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Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses
Yes it's blue and Yes it tickles and Yes
he's had a lot of wives
and nobody knows what happened to them
but he's fun at the party and omigod
that castle!
Once upon a time, a strung-out match girl sold CDs to stoners. Twelve impetuous sisters escaped Daddy’s clutches to jiggle and cavort and wear out their shoes. Bluebeard's latest wife discovered she'd married a serial killer. And Little Red Riding Hood confessed that she kind of wanted to know what it's like to be swallowed whole.
You see, Ron Koertge knows what really happened to all those wolves and maidens, ogres and orphans, kings and piglets of fairy tales, and he knows about the Ever After. So come closer--he wants to whisper in your ear.
he's had a lot of wives
and nobody knows what happened to them
but he's fun at the party and omigod
that castle!
Once upon a time, a strung-out match girl sold CDs to stoners. Twelve impetuous sisters escaped Daddy’s clutches to jiggle and cavort and wear out their shoes. Bluebeard's latest wife discovered she'd married a serial killer. And Little Red Riding Hood confessed that she kind of wanted to know what it's like to be swallowed whole.
You see, Ron Koertge knows what really happened to all those wolves and maidens, ogres and orphans, kings and piglets of fairy tales, and he knows about the Ever After. So come closer--he wants to whisper in your ear.
88 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2012
9 people are currently reading
1989 people want to read
About the author
Ron Koertge
71 books103 followersAsk Ron Koertge what he brings to the realm of young adult fiction, and the seasoned author responds matter-of-factly. "I write dialogue well, and I'm funny," he says--an assessment few would argue with. "I like iconoclasm and practice it in my fiction. I don't like pretense or hypocrisy. I'm almost always irreverent."
A faculty member for more than 35 years at Pasadena City College, where he has taught everything from Shakespeare to remedial writing, Ron Koertge is the author of several acclaimed novels, most of them for young adults. That Ron Koertge is a master at capturing teenagers' voices--often in witty repartee--is fully evident in MARGAUX WITH AN X, the story of a sharp-tongued beauty and a quirky, quick-witted loner. "MARGAUX WITH AN X started as a short story, but the heroine wouldn't let me alone," the author says. "She had a story to tell, and she wanted a whole novel to tell it in." Another unlikely pairing is found in STONER & SPAZ, Ron Koertge's funny, in-your-face tale of a young cinephile with cerebral palsy and the stoner who steals his heart. "My wife works with the disabled," the writer says of his inspiration for the novel, which quickly garnered critical acclaim. "One night she came home and told me about a young man she'd been working with. He had C.P. and a terrific sense of humor. Coincidentally, that day I had talked to a former student of mine who'd recently been in rehab for substance abuse. What would happen, I wondered, if those two knew each other?"
In addition to his young adult novels, Ron Koertge writes poetry, and has been dubbed "the wisest, most entertaining wiseguy in American poetry" by poet-laureate Billy Collins. SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is narrated by a straight-talking, fourteen-year-old first baseman who has been benched by mono and decides to take a swing at writing poetry. Written entirely in free verse, with examples of several poetic forms slipped into the mix--including a sonnet, haiku, pastoral, and even a pantoum--SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is a veritable English teacher's dream. "The interest in SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is less with the arc of the plot than with the individual poems, some of which demonstrate poetic form, some of which tell the story," the author says. "One of my biggest challenges was to write like a fourteen-year-old who has a knack for writing poetry, and not just sound like a sixty-one-year-old pretending to be one!"
The author's first book with Candlewick, THE BRIMSTONE JOURNALS, is also a novel written in free verse, with 15 different teenage characters narrating four or five poems each. "The book started to nag me a few months before the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, and I started to make notes in the form of poems," he says of the hauntingly prescient work. "BRIMSTONE needed to move at high velocity, and this form is perfect for that: no tail fins, no leather seats, no moon roof. Just get in and go."
Ron Koertge grew up in an agricultural area in an old mining town in Illinois, just across the Mississippi from St. Louis, Missouri. There he learned to "drive a tractor and buck hay bales, which are clearly useful skills in Los Angeles," he quips. He and his wife live in South Pasadena, California.
A faculty member for more than 35 years at Pasadena City College, where he has taught everything from Shakespeare to remedial writing, Ron Koertge is the author of several acclaimed novels, most of them for young adults. That Ron Koertge is a master at capturing teenagers' voices--often in witty repartee--is fully evident in MARGAUX WITH AN X, the story of a sharp-tongued beauty and a quirky, quick-witted loner. "MARGAUX WITH AN X started as a short story, but the heroine wouldn't let me alone," the author says. "She had a story to tell, and she wanted a whole novel to tell it in." Another unlikely pairing is found in STONER & SPAZ, Ron Koertge's funny, in-your-face tale of a young cinephile with cerebral palsy and the stoner who steals his heart. "My wife works with the disabled," the writer says of his inspiration for the novel, which quickly garnered critical acclaim. "One night she came home and told me about a young man she'd been working with. He had C.P. and a terrific sense of humor. Coincidentally, that day I had talked to a former student of mine who'd recently been in rehab for substance abuse. What would happen, I wondered, if those two knew each other?"
In addition to his young adult novels, Ron Koertge writes poetry, and has been dubbed "the wisest, most entertaining wiseguy in American poetry" by poet-laureate Billy Collins. SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is narrated by a straight-talking, fourteen-year-old first baseman who has been benched by mono and decides to take a swing at writing poetry. Written entirely in free verse, with examples of several poetic forms slipped into the mix--including a sonnet, haiku, pastoral, and even a pantoum--SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is a veritable English teacher's dream. "The interest in SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is less with the arc of the plot than with the individual poems, some of which demonstrate poetic form, some of which tell the story," the author says. "One of my biggest challenges was to write like a fourteen-year-old who has a knack for writing poetry, and not just sound like a sixty-one-year-old pretending to be one!"
The author's first book with Candlewick, THE BRIMSTONE JOURNALS, is also a novel written in free verse, with 15 different teenage characters narrating four or five poems each. "The book started to nag me a few months before the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, and I started to make notes in the form of poems," he says of the hauntingly prescient work. "BRIMSTONE needed to move at high velocity, and this form is perfect for that: no tail fins, no leather seats, no moon roof. Just get in and go."
Ron Koertge grew up in an agricultural area in an old mining town in Illinois, just across the Mississippi from St. Louis, Missouri. There he learned to "drive a tractor and buck hay bales, which are clearly useful skills in Los Angeles," he quips. He and his wife live in South Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
January 24, 2012
"Do you want to sleep? Find another story teller.
Do you want to think about the world in a new way?
Come closer. Closer, please.
I want to whisper in your ear."
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
Eh..
High Points
Interesting new perspectives on fairy re-tellings . Great selection of fairy tales- some that I’ve only heard of in passing. Creepy. Illustrations. The macabre. Who said Ever After has to be happy? Imaginative. Princess in a coma. “Solar panel poetry machine with biceps”. Men in tights.
Low Points.
I think the difficulty with reading and reviewing anthologies of poetry (or short stories, for that matter) is that there will always be a few of them that you don’t really like.
The main problem I had with this was that all the poems got a bit similar. The fairy tales were inverted- the princes weren’t perfect and neither were the princesses. The beast was an alright guy. Hansel and Gretl were ruthless killers.
I just sometimes felt like I was reading the same story over and over again.
I mean, I love Diet Coke but would I want to drink it every day of the year?
Um… actually, that’s a horrible example because yes, yes of course I would.
A lot of the stories/poems had some absolutely great ideas but they didn’t go into the depth that I wanted.
I kind of felt that his ideas were bogged down the verse (and made them just OK) and the verse watered down his ideas (and made them just Ok).
If that makes sense?
With that in mind, I’m not sure whether this would be a good place to start your journey in the land of verse… but I’d still recommend it to people who had already moved in and settled.
Theme Tune.
Frou Frou – I Need a Hero.
Not bad but not as good as the original.
Because Bonnie Tyler is a goddess.
Sadness Scale Grimmness Scale.
7/10. Eeeeh some of these poems/stories were grimm .
There are countless mentions of sex and drugs and murder and themaleanatomy so if that’s not really your kind of thing then I’d be hesitant to recommend this to you. The imagery is pretty stark and, on occasion, it didn’t really feel like it was necessary to the stories/poems.
That might just be me… sensitive soul, y’know.
But, of course, the joyful thing about short stories and poems is that you can just skip or skim the ones you don’t like or aren’t interested in.
There’s also blood and guts (hurraaaah) and these are perfectly accompanied by the dark and twisty illustrations by Andrea Dezso.
Sometimes you just need the visual of someone slicing and dicing, don’t you?
Recommended for.
People who like their fairy tales retold. People who have ever wondered what the Beast really thought of his marriage to Belle. People who don’t trust creepy blonde children who leave trails in wooded areas.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers.
I read this book as part of my "A Week in Verse" feature... find out more.
You can read this review and lots more exciting things on my blog here.
Do you want to think about the world in a new way?
Come closer. Closer, please.
I want to whisper in your ear."
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
Eh..
High Points
Interesting new perspectives on fairy re-tellings . Great selection of fairy tales- some that I’ve only heard of in passing. Creepy. Illustrations. The macabre. Who said Ever After has to be happy? Imaginative. Princess in a coma. “Solar panel poetry machine with biceps”. Men in tights.
Low Points.
I think the difficulty with reading and reviewing anthologies of poetry (or short stories, for that matter) is that there will always be a few of them that you don’t really like.
The main problem I had with this was that all the poems got a bit similar. The fairy tales were inverted- the princes weren’t perfect and neither were the princesses. The beast was an alright guy. Hansel and Gretl were ruthless killers.
I just sometimes felt like I was reading the same story over and over again.
I mean, I love Diet Coke but would I want to drink it every day of the year?
Um… actually, that’s a horrible example because yes, yes of course I would.
A lot of the stories/poems had some absolutely great ideas but they didn’t go into the depth that I wanted.
I kind of felt that his ideas were bogged down the verse (and made them just OK) and the verse watered down his ideas (and made them just Ok).
If that makes sense?
With that in mind, I’m not sure whether this would be a good place to start your journey in the land of verse… but I’d still recommend it to people who had already moved in and settled.
Theme Tune.
Frou Frou – I Need a Hero.
Not bad but not as good as the original.
7/10. Eeeeh some of these poems/stories were grim
There are countless mentions of sex and drugs and murder and themaleanatomy so if that’s not really your kind of thing then I’d be hesitant to recommend this to you. The imagery is pretty stark and, on occasion, it didn’t really feel like it was necessary to the stories/poems.
That might just be me… sensitive soul, y’know.
But, of course, the joyful thing about short stories and poems is that you can just skip or skim the ones you don’t like or aren’t interested in.
There’s also blood and guts (hurraaaah) and these are perfectly accompanied by the dark and twisty illustrations by Andrea Dezso.
Sometimes you just need the visual of someone slicing and dicing, don’t you?
Recommended for.
People who like their fairy tales retold. People who have ever wondered what the Beast really thought of his marriage to Belle. People who don’t trust creepy blonde children who leave trails in wooded areas.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers.
I read this book as part of my "A Week in Verse" feature... find out more.
You can read this review and lots more exciting things on my blog here.
July 17, 2012
When I came across this one in my preparations for Fairy Tale Fortnight, I was immediately struck by the dark and direct tone of the cover, and took it as an indication of the tales found inside. In some ways this is what I got: the retellings are gritty and dark and very pared down, stripped of any residual fairy dust and ball gowns. Koertge plays on the original tales, in all their dark and twisted glory, but he also plays with our Disneyfied modern expectations.
But even though Koertge did sort of give me what I was expecting, it somehow managed to not be quite what I wanted. The book is very brief, tackling 23 different tales in less than 100 pages, including illustrations and title pages for each story. This means each story averages about 2 pages of well-spaced text or free-verse, and this means Koertge only has the space of a few blinks of the eye to make an impression with each story - blink and it's over...
I will say, I think Koertge certainly tried to create memorable, concrete images that would linger with the reader, plunging straight into the heart of each with a wry, jaded style. There's also a really good mix of well-known and little-known tales, and Koertge changes up the narration slightly in each tale. But even the narration at its most different (like Little Red's vapid prattling) still has a sameness to it. Some readers will appreciate this and feel the sardonic tone running throughout is the thread that holds it all together. Other readers - like myself - will feel that what the book really needs is a shake-up. The stories, different as they are originally, blend one into the next in Koertge's hands, and in the end, I would have been hard-pressed to tell you what happened in which, and how - if at all - the narrators differed.
There just weren't any stand-outs. Maybe it's because of my admitted immersion in fairy tales - maybe others who pick this up on a passing fancy, who don't read and breathe fairy tales, will find this fresh - but I felt like I'd seen it all before. This isn't necessarily bad on its own, because these are retellings, after all (so of course I've seen it before), but if you're going to put forth these "little gem" retellings, every effort needs to be made to make each and every one memorable in its own way. And when they're verse on top of that! well, every little bit of space matters. No word should be wasted; they should all serve a purpose. I know I hold things like this to a high standard, but there should be something, some turn of phrase or image or pleasing sound to the language itself that makes each story stand on its own. Instead, these felt (oh god, you have no idea how much it pains me to write this) amateurish. I cringe to write that, I really do, but the stories felt like writing prompts or Creative Writing 101 exercises. And in the end, whether because of their style or brevity, I quickly forgot them.
So maybe others won't feel this way, I don't know. Maybe people who don't eat, sleep and breathe fairy tales, and who haven't read a flipping shit-ton of short story retellings that take very similar tones and tacks to the ones in this book but do so better, will find this collection fresh and entertaining. At the very least, it's easily read in 1 sitting, so I would advise those who are considering picking it up to actually pick it up and flip through a few stories first - they're all pretty much the same, so if you like one, you'll probably like them all.
[And if instead you're looking for short fairy tale retellings with a variety of stories, styles, and twists, I cannot recommend enough the fairy tale anthology series edited by Terri Windling and Ellen Datlow. Especially Silver Birch, Blood Moon, which I adore.]
But even though Koertge did sort of give me what I was expecting, it somehow managed to not be quite what I wanted. The book is very brief, tackling 23 different tales in less than 100 pages, including illustrations and title pages for each story. This means each story averages about 2 pages of well-spaced text or free-verse, and this means Koertge only has the space of a few blinks of the eye to make an impression with each story - blink and it's over...
I will say, I think Koertge certainly tried to create memorable, concrete images that would linger with the reader, plunging straight into the heart of each with a wry, jaded style. There's also a really good mix of well-known and little-known tales, and Koertge changes up the narration slightly in each tale. But even the narration at its most different (like Little Red's vapid prattling) still has a sameness to it. Some readers will appreciate this and feel the sardonic tone running throughout is the thread that holds it all together. Other readers - like myself - will feel that what the book really needs is a shake-up. The stories, different as they are originally, blend one into the next in Koertge's hands, and in the end, I would have been hard-pressed to tell you what happened in which, and how - if at all - the narrators differed.
There just weren't any stand-outs. Maybe it's because of my admitted immersion in fairy tales - maybe others who pick this up on a passing fancy, who don't read and breathe fairy tales, will find this fresh - but I felt like I'd seen it all before. This isn't necessarily bad on its own, because these are retellings, after all (so of course I've seen it before), but if you're going to put forth these "little gem" retellings, every effort needs to be made to make each and every one memorable in its own way. And when they're verse on top of that! well, every little bit of space matters. No word should be wasted; they should all serve a purpose. I know I hold things like this to a high standard, but there should be something, some turn of phrase or image or pleasing sound to the language itself that makes each story stand on its own. Instead, these felt (oh god, you have no idea how much it pains me to write this) amateurish. I cringe to write that, I really do, but the stories felt like writing prompts or Creative Writing 101 exercises. And in the end, whether because of their style or brevity, I quickly forgot them.
So maybe others won't feel this way, I don't know. Maybe people who don't eat, sleep and breathe fairy tales, and who haven't read a flipping shit-ton of short story retellings that take very similar tones and tacks to the ones in this book but do so better, will find this collection fresh and entertaining. At the very least, it's easily read in 1 sitting, so I would advise those who are considering picking it up to actually pick it up and flip through a few stories first - they're all pretty much the same, so if you like one, you'll probably like them all.
[And if instead you're looking for short fairy tale retellings with a variety of stories, styles, and twists, I cannot recommend enough the fairy tale anthology series edited by Terri Windling and Ellen Datlow. Especially Silver Birch, Blood Moon, which I adore.]
April 14, 2020
I agree with my initial thoughts; who doesn't love a fractured fairytale now and then?
First review
To enjoy this book, you probably need two things: a strong gut and a wicked sense of humor. I have both, so almost all of this book was an absolute pleasure for me to read, if only because it was so very darkly amusing. Free verse poetry is my favorite kind of poetry, and every single one is as creative a satire as the last. Things these days are going back to darker and edgier all the time and this does just that to all the favorite fairy tales, but in a way that relates to now--mentions of GPS and iPods are not uncommon between the twisted thoughts of the characters about whether or not they want to be saved or killed ("Bluebeard"). The violence isn't all that graphic (mostly it's just frank; the illustrations are more gasp-worthy than the poems themselves), but if you have a vivid imagination as I do, the strong gut will come in handy. Honestly, I just wanted the theme to "Dexter" the television series playing during my entire reading of it.
As a side note, my very favorites were "The Emperor's New Clothes: An Afterword" and "Red Riding Hood, Home at Last, Tells Her Mother What Happened."
First review
To enjoy this book, you probably need two things: a strong gut and a wicked sense of humor. I have both, so almost all of this book was an absolute pleasure for me to read, if only because it was so very darkly amusing. Free verse poetry is my favorite kind of poetry, and every single one is as creative a satire as the last. Things these days are going back to darker and edgier all the time and this does just that to all the favorite fairy tales, but in a way that relates to now--mentions of GPS and iPods are not uncommon between the twisted thoughts of the characters about whether or not they want to be saved or killed ("Bluebeard"). The violence isn't all that graphic (mostly it's just frank; the illustrations are more gasp-worthy than the poems themselves), but if you have a vivid imagination as I do, the strong gut will come in handy. Honestly, I just wanted the theme to "Dexter" the television series playing during my entire reading of it.
As a side note, my very favorites were "The Emperor's New Clothes: An Afterword" and "Red Riding Hood, Home at Last, Tells Her Mother What Happened."
September 20, 2012
I found the art to be the most entertaining part of this book. The fairy tales - not so much.
Parts of them were alright, but most felt either rushed or poorly constructed, plot wise. The author took major poetic license, twisted the stories - which is what I expected - but rather than lending them intrigue or satire, they just were confusing and oh so desperately trying to be controversial or "edgy". You know, if you find incest and copius amounts of profanity to be hip.
In closing, it's a quick read, so if you're looking to boost your book-count for the year, it's easy to get through without resorting to an actual kids book to do so (though, you'd probably be better off). Some of it is laugh-out-loud ridiculous, though, I doubt that was the intended result. Kids should stay away from this, but late teens and adults, read, but with the idea that it's not as promising as it seems, though I'm sure some will still enjoy its absurdity.
Parts of them were alright, but most felt either rushed or poorly constructed, plot wise. The author took major poetic license, twisted the stories - which is what I expected - but rather than lending them intrigue or satire, they just were confusing and oh so desperately trying to be controversial or "edgy". You know, if you find incest and copius amounts of profanity to be hip.
In closing, it's a quick read, so if you're looking to boost your book-count for the year, it's easy to get through without resorting to an actual kids book to do so (though, you'd probably be better off). Some of it is laugh-out-loud ridiculous, though, I doubt that was the intended result. Kids should stay away from this, but late teens and adults, read, but with the idea that it's not as promising as it seems, though I'm sure some will still enjoy its absurdity.
July 26, 2012
I love fairytales.
I love retellings.
I love short stories.
I love free verse.
I love silhouettes.
I did not love this book.
I wanted to so badly to dive into this and squee with dark horror delight but it just wasn't for me.
I found the bits to be something I've seen before. And some of this just seemed thrown together. Rushed. That's not saying that it's bad... that's just saying that I'm picky. I just never got that WOW moment.
The pictures throughout the book are very nice.
In my opinion, if you are looking for a short fairytale retelling with a poetic side you should check out The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by Francesca Lia Block.
I will give you a warning: This book shouldn't be read by young ones that you don't want to hear cussing or sexual references. While I understand this is YA, the cover might make the little ones think it's for them.
I love retellings.
I love short stories.
I love free verse.
I love silhouettes.
I did not love this book.
I wanted to so badly to dive into this and squee with dark horror delight but it just wasn't for me.
I found the bits to be something I've seen before. And some of this just seemed thrown together. Rushed. That's not saying that it's bad... that's just saying that I'm picky. I just never got that WOW moment.
The pictures throughout the book are very nice.
In my opinion, if you are looking for a short fairytale retelling with a poetic side you should check out The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by Francesca Lia Block.
I will give you a warning: This book shouldn't be read by young ones that you don't want to hear cussing or sexual references. While I understand this is YA, the cover might make the little ones think it's for them.
October 1, 2012
My first read-through of this modern retelling of many well known fairytales left me a little cold. Okay, they're clever, but maybe a little too clever, too edgy, too precious. So, believe it or not, I decided to give it a second chance. What? I'm sure I've done that once or twice in my life.
So the second time through, the stories sort of grew on me. There were subtleties I missed first time, probably when I was rolling my eyes. I wasn't in love with all the stories and I was confused by the inclusion of the story of Bluebeard. Isn't that a pirate story? The author was inspired by Grimm's fairytales, or more likely responding to the Disneyfication of these tales. They're retold in the current day.
A similar theme runs throughout. It seems "Ever After" might not be such a happy place. The life characters have longed for are not entirely what they'd hoped. What originally appears to be a gift may also be a curse.
The beast in Beauty and the Beast states: We're happy now. We're very, very happy. But I have to admit there's not much to do in Ever After. It's always sunny and 78 degrees. Every night the fireworks light themselves.
The prince in Rapunzel: But sometimes I go to the window instead and close my eyes and Rapunzel says, "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" And, God help me, I'm not sure I even know myself.
Cinderella's not so innocent and the evil stepsisters may have been misunderstood.
The artwork in the book is wonderful. It is mostly black and white (except for the book cover) paper cutouts. Please note the cover because it's pretty cool. The illustrations are very bold and very graphic. Even without the use of color, you know there's blood and gore.
Which brings me to a final point, who is book written for? Not kids obviously. What doesn't terrify them will go right over their heads. And I think it's a little too mature for preteens. So maybe teens who enjoy graphic novels but are open to other experiences might get a kick out of it.
So the second time through, the stories sort of grew on me. There were subtleties I missed first time, probably when I was rolling my eyes. I wasn't in love with all the stories and I was confused by the inclusion of the story of Bluebeard. Isn't that a pirate story? The author was inspired by Grimm's fairytales, or more likely responding to the Disneyfication of these tales. They're retold in the current day.
A similar theme runs throughout. It seems "Ever After" might not be such a happy place. The life characters have longed for are not entirely what they'd hoped. What originally appears to be a gift may also be a curse.
The beast in Beauty and the Beast states: We're happy now. We're very, very happy. But I have to admit there's not much to do in Ever After. It's always sunny and 78 degrees. Every night the fireworks light themselves.
The prince in Rapunzel: But sometimes I go to the window instead and close my eyes and Rapunzel says, "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" And, God help me, I'm not sure I even know myself.
Cinderella's not so innocent and the evil stepsisters may have been misunderstood.
The artwork in the book is wonderful. It is mostly black and white (except for the book cover) paper cutouts. Please note the cover because it's pretty cool. The illustrations are very bold and very graphic. Even without the use of color, you know there's blood and gore.
Which brings me to a final point, who is book written for? Not kids obviously. What doesn't terrify them will go right over their heads. And I think it's a little too mature for preteens. So maybe teens who enjoy graphic novels but are open to other experiences might get a kick out of it.
October 8, 2012
If you like your fairy tales warm and chaste with no pesky disturbing sexual undertones, then dear God in heaven run from this book as fast as your innocent little legs will carry you!
Ron Koertge re-imagines a whole herd of fairy tales in wildy creative free verse diddies. Some will make you squirm. Some will make you laugh out loud. Some will make you wish you had some penicillin. All of them are inspired little explosions of unique craft that do not play nicely. At all.
The "fairy tales aren't for children anymore" concept is not new, but rarely has it been boiled down into a lean, mean outburst of disobedient glee like it is here. I've re-read "Red Riding Hood, Home at Last, Tells Her Mother What Happened" over and over again and snorted with delight every time (yes, that is incredibly unflattering imagery I just used, but so be it- it's true!). "Memoirs of the Beast" tantalizes with its longing over things lost after the "happily ever after" with Beauty. "Hansel and Gretel" is a nasty little thing (and awesome for it), and "The Frog Prince" is just a wonderfully evil little trifle about the hypocrisy of sexual objectification.
This kind of thing is certainly not for everyone. But for those intrigued by the idea of a first rate poet remixing fairy tales into throbbing little tales of hidden desires (or at the very least, bringing those latent feelings already present in fairy tales to the forefront) with a wicked sense of humor and a dark, dark heart- this will do the trick!
Ron Koertge re-imagines a whole herd of fairy tales in wildy creative free verse diddies. Some will make you squirm. Some will make you laugh out loud. Some will make you wish you had some penicillin. All of them are inspired little explosions of unique craft that do not play nicely. At all.
The "fairy tales aren't for children anymore" concept is not new, but rarely has it been boiled down into a lean, mean outburst of disobedient glee like it is here. I've re-read "Red Riding Hood, Home at Last, Tells Her Mother What Happened" over and over again and snorted with delight every time (yes, that is incredibly unflattering imagery I just used, but so be it- it's true!). "Memoirs of the Beast" tantalizes with its longing over things lost after the "happily ever after" with Beauty. "Hansel and Gretel" is a nasty little thing (and awesome for it), and "The Frog Prince" is just a wonderfully evil little trifle about the hypocrisy of sexual objectification.
This kind of thing is certainly not for everyone. But for those intrigued by the idea of a first rate poet remixing fairy tales into throbbing little tales of hidden desires (or at the very least, bringing those latent feelings already present in fairy tales to the forefront) with a wicked sense of humor and a dark, dark heart- this will do the trick!
April 4, 2013
Really uneven. The idea seems to have been to do a series of fairy tale retellings, in free verse. I like that idea, it's why I picked the book up. But the execution varies wildly. Some of the poems are essentially straight retellings, but from a different point of view. The Cinderella poem that opens the book, for example, would only seem novel if you'd never heard about the stepsisters' original fate. There are one or two gems (The Princess and the Pea, for example, which gets into some of the darker implications of the princess's extreme sensitivity) but most of the poems aren't very original, or come off as though they're trying too hard to be.
That said, the art is universally successful. Done entirely in the sort of silhouettes seen on the cover, the art is both gorgeous and very effective. More than once, I felt like the art had done a better job telling the story than the poems had.
I'm curious as to who Koertge thought of as his audience for this, though. It's obviously too mature to be a kids' book. Both YA and adult fantasy are full of truly innovative fairy tale retellings (the various Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling anthologies, for example) so neither teens nor adults are likely to find much new and exciting here, unless they're very new to retold fairy tales. As for me, I just couldn't get into it, beautiful art or no.
That said, the art is universally successful. Done entirely in the sort of silhouettes seen on the cover, the art is both gorgeous and very effective. More than once, I felt like the art had done a better job telling the story than the poems had.
I'm curious as to who Koertge thought of as his audience for this, though. It's obviously too mature to be a kids' book. Both YA and adult fantasy are full of truly innovative fairy tale retellings (the various Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling anthologies, for example) so neither teens nor adults are likely to find much new and exciting here, unless they're very new to retold fairy tales. As for me, I just couldn't get into it, beautiful art or no.
June 6, 2017
Interesting collection of fractured fairy and folk tales told in the form of poems. They're all rather dark and grim, and those based on Grimm fairy tales are obviously taken from the original violent and unexpurgated versions. None of the poems really stood out to me, but teens would probably enjoy them.
February 4, 2013
Ron Koertge's free verse writing adds a modern, older audience twist to the usual fairy tales we all know. He includes brief perspectives or versions of Cinderella, the Frog Prince, and as the title would have it, Little Red Riding Hood. I could not help but laugh as I read through the piece titled " Red Riding Hood, Home at Last, Tells her Mother What Happened." In this free verse, the reader comes to know more about Red Riding Hood and her thoughts behind her actions. She is definitely not a little girl. Her choice of words and intermittent questions is a dead giveaway that this is a teenager/young adult who is not as naive as the audience might think. For example, she begins with:
"So I've got the basket of goodies you gave me for Gram and I'm remembering what you said about the forest but now that I'm, like safe and all, I can tell you I was totally looking forward to that part. With the wolf and all. I'm into danger, okay? What? You said to tell you the truth and be, like, frank."
This is geared for more mature audiences with a different sense of humor. Filled with innuendos and symbols, I would gear it towards a more late high school crowd. Great for comparing other story structures and first hand perspectives within the same tale.
"So I've got the basket of goodies you gave me for Gram and I'm remembering what you said about the forest but now that I'm, like safe and all, I can tell you I was totally looking forward to that part. With the wolf and all. I'm into danger, okay? What? You said to tell you the truth and be, like, frank."
This is geared for more mature audiences with a different sense of humor. Filled with innuendos and symbols, I would gear it towards a more late high school crowd. Great for comparing other story structures and first hand perspectives within the same tale.
November 15, 2012
This is a truly original book-of-fairytales rendition. It provides narration for all of the famous (and some not so famous) fairytale characters from legend. They each take a turn telling their story, each example gruesome and completely new. Some of it is in verse, some in documentary-style explanations, others in brief monologues--all are provided with sinister black-and-white illustrations. Koertge keeps the original fairytale themes, gore and all.
I know Ron Koertge through his previous novel "Stoner & Spaz," which is a hysterical but contemporary novel. I did not expect such a startling genre departure for him. I do have to admit, like others have said in reviews before me, that this may not necessarily be a book for teens. Not to say that teens couldn't understand it, because there are many adults I know who wouldn't be able to handle the material. This is one of those books that isn't defined by an age group, but by an interest group; I'm not sure who this book would be for, except fairytale-lovers.
Personal note: "Godfather Death," "Wolf," and "Rapunzel, a Story in Five Parts" are my three favorites.
I know Ron Koertge through his previous novel "Stoner & Spaz," which is a hysterical but contemporary novel. I did not expect such a startling genre departure for him. I do have to admit, like others have said in reviews before me, that this may not necessarily be a book for teens. Not to say that teens couldn't understand it, because there are many adults I know who wouldn't be able to handle the material. This is one of those books that isn't defined by an age group, but by an interest group; I'm not sure who this book would be for, except fairytale-lovers.
Personal note: "Godfather Death," "Wolf," and "Rapunzel, a Story in Five Parts" are my three favorites.
August 21, 2012
This collection of poems twists fairy tales like they've never been twisted before. Most are extremely dark and look at either the secondary characters or at the life after the tale ends. All of them will make you think of these old, familiar stories in a completely new way. The Red Riding Hood story is the girl's explanation of events to her mom after the fact, told in the style of a modern teenager. In the Cinderella story, the two stepsisters talk about how they were unjustly punished and suddenly the beautiful, kind princess seems like a total psycho for the revenge she took.
The illustrations are all silhouettes but are a little graphic for a younger reader. I would recommend this for high school age readers due to some of the themes and language.
The illustrations are all silhouettes but are a little graphic for a younger reader. I would recommend this for high school age readers due to some of the themes and language.
January 11, 2017
Twenty-three very short stories, paired with black silhouette illustrations, come together in this mediocre fractured fairy tale book. I wasn't impressed with the modern retellings, although fairy tales are made to be retold in settings that readers will connect with, and thus learn from. However, I like my fairy tales in the more classic style so talk about CD's, stoners, dialysis, Porsches and America's Funniest Videos turned me off.
June 29, 2012
Dark and disturbing variants of classic fairy tales. The papercut illustrations (created digitally)add a menacing tone to the book with their bold black, white, and red coloring.
I particularly enjoyed the different points-of-view from wolves, princes, and stepsisters, and an honest portrayal of Happily Ever After.
I particularly enjoyed the different points-of-view from wolves, princes, and stepsisters, and an honest portrayal of Happily Ever After.
June 26, 2020
These were poignant, hilarious, outrageous...I loved them. I particularly loved hearing the author read them aloud, and seeing our teens perform them as readers' theater in 2015 at Burbank Public Library. I miss those kids. This was a re-read.
June 25, 2012
Clever, entertaining updates of familiar fairy tales. Dark and frequently gruesome like the original tales upon which these are based. Great illustrations.
February 18, 2013
This is possibly the stupidest thing I've ever read. The art is nice, if not redundant after a few pages, but the so-called verse -- unreadable.
February 18, 2024
"She's selling CDs on the corner,
fifty cents to any stoner,
any homeboy with a boner." - Ron Koertge
If you have read Jack Zipe's 2014 translation of the Grimm's 1812 Edition (also illustrated beautifully by the marvelous Andrea Dezsö) you do not need to read this book. If you like creative and thoughtful adaptions of fairy tales you do not need to read this book. If you were ever once a teenage girl in the early '00s, this book does not like you. If you are currently a teenage boy in the early '00s and your older brother told you that the original Grimm's Fairy Tales were "sooo dark" and now you repeat this fact loudly in the hallways of your school to impress the girls who still confuse you, then this book is absolutely for you but maybe you should go read some Angela Carter instead.
Koertge's bold, edgy, and modern takes on classic Grimm's and Andersen's fairy tales feel as moralizing and patronizing as the original stories. Koertge's princes and king narrators seem constantly angry at women and hung up on modern technology without further explaining why. If the purpose of these poems is to discuss rejected masculinity and a fear of change, it accomplishes this purpose, but somehow I do not think it is being critical of its points. A fast but weary read with wonderful pictures.
fifty cents to any stoner,
any homeboy with a boner." - Ron Koertge
If you have read Jack Zipe's 2014 translation of the Grimm's 1812 Edition (also illustrated beautifully by the marvelous Andrea Dezsö) you do not need to read this book. If you like creative and thoughtful adaptions of fairy tales you do not need to read this book. If you were ever once a teenage girl in the early '00s, this book does not like you. If you are currently a teenage boy in the early '00s and your older brother told you that the original Grimm's Fairy Tales were "sooo dark" and now you repeat this fact loudly in the hallways of your school to impress the girls who still confuse you, then this book is absolutely for you but maybe you should go read some Angela Carter instead.
Koertge's bold, edgy, and modern takes on classic Grimm's and Andersen's fairy tales feel as moralizing and patronizing as the original stories. Koertge's princes and king narrators seem constantly angry at women and hung up on modern technology without further explaining why. If the purpose of these poems is to discuss rejected masculinity and a fear of change, it accomplishes this purpose, but somehow I do not think it is being critical of its points. A fast but weary read with wonderful pictures.
August 18, 2019
From the very beginning of reading this book, I started dropping stars. Honestly the only reason I kept with it was because it was short and I was searching for some sort of redemption in it. But alas. I wasted 30 minutes with this.
Most of the stories were too short. I understand that the point was to make them short, quick reads, but they ended up leaving out details that would make the stories make better sense. Instead, we had a lot of buildup with just a quick ending or quip that either made me roll my eyes and shake my head or just wonder what the point was.
The jokes that were made were just not funny. I think I'm just tired of people modernizing the old fairy tales just to make some political joke. Most of them are just not funny.
Most of the stories were too short. I understand that the point was to make them short, quick reads, but they ended up leaving out details that would make the stories make better sense. Instead, we had a lot of buildup with just a quick ending or quip that either made me roll my eyes and shake my head or just wonder what the point was.
The jokes that were made were just not funny. I think I'm just tired of people modernizing the old fairy tales just to make some political joke. Most of them are just not funny.
December 17, 2022
It just sort of fell flat for me, the stories were very short, like only a page or two max but I didn't like the modern retelling of the stories. And the witty jokes just didn't land for me, I enjoyed some of the poems though. The art wasn't very good either unfortunately.
October 30, 2012
Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!
Written in free verse, this macabre collection of poems and creepy illustrations includes twenty-three retellings of classic fairy tales. Featured tales range from “Cinderella,” told from the perspective of the stepsisters, “Hansel and Gretel,” who want revenge against the father that allowed them to be abandoned in the woods, and a monologue from “Red Riding Hood” who is relaying what happened to her mother once she is home safe from Grandma’s house.
Seasoned young adult author and poet Ron Koertge delivers a chilling set of retold fairy tales in Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses. The collection is brief and can easily be read in one sitting, although many readers might want to go through some of the chapters twice so as not to miss any gruesome details. In terms of enjoyment, some of the tales fare better than others. Although the book is marketed for the young adult audience, only some of Koertge’s retellings will appeal to teen readers. Teens will likely enjoy tales like “Red Riding Hood, Home at Last, Tells Her Mother What Happened,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “Memoirs of the Beast,” all grim but witty retellings of stories that younger readers will undoubtedly be familiar with. Other chapters, such as “Godfather Death,” “The Little Match Girl” and “The Robber Bridegroom” are taken from tales that aren’t as well-known, and are far more grisly, making them less likely to resonate with the young adult audience. In fact, when factors like language, characterization and imagery are taken into account, this collection seems more appropriate for an adult audience. At most, it will entertain very sophisticated teen readers who will understand all the nuances in each retelling and be familiar with the original tales they are derived from. Overall, Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses is an enjoyable and entertaining journey into the creepiness of fairy tales, but one that is likely to appeal more to adults than to teens.
I am a fan of fairytale retellings, so when I heard about this creepy collection, and saw the very grim cover, I made sure to pick it up. Although I did enjoy the book, I found myself thinking as I was reading it, “Wow. This isn’t really for teens.” A lot of the stories are based on more obscure fairy tales, there is definitely some very adult language and imagery in them, and a lot of the humor and irony is very subtle. That’s not to say that I don’t think many teen readers would be able to understand the poems, they just seem to me that they would appeal much more to an adult audience. I would have trouble recommending this collection to teens who are simply interested in reading fairy tale retellings, as I feel there are many more appropriate and enjoyable books for the age group. To older teens and adults who want a taste of the macabre, however, I would suggest giving this one a try.
Written in free verse, this macabre collection of poems and creepy illustrations includes twenty-three retellings of classic fairy tales. Featured tales range from “Cinderella,” told from the perspective of the stepsisters, “Hansel and Gretel,” who want revenge against the father that allowed them to be abandoned in the woods, and a monologue from “Red Riding Hood” who is relaying what happened to her mother once she is home safe from Grandma’s house.
Seasoned young adult author and poet Ron Koertge delivers a chilling set of retold fairy tales in Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses. The collection is brief and can easily be read in one sitting, although many readers might want to go through some of the chapters twice so as not to miss any gruesome details. In terms of enjoyment, some of the tales fare better than others. Although the book is marketed for the young adult audience, only some of Koertge’s retellings will appeal to teen readers. Teens will likely enjoy tales like “Red Riding Hood, Home at Last, Tells Her Mother What Happened,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “Memoirs of the Beast,” all grim but witty retellings of stories that younger readers will undoubtedly be familiar with. Other chapters, such as “Godfather Death,” “The Little Match Girl” and “The Robber Bridegroom” are taken from tales that aren’t as well-known, and are far more grisly, making them less likely to resonate with the young adult audience. In fact, when factors like language, characterization and imagery are taken into account, this collection seems more appropriate for an adult audience. At most, it will entertain very sophisticated teen readers who will understand all the nuances in each retelling and be familiar with the original tales they are derived from. Overall, Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses is an enjoyable and entertaining journey into the creepiness of fairy tales, but one that is likely to appeal more to adults than to teens.
I am a fan of fairytale retellings, so when I heard about this creepy collection, and saw the very grim cover, I made sure to pick it up. Although I did enjoy the book, I found myself thinking as I was reading it, “Wow. This isn’t really for teens.” A lot of the stories are based on more obscure fairy tales, there is definitely some very adult language and imagery in them, and a lot of the humor and irony is very subtle. That’s not to say that I don’t think many teen readers would be able to understand the poems, they just seem to me that they would appeal much more to an adult audience. I would have trouble recommending this collection to teens who are simply interested in reading fairy tale retellings, as I feel there are many more appropriate and enjoyable books for the age group. To older teens and adults who want a taste of the macabre, however, I would suggest giving this one a try.
January 13, 2012
I'm not quite sure what to rate this one; it will most likely end up in the 3 - 3.5 region, i.e. good but could have been better. I liked it, sure, but here wasn't a whole lot to any of these twenty-three short, sometimes almost verse stories. While this is both an interesting and often quite strange collection of retellings of classic fairy tales/myths/legends, I found that the short style hampered my overall enjoyment of the tales. I did very much enjoy the varied differences and updates that Koertge implanted within these well-known stories (Red Riding Hood's very modern-teenage use of "..and then, like, we went to, like..." both reminded me of Clueless and my neighbor - both a good and bad thing ha). While this was read in less than an hour, Ron Koertge's collection of stories provided an excellent escape for a short period. This is a blunt read: each story is a quick and often dirty look told in Koertge's blunt but easily readable style. Don't look for any easy Happily Ever Afters here in this realm of twisted faery tales.
I liked the new perspectives and modern spins placed on old fairy tales, instead of rehashing just the same old story. I thought it provided a fresh look at beloved and memorized stories and added a dark humor all the authors own, like with story of Thumbelina: seeing it through the Mole's eyes instead of just the title character, or the five-POV tale of Rapunzel showing a multi-faceted situaion or reading Cinderella but in the stepsisters voice and eyes. Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses is a quick but vastly, often quite darkly, entertaining read. I think a little length padded on to each of these stories would've yielded a more finely tuned and outstanding work, but as it is, this is a macabre and creatively fun read.
I liked the new perspectives and modern spins placed on old fairy tales, instead of rehashing just the same old story. I thought it provided a fresh look at beloved and memorized stories and added a dark humor all the authors own, like with story of Thumbelina: seeing it through the Mole's eyes instead of just the title character, or the five-POV tale of Rapunzel showing a multi-faceted situaion or reading Cinderella but in the stepsisters voice and eyes. Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses is a quick but vastly, often quite darkly, entertaining read. I think a little length padded on to each of these stories would've yielded a more finely tuned and outstanding work, but as it is, this is a macabre and creatively fun read.
July 23, 2013
I picked this book up at the library because the cover caught my eye. This is a darkly fun and twisted set of poems covering a number of fairy and folktales. I enjoyed it and thought it was a quick and fun read.
This was an interesting, disturbing, and darkly humorous collection of poetry retellings of fairy/folk tales. Everything from Red Riding Hood to the Little Match Girl is covered in this mix.
The artwork throughout this book is stark black and white cut-outs which match the twisted and blunt style of the poetry well. Many of the poems are full of irony and unexpected twists. Some of the poems also have a bit of a modern twist to them; for example the Little Match girl sells CDs not matches on the street.
I found this in the young adult section of the library, which kind of surprised me. There is implied rape, incest, cannibalism, and all other types of violent and somewhat questionable content in here. None of it is explicit, but it’s there. So I would recommend for older young adults only.
Surprisingly this poetry does an excellent job of echoing the dark and grisly nature of the original Grimm fairy tales. The poetry also adds some humor and irony to the mix which makes it even more fun to read.
I love fairy tale retellings and ended up enjoying this collection a lot. It was a quick and amusing read and echoes the original Grimm Fairy Tales well.
Overall I enjoyed this. It is a great collection of humorous, twisted, and dark fairy tale retellings. The artwork is stark and matches the tone of the fairy tales well. I would recommend this to those who like fairy tales retellings that are dark, slightly disturbing, and a bit humorous.
This was an interesting, disturbing, and darkly humorous collection of poetry retellings of fairy/folk tales. Everything from Red Riding Hood to the Little Match Girl is covered in this mix.
The artwork throughout this book is stark black and white cut-outs which match the twisted and blunt style of the poetry well. Many of the poems are full of irony and unexpected twists. Some of the poems also have a bit of a modern twist to them; for example the Little Match girl sells CDs not matches on the street.
I found this in the young adult section of the library, which kind of surprised me. There is implied rape, incest, cannibalism, and all other types of violent and somewhat questionable content in here. None of it is explicit, but it’s there. So I would recommend for older young adults only.
Surprisingly this poetry does an excellent job of echoing the dark and grisly nature of the original Grimm fairy tales. The poetry also adds some humor and irony to the mix which makes it even more fun to read.
I love fairy tale retellings and ended up enjoying this collection a lot. It was a quick and amusing read and echoes the original Grimm Fairy Tales well.
Overall I enjoyed this. It is a great collection of humorous, twisted, and dark fairy tale retellings. The artwork is stark and matches the tone of the fairy tales well. I would recommend this to those who like fairy tales retellings that are dark, slightly disturbing, and a bit humorous.
December 6, 2011
This book is a compilation of twisted versions and bonus point of views from well known fairy tales. There are stories for Cinderella, The Little Match Girl, Rapunzel, Thumbelina, Beauty and the Beast, Twelve Dancing Princesses, Hansel and Gretel, The Ugly Duckling, Diamonds and Toads, The Robber Bridegroom, East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and other very recognizable tales. I did enjoy the dimension that these poems added to the original tales. But my major complaint would be the stark, crudeness of the language and imagery that is used. It felt like there was absolutely zero finesse woven into the story telling process. I loved the illustrations and though their starkness matched the language of the poems, it lifted the quality of the book. They had a unique, black and white silhouette, shadow puppet feel to them and it was the highlight of the time I spent with this book. Overall, I was not that impressed and felt like it has been done so often and so much better, that I could have lived without this addition to the realm of twisted fairy tales. Nothing new or exciting, but that said it was an interesting collection. I would only really recommend this if you're a hardcore Koertge fan or way into fairy tale re-imaginings. Even if you don't read the text you should definitely check out the illustrations though. The cover for this book is as of yet unreleased, but when it is available I will change the blank picture on this review.
VERDICT: 3/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money was exchanged for this review. The expected publication of this book is July 10th, 2012.*
VERDICT: 3/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money was exchanged for this review. The expected publication of this book is July 10th, 2012.*
April 26, 2012
Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses was refreshingly dark and, often times, shock-inducing. That said, I wasn't incredibly impressed with this book of twisted tales. I'm more of a happy ending, unicorns and butterflies type of girl, but I love a good blood-soaked horror story as much as the next person. Sometimes I get cavities from the all the rainbows and need a bit of roughage in my diet.
So some of the stories and poems in Koertege's book provided me with the perfect dose of gallows humor and new, darker ways to look at my favorite fairy tales. But then other retellings made me uncomfortable in their grittiness. It's not that the new interpretations went a step too far; I enjoyed the concepts of all them. It was more like each story HAD to have a certain level of grittiness and bleakness to it, and more than one of those stories seemed forced in its grittiness and bleakness.
To be honest, I would have probably picked up this book because it was a book of fairy tale retellings. To be even more honest, I would have also put it back down if I knew exactly how deep and dark of places these stories would take me. But Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses was a quick, enjoyable read that left me feeling only slightly terrible about society.
I received an ARC from the publisher.
So some of the stories and poems in Koertege's book provided me with the perfect dose of gallows humor and new, darker ways to look at my favorite fairy tales. But then other retellings made me uncomfortable in their grittiness. It's not that the new interpretations went a step too far; I enjoyed the concepts of all them. It was more like each story HAD to have a certain level of grittiness and bleakness to it, and more than one of those stories seemed forced in its grittiness and bleakness.
To be honest, I would have probably picked up this book because it was a book of fairy tale retellings. To be even more honest, I would have also put it back down if I knew exactly how deep and dark of places these stories would take me. But Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses was a quick, enjoyable read that left me feeling only slightly terrible about society.
I received an ARC from the publisher.
July 28, 2012
Macabre -- that in all its permutations is the best word to describe both the fairy tale based poems and the art that accompanies them in this slim volume. Koertge basically took the original tales and both updated them and chose to dwell on their most unsavory aspects-- the eyes plucked out of the stepsisters eyes in Cinderella; the masochistic attraction part of Red Riding Hood's relationship to the Wolf and the bride's to Bluebeard. And even though the scissor cut art is done in black and white, it conveys the gruesomeness of hacked off body parts and violent abandon. Despite having an overarching outlook though, the poetic renditions seem uneven. I loved "The Ugly Duckling" because it perfectly captured the feeling of a picked on teen - it truly updated the story ("Just over his pulse/is a fresh tattoo - a dotted line and the words/----------Cut Here -------------). But ones like "The Ogre Queen" weren't as successful - only alluding to the present in a line or two that strained for freshness and didn't take the time to elaborate (ogre as DC consultant to the Pentagon). Still it's a good addition to the reworked Grimm-and-more genre.
August 14, 2012
I was, unfortunately, underwhelmed by this books. I had high hopes for this collection of short, dark fairytale twists, and some of them managed to live up to that. The failing here is that while the first few seem funny and smart, they begin to pile up and become boring or pointless. I'm not sure whether the problem is the repetition (perhaps I would have enjoyed them more if read separately), but really it seems its just a good idea stretched too far. How many different heroines/damsels do I need to tell me stories I already know but with add mentions of breasts or sex or modern slang? Not this many, really.
I do think it will appeal GREATLY to a certain audience. I honestly think I would have adored it in high school. But it won't be for everyone.
I do think it will appeal GREATLY to a certain audience. I honestly think I would have adored it in high school. But it won't be for everyone.
January 21, 2012
Readers and fans of collections such as those of Emma Donoghue and Angela Carter will delight in the short retellings of the canonical fairytales by the multi-talented Ron Koertge. His stories are pithy, slightly acerbic, with a refreshing tongue-in-cheek flavour that will have readers giggling or smirking in response. Koertge resituates several of the stories and one of the more memorable ones is the retelling of Red Riding Hood, with the main character conveyed as a sulky teenage girl recounting the events after they have happened. I'd recommend this collection for readers who are not too attached to the traditional versions.
September 6, 2012
Very disappointing. Banalities abound. This sort of thing has been done so often it really has to be done well for it to be worthwhile and this doesn't make the cut. Further, there's a nasty thread of misogyny present as well. Of course that is in the original tales, but usually these rewritten versions try to address it somehow rather than reinforcing it. If you want smart, thoughtful, provoking, insightful fairy tale revision, read Margaret Atwood's Good Bones and Simple Murders.
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