Into the Forest discussion

It's sort of a broad topic for giving blind recs, but I'll give it a shot! I apologize in advance for hte lack of links but Goodreads hasn't been cooperating with me for the last couple of weeks (which is one reason I haven't been on as much).

Have you read Perault? "Donkeyskin" or "Bluebeard"? There're good retellings of both. (McKillip's Deerskin and Atwood's Robber Bride or Hoffman's Blue Diary. The last two are more chick-lit-ish and the first is more traditional fairy-tale-retelling style.)

We read Eowyn Ivey's The Snow Child as a group read last winter and everyone seemed to like it. It's based on a rather obscure folktale - "The Snow Maiden". It's historical fiction about some homesteaders in turn of the century Alaska.

Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds is really funny and it's based on a Chinese folktale... I don't remember which one. Something about a cowherd, I think?

There's Grace Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon which is a cute middle grade book with a mash-up of various Chinese tales.

There's been a few rather obscure tales in the Simon Pulse Once Upon a Time series, though I have to warn you that Cameron Dokey's books in particular seem like a long elaborate set up for a "happy ever after" ending and not much more than that. I haven't read any of hte other authors so I don't know if the rest of the series is any better

Hm. What else... There's Karen Lord's Redemption in Indigo which started off slowly but grew on me as the story progressed. It's based of a Senegalese folk tale, but I wasn't able to find the original source tale when I looked for it.

I'm sure I could think of many, many more, but there's a start at least.

(I noticed i'd rec'd some older books but didn't want to delete them, so I just crossed them out...)

Melanti wrote: "It's sort of a broad topic for giving blind recs, but I'll give it a shot! I apologize in advance for hte lack of links but Goodreads hasn't been cooperating with me for the last couple of weeks (..."

Thank you so much. I'll take a close look tomorrow when I can better concentrate. My husband is sending hints it's time to watch Defiance, and if I wait, he will switch to the game. Good night.

I'm really having a hard time finding a Greek Roman Myth retelling written past 2000 that is not either a children's book or a romance!
Has anyone had any luck recently?
Reading Till We Have Faces did make me want to read something else based on the Cupid and Psyche myth.
The only thing I can find looks more like a romance Painted Blind but if I don't find anything else I might try it.

Jalilah wrote: "I'm really having a hard time finding a Greek Roman Myth retelling written past 2000 that is not either a children's book or a romance!
Has anyone had any luck recently?
Reading Till We Have ..."</i>

I keep changing my mind on what I'll read for that one, but I think I might try [book:Girl Meets Boy: The Myth of Iphis. I've been reading Ovid for a while now, and it re-tells the Iphis myth, which I don't know and I haven't gotten to that part in Metamorphoses yet. It's 2007, so would meet the 2000 rule.

I have a question. I'm reading The Scorpio Races right know, about kelpies, and since I'd never heard of kelpies before, I'm wondering if this would count as a fairy tale retelling I've never read before? I'm going to find a celtic folklore book as well to read some of the original folklore, or, actually, I have a collection of sea folklore that I'm betting includes kelpies. I'm doing it out of order, and kelpies are fairy tale creatures versus a specific fairy tale, so do you think it would count toward the challenge?

Sure, I don't have a problem with it Margaret.

So in the current Endicott group read, The Truth About Celia, one of the chapters adapts an old "true" historical account/folktale of The Green Children of Woolpit.

I'm really fascinated by this tale. Has anyone heard of it or of a retelling that's more than a single chapter long? I'm thinking of using that folktale for this challenge.

Melanti wrote: "So in the current Endicott group read, The Truth About Celia, one of the chapters adapts an old "true" historical account/folktale of The Green Children of Woolpit.

I'm really fascinated by this..."

I already mentioned in the Endicott Group that my son had a Children's book called the Green Children when he was little. I think I enjoyed it more than he did! I assumed it was a Celtic legend and had no idea it was based on a historical account. I could not bring myself to read The Truth About Celia. Stories of missing children really upset me.

Margaret wrote: "I have a question. I'm reading The Scorpio Races right know, about kelpies, and since I'd never heard of kelpies before, I'm wondering if this would count as a fairy tale retelling ..."

That's actually a good idea! I have not read much about Kelpies either and would be interested. There a creepy one in Holly Black's Tithe, but he's not main character.

Jalilah wrote: "I already mentioned in the Endicott Group that my son had a Children's book called the Green Children when he was little. I think I enjoyed it more than he did! I assumed it was a Celtic legend and had no idea it was based on a historical account. I could not bring myself to read The Truth About Celia. Stories of missing children really upset me. "

That's what has me so fascinated, Jalilah. The chapter sounded vaguely familiar so I assumed it was based on a folktale and wanted to read the original to see what all he'd changed but when I looked, I found out that it's based on a true story.

Well, more than likely, it didn't happen, or didn't happen quite like that. But the people of the time claimed it did.

I'm seeing that there's a similarly titled story in the Armless Maiden anthology, which I've been meaning to read anyway. But I'm going to keep digging and see what else I can find. It looks like there should be some non-fictional studies at least.

As far as the book itself, luckily I'm not a parent nor do I have a desire to be, so I don't have to imagine a child of my own disappearing, but it is making me think of a girl in my neighborhood who disappeared (and was later found murdered) back when I was in Kindergarten. Thinking back to how that affected my family even though we'd never met her or her family... well, it's definitely making Celia's story seem real.

Jalilah wrote: "I already mentioned in the Endicott Group that my son had a Children's book called the Green Children when he was little. ..."


You have me curious now! Let us know if you find the book so we can link it and look for it.

This seems like a likely candidate for Jalilah's book...
It's the only picture book named "Green Children" in the goodreads database.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Melanti wrote: "This seems like a likely candidate for Jalilah's book...
It's the only picture book named "Green Children" in the goodreads database.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3..."

Unfortunately I gave away the one my son had, so I can't look up the name of the author. It was a picture book and the cover looked different!

The hardback cover is much different. Like this?
http://smile.amazon.com/green-childre...

Melanti wrote: "So in the current Endicott group read, The Truth About Celia, one of the chapters adapts an old "true" historical account/folktale of The Green Children of Woolpit.

I'm really fascinated by this..."


I've never heard of the green children before, but I love the folklore. I think it would be even more interesting to explore since it may or may not have happened. It reminds me of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, for (view spoiler)[ Maguire never actually explains why Elphaba is green. /(view spoiler)[

I have The Armless Maiden: And Other Tales for Childhood's Survivors, but haven't read it yet. It's in my pile of books to be read this year, though that may be being optimistic considering how many books are in the pile:)

The wikipedia article mentions The Girl Green as Elderflower as a novel adaptation, which is a lovely title, and sounds interesting though, unfortunately, the protagonist isn't actually green. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Hmm, the rest of my comment was cut off. Well, essentially I said I also want to read The Armless Maiden: And Other Tales for Childhood's Survivors, I have it at home but haven't gotten to it yet, and the wikipedia article mentions a novel adaptation,The Girl Green as Elderflower, which is a pretty title.

Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I have a question. I'm reading The Scorpio Races right know, about kelpies, and since I'd never heard of kelpies before, I'm wondering if this would count as a fair..."

I haven't read Tithe, but I loved The Spiderwick chronicles. I have Doll Bones on my kindle as well. I'll have to give Tithe a try, especially after seeing the discussion on the "what are you reading now" board.

I thought I'd read A Brief Guide to Celtic Myths and Legends to get some of the original folklore on Kelpies.

I quite enjoyed The Scorpio Races; thanks for recommending it Melanti. At first I thought I wasn't going to like it, because I wasn't buying the premise. Who would want to race those horses, or live anywhere near them? But I found myself really wanting to read the rest, even when I was busy, and there were lots of great scenes and excellent character development. I'm still not convinced about the world, but, in the end, it didn't matter to me. Oh, and I loved that line at the end, (view spoiler)[ when Puck is asked if she and Sean are an item, and she says "he's in training." :) /(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Margaret wrote: "I quite enjoyed The Scorpio Races; thanks for recommending it Melanti. At first I thought I wasn't going to like it, because I wasn't buying the premise. "

You're welcome! I was rather dubious about the premise too, especially since it was published during the height of the Hunger Games craze where it seemed like everyone and their dogs were writing about deadly contests. But it was nominated for the Mythopoeic Award (I'm sure you guys are sick of me talking about that award by now!) which 95% of the time means I'm going to like the book. Then someone else here on Goodreads mentioned it a couple of months ago - I don't remember who or in what group - and that gave me the final push to give it a chance.


I poked around on the internet a bit last night and it seems there's a particular form of malnutrition that could tint a skin green and one rather rare medical condition. Not an outright green skin, but just a slight coloration change. So that was one theory on the Green Children. Another was aliens, of course. Everything is aliens.

The Girl Green as Elderflower is a pretty title, I admit, but I'm sorely tempted to get the nonfiction version involving aliens just for the laughs I'm sure it'll provide.

I am counting The Story of Jullanar of the Sea as a tale from The Arabian Nights that I was unfamiliar with.
For everyone still looking for a tale, I can recommend it! It goes well with our next group read theme, featuring "Sea people", magical beings who are human looking in form but live in the sea!

Since I'd never read any of the Arabian Nights, I'm counting all of it! That particular one does go well with the group read!

I finished Too Good to Be True: The Colossal Book of Urban Legends by Jan Harold Brunvand for my book of urban legends. I thought it was kinda boring, personally. I'm not sure why. I'd heard of some of them, but not all of them. They didn't quite have the same dynamic as people tell the stories, I think.

I am now halfway through the challenge!

I didn't realize that The Scorpio Races was nominated for the Mythopoeic Award. I read it when it first came out and enjoyed it. I agree that most of the time I will enjoy something that has won the award.

Finally getting around to the Urban Legends portion of the challenge. Thankfully it appears my library has several options. Here's what I requested (in case anyone else is still looking for leads):

Phantom Hitchhikers and Other Urban Legends: The Strange Stories Behind Tall Tales

What Happens Next?: Contemporary Urban Legends and Popular Culture

Complete Idiot's Guide to Urban Legends

Urban Legends: The As-Complete-As-One-Could-Be Guide to Modern Myths

Leah wrote: "Finally getting around to the Urban Legends portion of the challenge. Thankfully it appears my library has several options. Here's what I requested (in case anyone else is still looking for leads):..."

Wow! How did you find out about all those Leah! It's great to have more choices, thanks!

Jalilah wrote: "Wow! How did you find out about all those Leah! It's great to have more choices, thanks!"

I was a little discouraged when I was reading others' experiences with the Urban Legends books they could (and could not) find. So I was pleased when I searched my libraries catalog (by title and by subject "Urban Legends") and found over 40 different books!

You gotta love libraries nowadays with their extended networks. Ours connected to the Columbus Metropolitan Library (Ohio, USA) two years ago, and it's been pure heaven. It's rare that I cannot find a book (or DVD or CD) since that merge. Yay!

Leah wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Wow! How did you find out about all those Leah! It's great to have more choices, thanks!"

I was a little discouraged when I was reading others' experiences with the Urban Legends b..."

It was not that The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and Their Meanings or the other books by Jan Harold Brunvand were bad or anything. They just were not page turners due to the fact that I'd heard most of stories already with our realizing they were considered Urban legends. I look forward to checking out the other books you suggested!

Regarding a Greek Myth retelling, I really liked the Cupid and Psyche myth that I became more familiar with when I readTill We Have Faces. Since then I've been looking for a post 2000 retelling that looked appealing. I think I've finally found it in Psyche in a Dress. In general I've read good things about Francesca Lia Block and am curious to try something by her. I might read her Zel for my Endicott YA Fairy Tale retelling if I like Psyche in a Dress.

I've been wanting to read Block. And the premise for Psyche in a Dress sounds interesting. I have The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by her that I'll read at some point this year.

Margaret wrote: "I've been wanting to read Block. And the premise for Psyche in a Dress sounds interesting. I have The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by her that I'll read at some point this year."

Come to think of it, I think I heard about The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold from you Margaret. Did you not suggest it once?

I made a mistake about Zel being from Francesca Lia Block. It's from Donna Jo Napoli. Another author I want to try! For some reason I always mix up the two!

Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I've been wanting to read Block. And the premise for Psyche in a Dress sounds interesting. I have The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by her that I'll read at s..."

Yes! I think I nominated it for a group read sometime this year.

Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I've been wanting to read Block. And the premise for Psyche in a Dress sounds interesting. I have The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by her that I'll read at s..."

Maybe you mix them up because they both have three-word names and write fairy tale retellings?

I used to love Napoli's fairy tale retellings, and Zel was my favorite. She's been a big influence on the retellings I write. I look forward to learning what you think of Zel.

Jalilah wrote: "They just were not page turners due to the fact that I'd heard most of stories already without realizing they were considered Urban legends."

Yep, that's what I thought might be the case. I'm currently reading Urban Legends: The As-Complete-As-One-Could-Be Guide to Modern Myths and it's by no means a pageturner, yet it's interesting to read about the social context and evolution of certain ones. Others are just plain ridiculous.

Jalilah wrote: "It's from Donna Jo Napoli. Another author I want to try!"

Zel's on my TBR list too. I wasn't wowed by Napoli's Beast (although I can still remember its vivid imagery), but I did really really enjoy The Magic Circle. I love retellings that dig into the so-called villain's backstory. (I'm a firm believer in two sides to every story!) Although Magic Circle was more religious than I anticipated, for me, it's the book to beat within Napoli's works.

The Magic Circle was my first Napoli book as well, followed by Zel and Crazy Jack, both of which I really liked. I was not impressed with Beast, either, nor the retellings I read by her after that (Sirena, Song of the Magdalene), so I thought maybe I had just "outgrown" her. But hearing you say "Beast" didn't do it for you, either, makes me wonder if maybe her later retellings just weren't as good.

Margaret wrote: "Melanti wrote: "I read the Beaumont and Villeneuve versions last year, and I agree with what you're saying. It's astonishing how different the retelling are from that original novella by de Villen..."

I just finished Kissing the Witch by Emma Donoghue as part of this challenge, better late that never, right???? Anyway, totally turns all this "obey him (whoever)" on it's head. Kind of loved that!!!!

Alicia wrote: "Finished The Mirror's Tale and now reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. This one could take a while! I'd be tempted to ask if a 1000 page book could count for two as it..."

What challenge does reading about trolls meet? Just asking cause I think I'd like to tackle a troll read:)

Jalilah wrote: "I am starting my collection of "fractured" Fairy Tales: The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter. I am creeped out by the first story, although I must admit..."

Ooh, that looks good!

How's everyone coming along! I just read a great book that would count as a after 2000 Greek-Roman Myth retelling, Psyche in a Dress. It is simply wonderful! I devoured it and to think I almost returned it when I saw it was all written in prose. Thanks Margaret for bringing Francesca Lia Block to my attention!

You're welcome! I'll have to read that one!

Jalilah wrote: "How's everyone coming along! I just read a great book that would count as a after 2000 Greek-Roman Myth retelling, Psyche in a Dress..."

Based on above and your review that one does sound really good!

I've been updating my original post with my progress. To date my biggest challenge of this challenge (HA!) has been the Greek-Roman Myth: Originally I wanted Narcissus, and for the retelling, The Picture of Dorian Gray but that's not post-2000. So I'm still searching.

Leah wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "How's everyone coming along! I just read a great book that would count as a after 2000 Greek-Roman Myth retelling, Psyche in a Dress..."

Based on above and your review that one doe..."

The great thing about Psyche in a Dress is that it incorporates many myths. And it's a very fast and entertaining read!

What have all of you who are doing the challenge read or chosen to read for the retelling of Arthurian legend or a book about Arthurian Legends?
I am still undecided.

I was actually thinking of nominating Arthurian Legends for the next themed read, since I hadn't decided either! I have a book called Silence, a French epic poem that dates to the 13th century, that tells the story of a girl who becomes a knight and whose final task is to capture Merlin. All three characters are women. I was very intrigued because I've never heard of it, yet it's from the 1200s. I can't find it on Goodreads, though that may be because it has no author, and the title Silence is very common. I haven't gone through all the entries!

Jalilah wrote: "What have all of you who are doing the challenge read or chosen to read for the retelling of Arthurian legend or a book about Arthurian Legends?
I am still undecided."

Well since I haven't really read anything about Arthurian legends before now, only watched movies, I was going to pick one from my TBR-owned mountain.

Le Morte d'Arthur: King Arthur and the Legends of the Round Table: A Rendition in Modern Idiom or Le Morte d'Arthur: King Arthur and the Legends of the Round Table - not sure if those are the same book or not. My library has the former but not the latter.

King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table

The Sword in the Stone

The Once and Future King

I'd like to read those in order of publication, but I'm not sure which came first, and whether or not it matters.

P.S. Based on your recommendation I borrowed Psyche in a Dress from the library :)

Switch The Once and Future King with King Arthur and his Knights, and your list will be from oldest to newest. Also, The Once and Future King has The Sword and the Stone in it, so you only need to read TOAFK. And I don't think it matters what order you read them in. I read them a long time ago, and haven't read T.H. White since I was a kid, but I enjoyed them then!

At the moment I am not in the mood to read an original epic poem.
The Once and Future King certainly got a lot of good reviews!
I'd like to read something that tells the entire saga and involves all the characters rather than a book that tells the story of primarily one character.
But it's over 600 pages........

Jalilah wrote: "At the moment I am not in the mood to read an original epic poem.
The Once and Future King certainly got a lot of good reviews!
I'd like to read something that tells the entire saga a..."

I read it when I was kid (10ish), so I feel like it's written at a very readable, fast-paced level. I could be wrong though! All of Leah's suggestions are comprehensive, and King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table is the shortest. Again, I read it when I was a kid, so I'm not certain about how good it is! I enjoyed it then:)

Margaret wrote: "Switch The Once and Future King with King Arthur and his Knights, and your list will be from oldest to newest. Also, The Once and Future King has The Sword and the Stone in it, so you only need to ..."

Thank you, Margaret!

Leah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Switch The Once and Future King with King Arthur and his Knights, and your list will be from oldest to newest. Also, The Once and Future King has The Sword and the Stone in it, so ..."

You're welcome! I went through an Arthurian phase and read anything that was readily available to me. I still love Arthurian Legend, but I haven't revisited the classics. Roger Lancelyn Green writes a lot of retellings of classic myth, for YA readers, so if you like the King Arthur one, you might like his others.

Check out the GoodReads group Arthuriana -- All Things King Arthur for lots of good Arthur books :)

Michele wrote: "Check out the GoodReads group Arthuriana -- All Things King Arthur for lots of good Arthur books :)"

Thanks!

Margaret wrote: "I was actually thinking of nominating Arthurian Legends for the next themed read, since I hadn't decided either! I have a book called Silence, a French epic poem that dates to the 13th century, tha..."

Mararet - I'm VERY late reading this but this is the translation I read in College: Silence: A Thirteenth-Century French Romance

I really liked it! (Or at least I think I did, cause the scene I remember writing my paper about doesn't really seem like it could have come from this book judging by the Goodreads blurb...)



My Arthurian for this challenge was officially The Squire's Tale which is a humorous retelling of "Gawain and the Green Knight" from his squire's point of view.

But I also read In Winter's Shadow which is officially the 3rd in a series but can be read independently if you're already familiar with the legends. It's about Guinevere and Lancelot's affair, from Guinevere's point of view. I really liked it - it's nice that she didn't try to "pretty up" the adultery or make it more palatable.

Melanti wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I was actually thinking of nominating Arthurian Legends for the next themed read, since I hadn't decided either! I have a book called Silence, a French epic poem that dates to the ..."

Both of those look good! I've been meaning to read some Gillian Bradshaw. My least favorite parts of Arthurian re-tellings tend to be the relationship between Guinevere and Lancelot. I feel like most writers try to soften it, like you say, and/or put in a lot of Western/Christian values of monogamous relationships. Which is relevant--it is a western mythology--but I think the relationship could be handled in more interesting ways.

Thanks for finding Silence for me! I've marked it so I can find it again when I start it.