Fairy Tale Tabs 10/17/2012

Is your computer overrun by tabs? Mine is. All the time. Eventually I either:

a) finish and close them
b) give up and close them
c) bookmark them hardly ever to return to them
d) have a computer freeze and lose them.

There are other scenarios, too, but those are the most common. So I am thinking about starting a new regular feature on the blog of rounding up my fairy tale related tabs and sharing them here. Many of these will be links to other blog posts, short news bits and other miscellaneous stuff. Then you can decide if you want to click through yourself.

So here are tabs from the last few days:

I wrote about the book yesterday, but here's a review at The Enchanted Inkpot for Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes.

At Spinning Straw Into Gold, there is a discussion of two different Little Mermaid poems, "The Mermaid Loses Her Voice" by Jeannine Hall Gailey and "The Mermaid Sets the Story Straight" by Debra Cash. There is also a post sharing "Nina Faces Reality" by Alex Schattner.

At Tales of Faerie, there is Jerry Griswold on Frog Prince and Fairy tale retellings and subgenres.

At Something to Read for the Train, there is Baba Yaga Returns to Poughkeepsie.

Book Trailer for Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version

 

Well, here's a little something to make you prefer the UK cover for Philip Pullman's Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version. A book trailer! The paper illustrations are by Cheong-ah Hwang and the animation is by Matthew Young.

It's short. And fun. Love the eyes.

New Book; The House Began to Pitch: Poems by Kelly Whiddon

The House Began to Pitch: Poems by Kelly Whiddon was just released this month. I always have a hard time finding poetry collections with fairy tale retellings and Whiddon let me know about the collection herself. Wonderful! You can also see a list of Whiddon's published poems on her site. I don't have a table of contents for the book which I know you readers like to see.

Book description:

Winner of the 2011 Adrienne Bond Award for Poetry The House Began to Pitch is a collection of poems that begins by following the lives of a man and a woman who grow up in the rural South in the fifties and sixties. Many of the poems are told through the lens of fairy tales as a comment on archetypal constructs that make up our ideals of home and family. The tragedies that affect the young lives of these characters influence them as they marry and age and as the book moves into the third section, which takes a more general and contemporary approach to domestic struggles. The poems favor the imagistic and melodic, always with an attempt to make sense out of the conflict and chaos of our daily lives. The settings of a small town and farm in a South gone-by give a dramatic backdrop to the struggles of the characters and create an illuminating merger with fairy tales such as Cinderella, Winnie the Pooh, The Wizard of Oz, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. These narratives serve as a familiar reminder of the dreams we hold in childhood and how reality fractures those story molds, in both good ways and bad.

About the Author

Kelly Whiddon is a writer and professor from Macon, Georgia. She has published poetry in Crab Orchard Review, Poetry International, Meridian, Spoon River Poetry Review, and Southern Poetry Review, among others, as well as the recent anthology Writing on Napkins at the Sunshine Club.

Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes

 

Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes is released today in the US and UK, same covers this time. And, despite the cover implications, it's for ages 12 and up. I can see some parents being wary of this one due to the cover which has more adult dark romance tones--unfortunate pose of the model. But these are YA authors and YA tales according to the publicity. I haven't read it yet but I'll believe the authors more than the cover. This is one of those times I'd throw a concept at hubby John, saying, "YA. Nursery Rhymes. Dark versions. Make a cover." And he'd do it so well...after some back and forth and slight marital strife because art creation can be tense.

Book description:

In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

Table of Contents:

Table of Contents
1. Dedication
2. Copyright
3. Introduction by Georgia McBride
4. Foreword by Francisco X. Stork
5. As Blue as the Sky and Just as Old by Nina Berry
6. Sing a Song of Six-Pence by Sarwat Chadda
7. Clockwork by Leah Cypess
8. Blue by Sayantani DasGupta
9. Pieces of Eight by Shannon Delany with Max Scialdone
10. Wee Willie Winkie by Leigh Fallon
11. Come Out to Play by Angie Frazier
12. I Come Bearing Souls by Jessie Harrell
13. The Lion and the Unicorn: Part the First by Nancy Holder
14. Life in a Shoe by Heidi K. Kling
15. Interlude: Humpty Dumpty, a poem by Georgia McBride
16. Candlelight by Suzanne Lazear
17. One for Sorrow by Karen Mahoney
18. Those Who Whisper by Lisa Mantchev
19. Little Miss Muffet by Georgia McBride
20. Sea of Dew (short version) by C. Lee McKenzie
21. Tick Tock by Gretchen McNeil
22. A Pocket Full of Posy by Pamela san Hylckama Vlieg
23. The Well by K. M. Walton
24. The Wish by Suzanne Young
25. A Ribbon of Blue by Michelle Zink
26. Sea of Dew (extended version) by C. Lee McKenzie
27. The Lion and the Unicorn: Part the Second by Nancy Holder
28. Publisher Acknowledgments
29. Author Acknowledgments

Halloween Fairy Tale Fun: Twisted Fairy Tales Paper Dolls

Not wanting to be a sexy fairy tale character for Halloween? (Don't worry, I won't be featuring those costumes here!) Well, the paper dolls in Twisted Fairy Tales Paper Dolls (Dover Paper Dolls) may inspire some other fairy tale themed costumes for you. Or you may just wonder how some things get published, but that's a conversation for another day. More than anything, these remind me of the Monster High Scary Tale dolls I shared a few weeks ago. It's also available in the UK.

Book description:

Snow White, Robin Hood, and a host of other fairy tale favorites take on an avant-garde aspect that's closer to renditions by Edward Gorey than Walt Disney. Twenty paper dolls include such reimagined characters as Hansel and Gretel, plus a brownie, pixie, troll, and other magical creatures. A spooky forest backdrop completes the scene.

Halloween Fairy Tale Fun: How to Cook Children: A Grisly Recipe Book for Gruesome Witches

How to Cook Children: A Grisly Recipe Book for Gruesome Witches by Martin Howard (Author), Colin Stimpson (Illustrator) is one of this week's offerings for pre-Halloween fun. This book is for a select audience of children and their adults and riffs off several fairy tales and other cultural references, such as Hansel and Gretel, as I'm sure you immediately imagined upon seeing the title. This is the second edition of the book so it has its fans! It's also available in the UK.

Book description:

Attention gastronomical ghouls and culinary crones! A mouth-watering collection of child-based recipes from the top chef witches around!

Every dish in this very unique cookbook has one thing in common: the main ingredient is children! Many famous culinary witches have contributed—from Barfa Stew-Wart to India's favorite Kideeta Skingh and Janie Groviller from Britain—and each of their recipes is introduced by the general editor Esmelia Sniff. Recipes range from such tangy delights as Seared Tina in Boy Sauce on a Bed of Fragrant Lice to the more filling Bratwurst and Upset Cabbage to sweet Flat Jacks. Featuring a dark subject matter but laugh-out-loud jokes, absurd characters, and beautiful illustrations, this is the perfect cookbook for parents and children alike.

"Quite simply the best book for cooking with children ever written. The recipes are mouth-watering and Esmelia Sniff is a laugh-out-loud kitchen nightmare. There are very few chefs who can change the way we think about food, but thanks to Esmelia and her pointy-hatted friends I'll be putting youngsters on the menu in all my restaurants from now on." —Gordon Ramsay

"The many small and large humorous pictures throughout are prominent against the white pages. Stimpson has worked with Walt Disney Feature Animation, and his slick, colorful style shows it." —School Library Journal

Audrey Hepburn and Fairy Tales

In case you missed this on Maria Tatar's blog today, I had to share, too. She found it here. 

Always have to love Audrey Hepburn who we lost way too early. And Audrey made her own contribution to fairy tales--no, not her life and style as a modern fairy tale--but with one of her final projects before her death, Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales.

The recording received a Grammy for Audrey posthumously. Her voice is the usual Audrey voice with the charming intonations. It reminded me of her voiceovers for Sabrina but a little more intimate.

Here's a publisher description:

Audrey Hepburn’s narration brings to life four entertaining fairy tales for children and adults alike. Included here are “The Sleeping Princess,” “Tom Thumb,” “Laideronette, Empress of the Pagodas,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” charming stories that demonstrate the power of unselfish devotion and courage and the triumph of true love.

This GRAMMY® Award-winning performance by the late film legend features not only sound effects and music from Maurice Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite” spread liberally throughout the hour but also a background story of the composer telling these stories to two young children, as remembered by one child when she was an elderly lady, all delivered in Audrey Hepburn's unique and cultured style.

REVIEW

“Her performance, although intended for children, is that of an adult performing for adults. There are no exaggerated intonations or characterizations. What we hear is what one would expect from Hepburn: a dignified performance that is dainty with precise enunciation and fitting inflections. The music is…a nice complement to her fine voice.”—AudioFile

Bargain Ebook: Seattle Cinderella by Gail Sattler

Seattle Cinderella by Gail Sattler is today's bargain ebook, an inspirational (i.e. Christian) romance this time which appears to take the Cinderella theme fairly literally. The ebook is priced $2.99.

Book description:

Cinderella lives—except her name is Cindy and she resides in Seattle! Cindy is forced to run her late father’s muffler shop. Will her step-sisters’ shenanigans and Luke Princeton’s charms only make her life even more unbearable? Cindy’s step-sister Annie has reformed her ways. But how will she prove it to the man she loves? Step-sister Zella is writing her own love story. But is she using a poison pen? Cindy’s godmother, Farrah, has caught the attentions of a younger man. Does she have the courage to love again? How far will God go to give these women a happy-ever-after?

From a review on Amazon, to describe the book's content better:

This book surprised me by being four different stories in one book. I enjoyed the continuation of each story into the next. The first book is the modern day Cinderella story, with the next two books being the tales of step-sister turned friend and all around good person. the final tale is the "fairy godmother" finding her happily ever after. Each book had a good arc of characters, good romance and endings that made me smile. Being broken into four tales made this book easy to read and fun. I'd consider this a great read for all lovers of fairy tales, modern romance and enjoyment! (Gina Brown Reading Team 20120207)

The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson and John Paterson

The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson and John Paterson is my featured book today since I plan to attend their session at the Southern Festival of Books.

Book description:

A robust and wildly entertaining fairy tale, freely abridged from Eden Phillpotts's 1910 fantasy and wryly retold by Katherine and John Paterson.

An ambitious Stone Age man demands a talisman that will harden his heart, allowing him to take control of his tribe. Against his better judgment, the tribe's magic man creates the Flint Heart, but the cruelty of it causes the destruction of the tribe. Thousands of years later, the talisman reemerges to corrupt a kindly farmer, an innocent fairy creature, and a familial badger. Can Charles and his sister Unity, who have consulted with fairies such as the mysterious Zagabog, wisest creature in the universe, find a way to rescue humans, fairies, and animals alike from the dark influence of the Flint Heart? This humorous, hearty, utterly delightful fairy tale is the sort for an entire family to savor together or an adventurous youngster to devour.

Spikeabell's Six Swans Word Cloud

So reader Spikeabell was irritated/inspired by my earlier post of Little Red Riding Hood by Affichionado and decided to try the concept herself. Her three minute experiment at Tagxedo produced the swan above, drawing from The Six Swans. As she said, "I didn't do any editing to emphasize the words, which would have made it more eye catching." But this is already more powerful than the Riding Hood one, is it not?

You can be creative/waste time today at either Tagxedo or Wordle and make your own images with fairy tale texts. If you make anything great to share, please add the link to a comment on this or the Riding Hood post. I'm rather tempted to make this into a contest!

Lil’ Red: An iPad App

From Revisit a Timeless Tale Made Modern with Lil’ Red – iPad App Review by Emily:

Lil’ Red brings a modern aesthetic to the well-known story of Little Red Riding Hood. As Lil’ Red’s creators know, they probably aren’t introducing readers to Red for the first time, so they get to have a little fun by creating beautiful streamlined graphics that tell the tale without a single written word.

To quote American Modernist Paul Rand, “Design is so simple, that’s why it’s so complicated.” Apps often fail because their design is unnecessarily complex or downright unattractive. Despite falling for the Big Bad Wolf’s Granny impersonation, Lil’ Red avoids this common pitfall and doesn’t get tripped up over aesthetics.

Lil’ Red is restrained, using only black, white, and red in its illustrations, yet these restrictions (along with her oversized black eyes and exaggerated lashes) set off Red’s playful, inquisitive nature.

There's more review, so do click through to read it. The app is available in the iTunes store.

Little Red Riding Hood by Affichionado

This is a poster available from Affichionado which was rather interesting. I wish it had a more distinctive wolf shape to it, don't you? It's something where I look at it and like the concept but think how I would change it, too.

From the press release:

The tales have been deconstructed and broken down into single words, the words are then compiled in order of frequency and the more frequent a word appears in the text, the more prominent it's presentation in the print, creating a hierarchy of size. Color schemes and placement have been carefully adapted to convey some of the message that is inherent in the work itself, reconstructing the text as a beautiful print with true soul.