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Fabulous
Not since Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber have old stories been made to feel so electrically new.
Not since Wim Winders' Wings of Desire have the numinous and the everyday been so magically combined.
It's in the nature of myth to be infinitely adaptable.
Each of these startlingly original stories is set in modern Britain. Their characters include a people-trafficking gang-master and a prostitute, a migrant worker and a cocksure estate agent, an elderly musician doubly befuddled by dementia and the death of his wife, a pest-controller suspected of paedophilia and a librarian so well-behaved that her parents wonder anxiously whether she'll ever find love.
They're ordinary people, preoccupied, as we all are now, by the deficiencies of the health service, by criminal gangs and homelessness, by the pitfalls of dating in the age of #metoo. All of their stories, though, are inspired by ones drawn from Graeco-Roman myth, from the Bible or from folk-lore.
The ancients invented myths to express what they didn't understand. These witty fables, elegantly written and full of sharp-eyed observation of modern life, are also visionary explorations of potent mysteries and strange passions, charged with the hallucinatory beauty and horror of their originals.
Not since Wim Winders' Wings of Desire have the numinous and the everyday been so magically combined.
It's in the nature of myth to be infinitely adaptable.
Each of these startlingly original stories is set in modern Britain. Their characters include a people-trafficking gang-master and a prostitute, a migrant worker and a cocksure estate agent, an elderly musician doubly befuddled by dementia and the death of his wife, a pest-controller suspected of paedophilia and a librarian so well-behaved that her parents wonder anxiously whether she'll ever find love.
They're ordinary people, preoccupied, as we all are now, by the deficiencies of the health service, by criminal gangs and homelessness, by the pitfalls of dating in the age of #metoo. All of their stories, though, are inspired by ones drawn from Graeco-Roman myth, from the Bible or from folk-lore.
The ancients invented myths to express what they didn't understand. These witty fables, elegantly written and full of sharp-eyed observation of modern life, are also visionary explorations of potent mysteries and strange passions, charged with the hallucinatory beauty and horror of their originals.
205 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2019
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1402 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 23, 2019
There are nuggets of goodness in Fabulous, a collection of retellings of Bible stories, fairytales, and Graeco-Roman myths. However, each story lacked a kind of weightiness I found myself craving. Hughes-Hallett was ambitious in how she set out to lace folklore with contemporary spunk and modern ambience, and whilst it was an enjoyable read at times, I was left hungry. As Johanna Thomas-Corr wrote for the Guardian, “Hughes-Hallett can’t decide whether to treat the otherworldly elements literally, metaphorically or a bit of both.”
March 3, 2021
It was like this lady wanted to write for Once Upon A Time, they turned her down so she tried to make her work fit for Black Mirror, who turned her down also, so then she decided to cobble it together in a book that was so obtuse and superfluous it barely made sense.
There were two character twists that made me chuckle - hence the two stars.
There were two character twists that made me chuckle - hence the two stars.
June 13, 2019
Fabulous is an awe-inspiring collection of short stories — refreshing retellings of age-old tales from Greek and Celtic mythology to those from the Bible. It masterfully updates them to fit in with our contemporary world and does so in such an engaging and eminently readable manner. Of course, it suffers from the same problems as all anthologies — they are not all to the same standard, however, they are each beautifully written and fascinating; jumping from one tale to another was great fun and I was entertained throughout. This is a superb collection and deserves to be widely read.
The stories are littered with commentary on current societal issues, and although they are altered, the original myth and characters are always front and centre in Hughes-Hallett's mind. It's perfect for dipping in and out of by reading a single story at a time or you can do what I did and gorge on it. It was so interesting and absorbing that I wanted to experience them all together. The book is both intelligent and puts a fun, intriguing new spin to tales that have been told for centuries. I also greatly appreciated the section at the end as it points you towards further reading if you want to learn more about each of the original stories. Many thanks to Fourth Estate for an ARC.
The stories are littered with commentary on current societal issues, and although they are altered, the original myth and characters are always front and centre in Hughes-Hallett's mind. It's perfect for dipping in and out of by reading a single story at a time or you can do what I did and gorge on it. It was so interesting and absorbing that I wanted to experience them all together. The book is both intelligent and puts a fun, intriguing new spin to tales that have been told for centuries. I also greatly appreciated the section at the end as it points you towards further reading if you want to learn more about each of the original stories. Many thanks to Fourth Estate for an ARC.
October 29, 2021
Never judging a book by its cover is a classic idiom and this is a compilation of retellings of classical fables and (slightly incongruously, two religious stories). Not that you would be able to tell from the book's woozy, psychedelic cover art.
Retellings are almost as old as the fables themselves, so this is not such an innovative idea. Nor are the fables themselves particularly unfamiliar, or an especially coherent selection.
As for the stories themselves, each has a new setting crafted around them, from the estate agents in Acteon or the young librarian in Psyche. Yet while the stories hold the reader and not only to see where the myth meets Hughes-Hallet's writing, there is a rather downbeat tone to the book as a whole. The stories have a strangely glassy air, as the reader may admire the cleverness of the updated world, but doesn't inhabit the book.
As a pet peeve, something non-genre writers don't seem to understand is that magic in a world needs to be consistent, it can't just appear in a non-magical world when it suits the plot.
Retellings are almost as old as the fables themselves, so this is not such an innovative idea. Nor are the fables themselves particularly unfamiliar, or an especially coherent selection.
As for the stories themselves, each has a new setting crafted around them, from the estate agents in Acteon or the young librarian in Psyche. Yet while the stories hold the reader and not only to see where the myth meets Hughes-Hallet's writing, there is a rather downbeat tone to the book as a whole. The stories have a strangely glassy air, as the reader may admire the cleverness of the updated world, but doesn't inhabit the book.
As a pet peeve, something non-genre writers don't seem to understand is that magic in a world needs to be consistent, it can't just appear in a non-magical world when it suits the plot.
February 8, 2020
[Thank you to Harper Books for my free review copy!]
I love short story collections, and I thought that this one would be an absolute hit for me because each story is a fractured version of original myths from Roman/Greek tradition or the Bible. It turns out that almost every single story in the collection was totally over my head. I couldn't invest in it because I spent most of my reading time thinking, "What is the heck is going on here?" I had high hopes for this one but it just wasn't the right book for me.
I love short story collections, and I thought that this one would be an absolute hit for me because each story is a fractured version of original myths from Roman/Greek tradition or the Bible. It turns out that almost every single story in the collection was totally over my head. I couldn't invest in it because I spent most of my reading time thinking, "What is the heck is going on here?" I had high hopes for this one but it just wasn't the right book for me.
December 2, 2019
Fabulous is a collection of short stories. Each story is retelling of old Greek mythology and Bible stories into how these stories might have happened if they were set in Britain 2019. I had very high hopes for this collection, even though I didn't know all the Greek stories, Hallett gives a summary of them so you are able to follow with the re-telling. I felt that each retelling wasn't as refreshing, spunky and packing much punch. Overall I felt the stories were lacking.
July 15, 2022
wasn't giving what it was supposed to give
March 15, 2020
Beautifully written, memorable short stories. Every one of them has a dark edge. I grew a little tired of the book with the last two stories to go, but I read them anyway and liked them. I would have given this four stars if it had been about two stories shorter.
May 17, 2020
While the earlier retelling of Orpheus and Psyche are clever and relevant to today's society, later tales lack their subtlety and the subtext is extremely heavy-handed.
May 17, 2024
I thought this was a great collection of short stories and really interesting (and original) takes on the myths.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
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June 2, 2023Canny believe somebody compared this author to Angela Carter - DEATH to whoever said this (Wendy Williams).
June 12, 2019
‘There are, as there always are, several ways of understanding the story.’
This is an enjoyable collection of re-tellings of stories, ranging from Greek and Celtic myths to the Bible. As ever in a collection of short stories some are stronger than others; for me the most successful re-workings were the ones about Orpheus and Eurydice, and about Tristan and Isolde. All of them are set in modern times, which in itself causes a slight jarring when the names are, mostly, unchanged. There are some nice twists for a 21st century audience - gender and sexuality, for example, and drugs - but time and again I was left with the question: ‘why?’. What ‘new thing’ does this particular set of re-workings of famous stories tell us? And there, I’m afraid, I struggle to find an answer. There has to be a reason to re-write a story, to somehow make it fit ‘better’ (if that’s the word) to our modern understanding and attitudes, but these stories don’t add anything new, and comparison to the original just strengthens the impact of those original stories.
I’m not saying this is bad writing, or that the collection isn’t enjoyable in its own way; it just, for me, doesn’t have any particular impact. The publisher blurb with comparisons to Angela Carter’s ‘Bloody Chamber’ or Wim Wenders’ ‘Wings of Desire’ are unfortunate, because this pales in such comparison. Well enough written, diverting, but only average. 3 stars on the back of a couple of decent stories in the collection.
This is an enjoyable collection of re-tellings of stories, ranging from Greek and Celtic myths to the Bible. As ever in a collection of short stories some are stronger than others; for me the most successful re-workings were the ones about Orpheus and Eurydice, and about Tristan and Isolde. All of them are set in modern times, which in itself causes a slight jarring when the names are, mostly, unchanged. There are some nice twists for a 21st century audience - gender and sexuality, for example, and drugs - but time and again I was left with the question: ‘why?’. What ‘new thing’ does this particular set of re-workings of famous stories tell us? And there, I’m afraid, I struggle to find an answer. There has to be a reason to re-write a story, to somehow make it fit ‘better’ (if that’s the word) to our modern understanding and attitudes, but these stories don’t add anything new, and comparison to the original just strengthens the impact of those original stories.
I’m not saying this is bad writing, or that the collection isn’t enjoyable in its own way; it just, for me, doesn’t have any particular impact. The publisher blurb with comparisons to Angela Carter’s ‘Bloody Chamber’ or Wim Wenders’ ‘Wings of Desire’ are unfortunate, because this pales in such comparison. Well enough written, diverting, but only average. 3 stars on the back of a couple of decent stories in the collection.
July 16, 2024
A clever idea, smartly executed.
July 3, 2019
This is an enjoyable collection, and again (after her novel Peculiar Ground) marks Lucy Hughes-Hallett out as an author worth watching. However, I also found many of the stories a little disappointing: she takes several well-known myths/legends (Orpheus, Tristram & Isolde, Joseph & Mary, the Pied Piper etc) and uses them as the basis for her stories, but instead of riffing on them in interesting ways, these are by and large straight retellings in modern dress, which means not only do some of the more magical/mythical elements feel jarring, but as a reader you already know exactly where the narratives are going and seldom was I surprised. Where the collection does succeed is in the well-written characters and in the quirky folk-tale-ish version of modern England (despite the contemporary references there is a distinctly 1950s seaside town vibe) in which Hughes-Hallett sets her stories.
July 2, 2021
Absolutely beautiful book! Not sure it would be everyone’s cup of tea but I have to say that I loved it. The book essentially retells myths and legends of old in a 21st century setting. Beautifully written, the prose is magical and highly recommend giving it a chance. At the first ‘chapter?’ I thought I was going to hate it but fell more and more deeply in love with it page by page. Particularly loved Psyche and Actaeon
January 26, 2020
I’m sad to say this was just very not for me. I felt like I was reading someone’s schoolwork that they’d be unwillingly forced to write. I’ve never picked up any myth retelling writing before and truly all this work tried was “retell” with a dutifully reskinned myth without any reimagining of themes or characters.
October 11, 2021
Honestly this was a lovely book and a super easy read - I've actually read this while tottering around Edinburgh.
This retelling of the myths highlights how timeless these myths and stories are - that humanity hasn't really changed all that much. That we can still find these myths relatable in a modern context, the lessons and themes of morality remain the same.
Overall a thoroughly good read.
This retelling of the myths highlights how timeless these myths and stories are - that humanity hasn't really changed all that much. That we can still find these myths relatable in a modern context, the lessons and themes of morality remain the same.
Overall a thoroughly good read.
January 4, 2021
Surprisingly, I liked Fabulous more than I thought I would; ancient myths isn't something I have indulged in before but it was great—would I feel the same had Lucy Hughes-Hallett not decided to include summaries of the ancient fables? I don't know.
The book consists of eight short stories, each retelling ancient myths with modern reconstructions. As I said, I relied on the summaries a lot; I was only familiar with three of the short stories: Joseph, Mary Magdalen (probably through my own religious persuasion), and Piper (quite a fun read.)
Speaking as someone perhaps less informed over the cultural historic events of old fables, I felt myself simultaneously learning, relating and escaping into a different world. I found some clever literary devices, such as alliteration, assonance and sibilance that I felt gave each mini plot power and emotion.
‘the women wiping fingers, oily from eating olives on smooth bellies already oily with sun-cream.’ p. 107
The tone and traits of character's used creates a feeling of immediacy that relates to the ordinary reader.
'There were inscriptions made of tissue paper and tinsel, blocky great capital letters like shouts—DAD, GRAN, OUR MUM—as though the bereaved were yelling at their oldsters to come on down and eat their tea.' p. 123
Most of all, I really enjoyed the bluntness of Hughes-Hallett rhetorical language, she knows when to use them in order to create the most impact on the reader.
'I'd stopped the swimming when they put the membership up. Actually no. Tell the truth. I stopped when a man standing next to me in the trough of chlorine said. . .' p. 124
One I will—unexpectedly—pop on the reread pile.
P.S. stunning book cover!
The book consists of eight short stories, each retelling ancient myths with modern reconstructions. As I said, I relied on the summaries a lot; I was only familiar with three of the short stories: Joseph, Mary Magdalen (probably through my own religious persuasion), and Piper (quite a fun read.)
Speaking as someone perhaps less informed over the cultural historic events of old fables, I felt myself simultaneously learning, relating and escaping into a different world. I found some clever literary devices, such as alliteration, assonance and sibilance that I felt gave each mini plot power and emotion.
‘the women wiping fingers, oily from eating olives on smooth bellies already oily with sun-cream.’ p. 107
The tone and traits of character's used creates a feeling of immediacy that relates to the ordinary reader.
'There were inscriptions made of tissue paper and tinsel, blocky great capital letters like shouts—DAD, GRAN, OUR MUM—as though the bereaved were yelling at their oldsters to come on down and eat their tea.' p. 123
Most of all, I really enjoyed the bluntness of Hughes-Hallett rhetorical language, she knows when to use them in order to create the most impact on the reader.
'I'd stopped the swimming when they put the membership up. Actually no. Tell the truth. I stopped when a man standing next to me in the trough of chlorine said. . .' p. 124
One I will—unexpectedly—pop on the reread pile.
P.S. stunning book cover!
April 16, 2019
Fabulous is a collection of short stories that retell famous myths in modern Britain, twisting ancient tales into relatable modern snippets. Orpheus, Psyche, Tristan and Isolde, the Pied Piper, and Mary Magdalen are just some of the figures given fresh new versions of their stories, mixing criminal gangs, immigration, estate agents, pest control, love and more.
The stories are knowing and witty, using observations and comments on modern society to try and make these very famous tales fresh. As expected, they vary in how they engage with the source tale, but the original myth is always central to the narrative and characters. Stand out highlights include the story of Diana and Actaeon with estate agents, Pasiphae and the minotaur with seaside gangsters, and adding further complications and some pink pills to the story of Tristan and Isolde. The two Biblical ones—Joseph and Mary Magdalen—are interesting, but may be more appreciated by someone who doesn't have more knowledge of Greek myth and Arthurian legend than Biblical material.
It is the kind of book that is perfect for picking up and reading single stories, dipping in or choosing the figures that most interest you. The modern retellings are clever and fun, and the end has a quick guide to the original tales for anyone who didn't know (or Google) them previously. There's a delight in how famous the original stories are and how ordinary the characters in these versions can be.
The stories are knowing and witty, using observations and comments on modern society to try and make these very famous tales fresh. As expected, they vary in how they engage with the source tale, but the original myth is always central to the narrative and characters. Stand out highlights include the story of Diana and Actaeon with estate agents, Pasiphae and the minotaur with seaside gangsters, and adding further complications and some pink pills to the story of Tristan and Isolde. The two Biblical ones—Joseph and Mary Magdalen—are interesting, but may be more appreciated by someone who doesn't have more knowledge of Greek myth and Arthurian legend than Biblical material.
It is the kind of book that is perfect for picking up and reading single stories, dipping in or choosing the figures that most interest you. The modern retellings are clever and fun, and the end has a quick guide to the original tales for anyone who didn't know (or Google) them previously. There's a delight in how famous the original stories are and how ordinary the characters in these versions can be.
January 4, 2020
This collection follows the current trend of updating classic Greek, Roman, and Bible stories to the modern day and language. Regular readers of this genre know that the stories are sometimes more successful if the reader knows only the basic outlines of the original so that there's less to argue with. Hughes-Hallett has provided snippets before each story so that the casual reader can appreciate the classic and view her story with some background. The modern tales are set in the present day UK. As with all short story collection, this is one to dip in and out of - the stories aren't really linked and reading one at night before bed is a good way to appreciate them. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
January 17, 2020
I am a huge sucker for adaptations of Greek myths and fairytales and just about anything of that ilk, so I slapped a hold on this book the first I heard of it. And wow! Disappointing does not begin to cover it. The author somehow simultaneously tries way too hard to make modern tales out of these ancient stories and does not try hard enough to make them relevant to modern ears. I kept forgetting any of it was supposed to be occurring in the present day.
That said, the retelling of Actaeon was done perfectly. If all the stories had been like that one, this would have been gold. But then again, I’m not sure one would want to read a recognizable retelling of Pasiphae: 2020.
That said, the retelling of Actaeon was done perfectly. If all the stories had been like that one, this would have been gold. But then again, I’m not sure one would want to read a recognizable retelling of Pasiphae: 2020.
May 5, 2019
I'm happy I requested this book because it was an interesting read.
I liked the way the author tell contemporary stories based on mythical or biblical ones.
Not all the story are at the same level but they're all engaging and fascinating.
My favourite was the one inspired by Tristan and Isolde, I found it enthralling and fascinating.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I liked the way the author tell contemporary stories based on mythical or biblical ones.
Not all the story are at the same level but they're all engaging and fascinating.
My favourite was the one inspired by Tristan and Isolde, I found it enthralling and fascinating.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
August 2, 2019
This was a really well written and interesting collection of stories. All areas of stories are covered and the range of retellings was well picked. I can't think of a story in this that was bad and I can't wait to reread this in the future. Hughes-Hallett is a fascinating writer and she has a great way constructing and exploring the themes that feature in the original stories.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2020
This was one of those books that made me feel dumb, like there was something I was missing. I started reading the summary in the back for each story before starting the next chapter, but that didn’t help much. Sometimes I read a paragraph over and over again and still have no idea what was being said. One story flipped confusingly between regular and full italicized sections - were they different points of view? Different characters? I still don’t know. This book was clearly not meant for me.
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November 25, 2019Fabulous: Stories by Lucy Hughes-Hallett is an intriguing and inspiring collection of short-stories that are sure to tug at your heartstrings and make you think. Short-stories that are interesting and absorbing that once you start reading you will not want to put this one down.
February 16, 2020
I really tried, but I couldn't get into it. Massive fan of ancient stories and mythology so I should have had no problem, but the stories felt deliberately vague and like they were trying to be clever.
October 29, 2020
An interesting and unusual set of short stories that challenges you to re-imagine myths and legend in modern settings. Some of them were a bit hard to place, so it was reassuring to read the overview of the myths at the end of the book.
August 2, 2024
immensely clever - but I will say, depressing in parts. lovely prose that pulls you in, despite this. I mostly despise litfic unless it's Iris Murdoch, so it's fun to come across a brain so adept and charming it makes me read on against my genre preferences.
March 4, 2020
A very interesting take on classical stories. It made me think!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews