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How to Spin Gold: A Woman's Tale
Taking its inspiration from the story of Rumpelstiltskin and the spinner of gold, a novel tells the story of a mysteriously deformed girl from a medieval village. By the author of The Return of the Goddess. IP.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 11, 2015
Gosh, I love Cunningham's work so much. I've only ever read Magdalen Rising, her first book in The Maeve Chronicles, which I also loved enough to reread twice now. I wasn't sure what to expect when I finally got my hands on some of her other works, especially her earlier ones. How to Spin Gold didn't disappoint. The theme is one after my own heart: the help and harm of symbols that are projected onto people -- particularly onto women -- and the limits of tradition. I remember reading Magdalen Rising and thinking the same thing, because at the time I was just learning about "real" feminism, and how important it is that we start teaching girls that they have the right to choose their paths in every aspect of their life. It's strange, how Cunningham's books have a way of finding me when they're perfectly relevant to my life. I was so completely wrapped up in How to Spin Gold, I couldn't put it down.
There's so much to talk about, I don't even know where to start. I'm glad (spoiler alert) that the ending was overall happy. It was incredibly refreshing, after reading so many books, watching so many movies, and playing so many video games that end on either super traumatizing or bittersweet notes. I did feel sorry for the Prince, of course, and even for Aurelie. Cunningham did a wonderful job subtly depicting the more harmful aspects of traditional archetypes that are imposed upon people. She also did a wonderful job, through the unnamed narrator and Marina (and to an extent even through the Prince and Aurelie), of showing how those archetypes fall apart once you actually get to know the human underneath them. Marina was a good example of how those archetypes need to be challenged and deconstructed. I've always said, "If you put a label on someone long enough, eventually they will conform to it." The narrator, the Prince, and Aurelie all played into their labels for a while; the Prince even died, perhaps, because he was so eager to please his father and act his part. Aurelie, I think, was judged so harshly by the narrator (and even the reader) because she did not perfectly conform to the archetype of the perfect Queen. And, of course, the narrator was forced into the role of Mother/Crone because of her deformities and the way her family and society viewed her, which made her bitter and angry.
Marina is where it all turns on its head. She is "the Princess," but she rejects the role almost immediately. I wouldn't say she CHOOSES her role, per se, as Mother/Crone; I think the idea of an "image" to her would be limiting. Rather, she chooses to bear no image. And that choice is important. That's why Cunningham's novel is so beautifully feminist and important and, ugh, I just love it so much. 5/5 stars, would recommend. Seriously, if you haven't read any of her stuff, you should!
There's so much to talk about, I don't even know where to start. I'm glad (spoiler alert) that the ending was overall happy. It was incredibly refreshing, after reading so many books, watching so many movies, and playing so many video games that end on either super traumatizing or bittersweet notes. I did feel sorry for the Prince, of course, and even for Aurelie. Cunningham did a wonderful job subtly depicting the more harmful aspects of traditional archetypes that are imposed upon people. She also did a wonderful job, through the unnamed narrator and Marina (and to an extent even through the Prince and Aurelie), of showing how those archetypes fall apart once you actually get to know the human underneath them. Marina was a good example of how those archetypes need to be challenged and deconstructed. I've always said, "If you put a label on someone long enough, eventually they will conform to it." The narrator, the Prince, and Aurelie all played into their labels for a while; the Prince even died, perhaps, because he was so eager to please his father and act his part. Aurelie, I think, was judged so harshly by the narrator (and even the reader) because she did not perfectly conform to the archetype of the perfect Queen. And, of course, the narrator was forced into the role of Mother/Crone because of her deformities and the way her family and society viewed her, which made her bitter and angry.
Marina is where it all turns on its head. She is "the Princess," but she rejects the role almost immediately. I wouldn't say she CHOOSES her role, per se, as Mother/Crone; I think the idea of an "image" to her would be limiting. Rather, she chooses to bear no image. And that choice is important. That's why Cunningham's novel is so beautifully feminist and important and, ugh, I just love it so much. 5/5 stars, would recommend. Seriously, if you haven't read any of her stuff, you should!
March 21, 2012
This is a new/old story, wise and personally challenging. Two quotes. First: Yet, mistaken or not, the Mother loved me. For one with all the arrogance of self-hatred, such love, so freely given and having nothing to do with my deserving, was hard, indeed, to bear.
Second, the poem at the center of the tale:
Take the dung and make it flower,
Take the pain and make it power,
Let your own fear make you bold,
Take the straw and spin, spin, spin the gold.
Second, the poem at the center of the tale:
Take the dung and make it flower,
Take the pain and make it power,
Let your own fear make you bold,
Take the straw and spin, spin, spin the gold.
March 25, 2016
If you love retold fairy tales, definitely pick up this small novel which is based on Rumpelstiltskin but is told from the point of view of the supposed villain of the original tale (who is a woman in this version). Very moving, and like the best fairytales/re-told fairy tales, resonates truly with the human condition.
September 23, 2020
Mother Cunningham has done it again (well, written before all the other stories but captured my attention and fancy once again) - I was totally engrossed in this stunning tapestry woven from wild imagination, folklore, human suffering and redemption... this book taps into something deep inside of me that has been present since I can remember: the feeling that I *am*, at least in some key ways, the ancient Mother/Wise Woman. I feel like I just got realigned with my purpose (purposes - I think we all have more than one). The book I read before this one had gushing and glowing reviews, but failed to elicit this same fire in me/just wasn't the same level of poetry and deeply rooted storytelling. Maybe I'm just a nostalgic fantasy junkie. :-D I'm just amazed at how clever and true this retelling of a classic fairytale is, and as usual, from a feminist perspective that is neither arrogant nor strident. This is the kind of folklore we should have more of (though of course the whole premise would have been different if we didn't have the original old tale of Rumplestiltskin to revise, but let's say there should be "modern folklore" taught alongside of "traditional" or "old folklore". Brilliantly combines psychology, mysticism, herbalism/healing lore, archetypal imagery, poesis, a touch of sociology, history, and mythology all into one fantastic and riveting read. There is nothing more I could have wished for in this book (and that's saying something as I'm quite nit-picky!).
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February 25, 2009I love fairy tale re-tellings. this one looks especially interesting. It asks the question; "What if rumplestiltskin was a woman?"
"A tale of self-empowerment and longing. Blending psycological depth with amagical possibility..."
"A tale of self-empowerment and longing. Blending psycological depth with amagical possibility..."
May 23, 2010
This book had so many nuggets of wisdom in it that I could apply to my life. I love books like that. The concept was interesting, as well. Kind of like Shannon Hale's redo of some of the fairytales. Never would have thought to do one about Rumplestiltskin....
March 11, 2010
A wonderful retelling of Rumpelstilskin. A tale of love, of self-esteem, selfishness and selflessness, of false friendship, and so much more.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews