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Lots of people have tried to rewrite myths and fairy tales, and some have proven more successful then others, and some I just really, really like. There is something thick and wonderful about a good retelling that leaves you a little confused and terribly happy. It's like there is a whole history behind it, and the author just added to the pile. Thickness.
Glass Slipper, Eleanor Farjeon. Considering, not many people have written Cinderella down in a modern way. Farjeon updates is just enough and brings a spark to a story and a character that society has tired of. It's not annoyingly modern like Ella Enchanted, it's quirky and captivating.
Till We Have Faces, CS Lewis. One of my favorite myths, Lewis really gives it new life. It more then rewrites it, he writes around it with new characters and brings a new, darker face to the relatively happy story.
Beauty, Robin McKinley. The writing is literally dense in Beauty. McKinley rewrites my favorite fairy tale, staying pretty close to the original story. But instead of making it overly dark and grotesque, as the story easily could be, she lets it be Power of Loveish and overall redemptive.
The Goose Girl, Shannon Hale. I've always loved the story of the goose girl, but honestly, it has a very small plot. Hale basically gave it life. It has a few sequels, but as as a retelling, it works best on its own.
Fire and Hemlock, Diana Wynne Jones. This book is genius storytelling. It reworks the tale of Tam Lin in a tangling, mysterious way through the eyes of a modern girl. No one but Jones could have pulled it off.
The Perilous Gard, Elizabeth Marie Pope. Although this isn't a direct retelling, it heavily uses the mythos and fairy stories of medieval England as inspiration. I suppose in a way it is almost another retelling of Tam Lin.
Tristan and Iseult, Rosemary Sutcliff. In all the other recommendations the author adds new plot lines and twists into the original story. But in this small, elegant book Sutcliff just sticks to the original material and it works.
Castle in the Air, Diana Wynne Jones. So my sister just reminded me I forgot this book, which seems downright barbaric. It's sort of a sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, but focuses on different characters, Abdullah, and his journey to find Flower-of-the-Night, with ample help from a genie and flying carpet.
Season 7 has just been insanely happy. Mulder and Scully are laughing and chilling together and Scully and Skinner are finally believing... Now I'm just waiting for the ball to drop. Something dreadfully horrific is around the bend. BRACE YOURSELVES.
Today was boring. But I'm reading a really good book and I had a chocolate bar so I guess in the grand scheme of things it could have been worse.
There's nothing as awesome as a sort of magical, kinda sci-fi, seriously metaphysical, vaguely steampunk story, set in the Victorian Era.
Ruby in the Smoke, Phillip Pullman. This was really good. I had been hesitant to read him, just because of the whole Dark Materials kerfuffle. But it was really exciting and awesome, and I think I'll read more of his books.
The Prestige. One of my favorite movies ever! It's such a cool mystery/thriller, and it has Hugh Jackman in it, which is a plus. Every time I watch it I feel like I get it a little more.
Three of Swords. Two acquaintances of mine are writing and illustrating a series of Victorian magical mysteries. There are lots of pretty men and rich ladies and adorable familiars. They already finished Volume 1, and are working on the next ones. It is really the most impressive feat, and puts the rest of us lazy young adults to shame.
The Unquiet Dead/The Girl in the Fireplace/Tooth and Claw/Family of Blood/The Next Doctor. Doctor Who has the most epic Victorian episodes ever. You've got clockwork monsters, werewolves, ghosts, aliens, pretty much everything in these episodes. I hope Eleven gets some excellent Victorian episodes!
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1. After reading Watchmen I decided I needed to read more Alan Moore. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen wasn't as good as Watchmen obviously, but it was really exciting and beautiful anyway. The invisible guy was the best.
Hellboy. So not really Victorian? Yeah, not really. But it feels Victorian, and the art direction is magical, and it has clockwork creatures and it counts, whatever.
I hope we can go ice skating today. If it's rescheduled, I'll have taken a day off from work for nothing, and have to take NEXT Thursday off too.
And if you have a suggestion of some book or movie that's all magical and Victorian, share please!
So I decided this year to keep a list of all the books I read, because I have in the past, forgotten all the good books I read, because I'm just forgetful or something. Anyway, so in this past month I read 11 works of fiction. (Yeah, fiction only, that yucky non-fic/school stuff doesn't count.) And this is in order of how I read them.
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1. Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones
I've already talked about this book way too much here, so I'll just say, go read it, and you won't regret it.
2. The Magician's Elephant, Kate DiCamillo
She is one of my favorite authors, and this, her newest books, was absolutely magical.
3. Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton
Edith is another of my favorite authors, and Ethan Frome was beautiful, but totally different from her other books.
4. Castle in the Air, Diana Wynne Jones
I adore all fantasy books set in an middle-east thousand-and-one-nights sort of world, and this one delivered.
5. Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
Absolutely, completely charming and heartbreaking. And the illustrations were beautiful too.
6. House of Many Ways, Diana Wynne Jones
Once again, read these books, you won't regret it. It has magic food and a purple villain. And Twinkle.
7. Tiger Rising, Kate DiCamillo
Not my favorite of her books, but altogether lovely nevertheless. The musty motel setting was just gorgeous.
8. This Side of Paradise, F. Scott Fitzgerald
This book sent like fifty different emotions surging through me at one. It was absolutely delightful, hopeless, hysterical, romantic, magical, etc, all at the same time.
9. The Demigod Files, Rick Riordan
Not actually a full book, but I read it, it counts. Oh Clarisse, never change. The Persephone story was the best.
10. Fire and Hemlock, Diana Wynne Jones
The most amazing part about this book is how as Tom grows older, Polly begins to see him as younger. It's ridiculously good writing.
11. O Pioneers, Willa Cather
It's like Little House or Skylark, but for grown-ups. It's beautiful, and really tiny, but very powerful.
As you can see I have an unhealthy emphasis on fantasy written for kids. Oh well. And now that I've read four Diana Wynne Jones books, I just have to say, she writes the most a-freaking-dorable romances ever, so subtle and perfect. Also she never tells you what's going on till the last two chapters.
Anyway, I can't wait for Percy Jackson! Even if I end up going to see it with with a load of squealing 11-year-olds. My little sister has decided she's coming with me... and bringing all her friends, lol!
What the title says. And as always with fanart posts... Click the pics to see them fullsize.
Howl and Sophie, burdge-bug.
Just finished this book and I still haven't recovered from it's amazingness! This is like one of five fanarts on DA that are bookverse instead of movieverse. Also I dumped Naveen for Howl.
Singing in the Rain, The-Closet-Menace.
Re-watched this movie on the way up to Boston last week, fell in love with Gene Kelly all over again.
Eloise and Widmore, Buuya.
Lost's biggest problem is that the minor characters are always WAY more interesting then the main characters. Oh well.
Sonny and Chad, DKCissner.
Chad giving Sonny (another) autographed photo of himself. Really Chad, really?
Eilonwy, HarperJade.
Why do these books get no love? They're awesome! But there's no fandom, no fanfic or fanart, and all we have is that really bad Disney movie of The Black Cauldron. Phooey.
Invincible, burdge-bug.
Yup, more Percy Jackson. The Last Olympian was pretty epic.
Padme and Ani, LynnOnline.
I don't really like them much, but this picture is so cute! The second movie did have it's moments.
Michael and Delysia, Fullmetalpyrate.
I loved this books so much, and the movie was so awesome too! Everyone needs to go read Miss Pettigrew!
Charlie Crews, thecosmicdancer.
My little fruit loving Charlie! This is the ONLY piece of Life fanart on DA that isn't a photo college.
Isi, spicysteweddemon.
I want to buy a copy of The Goose Girl illustrated by her.
I am enjoying an entire day doing absolutely nothing. At all. Now leave me alone so I can get back to wasting time.
So now I am. I, like every other person in the world, love Harry Potter. I've got a Slytherin scarf and the hardcover boxed set in the trunk, I've been to a Harry and the Potters concert and it's probably partially thanks to J.K. Rowling that I've decided to major in psych. And next Friday my sister and I are hosting the Harry Potter release party, where we'll eat a Hogwarts feast and watch Half-blood Prince and drool over Draco. But here is my point: it's less then a year till Deathly Hallows: Part I comes out!
I can't wait to see Helena Boham Cater play Hermione. That'll be epic.
Bill and Fleur's wedding, her dress is gorgeous.
Soo, Ginny and Grindelwald are dating irl.
Poor spliced Ron. And ew Hermione, wash your hands.
Shell cottage is beautiful!
Random walking.
Not-so-random running.
Eeps, I can't wait! Anyway, I am so tired right now, and have so much school. Snore. The Missouri Compromise just doesn't hold my interest.
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