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A Book of Spells
- GenresShort Stories
Paperback
First published May 3, 1990
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35 people want to read
About the author
Sara Maitland
98 books171 followersSara Maitland is a British writer and academic. An accomplished novelist, she is also known for her short stories. Her work has a magic realist tendency. Maitland is regarded as one of those at the vanguard of the 1970s feminist movement, and is often described as a feminist writer. She is a Roman Catholic, and religion is another theme in much of her work.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 20, 2017
OK. So here we've got a grotesque and at times beautiful conglomeration of wicked stepmothers giving 'their side of the story', fiercesome historical adventurers, surviving by claw, tooth, nail (and gunshot). The Angela Carter style story of the two acrobatic Circus trained twins in their joint suicide pact. The Hansel and Gretel story, with the sickly sweet cottage of the witch reimagined as a modern day sperm donation clinic, complete with sugarcandy windows. The crossdressing seal catcher, the young girl who attempts horticulture in her vagina...
It's all here, but is it as satisfying as reading a story by say Margaret Atwood, Angela Carter or even A.S. Byatt? In parts, the stories hold themselves up, Maitland has similar ideas to the above, her stories explore the female, through her thoughts, her actions and interactions, characters grappling to claim their place in hostile or alien environments. But I didn't feel reading the text that Maitland has a unique enough voice to truly take this kind of material and shape it to make it truly her own.
The stand out story here is 'The Tale of the Valiant Demoiselle', which explores the true story of Marguerite de la Rocque, a French woman who was abandoned on an island in Quebec, and survived alone by shooting bears and other wild animals for sustenance. She then was rescued and returned to her native country.
The fairytales, or should I say 'magical realism' themed tales are the stand out ones here, the exploration of shapeshifting and female embodiment creating rich and tangible narratives. The true life stories however are simply dull. Too many of the stories here are a little too forgettable, too flimsy for my liking. It reminded me of the time I tried to read a similar collection by Marina Warner, it just didn't really do anything for me.
It's all here, but is it as satisfying as reading a story by say Margaret Atwood, Angela Carter or even A.S. Byatt? In parts, the stories hold themselves up, Maitland has similar ideas to the above, her stories explore the female, through her thoughts, her actions and interactions, characters grappling to claim their place in hostile or alien environments. But I didn't feel reading the text that Maitland has a unique enough voice to truly take this kind of material and shape it to make it truly her own.
The stand out story here is 'The Tale of the Valiant Demoiselle', which explores the true story of Marguerite de la Rocque, a French woman who was abandoned on an island in Quebec, and survived alone by shooting bears and other wild animals for sustenance. She then was rescued and returned to her native country.
The fairytales, or should I say 'magical realism' themed tales are the stand out ones here, the exploration of shapeshifting and female embodiment creating rich and tangible narratives. The true life stories however are simply dull. Too many of the stories here are a little too forgettable, too flimsy for my liking. It reminded me of the time I tried to read a similar collection by Marina Warner, it just didn't really do anything for me.
May 30, 2016
Review to come :)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews