Donoghue, Emma - Kissing the Witch (reread)

[oyceter]

I finally got a copy of this via Bookmooch. I read it first nearly four years ago; now, a reread only makes it richer and more enjoyable.

The conceit of the book is supposedly "old tales in new skins," but unlike many fairy tale retellings, Donoghue delivers. I suspect she does this by using themes and images in fairy tales and making them into symbol and metaphor; Donoghue gives them all a delightful twist that is both surprising and makes you think, "Yes, yes of course."

The stories themselves aren't overtly fantasy, though they still take place in lands with kings and queens and princesses. I particularly love Donoghue's language:

Ever since my mother died the feather bed felt hard as a stone floor. Every word that came out of my mouth limped away like a toad. Whatever I put on my back now turned to sackcloth and chafed my skin. I heard a knocking in my skull, and kept running to the door, but there was never anyone there. The days passed like dust brushed from my fingers. (from "The Tale of the Shoe")

And I love what Donoghue does with the stories. Cinderella's fairy godmother is Thumbelina; Snow White's stepmother was once the maid of the Goose Girl. The tales move back in time: old witches become young princesses. Donoghue's take on the stories is nicely subversive. I do wish there were more about race in there, but on the other hand, I already love what she does with gender and age and sexual orientation.

Highly recommended.

Comments

[heresluck]

I adore this book. I assigned it in seminar this spring and then worried that my students wouldn't like it, but they LOVED it, and one of them even wrote her (terrific) final paper on it. ::happy sigh::

[oyceter]

Oh! So cool that you got to read papers on it! And I found it via your LJ years ago in the first place, so belatedly, thank you!

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the review! I've really liked her other stuff; I'll look for this one.

[oyceter]

This is definitely my favorite of all her stuff that I've read!

[kintail.livejournal.com]

Sounds cool! *requests it from library*

[oyceter]

Yay!

[(Anonymous)]

There aren't any more copies on bookmooch!

I'll add it to my ever growing wishlist.

[shewhohashope.livejournal.com]

That was me.

[oyceter]

I had to wait a few months before it showed up =(. I think there's another copy floating around, but it belongs to someone who's inactive, grrrr.