Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

This may be my favorite prompt this year.

Brightly Burning - retelling of Jane Eyre
Mr. Rochester - also a rehash of Jane Eyre
Marilla of Green Gables - this is more of a backstory, but it's the story of Marilla from Anne of Green Gables
Caroline: Little House, Revisited - another backstory, this time Ma (aka Caroline Ingalls) from Little House on the Prairie
Romeo And Juliet - I have this one on audio (narrated by the dreamy Richard Armitage)
Eligible - retelling of Pride and Prejudice

There are countless other retellings of Jane Austen's work as well.

What can you recommend to the group?

I'm using this prompt to fit in another book from The Lunar Chronicles....likely Fairest - related to Snow White

pride by ibi zoboi

Circe
The Song of Achilles
Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Death Comes to Pemberley
Dorothy Must Die
Heartless
Eligible
A Study in Charlotte
RoseBlood
The Wrath and the Dawn
A Thousand Nights

And any of the Shakespeare retellings published by Hogarth Press:
Hag-Seed (The Tempest retelling)
Vinegar Girl (Taming of the Shrew)
The Gap of Time (The Winter's Tale)
Shylock Is My Name (The Merchant of Venice)
New Boy (Othello)

I read A Study in Charlotte, Cinder, and Eligible this year which would all work here and are all very different types of novels depending on ones taste. I didn't dislike any of them and A Study in Charlotte was probably my favorite. I'm planning on reading either The Taming of the Drew or Speak Easy, Speak Love.

While I personally do not like his writing, Gregory Maguire has done nothing but rewrite classics:
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Wizard of Oz
Lost - A Christmas Carol ... this one I have somewhere in a print copy. Never read after hating Wicked, but might give it a shot for this.
Mirror Mirror - Snow White legend
He has more.

For those who like to read mysteries, Maia Chance has a wonderful series rewriting classic fairytales (which fit that prompt too):
Snow White Red-Handed - read a couple years ago for challenge and loved it.
Cinderella Six Feet Under
Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna

I thin I'm going to read Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker. I've read the Wicked Series, and with the exception of the last book, they're very good. Also, by Gregory Maguire, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and Mirror, Mirror. I liked this prompt. Lots of choices.

I definitely recommend Jackaby for this one if you like YA fantasy and mysteries. The Wendy was also a very good YA retelling and Curiouser and Curiouser was a decent one.

Dear Mr. Knightley was enjoyable, though I think not *strictly* a retelling, more just referencing a lot from Jane Austen.

If you consider Star Trek a classic, of course, there's always Redshirts. ;-)

I'll probably use The Fool's Girl since I was already planning that for the Shakespeare related ATY prompt.

Theresa wrote: "While I personally do not like his writing, Gregory Maguire has done nothing but rewrite classics:
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Wizard of ..."

With you started Wicked did not finish not reading him again. For those of tou like him please do not feel insulted your opinions are as valid as mine.

Yay, another excuse to read a fairy tale adaptation! Going with Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast for this one, though just about anything by Gail Carson Levine could work here too.

Kenya wrote: "Yay, another excuse to read a fairy tale adaptation! Going with Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast for this one..."

I love this book! I read it the first time when I was about 11 years old and most recently at 46 years old!

I found some lists
Fairy Tale retelling
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Pride and Prejudice
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

YA Retelling
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Alice in Wonderland Retelling
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Peter Pan
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

The Mere Wife is supposed to be amazing.

Would Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold fit for this prompt? Not sure if mythological tales are considered classics?

Dorothy Must Die
Circe
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

I may give Macbeth from The Shakespeare Hogarth Series another try. I DNF'd it, but I like Nesbo soooo. . .

Aesma wrote: "Would Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold fit for this prompt? Not sure if mythological tales are considered classics?"

I would count it

NOOOOOO Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!!!!!!!!!

Bridget Jones Diary is based on P&P, which I'm hoping to squeeze in by the end of the year since Ive completely skipped over Jane Austen.

I think I might try Eligible.

I also have many Gregory Maguire books on my shelf, but I don't know how I feel about him yet. Loved Mirror Mirror, absolutely HATED Wicked ( the musical was a whole other story though). I did just get a good deal on Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker which might be a fun way to start the year.

I think I'm going with this. Beauty and the Beast retelling.

Loved Eligible!!!

Snow & Rose
Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker
The Surface Breaks

Not sure what to pick but I am currently looking at these list:

"Best Jane Austen adaptions"
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

"Best Shakespeare retellings"
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

"Fairy tales retold"
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

I am considering Sea Witch but I might use it for a book set in Scandinavia (Denmark)

I’m recommending The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker.

It’s a retelling of The Iliad and so very well done.

books I'm considering:
The Woman Who Ran - retelling of Wildfell Hall
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter - Jekyll & Hyde
Nothing Happened - Much Ado About Nothing
When She Woke - Scarlet Letter
Stone Field - Wuthering Heights
The Madman’s Daughter - a YA spin on Island of Dr Moreau

and other books I've read:
Macbeth - Macbeth, obviously! (I was disappointed in this)
Wide Sargasso Sea - a Jane Eyre backstory (you should read Jane Eyre first though)

YA retellings I've read:
Rook - Scarlet Pimpernel
Black Spring - Wuthering Heights
Heartless - this counts, right? Alice's Queen of Hearts backstory
For Darkness Shows the Stars - Persuasion
Across a Star-Swept Sea - Scarlet Pimpernel
The Lost Girl - Frankestein. Sort of.
Masque of the Red Death - Masque of the Red Death.

Nadine wrote: "books I'm considering:
The Woman Who Ran - retelling of Wildfell Hall
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter - Jekyll & Hyde
Nothing Happened..."

I had forgotten about Macbeth. I remember reading a review in the newspaper and when I saw it on the new releases shelf in the library decided not to pick it up then. I might read it for this prompt.

Which one is better: Macbeth or Hag-Seed?

We agree that classic folk tales work right? Because that expands the possibilities tremendously.

Yeah I think classics like Cinderella and The Little Mermaid are still classics.

I've read a lot of retellings, they are one of my favorites to read!

My favorite that I've read is Entwined Its a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and its just magical! For those that like that old fairy tale vibe, I definitely recommend this. Its a beautiful story, with a very dark evil villain.

Not sure what I'm reading yet, I have a ton of retellings on my shelves to read! I was thinking maybe Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

This looks good!

I think I will go for Eligible since I am also rereading Pride and Prejudice.

I recommend this. Read it this year. Retelling of Frankenstein.


I think I’m finally going to read Rebecca which is just a retelling of Jane Eyre.

It never occurred to me that Rebecca is a retelling of Jane Eyre!! But yeah, it is!

Nadine wrote: "It never occurred to me that Rebecca is a retelling of Jane Eyre!! But yeah, it is!"

Really??

I'm not sure what counts as a classic (or a retelling for that matter) I'm thinking either A Study in Emerald, The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe or maybe Alice

I've decided to read The Little Selkie by K.M. Shea (retelling of The Little Mermaid) for this prompt. It's already on my tbr.

Sarah wrote: "I’m recommending The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker.

It’s a retelling of The Iliad and so very well done."

It is SO good, I don't know why I haven't heard it talked about much.

I'm quite excited about this prompt, lots of options!

I found Bitter Greens while browsing the fairytale retellings list, and not only does it sound really interesting, it has a character based on Elizabeth Bathory! Evil historical women are my jam. Really excited to read this one.

Jenny wrote: "
My favorite that I've read is Entwined Its a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses..."

Another retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses is The Girls at the Kingfisher Club

Jennifer wrote: "I recommend this. Read it this year. Retelling of Frankenstein.


I think I’m finally going to read Rebecca which is just a retelling..."

I'm actually hoping to get to The Dark Descent before the end of the year! Looks so good!

Theresa wrote: "While I personally do not like his writing, Gregory Maguire has done nothing but rewrite classics:
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Wizard of ..."

I hate his writing too, but I love the adaptations people make of his books! (This is under the assumption that the Mirror Mirror film starring Julia Roberts is based on his books). He also wrote Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister.

The Dead Fathers Club by Matt Haig is a retelling of Hamlet

Sense & Sensibility by Joanna Trollope is one my mother has read, based on Jane Austen's classic

Liz Braswell has written a collection of retellings of fairytales, the series is called Twisted Tales. I already have As Old As Time for a different prompt, it's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast which is my favourite Disney movie. My next favourite is Mulan, and the book for that is Reflection : A Twisted Tale: A Twisted Tale Series, book 4 which, ironically, is the first in the series not actually by Liz Braswell, but instead by Elizabeth Lim

Tracy wrote: "Nadine wrote: "It never occurred to me that Rebecca is a retelling of Jane Eyre!! But yeah, it is!"

Really??"

I don't know! But I can see my way to believing it. A few big details are changed, starting with: she's his wife, not his governess.

I've thought of a couple more that aren't exactly retellings, but are "extra" stories based on classics. Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz is great, would highly recommend, I bought it on a holiday as a cheap book to keep me going and loved it.

There's a few Bond ones, there is the Young Bond series, written by Charlie Higson and Steve Cole. I have only read some of the Charlie Higson ones, but I really enjoyed them. I have had Solo by William Boyd on my shelf for a while, so I'll probably read that.

Even more tangentially related is the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, if you say it is inspired by the Bond books. He also wrote a series of books called The Diamond Brothers, which are even more tangential as the names are puns based on classics and as far as I know that's the only "retelling". Most of them don't count as they are puns of films, but there is The Blurred Man (original is The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells)

I'll be reading The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. A retelling of the epic Sanskrit classic Mahabharata.

Do fairy tales count as classics??

Maja wrote: "Do fairy tales count as classics??"

Potentiality but i would consider them for thw folklore ir mythology catergory. But its all a matter of opinon

Thomas wrote: "Potentiality but i would consider them for thw folklore ir mythology catergory. But its all a matter of opinon"

You're right Thomas, I forgot about the folklore category.

Modern Mrs Darcy has a new post up with three Pride and Prejudice retellings. Pride and Unmarriageable both sound great but Im not convinced about Headstone, which includes dragons and other fantasy elements. But that is probably just me. Anne Boegel thought it worked.

I consider fairy tales classics. But they could also be used for the folklore. I think it depends on the tale.

A modern sequel to a classic can't be considered a retelling, right?