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oyceterThe Armless Maiden is a collection of stories and poems (and the occasional essay) of fairy-tale rewrites, much like Windling and Ellen Datlow's Snow White, Blood Red series of anthologies (which I love and own all of). This one is a themed anthology, however; Windling notes that many of the pre-Victorian versions of fairy tales are on the dangers of childhood, on how mothers and fathers can be just as deadly as the wolf in the woods, and how children conquer and overcome these dangers and hardships. Some of the stories and poems are more suited to this theme than others, but then, some of my favorite stories are ones that don't quite fit. So I'm not really arguing.
Particular stories I liked: Jane Yolen's "Allerleirauh," a very creepy version of "Donkeyskin," which I have actually read in another anthology. It's still good though. Patricia A. McKillip's "The Lark and the Lion" takes the "Psyche and Cupid" story and adds an additional chapter, which I liked very much, given that I tend to severely doubt most happily ever afters. I also loved what her princess turned into. Tappan King's "Wolf's Heart" actually started out as another story, but I like what she ended up with.
Others could feel a little heavy handed -- Charles de Lint's "In the House of my Enemy" got on my nerves a little just because it seemed to predictable, and while I was suitably frightened and disturbed by the beginning of Munro Sickafoose's "Knives," the second half changes tones. I suppose that was the author's point, and I do believe stories of recovery are important as well. The second half is done well and is a convincing look at recovery and choices, but I think it's the POV switch that jerks me out of the story.
I also liked Nancy Etchemendy's "The Lily and the Weaver's Heart," though it is a bit rote. Luckily, though the general storyline went with my expectations, Etchemendy didn't quite do everything I thought she would, which was a pleasant surprise.
My favorite part was actually Terri Windling's afterword, which tells her own childhood survivor story and explains why she was drawn to the world of fairy tales and folklore. It's entirely real, no fantasy at all, and yet it is centered around fairy tales, on appearances and deceptions and how by whitewashing the past, even "just" children's stories, we allow the same things to happen in silence.
Recommended, although maybe just for a Windling or fairy tale completist.
Particular stories I liked: Jane Yolen's "Allerleirauh," a very creepy version of "Donkeyskin," which I have actually read in another anthology. It's still good though. Patricia A. McKillip's "The Lark and the Lion" takes the "Psyche and Cupid" story and adds an additional chapter, which I liked very much, given that I tend to severely doubt most happily ever afters. I also loved what her princess turned into. Tappan King's "Wolf's Heart" actually started out as another story, but I like what she ended up with.
Others could feel a little heavy handed -- Charles de Lint's "In the House of my Enemy" got on my nerves a little just because it seemed to predictable, and while I was suitably frightened and disturbed by the beginning of Munro Sickafoose's "Knives," the second half changes tones. I suppose that was the author's point, and I do believe stories of recovery are important as well. The second half is done well and is a convincing look at recovery and choices, but I think it's the POV switch that jerks me out of the story.
I also liked Nancy Etchemendy's "The Lily and the Weaver's Heart," though it is a bit rote. Luckily, though the general storyline went with my expectations, Etchemendy didn't quite do everything I thought she would, which was a pleasant surprise.
My favorite part was actually Terri Windling's afterword, which tells her own childhood survivor story and explains why she was drawn to the world of fairy tales and folklore. It's entirely real, no fantasy at all, and yet it is centered around fairy tales, on appearances and deceptions and how by whitewashing the past, even "just" children's stories, we allow the same things to happen in silence.
Recommended, although maybe just for a Windling or fairy tale completist.
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Sun, Aug. 14th, 2005 06:01 pm (UTC)I don't think that I picked up on most of it when I was younger but a few, of course one did, and other like The Handless Maiden, I am glad I didn't come to until later. I still tend to prefer reading essays rather than the tales or the reworkings that are more edgy but that is because it gives me a little distance.
So many of the images still drfit into my work. One of the the pieces I am working on this week is an unchained mermaid. Another is a beautiful troll. (The third piece in process is a mask of Iyoba. I still don't know her story.)
Googling is fun too. Today I went from Surlalune to someone's web page to another trans. of the Kalevala to http://www.suemonkkidd.com/journal.asp?i=1&j=M which leads to the black madonna...to..
So sometimes the essays the Lj the restory-ing are like sparks, making you look again, see how things get rewritten, and also how things intertwine. One of my favorite stories is Tamlin also about transformations which show up in fairy tales, folk, myths and again today in my Morrison's Xmen reread.
And also in the Lucifer read. So linking transformations, and will/change vs destiny/environment, and the way we tell each other stories to entertain, or illuminate, and maybe provoke change and sometimes just to share about the spells and the bread crumb trail through the woods.
It is all pretty cool stuff. No, I am not really going anywhere with this, ;-) just marvelling.
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Sun, Aug. 14th, 2005 10:44 pm (UTC)I actually read most of the fairy tales, even the edgier ones, when I was younger, but I think a lot of the adult content went waaay over my head. Looking back now, it seems funny that I was completely nonplussed over the rape of Sleeping Beauty (I just didn't know the mechanics of sex and wasn't quite sure how the babies showed up). I adore reading the retellings and how each author makes the piece their own,