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Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:56 am
by C is for
link to question

I am a fairy tale adaptation kind of girl. They are probably among my favorite kind of book to read -- which is good, because there are a lot of them out there.

Since I read them in such volume, it's difficult to pin down a favorite, though I may have to go with Spindle's End. I've read that book more times than I can count. But I do read a lot that are at least good. I decided to go through my books from the last 3 years (since I started keeping track) and pulled out the fairy tale adaptations I particularly enjoyed, and will list them here. Be grateful that I did not go forward with my original plan to include all 30+ fairy tale adaptations I've read in the last 3 years.

C4 recommends:

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier -- Based on ... I don't know what it's called. The brothers into swans fairy tale. She has continued the series at length but this may be my favorite because of its basis in a fairy tale.
A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce -- A Rumpelstiltskin adaptation, and I remember just relishing it. I should read it again.
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier -- Well, actually, this might be one of those Fairyland tales, but there is certainly an aspect of 12 Dancing Princesses as well as some Frog Prince.
The Five Hundred Kingdoms Series by Mercedes Lackey -- They call these fractured fairy tales, I think. I have a lot of fun with them, though there's often a page or two the more scrupulous of us will skip.
Entwined by Heather Dixon -- Another 12 Dancing Princesses adaptation. I enjoyed the twists in this story (can't remember them, but I know I liked). Shout-out to a Mormon author, too.
My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison -- I like this one better than its predecessor, My Fair Godmother. Rumpelstiltskin is in it but I can't remember what other fairy tales make appearances. Another Mormon author shout-out.
Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac -- I don't know exactly which adaptation this is, just that it's a Slovakian fairy tale. I was into Slovakian-speaking boy at the time.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer -- I loved this book. It's a Cinderella adaptation, but set in the future where Cinder is a CYBORG! I thought it was well done.
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis -- There were soooo many fairy tales in this book! The main story was good, but it was extra fun to pick out all the fairy tale references.
The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell -- I found myself really enjoying this one. I didn't start it with the best attitude ever because it's another 12 Dancing adaptation (and there are SO MANY), but I really liked the author's take, as well as the transition into another fairy tale or two (Persephone + Beauty&Beast).

Apparently I'm passionate about this. :)

(I did enjoy books by Jessica Day George, Shannon Hale, and Robin McKinley in the past 3 years. I just ... didn't include rereads in my list.)

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 12:12 pm
by Katya
I love retellings, too.

Fairy tale adaptations from the last 3 years:

Cinderella / Michèle Marineau (picture book)
The Goose Girl / Shannon Hale
Princess of Glass / Jessica Day George
Princess of the Midnight Ball / Jessica Day George
Rapunzel's Revenge / Shannon Hale
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow / Jessica Day George

Other adaptations from the last 3 years:

The Dark Divine / Bree Despain (retelling of the Prodigal Son)
The Faraway Lurs / Harry Behn (retelling of Romeo and Juliet)
The Five Books of Jesus / James Goldberg (retelling of the Christ Story)
The Graveyard Book / Neil Gaiman (retelling of The Jungle Book)
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal / Christopher Moore
Naughts and Crosses / Malorie Blackman (retelling of Romeo and Juliet)
Ophelia Joined the Group Maidens Who Don't Float / Kevin Roose (classic lit retold as FB statuses)
Romeow & Drooliet / Nina Laden (picture book)
Romiette and Julio / Sharon M. Draper

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 12:46 pm
by Portia
Why do you think Snow White is the fairy tale "It Girl" of the moment?

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 1:02 pm
by bobtheenchantedone
It's been said, but I have to say it again: Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. I just reread it recently and I LOVE it.

I am also quite interested in fairy tale retellings, so much so that I'm trying to write a couple of them, using fairy tales basically no one has heard of.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 1:06 pm
by Portia
bobtheenchantedone wrote:It's been said, but I have to say it again: Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. I just reread it recently and I LOVE it.

I am also quite interested in fairy tale retellings, so much so that I'm trying to write a couple of them, using fairy tales basically no one has heard of.
Do you mind sharing which ones? Is there a source on European folklore you use? I always find the Russian fairy tales to be pleasingly disturbing.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 1:24 pm
by Genuine Article
Portia wrote:Why do you think Snow White is the fairy tale "It Girl" of the moment?
I'm hoping it's because being pale is secretly back in fashion.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 1:32 pm
by Portia
Genuine Article wrote:
Portia wrote:Why do you think Snow White is the fairy tale "It Girl" of the moment?
I'm hoping it's because being pale is secretly back in fashion.
It is! From a satire blog about an imaginary idle rich girl in So Cal:
Just stop. OK? Stop. Tanning is not chic. End of story. There is absolutely NO reason to be putting your skin in the sun, ever. Do you understand what I’m saying to you? This is super important for all of my readers to understand. “Tanned” is not a good look, and it most certainly won’t be a good look in your future. Whomever decided that being browned by the sun was sexy, obviously hadn’t looked at a before and after of Goldie Hawn.

You see that “Goldie” can very quickly turn to “Oldie”. Do your self a favor and start treating your skin like you were a [censored] geisha. No sun. Constantly moisturize. No contact with your hands. Never touch, scratch, or breathe on you skin. Apply makeup and lotion with gloves.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:09 pm
by bobtheenchantedone
Portia wrote:
bobtheenchantedone wrote:It's been said, but I have to say it again: Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. I just reread it recently and I LOVE it.

I am also quite interested in fairy tale retellings, so much so that I'm trying to write a couple of them, using fairy tales basically no one has heard of.
Do you mind sharing which ones? Is there a source on European folklore you use? I always find the Russian fairy tales to be pleasingly disturbing.
The one I'm currently trying to write is based on The Brown Leather Bag, which is how my mother titled it. I've only seen it in print once, and it was called All My Shining Silver. I'm also getting some ideas from one of Marduk's textbooks, and toying with the idea of writing new fairy tales, mostly one about a blue rose and a princess.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:10 pm
by Defy V
Portia wrote:Why do you think Snow White is the fairy tale "It Girl" of the moment?
Blame Twilight.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:24 pm
by Portia
Defy V wrote:
Portia wrote:Why do you think Snow White is the fairy tale "It Girl" of the moment?
Blame Twilight.
I don't see how the Twilight mythos is pulled from the Snow White tale. I always got more vibes of Central Europe and Bela Lugosi.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:41 pm
by Defy V
Portia wrote:
Defy V wrote:
Portia wrote:Why do you think Snow White is the fairy tale "It Girl" of the moment?
Blame Twilight.
I don't see how the Twilight mythos is pulled from the Snow White tale. I always got more vibes of Central Europe and Bela Lugosi.
I think it's the apple on the cover and the pale skin. It just reminded people of Snow White.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:22 pm
by bobtheenchantedone
I remembered another adaptation I have read many times: Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen. It's based on an Arabic tale.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:34 pm
by Imogen
No love for "Enchanted" by Orson Scott Card? Or "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister"?

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 1:55 am
by Yog in Neverland
C IS FOR!! IMOGEN!! I almost mentioned "Daughter of the Forest" AND "Enchanted"! But then... It was over-hours... and I didn't want to explain the rape scene in the one and the awkward naked scene in the other, both of which I'm sure wouldn't have bothered me as much as they did if I hadn't read them back-to-back for the first time when I was twelve. Mormon girl from Utah + those books = scarred Mormon girl from Utah.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 7:59 am
by C is for
I haven't read Enchanted in the last three years, that's why!

I probably haven't read that book in 10 years. (And it was slightly scarring at that time, yeah.)

New fairy tales (or very obscure ones) are kind of in vogue, too. I've read at least 5 (in the last three years, etc) that were original ... but at some point the line between "new fairy tale" and simply "fantasy" gets pretty blurred. So I almost hesitate to put a number to it the way I just did.

I am in the middle of The Five Books of Jesus and am likely to be in the middle of it for a while, since I started it last week on vacation with my mom's Kindle, and now I am no longer on vacation, nor around my mother. I could download it for myself, but I don't love reading e-books on my computer and I don't have an e-reader at this point in time. But I am really, really liking it.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:07 am
by Whistler
wait, some of you found Enchanted emotionally scarring? Is this Ella Enchanted or some other strange book?

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:10 am
by Defy V
It's actually called Enchantment and it is a bit, um, thematic, especially if you're not used to that kind of thing. Right, C4?

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:35 am
by Whistler
okay, yeah, that doesn't look especially like a children's book

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:05 pm
by Imogen
Defy V wrote:It's actually called Enchantment and it is a bit, um, thematic, especially if you're not used to that kind of thing. Right, C4?
Yes it is Enchantment. I was half-asleep when I typed that.

Re: Fairy tale Adaptation

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 2:40 pm
by krebscout
I read Enchantment a couple of times. The first time it seemed pretty darn racy, but now that I'm desensitized it's quite tame.