life is to avenge his father's death at the hands of the Romans.  He's left his sister in the care of his aging grandmother in order to join a band of rebels intent on breaking free of the Romans.  But when his life takes a different turn he little expects to be drawn to Jesus, a rabbi who teaches something completely different than what he wants, but who he can't seem to forget about.

My thoughts:
I never read enough historical fiction and when I do, I am reminded just how great well-written and researched historical fiction is.  I loved the setting - it's definitely unusual in YA and MG literature.  I loved how natural Daniel's progression is through the story.  The characters were flawed and therefore more real - even if I did get mad at Daniel's hardheadedness a few times.  They believed what was natural for them at the time and they made mistakes that hurt.  It was also unique to see the focus of the story not on Jesus' death and resurrection, but on his power to heal - both physically and in other ways.  I wasn't very pleased with the narrator, but I thought she did an ok job (look up narrator).  A powerful book, one that left an impression on me.
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The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Publisher: Recorded Books
Publication date: originally published 1982
Pages: 12 hrs 16 min
Source: Audiobook from library
For: Driving Sanity

When Harry is sent to live with her brother in Istan, a place right on the outskirts of the empire, she finds that the change in country suits her.  But she is strangely drawn to the Hillfolk - an independent people with mysterious powers that her country has long been unable to conquer.  When the king of the Hillfolk visits their home to try negotiating a treaty, he is disappointed in the Homelanders mistrust of his people.  Harry, however, can't seem to get the people out of her mind and heart.  And her destiny is closely tied to these strange people.

My thoughts:
This is still one of my favorite fantasy stories of all time.  I've reviewed this one before on the blog, but decided to listen to the audio for fun.  I found the story still intrigues me with its glorious details and I still love Harry for all her wild and difficult ways.  However, I really struggled with the audiobook.  The narrator, Diane Warren, used strange random pauses in the middle of sentences and in places where pauses didn't make sense.  Her voices were not that well done or distinguishable and I just didn't want to listen.  I would have given up if I didn't want to remember the story and if I hadn't had nothing else to listen to on my commute at the time.  Definitely one to pick up in print.
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Miles to Go for Freedom: Segregation and Civil Rights in the Jim Crow Years by Linda Barnett Osborne
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date: January 2012
Pages: 128
Source: Library
For: Fun

This book recounts the history of segregation and civil rights during the period from the 1890s to 1954.  Discussing the Jim Crow years both in the North and the South from first hand accounts and other sources.

My Thoughts:
I learned tons from this book and it wasn't hard to keep reading it - a perfect combination for nonfiction, I think.  I keep realizing just how ignorant I am about civil rights, Jim Crow laws, black history, and so much more.  I liked that this focused on a time period that I didn't know a lot about (or much of anything).  I was completely surprised to learn that African Americans had way more rights in the late 1800s than they did like 40 years later.  It's painful to read about those rights being slowly sucked away.  This was readable and very well researched.

Any thoughts on these?  Ones you've read or want to read?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Happy Cybils Day!

Today's the day for the happiest announcement! Even though I didn't participate in Cybils judging this year, I still adore anticipating the announcement. And it's finally here! So, without any more babbling or exclamation points from me, here are the winners (well, some of them):

MG fiction: Wonder by R.J. Palacio (so happy about this - was a bit sad it got no mentions in the youth media awards last month)

MG Sci-fi/Fantasy: The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen (love, love, love this one!)

YA fiction: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews (and I haven't had any desire to read this before...)

YA Sci-fi/Fantasy: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (at least this is on my TBR pile!)

And you can find the rest of the winners at the Cybils website (sorry too lazy to list any others).

Any surprises?  Comments?  Disappointments?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

BTW, thank you all so much for your support and enthusiasm following my announcement last week - you are all so wonderful and supportive!  I love being a part of this great blogging community :)

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publication date: March 2012
Pages: 264
Source: Library
For: Book Group

When Marianne is invited to visit with her sister at a country estate, she is more than happy to escape her life in Bath. What she doesn't expect is to be completely thrown off balance by a young man who manages to surprise her at every turn. And when her sister arrives, intending very much to snag the man of the house, things begin to get a little bit more than interesting.

Things I Liked:
As I mentioned in my favorites from 2012 post, this book reminded me just why I love to read Jane Austen and old fashioned romance stories.  I loved the way the love story developed between Phillip and Marianne.  It was slow, sweet, and good.  I loved the period details, though they were pretty light and I enjoyed watching the story unfold.  I found myself completely immersed, especially in the interactions between the two.  The dialog was lively and the chemistry between them felt perfect.  Honestly, I just felt so good and happy after reading it, that I don't care about its flaws.  A darn good read.

Things I Didn't Like:
I know the writing and style were not at the same level as Jane Austen or even Heyer.  The plot was pretty predictable from the beginning; it stretched believability a few times.  But, as I mentioned, I noticed none of this and simply enjoyed the ride.  I love to be able to do that sometimes.

Read-alikes:
Anything Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: *****

I really need to read more historical fiction like this.  Any great suggestions?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Well, There's This

You know how people are always coming up with excuses for why they haven't been blogging as regularly? I know I do. Life happens, work's busy, etc. Well, here's my current excuse:

Enjoy the obligatory creepy ultrasound image that no one but parents and grandparents really care about.

She's making her debut in June. Most of you don't know this, but my husband and I have been trying for kids for a looooong time. And we'd begun working on the adoption process. So, needless to say, this little miracle was a big, welcome surprise.  I've been trying to keep up on my blogging, but some days, I just don't have the energy. :) Thanks for being patient and for sticking around!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publication date: October 2012
Pages: 368
Source: ARC from ALA
For: Review
Series: Ruby Red, Book 2

*Spoilers are inevitable for the first book, Ruby Red*
Gwen's life has been turbulent, to say the least, since she's discovered she's the one with the time traveling gene. With all that prep time she missed out on, she's a bit backward when they visit the eighteenth century. But their travels to get the blood of all the time travelers is not going as well as it should and things in her own day are starting to heat up. Especially when the frustrating Gideon is involved.

Things I Liked:
Time travel.  Really, I always seem to remember when I'm reading books about time travel, that they are a weakness for me.  I just love a good, complicated time-bending story.  Obviously, the parts about time travel were my favorite.  I loved when the plot got complicated because of when things happened and who had gone back to do them, etc.  The romance was not a win for me, but I was able to overlook it most of the time and just enjoy the strange time travel delights and Gwen's fiesty reactions to many things.  I like the way she doesn't fit into a mold and most of the time, doesn't care about it.  I like how she's mad when they exclude her and then finds ways to figure things out on her own. 

Things I Didn't Like:
Seriously, I hate the romance.  I think the way Gideon treats her (hot and cold, etc) was just plain annoying.  But the way Gwen reacted was even more so.  She just couldn't help herself from loving him, he was so handsome and charming, except when he was cold and rude.  And she wouldn't let him kiss her again if he was going to act like that.  Until he tries to kiss her again.  She just should have smacked him upside the head and told him to hit the highway.  I think sometimes I like to impose my adult romantic sensibilities on teen romance.  My other beef with the story was the lack of story about Lucy and Paul.  Considering Lucy is the sapphire, I figured that she would play a big part in the story.  She only shows up maybe once or twice.  I was a bit disappointed by that, actually, because I'm very interested in what they are up to.  More than in Gideon and Gwen.  But, I still have high hopes for the last book.

Read-alikes:
Reminds me of Hourglass by Myra McIntire

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
some, not too much

mrg-factor: XX
mostly talk, though with fairly loose views of teen sex

v-factor: ->
a fight or two, but nothing described

Overall rating: ***

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Classic Double Challenge: January & February Links

My apologies for not getting a place for you to link up to your reviews/thoughts on any Classic Double Challenge books you might have read for January! But now, you can add them here and any that you talk about in February too. I've not managed to read anything for the challenge yet, but I'm planning to start very soon.

In case you missed it, I hosted the first annual (well, I hope it's annual) Retell Me a Story event on Jan 13-19. It was a lot of fun and some really great people were guest posters. Also, we talked about some favorite and some new and upcoming retellings. If you're still looking for ideas on what to read, definitely check out all the Retell Me a Story posts. 

And if you haven't signed up for the Classic Double Challenge yet, there's still time! Head over to the sign up page.

What books are you hoping to get started with this month?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Prodigy by Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication date: January 2013
Pages: 384
Source: ARC won in Lenore's Dystopian August
For: Fun
Series: Legend, Book 2

*Spoilers are inevitable for the first book, Legend*
June and Day have barely escaped LA and when they finally make it to Las Vegas, they must join with the patriots in order to survive. But the patriots have their own plans for them, plans that unfold when the electorate dies and his son, Anden, takes over. They must assassinate Anden in order to escape from the Republic and to get Day's brother back. But June isn't sure she can follow through with the plan after all.

Things I Liked:
This one had just as much cinematic action to keep me glued to the pages as Legend.  I loved watching Day and June try to figure out what is best for them and also for other people.  When I finished, pretty much the phrase that sums up how I felt was "I didn't see THAT coming!" and it was true throughout most of the book.  I really never figured anything out before it happened (though, there were obvious clues) and I was surprised each time something new was revealed.  Lu is a master of weaving the tale and keeping her secrets.  The ending was painful in the extreme and I was a tiny bit annoyed at the card she played, but I'm invested enough to see what happens in the next installment.

Things I Didn't Like:
As I mentioned, what happens at the very end almost seemed contrived to me, to keep the tension going into the next book.  But it didn't ruin the book for me.  Also, with so much going on sometimes I didn't feel connected to the characters.  But, I enjoyed watching June and Day try to figure out just what it was they felt for each other and why.  Interesting and entertaining from beginning to end.

Read-alikes:
Start with Legend by Marie Lu
The set up reminds me of Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Starters by Lissa Price
Divergent series by Veronica Roth

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
a few here and there

mrg-factor: X
a bit steamy

v-factor: ->->->
plenty of action and fighting

Overall rating: ****

What future world from a book do you find the most realistic?  The most terrifying?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

ALA Youth Media Awards 2013: Printz, Newbery, and the Like

So, it is an exciting day for folks in the youth and YA book field - we get to hear the ALA Youth Media Award winners announced!  I love to follow the announcements and read people's reactions (on twitter).  I managed to follow along while it happened and had a few reactions of my own.  Here's a list of the ones that I noticed.  For a full list, head to the ALA Youth Media Awards page.


Morris Award (for debut authors): Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
I've got this one checked out and waiting for me.  I've heard many good things, so I'm pretty excited.

Margaret A. Edwards Award (for significant contribution to YA lit): Tamora Pierce
I may have discovered her late (like, last year) but I've enjoyed all I've read of hers (Song of the Lioness and Trickster) and I know she's had a big impact on a lot of people.


Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Another I haven't read, but this one popped up on a LOT of lists.  And at least I'd heard of it :)


Printz Award: In Darkness Nick Lake
Honors: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, The White Bicycle by Beverly Brenna, Dodger by Terry Pratchett, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Way to go again, Printz, for picking something I hadn't heard of.  I had high hopes that my beloved Code Name Verity would take the prize, but an honor is ok too.  And it's the only one I've read of the bunch.  Ugh.


Newbery Award: One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Honors: Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steven Sheinkin, Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz, Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
I did a little better with this one than Printz, having actually read the winner.  I also just finished Splendors and Glooms, so that's two from the list!  Not much to brag about, but not too bad.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (for substantial contribution to children's lit):  Katherine Paterson
A great choice, I think.  She's got a number of fabulous books, including Bridge to Terabithia, The Great Gilly Hopkins, Jacob Have I Loved, and more recently The Flintheart.


Caldecott Medal: This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
I don't normally pay attention to this one as I've not read many picture books.  However, when this one took the prize, I had to say proudly - I've read it.  Thanks to Danielle, I got a glimpse of it before publication and found it just as lovely as the Caldecott committee did.  

My one notably overlooked book was Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  I couldn't believe it didn't even get a Schneider!  With all the talk (and it wasn't all just talk - this was a seriously good book), I was a bit flabbergasted not to see it show up anywhere.

What are your thoughts on the winners?  What book(s) do you wish had gotten some love?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Son by Lois Lowry

Son by Lois Lowry
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication date: October 2012
Pages: 400
Source: Purchased
For: Fun
Series: The Giver, Book 4

Claire didn't always live in her small community - she washed up on their shore years ago. She hasn't shared much of her past with anyone, but she still holds a burning desire to find her son - a boy that she gave birth to and wasn't supposed to even remember. She'll do the impossible to find him again, even facing a danger that few have attempted before.

Things I Liked:
I'm amazed at how beautifully Lowry wrapped up the stories in this series.  I love the societies she's imagined and the uniquely detailed and yet still not entirely clear way she's described them.  Despite the fact that thinking hard about how a world without color doesn't seem possible, it feels real.  Claire's journey was fascinating, watching the choices she makes and the things she discovers about herself and her society felt natural.  It's a testament to how well Lowry writes that a story without very much actual action can capture your attention so completely.  I never got bored, despite its rather slow-moving pace.  It's full of questions and thoughtful looks at our future and our choices.  Great ending to this quieter dystopian series.

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, I'm not sure how much teens and kids will relate to a story about a mother who will do anything to find her lost child.  The feelings and motivations seem very much adult, despite Claire's very young age.  

Read-alikes:
Read The Giver, Gathering Blue, and Messenger by Lois Lowry first
Reminded me of the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
that I recall

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
not precisely described, but some action

Overall rating: ****

Which do you prefer - quieter, more thoughtful or action-packed dystopian literature?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Retell Me a Story Wrap-Up and Winners

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in Retell Me a Story, both guest posters and visitors! I had so much fun talking about retellings all week and I hope I can do another celebration next year.

Here's a list of all the fun stuff that happened last week in case you missed something:
- Welcome and giveaway post (giveaway closed),

- A guest post from Nikki of BookPairing on The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood,

- A list of new and upcoming retellings,

- A guest post from author Diane Zahler on fairy tale mixers,

- A review of one of Diane's fairy tale retellings, The Thirteenth Princess,

- A fun Robin Hood guest post by Suey of It's All About Books,

- A guest post by author Marissa Meyer on fairy tale scavenger hunts,

- A review of a fairy tale mash-up, Enchanted by Alethea Kontis,

- A guest post by Angie of Angieville on her favorite classic retellings

- A review of The Turning by Francine Prose, a retelling of The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

- A guest post where author April Lindner answers my questions about her classic retellings

- A review of Catherine by April Lindner, a retelling of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

- A guest post from Jessica of Books: A True Story on taking fairy tales to new places

- A review of The Humming Room by Ellen Potter, a sort-of retelling of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett


And for those of you who participated in the giveaway, the two winners (who have been contacted by email) were:
1 - Emma @ Hopeful Happiness 
2 - Nikki @ BookPairing

Thanks again and I hope you all found some great new retellings to enjoy this year!  (If not, feel free to peruse the giant list of retellings I've compiled so far :)

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Retell Me a Story Guest Post: Jessica from Books: A True Story

I'm pleased to welcome my last Retell Me a Story guest poster, Jessica who blogs at Books: A True Story. She can also be found on twitter, goodreads, tumblr and Facebook. Thanks for joining us, Jessica!

Taking Fairy Tales Where They've Never Gone Before

I love fairy tales. Especially the Disney ones. I grew up on those. As a little girl, I'd whoosh from the back of the tub to the front to make a maximum wave of water (which usually ended up on the floor) while singing at the top of my lungs “Part of your woooooorrrrrld.” My mom would get mad and I'd explain that I was just being Ariel and flash my best innocent pouty face.

When I got older, I learned that most fairy tales are originally from The Grimm's Fairy Tales. Surely the Disney versions couldn't be that far from the original ones. Right?

Oh so wrong.

Take Rapunzel. I was no longer a kid when this movie came out (Ugh it's called Tangled but even my boys call it Rapunzel). I'm crying at the end thinking that Disney finally killed off a main character. But then magic saves him. Happily ever after the end.

Here's the Grimm version in a nutshell:

Mother Gothel banishes Rapunzel to the desert when she finds out Rapunzel has a lover and blinds Rapunzel's lover WITH THORNS (Side note: Why does Rapunzel's lover not have a name??). Blind lover wanders around for a few years before he happens to find Rapunzel and her two kids starving to death in the desert. The end.

That....is....a really depressing story.

So why do we love fairy tales so much? I can't help but wonder why people would tell these disturbing stories to their kids. Maybe there is some sort of benefit to traumatizing your kids that my kids are missing out on. Hm.

But here's why I love fairy tales – they have excellent conflict.

That's one of my favorite things about the Once Upon a Time TV show. It really embraces the conflict in fairy tales and in some cases kicks it up a notch. Little Red Riding Hood EATS her lover, anyone??

So if fairy tales have excellent conflict and story the way they are, why do so many people retell them?

I have no idea.

Personally, my favorite thing about retellings is how they update the setting and characters to make them more relatable and interesting. The best example I have of this is War of the Worlds. If you read the book, it's about a sci-fi alien invasion with everyone running away from the aliens with their horses and buggies. Which is really kind of sad when you think about it. The movie with Tom Cruise has a very similar plot, but they run away in SUVs instead. And they fight back with tanks. That's a little more relatable to me. Not that I've ever driven a tank, but I have driven an SUV.

So I am tipping my hat to all those amazing authors that take amazing fairy tales and make them modern and relatable to me. Let's take fairy tales where they've never gone before! Like space! Or Montana!

Where do you think fairy tales are headed?  Where do you want them to go?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Retell Me a Story Book Review: The Humming Room by Ellen Potter

It's the last day of Retell Me a Story fun! In case you've missed out on anything, check out all the previous posts:
- Welcome and giveaway post,
- A guest post from Nikki of BookPairing on The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood,
- A list of new and upcoming retellings,
- A guest post from author Diane Zahler on fairy tale mixers,
- A review of one of Diane's fairy tale retellings, The Thirteenth Princess,
- A fun Robin Hood guest post by Suey of It's All About Books,
- A guest post by author Marissa Meyer on fairy tale scavenger hunts,
- A review of a fairy tale mash-up, Enchanted by Alethea Kontis,
- A guest post by Angie of Angieville on classic retellings
- A review of The Turning by Francine Prose, a retelling of The Turn of the Screw
- A guest post where author April Lindner answers my questions about classic retellings
- A review of Catherine by April Lindner, a retelling of Wuthering Heights
- A guest post from Jessica of Books: A True Story on taking fairy tales to new places

The Humming Room by Ellen Potter
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: February 2012
Pages: 192
Source: ARC sent from publisher
For: Review

Roo has spent most of her life hiding - from the bad things her parents were doing. But when she suddenly finds herself orphaned and taken to live with an uncle she's never heard of, she begins to find that hiding isn't always the solution. In her strange and spooky new home, she secrets and places that will change her as much as she changes them.

Things I Liked:
I had a lot of fun thinking about the ways this one relates to The Secret Garden.  If I hadn't just reread that classic last year, I probably would have done it for my Classic Double Challenge this year.  I loved the way Roo's life was updated and modernized from Mary's (although I'm not sure "loved" is the best word for it, since her parents were drug dealers and got murdered).  It was just as rewarding to watch Roo come out of hiding and connect with people, like Violet and Jack as well as her cousin.  It managed to capture some of that sweetness, as well as some of the mysterious atmosphere of the unique setting, though this time it was an isolated island.  Fun and satisfying.

Things I Didn't Like:
I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a bit more.  It felt like most of the book was spent introducing Roo and all her problems, leaving the resolution and transformation of her cousin and the garden was very rushed.  The ending was neat and short and I wanted more of the magic and wonder I remember from the original.

Read-alikes:
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
not exactly violence, but her before life was definitely not pretty

Overall rating: ***

What beloved childhood classic would you like to see updated?

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Retell Me a Story Guest Post: April Lindner

I'm happy to welcome my next guest poster, April Lindner, who was gracious enough to answer some of my questions.  She's the author of Jane and Catherine, both fabulous retellings of Bronte sisters' works.  She can also be found on twitter and goodreads.  

What kind of research did you do on the original tale(s)?
I begin with books I already love, books I’ve read over and over, and then I steep myself in them some more. When I was writing Jane, I kept a copy of Jane Eyre beside my bed and read before I fell asleep it at night, or whenever I started to feel writer’s block coming on. I also drove around town with the audiobook in my CD player, just to absorb as much of the language and mood as possible.

While writing Catherine, I gave myself permission to roam a little more freely away from the source material—to absorb the characters and the mood, but not to worry so much about hitting all the major plot points. Though I reread Wuthering Heights before I started, while I was actually writing, I set the book aside. I did load Wuthering Heights on my iPod, though, and I listened to it at night while I drifted off to sleep. Considering how dark Bronte’s novel is, I’m a little surprised it didn’t give me nightmares.

How did you incorporate the original tale into your story?
Jane is a pretty faithful adaptation of Jane Eyre. There are so many moments in the original that I couldn’t imagine leaving out, so I found ways to work all my favorites in. By the time I set out to write Catherine, though, I wanted to experiment with going further afield from the original. Wuthering Heights, with its multiple narrators and multigenerational sweep, was in many ways much more challenging to retell.

Film adaptations of Wuthering Heights have tended to focus on the love story between Catherine and Heathcliff, and leave out the rest. I knew I didn’t want to go that route. I’ve always thought the second half of the story is as important as the first. When Heathcliff’s love for Catherine is thwarted, his pain and resentment cast a shadow over the lives of their children. The second half of the novel is really about how Catherine’s daughter finds her way out of that shadow, and I wanted to tell that story too. In my retelling, Catherine’s daughter’s name is Chelsea, and she gets a chance to speak.

How did you determine what elements of the original story to include in your story?
Some elements of Wuthering Heights would have been really hard to translate into the 21st century. For one thing, Catherine’s daughter marries both her first cousins—first one, then the other. For another, Catherine’s father picks up a stray orphan child from the streets of Liverpool and brings him home to raise among his own children—which nowadays would be considered kidnapping. I gave myself permission to step away from the more anachronistic parts of the plot and to concentrate on its more universal elements.

Also, one defining aspect of Wuthering Heights is the cruelty that propels much of the plot. I originally set out to recreate that intense violence, but I found myself constitutionally unable to pull it off. I’m basically a pretty sunny personality, and I found that a little cruelty and violence went a long way. Unlike in the original, in Catherine no children are abused and no puppies are killed.

Why did you choose to retell the original story?
I have an endless appetite for retellings. When I fall in love with a book, I want to revisit it again and again. One way of doing that is, of course, rereading. Another is watching film adaptations. But writing a retelling takes things to a whole different level. Not only do you get to revisit characters you bonded with; you get to interact with them—to play with them. In many ways, it’s the same impulse that leads people to write fan fiction, I think.

Why do you think we are so drawn to classic stories? What makes them stand the tests of time so well?
The stories we think of as classics are the ones that have stuck with us for centuries or, at least, decades. People still read those stories, despite the passage of time, because they say something crucial about what it means to be a human being, and they do so in language or imagery or archetypes that burn into our collective memories.

Did you like reading classics in high school?
Yes, I did. I even sometimes read classics that hadn’t been assigned. Does that make me a total geek? I hope not. I remember reading Romeo and Juliet in English class and all but swooning from the gorgeous romantic poetry of passages like this:

Give me my Romeo; and when he shall die
Take him and cut him out in little stars
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.

Does it get any more romantic than that? I don’t think so!

What are some of your favorite classics?
I love everything by Jane Austen and E. M. Forster. (I’m currently working on a modernization of Forster’s A Room With a View, an all time favorite of mine.) I also adore George Eliot’s Middlemarch, and all of Shakespeare’s tragedies.

What are some of your favorite retellings?
Last summer I read Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder, a ravishing retelling of Heart of Darkness. And the summer before that, I read and was blown away by On Beauty, Zadie Smith’s retelling of Howard’s End. But my favorite quasi-retelling of all time is probably Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca, which definitely draws elements from Jane Eyre. Some of my favorite retellings have been screen versions, films like Easy A and Clueless. And, while it’s not exactly a retelling, the British series Lost in Austen is a really fun riff on Pride and Prejudice.

Thanks for joining us, April!
(And don't forget to check out my review of Catherine and the giveaway that includes my ARC of Catherine)

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage