| Author |
Comment |
Heidi
Anne Heiner
ezOP
(10/21/00 11:54:20 am)
|
Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block
Kerrie and I are ready to start discussing this book. Anyone who wants to join in, please do so! The book is short with large margins and roughly 100 words per page.
Just to give everyone an overview, this book has nine short stories based on various fairy tales. They are Little Red Riding Hood ("Wolf"), Beauty and the Beast ("Beast"), Thumbelina ("Tiny"), Bluebeard ("Bones"), Sleeping Beauty ("Charm"), Snow White ("Snow"), Snow Queen ("Ice"), and Cinderella ("Glass"), and Snow White and Rose Red ("Rose").
The tales have a Los Angeles influence which I am learning as a new resident of this city. There are also adult themes so this has been placed in the Young Adult category. "Charm" is one of the more provocative of the stories with sexual abuse, drug usage, and homosexuality. Others, such as "Rose," deal with sweeter themes of natural losses in even the best relationships that come from growing up as two sisters realize they cannot spend their entire lives alone together.
"Beast" has one of my favorite lines:
"Beauty loved him more than anything, her Beast boy, but, secretly, sometimes, she wished that he would have remained a Beast."
| Jeff
Unregistered User
(10/21/00 5:38:30 pm)
|
Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block
Did you talk about this before
on another board? If so, I missed it. Now this sounds like something
I definitely want to read. I just got done complaining to a friend
that I've got too much to read already, and now here's another.
Ah, well. Pile it on, I suppose. At least it's short.
Jeff
| Kerrie
Unregistered User
(10/22/00 5:36:49 am)
|
Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block
Jeff- We briefly mentioned that it was a recent read and were wondering if anyone wanted to discuss it. I definitely found it to be a good read and highly recommend it!
It was interesting to see all of the single word titles listed on the cover of my book (I bought the Library Binding, not kowing what it meant, only that I thought it would last longer). It felt odd only seeing about 2/3 of the page filled- made me feel braver about the length of some of my stories- but also lent towards the nature of the tales. They are fairy tales (at the core) and seeing them in small size made them feel more precious or secretive, like a lost treasure found, only to be held in the palm of a hand for a brief time.
Block took the tales and rewove them, sometimes skewing the original image or just reworking the colors into a variant with more details. My favorite was "Rose." (ok, gets sappy from here on) It reminded me so much of me and my sister- I have dark brown hair, she has red; I was always the quiet one, her the strong one; I was (and still am) very much the forest gal, while she's always been the dolphin/mermaid; morning and night, dreamer and doer, skinny twig of a dancer and athletic build of a gymnast. We've always been so different, my only revenge on her as a child was to tell her she was adopted (we laugh about it now, I even found a birthday card making fun of it). We're only starting to get closer now, which has been weird- no longer trying to defend myself from her (she used to have nails like a cat!) but standing by her. It's odd, she even wrote me a card recently- just when I thought I still wasn't living up to her standards, she sends a beautiful, heart-crying card saying how much she admires and misses me, and how much fun she had going out and wants to again.
A couple of my favorite lines are in "Rose," but here's one to tease:
"When Rose White and Rose Red are little, they tell each other, We will never need anyone else ever, we are going to do everything together. It doesn't matter if wwe never find anyone else. We are complete."
(Reminds me of the vow I made to myself in college never to date again while I'm still in school, trying to get my work done. Then I met Jansen.)
These stories have actually got me writing SEVERAL fairy tale inspired poems. Anything that inspires is going to the book shrine on my island! (Anyone want to start that on another thread again?)
|
Kerrie
Registered User
(10/22/00 5:57:17 am)
|
Cover art
I also just have to add that I love Suza Scalora's cover- beautifully deceptive! Her photos are wonderful- my other favorite cover by her for Block was for I WAS A TEENAGE FAIRY.
|
Terri
Registered User
(10/26/00 12:23:17 am)
|
Re: Cover art
Heidi, I haven't read this yet, and I'm curious to know more about your opinion of it. I've adored Block's work in the past, and then, to my suprise, I've really disliked some recent work. So what's your overall appraisal of the book? Is it one to rush out and buy...or should I wait till I'm back in Tucson in January and read the "Year's Best" review copy? I see that Kerrie gives it high marks. Any one else here have an opinion?
Edited by: Terri at: 10/26/00
12:25:27 am
|
Heidi
Anne Heiner
ezOP
(10/26/00 3:11:39 pm)
|
Real opinion on Block's book?
Hmmmm...
It's actually a tough call on Block's book. It can probably wait until January. I enjoyed the stories, but nothing made me just sit back in awe. The story that has stayed in my mind the most is "Rose" which was also Kerrie's favorite. I think it is primarily because my own relationship with my sister has been growing and improving recently as she enters adulthood. It is also unusual to find retellings of Snow White and Rose Red. To give Block the credit she deserves, it is a well-written story that conveys the emotions she is aiming to invoke in her readers. It doesn't reek of the sweet sentiment or sappiness which many other writers would have descended into.
The other stories, while well-written, didn't really offer me any new interpretations of the tales. I had fun picking out the LA references, of course, but at times I get weary with the sexual abuse and drug usage themes that are abundant in the other tales. Emma Donoghue deals with lesbianism issues better.
The most disjointed tale is Glass (Cinderella) which will be hardest for young readers to wrap their brains around. I have read it twice and although I think I "get it," I am not sure there is all that much to "get" from it. I will have to give it a third try soon.
"Charm" is the most complex and I think the longest story, too. It, along with "Wolf," deal with sexual abuse, "Charm" is much more innovative, thought-provoking, and intriguing. "Wolf," well, imagine an abusive stepfather and running away to Grandma's house with him in pursuit. I was bored with the predicatable plot within a few sentences, and yet there are images and ideas that have stayed with me from it, too, particularly a boy sketching on the bus and the mother's presence.
"Ice" and "Bones" along with the rest are solid stories, too.
Overall, the book was a good, solid read, but it hasn't caused me to gush with love over it. I closed it with a "That's finished. On to the next book" feeling and no regret that it was done. I have thought about it more than I expected to, so that is a good sign. On the other hand, if you still haven't read Napoli's "Magic Circle" or "Zel," I would stop everything immediately and go snuggle in for two wonderful reads.
Due to the length, the themes, the writing style, and Block herself, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend "Rose and the Beast" to young adult readers, especially difficult and reluctant readers. The stories and the book are short, accomodating short attention spans. They are "adult" in theme without being graphic or gratuitous. The stories also do not require you to know the tales, although they will spark curiosity. I have already had some e-mail from readers asking me which tales go with which story. That is impressive since the book is so new and not that readily available in libraries yet. I also placed the relationships in my "supportive" review on Amazon.com.
How's that for a recommendation with lots of disclaimers? : )
Heidi
|
Terri
Registered User
(10/27/00
1:12:36 am)
|
Re: Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block
Thanks, Heidi, that's useful. I think I'll wait till I can read the free review copy in January, since everything you're saying goes along with how I've been feeling about Block's work overall lately. She has an enormous following among young readers, though, so it's a Good Thing that some of those kids may be encouraged to read more about fairy tales. (I do hope we don't have to suffer through any reviews crediting Block with originality for using fairy tale material to write contemporary urban stories and stories on child abuse themes...but I suppose a few are inevitable. Sigh.)
I agree with you absolutely about Donna Jo Napoli. Now that's a writer I have NO reservations recommending -- she writes like an angel.
Speaking of YA writers, Philip Pullman was interviewed here on the British equivalent of the 6:00 news this week. (Now when in America has a children's book writer been considered that newsworthy, other than the Harry Potter craze?) The interview took place in the rather humble, book crowded garden shed where he writes his manuscripts by hand (!), in ballpoint pen on lined paper.... The interviewer was looking for soundbites, of course, and seemed more impressed by the sheer length of Pullman's books (the camera kept panning to the massive manuscript for Vol. 3) than by what was in them, so every time Pullman started off on an interesting train of thought it got cut off. But nonetheless, one came away with the impression of a very smart, thoughtful, and fascinating man. He is definitely in the top portion of my list of People I'd Love to Have Dinner With. But then, I might react as I did when a mutual friend took me out for a drink with Marina Warner -- I turned into a tongue-tied 13 year old, barely able to get a word out. Pathetic.
Edited by: Terri at: 10/27/00
1:21:20 am
|
Gail
de Vos
Registered User
(10/27/00 6:03:35 am)
|
Re: Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block
While I agree with what is being said about Rose and the Beast (I have annotated it for the next volume of reworkings of Fairy Tales that Anna and I have been working on), I want to comment on Terri's reflection of Philip Pullman's work and intellect. I have known him for several years -- and admire him greatly. Nott only is his Dark Materials trilogy amazing, the man is absolutely passionate about fairy tales and storytelling. His reworking of Cinderella, I Was a Rat, is aimed at younger readers but is great fun for all.
|
Terri
Registered User
(10/28/00 1:07:45 am)
|
Re: Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block
Gail: Ah, it's good to know that the man is as passionate about storytelling as he seems. His work is utterly brilliant. Now, about this "volume of fairy tales Ann and I have been working on" -- can you tell us more?
|
Gail
de Vos
Registered User
(10/28/00 8:03:29 am)
|
Re: Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block
Terri (et all) Anna Altmann and myself published New Tales for Old: Folktales as Literary Fictions for Young Adults (Libraries Unlimited, 1999) as a result of our ongoing interest in reworkings of traditional tales. We do not discuss variants but only conscious literary retellings of Cinderella, Frog King, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. We limited it to these tales only because the manuscript became too large! The three chapters we pulled from it are included in the new volume (a the present time nameless because we can't settle on a name) which is due at the publisher in about 3 weeks. The chapters we pulled are Beauty and the Beast, Jack and the Giants (both the Giant Killer and the Beanstalk climber) and (my favourite) the ballads Tam Lin and Thomas the Rhymer. We added a chapter on Deerskin (enough material now for a chapter), and several from Andersen: Emperor's New Clothes and Princess and the Pea are considered together because of lack of critical interpretations available on the tales, and a chapter each on Little Mermaid, Snow Queen and The Wild Swans (both Andersen and Grimms). As with the first volume we look at the tale type and motifs of the tale, at the history of the tale in oral transmission and then in print -- particularly the changes Perrault and the Grimms may have made -- and then we chronologically summarize the critical interpretations that we have found. This hopefully will help readers understand why some of the reworkings may be so different from others. We then annotate the reworkings in novel form (the chief reason for selecting the tale is that it has been reworked in novel form -- preferably fantasy but not necessarily), short stories, poetry, film, graphic novels and comic books and picture books. All of the titles we include must be "suitable" for a young adult reader -- i.e. not too simplistic -- we want to reclaim the tales for the original age audience and get them out of the ghetto assigned to them in most people's minds. So I had a delightful time discussing Disney's Snow White and then The Little Mermaid since those were the two most pivotal fairy tale films the studio made, in my opinion at any rate.
Terri, I actually name you and Ellen in the acknowledgements because without your wonderful work, both in the anthologies of Fantasy and Horror and in your editing of the volumes of reworkings, we would never have had the wide range of tales. (Actually, we might have but it would have been much more work!) We mention both this website and yours and have annotated, and quoted, from tales and poems and articles that can be found there. I also have depended heavily on the Realms of Fantasy articles for background and now that most of them are available on your site, I can send potential readers there for more.
The second volume includes also a chapter on updates of material from the tales in the first book. These are annotated as well. I have also included an appendix of reworkings of other Grimms, Perrault and Andersen tales (and a few Child Ballads) that, while not annotated, are organized according to format (novel, short story etc.)
Both Anna and I teach at the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. She is a professor and I am an adjunct -- a sessional because in my "real life," I am a storyteller and want enough free time to tell tales and conduct workshops. I specialize in storytelling to young adult audiences and have published texts on this as well as on urban legends.
Sorry for going on so long. I had asked that a review copy of the first book be sent to you by the publisher. Please let me know if this has not happened. Gail
|
Terri
Registered User
(10/29/00 1:15:47 am)
|
New Tales for Old
Gail, these sound like wonderful books! No, I haven't seen a review copy -- or at any rate I don't *think* I have, although with 400 or more books a year coming through the office for Year's Best review, it's not entirely impossible that I'm having a memory blip here. But a book on fairy tales is not one I'm likely to forget.... Do you know when and where it was sent? The review address for Year's Best is in Tucson, and if it was sent any time between June and now (the portion of the year when I'm at my English house), it may be waiting for me back there. I'd surely love to see it. And good luck on the deadline with the new one! I'm facing a couple of fast-approaching deadlines myself at the moment, and I know all too well what it's like....
By the way, have you come across "Witches and Witch-hunts" by Milton Meltzer (Blue Sky/Scholastic, 1999)? It's a good little book for young people on the subject of witches, witch-hunts, prejudice, and discrimination throughout Western history...and ought to be sent out en mass to all the anti-Harry Potter parents.
Edited by: Terri at: 10/29/00
1:29:24 am
| Heidi
Unregistered User
(10/30/00 2:54:49 pm)
|
How did I miss this one?
Well, it isn't the first time and I certainly wish it would be the last--although it won't be. I have ordered a copy of your book, Gail. I can't wait to read it and I will be adding it to my site ASAP. It looks like just the kind of book school teachers are always asking me about.
When is the next one due out? I don't want to be months behind on it... Amazon listed it as a December 1999 release.
And I have to find the book you mentioned, too, Terri. A few more on my toppling stack won't hurt anything.
Heidi
|
Gail
de Vos
Registered User
(10/30/00 7:10:19 pm)
|
Re: How did I miss this one?
Thanks Heidi. The next one should be out in a year --- the first draft is waiting in my computer for some final editing. Hopefully they will get it out as quickly as possible. New Tales for Old won the 2000 Storytelling World Award for special storytelling resources so I am sure the publishers will want to connect with that. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts (as well as yours Terri...if the publishers has not sent a review copy to you -- when you arrive back in the states, do let me know so I can make sure that they do this time around.)
I haven't run across the title you mentioned but will check it out pronto. I am with you Heidi -- what's one more book on the pile! Gail
|
Terri
Registered User
(10/31/00 2:11:25 am)
|
Re: How did I miss this one?
Congratulations on the Storytelling Award!
| |
