Title: Bound (Cinderella Retold)Author: Donna Jo Napoli
The concept: Set in Ming China, this retelling follows Xing Xing, who is stuck obeying each and every whim of her demanding step-mother. With her mother and father both gone, Xing Xing wonders who will ever speak up for her.
What I liked: I enjoyed the novel setting of the story. I also liked the way the fairy godmother was replaced by Xing Xing's deceased mother. Xing Xing herself is an easy-to-like character.
What I didn't like: It was just a little too "surface" for me. Having read other books set in the same time period, I found the historical detail distractingly inconsistent. Still, I would recommend this book for younger teens.
Title: Spinners (Rumplestiltskin retold)Authors: Donna Jo Napoli and Richard Tchen
The concept: Thwarted in love, a young man's character is twisted, as is his body. He becomes an anonymous, itinerent spinner, leaving behind the only family he has. Later, when a miller's daughter, Saskia, finds herself required to complete an impossible task, the mysterious man appears to help her. But why?
What I liked: I loved that the "evil" little man got his chance to be understood. I kept hoping things would turn out alright for him.
What I didn't like: I couldn't really get into the character of Saskia. I think I might have enjoyed this story more if I hadn't just read A Curse Dark As Gold, which retells the same story with a lot more style.
2 comments:
It seems that is a common thread amongst the re-told fairytales. You keep hoping for a better outcome and either they choose to stay true to the original or they end up disappointing a bit. I suppose there is a limit to how many ways the same story can be told before it disolves into just being words on paper...good job on the post!
Just started Stones in Water by Donna Jo Napoli last night ... so far so good.
Both those you mention sound like books my daughter would enjoy. Thanks for the reviews, I think I'll take a closer look at Bound.
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