Little Willow ([info]slayground) wrote,
@ 2008-04-30 06:23:00
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Current mood: okay
Current music:It Doesn't Matter by Alison Krauss and Union Station
Entry tags:booklists, books, christopher golden, tom sniegoski

Booklist: Fairy Tales Retold
Thanks to [info]morganlight for prompting me to create this list, which is based on one of my favorite topics: fairy tales retold.

For ages 8 and up
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Cinderella without the fantasy elements)
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (The curse of a fairy godmother's gift)
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain (Camelot)
The Princess Tales series by Gail Carson Levine (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and more)
The Legend of Holly Claus by Brittney Ryan (Santa Claus)

For ages 10 and up
East by Edith Pattou (Beauty and the Beast)
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley (Sleeping Beauty)
Quicksilver by Stephanie Spinner (Hermes)
Quiver by Stephanie Spinner (Atalanta)
Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst (Rapunzel, Puss-in-Boots, and more)
Goose Chase by Patricia Kindl (Goose Girl)
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (The concept of princesses in general)
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (Maid Maleen)

- I have yet to read Enna Burning by Shannon Hale. Please don't spoil it for me!

For ages 13 and up
The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegoski (Nephilim - quartet of novels)
Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer (Cinderella without the fantasy elements)
The Poison Apples by Lily Archer (three girls bond over their issues with their stepmothers; another realistic non-fantasy)
I Am Morgan le Fay by Nancy Springer (Camelot; sequel: I Am Mordred)
The Blue Girl by Charles deLint
Beastly by Alex Flinn (Beauty and the Beast)

Published for adults - also recommended for older teens
Innocence by Jane Mendelsohn (Wicked Stepmother and the Last Girl Theory - one of my favorite books)
Straight on 'til Morning by Christopher Golden (Peter Pan - set as a coming-of-age story in 1981 - jaw-dropping)
The Ferryman by Christopher Golden (Charon - one of Golden's best)
The Veil sequence by Christopher Golden (A multitude of myths - Read the books in order: The Myth Hunters, The Borderkind, The Lost Ones)
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (African lore)
American Gods by Neil Gaiman (A multitude of myths)
Instructions by Neil Gaiman (Short story)
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire (Cinderella)

Other fairy tale titles which I thought were decent but not fantastic:
Wicked by Gregory Maguire (The Wizard of Oz)
Mira, Mirror by Mette Ivie Harrison (Snow White)
Tales From the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird by Vivian Vande Velde (Various)
The Spoon in the Bathroom Wall by Tony Johnston (Camelot)
Diary of a Fairy Godmother by Esme Raji Codell (Fairy godmothers in general)

Last but not least, my favorite stories that (re)define the book-within-a-book format. Although they are not strictly fairy tales, those who do love well-done fantasy stories will love these. I know that I do. You should read these books right now.

The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende (The power of imagination)
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder (A philosophy textbook wrapped in a novel)
Poison by Chris Wooding (I won't say anything more so I won't give anything away)

Bonus! One night in December 2007, I stumbled across the website and blog of Ashley Smith, an aspiring children's book illustrator. I absolutely adore her fairy tale series! Take a peek through her gallery.


(Post a new comment)


[info]elfstar18
2006-05-07 05:52 pm UTC (link)
I recently read and would recommend Deerskin by Robin McKinley. It is loosely based on Allerleirauh, one of the less savory and often edited out Grimm's fairy tales.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

[info]slayground
2006-05-07 06:09 pm UTC (link)
Thanks! I want to read more of McKinley's works. A friend recently read Beauty.

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[info]fa3ryg1rl
2006-05-07 06:40 pm UTC (link)
Deerskin is a good story (a darker one, but good). Beauty is also good, as well as Spindle's End, Rose Daughter, and Door in the Hedge.

Retold fairy tales are my specialty! ^_^

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-07 07:26 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]fa3ryg1rl, 2006-05-07 08:39 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]elfstar18, 2006-05-07 08:19 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-07 08:23 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]fa3ryg1rl, 2006-05-07 08:37 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-08 07:59 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]fa3ryg1rl, 2006-05-09 09:47 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-09 05:36 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]fa3ryg1rl, 2006-05-09 05:53 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-09 06:15 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]fa3ryg1rl, 2006-05-09 06:16 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-09 06:19 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]fa3ryg1rl, 2006-05-09 06:56 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-08 08:05 pm UTC

addercat
2006-05-07 09:01 pm UTC (link)
Yay! More to add to my reading list. :) I'm not sure if you read the genres, but if you ever have time I'd love a rec list for adult science fiction and/or fantasy. Oooh, or books with cats. I read a fantasy novel about a cat revolution that was a lot better than I'm making it sound right now. I wish I could remember the name... I'll have to check my book boxes or shelves. Hmm.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

addercat
2006-05-07 09:06 pm UTC (link)
Okay, I'm fairly certain it was this book by Erin Hunter. From what I remember it was good, though I didn't know it was for grades 6-9! Nice.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]slayground
2006-05-08 08:01 pm UTC (link)
I can't read Warriors because I know they don't all live, and I can't deal with that. Horrible murders and serial killers on CSI, Without a Trace, SVU? in books by Christopher Golden? SURE! A cute little animal even getting a infected claw? TEARS.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

[info]slayground
2006-05-08 08:01 pm UTC (link)
Cats cats cats.

I'll make you lists later this week.

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[info]fa3ryg1rl
2006-05-09 09:48 am UTC (link)
Diane Duane has some books with cats in it. I think they're YA.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-09 05:36 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]fa3ryg1rl, 2006-05-09 05:52 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-09 06:16 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]fa3ryg1rl, 2006-05-09 06:59 pm UTC

[info]daisylullaby
2006-05-07 09:43 pm UTC (link)
And one of my favorites, Rose and the Beast: fairy tales retold by Francesca Lia Block

(thanks for all your book lists, btw. I can't even remember where I found your journal, but it's awesome. :) )

(Reply to this)(Thread)

[info]slayground
2006-05-08 07:58 pm UTC (link)
I have never read a FLB cover-to-cover. Excerpts have shown me that her style doesn't suit my taste.

. . . but if you like her works, have you read INNOCENCE by Jane Mendelsohn yet? :)

You are welcome. Thank you for the compliments.

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[info]innle
2006-05-10 05:41 am UTC (link)
(Hello, random internet stranger here! *waves*)

I personally don't think Francesca Lia Block's writing works very well across whole novels, but it's perfect for the short stories in Rose and the Beast. There are a couple of heartbreaking YA ones in there.

Deerskin is ... good, but I found it patchy. It's definitely one of McKinley's more difficult books, too, due to some of the content. I have a soft spot for her Outlaws of Sherwood, the best Robin Hood adaptation I've ever read.

Garth Nix's recent collection Across The Wall has a couple of fairytale retellings, including a GREAT Hansel & Gretel and some interesting Camelot offshoots.

Are you counting ballads and folksongs as fairy tales? There are some wonderful refigurings of Tam Lin around, including one of my favourite books ever, Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones. Pamela Dean's Tam Lin also falls into this category, but I haven't read it yet (I can't get my hands on a copy).

Re: book within a book format - have you read The Princess Bride? Much as I love the movie, I think I may like the book better on some levels.

Fairy tale retellings are one of my absolute favourite genres ever, so why can't I think of more without resorting to my book logs? Heh.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-10 06:03 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]innle, 2006-05-10 06:25 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-10 06:26 pm UTC

[info]tornyourdress
2006-05-08 04:27 am UTC (link)
And Emma Donoghue's Kissing The Witch! Marketed towards adults in the UK but teenagers in the US, I believe - she retells fairytales with a focus on the female characters. I think you'd like it. :)

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[info]slayground
2006-05-08 07:46 pm UTC (link)
Ooh, I haven't heard of that.

Remind me to do one list that is ALL ALICE and another that is PURELY PAN.

:)

(Reply to this)(Parent)

[info]dianoraek
2006-05-08 10:54 am UTC (link)
You DO need to read more by Charles DeLint! I've read about 80% of his books, and some are stronger than others, but they're all excellent reads.

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[info]slayground
2006-05-08 07:18 pm UTC (link)
Which one should I read next?

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]fa3ryg1rl
2006-05-09 09:57 am UTC (link)
I actually emailed him to see what order his Newford series books go and here is the webpage he directed me to:
http://www.sfsite.com/charlesdelint/faq.htm#newford

If you scroll down, there is a list.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-09 05:35 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]fa3ryg1rl, 2006-05-09 06:59 pm UTC

[info]dianoraek
2006-05-25 11:31 pm UTC (link)
Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you; I hope you have comment notifications on so that LJ will shoot you an email!

I prefer Charles DeLint's Newford books the most; they're not direct sequels to each other, but it's all a part of the same universe, and many characters show up in multiple books. From CDL's website, he lists them in this order:

"The best place to start is the collection Dreams Underfoot. From there they go pretty much in this order:
The Dreaming Place
Memory And Dream
The Ivory And The Horn
Trader
Someplace To Be Flying
Moonlight And Vines
Forests Of The Heart
The Onion Girl
Seven Wild Sisters (also available in Tapping the Dream Tree)
Tapping the Dream Tree
Spirits in the Wires
Medicine Road
The Blue Girl"

My favorite out of all of those is The Onion Girl, but the rest of them are absolute joys to read, from the collections of short stories to the full-length novels.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]dianoraek, 2006-05-25 11:33 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-26 02:16 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2006-05-26 02:16 am UTC
Maguire
[info]slayground
2007-01-16 03:42 am UTC (link)
I like Wicked, but I prefer Confessions. I have yet to read Mirror, Mirror or Son of a Witch. I was incredibly disappointed in Lost.

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Re: Maguire
[info]avra
2007-11-27 07:34 pm UTC (link)
hi! stumbled on your page while researching a paper on dark retellings of grimm fairy tales, i'll have to come back later when i have more time to read through, since this is my favroite type of literature.
in terms of maguire -
also liked wicked and confessions, and also liked mirror mirror and son of a witch. i actually think son of a witch is my favorite thus far, with confessions coming in a close second.
lost was horrible, i couldn't get through it.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)
Re: Maguire
[info]slayground
2007-11-27 07:39 pm UTC (link)
Good luck with your research paper!

Have you read any books by Christopher Golden? You should, you really should. He's written some fantastic retellings (Straight on 'til Morning = Peter Pan) as well as books that weave different mythological characters and events together with modern-day (The Menagerie series, The Veil sequence).

Lost disappointed me because it was touted as A Christmas Carol/Scrooge + Jack the Ripper + Alice in Wonderland - and I adore Alice and am intrigued by the open-ended Jack case - so I expected those stories, like his other retellings.

If you want to read a book about a strange
house, try The House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

[info]eiki
2008-02-11 04:29 am UTC (link)
Stumbled upon this journal while searching for titles that did all these retellings :D I'm doing an article for a magazine production class, so this list helped me a lot. That and I'm really interested in reading some of these titles myself. Will need to write these down so I remember what to buy the next time I go to a bookstore ;)

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[info]slayground
2008-02-11 04:35 am UTC (link)
You are welcome! I was just about to add Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer to this list - modern day retelling of Cinderella, without any fantasy, set in an LA high school, for ages 13 and up.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]eiki
2008-02-11 12:37 pm UTC (link)
I prefer fantasy myself, but am always willing to read any YA book with a high school setting :D Thanks for that.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]slayground, 2008-02-11 02:09 pm UTC

[info]angieville.blogspot.com
2008-05-01 04:55 pm UTC (link)
I would add Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier to the Fairy Tales marketed for adults but would be enjoyed by older teens list. It's a beautiful retelling of the Seven Swans fairy tale. One of my very favorite fairy tales.

Also A Curse Dark as Gold (Rumpelstiltskin) by Elizabeth C. Bunce and Beastly (contemporary Beauty & the Beast) by Alex Flinn for the over 13 crowd.

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[info]slayground
2008-05-01 10:42 pm UTC (link)
I have yet to read Marillier's novels, but I intend to do so - the same with Curse's debut. I read and enjoyed Beastly. Thanks!

(Reply to this)(Parent)

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