Journal Entry 1 by tangledthreads from Derby, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Sunday, August 15, 2004

(2nd copy registered.) This collection of fairy tales re-told for a contemporary audience is ostensibly set in modern-day Los Angeles. This is more evident in some of the stories than others - for the most part the collection seems set in the timeless fairy tale world of old (or possibly the modern world steeped in magic).

Block's luscious prose wrapped around me from the start, rich in imagery and lyrical rhythm. Some of the stories can be read simply as beautifully re-written fairy tales - though possibly with some darker elements (such as 'Snow', 'Tiny', 'Glass', and 'Rose'), but as the collection progresses, more sophisticated, psychological adaptations emerge. The sexual/predatorial connotations of Little Red Riding Hood have been under scrutiny for some time (see Bruno Bettelheim, Jack Zipes et al) so the sexual abuse theme in 'Wolf' was almost to be expected. I am torn in choosing a favourite between 'Snow' which is written in such luxurious prose; and 'Beast', which I find very poignant at the close.

It's a fact that the fairy tales that we grew up with originally had much darker, gruesome elements than the saccharine stories we may actually be familiar with. It's also true that fairy tales are full of archetypal figures which pop up everywhere, on TV, in novels, in advertising. What I like about fairy tale adaptations in general, and this collection specifically is that the darker, sadder elements of the original stories are restored; and the one-dimensional characters are given real life and psychological credibility.

This is technically marketed as a book for teenagers, but I think it is just as or even, possibly, more suited to a general adult audience. Some of the themes (drug abuse, sexual abuse, murder) are certainly not suitable for younger teenagers. I do think it is a fantastic collection, and looking at old stories in a new light will give you plenty to think about.

I would also like to add that I preferred this collection to the fairy tale collections edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling because it was so well-written, and the standard was so high throughout. In the Datlow/Windling collections, as with any short story anthology with stories by different authors the standard is sometimes a little hit and miss, with some stories standing high above the others. It's nice to read a book like 'The Rose and the Beast' which is consistently excellent.

More Short Story Collections of Fairy Tale Adaptations:
The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye by A. S. Byatt
Black Swan, White Raven by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling (ed.)
Black Thorn, White Rose by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling (ed.)
Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling (ed.)
Silver Birch, Blood Moon by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling (ed.)
Snow White, Blood Red by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling (ed.)
Kissing the Witch by Emma Donoghue
Once Upon a Crime by Ed Gorman
Red as Blood: Tales from the Sisters Grimmer by Tanith Lee
A Door in the Hedge by Robin McKinley
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde
Don’t Bet on the Prince by Jack Zipes (ed.) 

Journal Entry 2 by tangledthreads from Derby, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Sunday, August 15, 2004

I am starting a bookring to release this book – please send me a Private Message including your screen name and country if you would like to join (I will assume you are able to ship overseas unless you tell me otherwise).

*I will make a list below of members in the order the book will circulate (this may be amended later depending on shipping preferences/location etc).

*The current owner of the book will be shown on the list in bold and marked with an arrow (>).

*Please make a journal entry when you receive the book, then read, review and release the book within 1 month of receiving it, to keep the circle turning.

*When you are ready to release the book, send a PM to the next member on the list asking for their postal details.

*When the last person on the list receives the book, please send me a PM for my postal details, for the book’s return journey.

BOOKRING MEMBERS
1. TangledThreads (UK)
>2. katayoun (Iran)
3. lauraloo29 (Canada - prefer to ship to US)
4. nekki2976 (USA)
5. karendawn (USA)
6. raralovestoread (USA - prefer to ship within US)
7. SandDanz (USA - prefer to ship within US)
8. weeblet (USA)
9. MollyGrue (USA - prefer to ship within US)
10. tyvmdear (Canada)
11. starbytes (Malaysia)
12. Koalabare (UK - prefer to ship within UK)
13. alans-daughter (UK - prefer to ship within UK)
back to me,
14. tangledthreads (UK)

(Shipping order not yet finalised so above sequence may/will probably change) 

Journal Entry 3 by tangledthreads from Derby, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Monday, October 04, 2004

On way to first ring participant, katayoun - hope you enjoy it! 

Journal Entry 4 by katayoun from Tehran, Tehran Iran on Wednesday, January 05, 2005

it's here and it was yesterday that i was looking at my list of books to come (yes, yes, i admit it, i have a list, hanging head shamefully) and started worrying that this has took quite a long time and now here it is. i should worry more! :) the book looks so invinting and you CAN read short stories while you are reading another book, right? so i've started the first story, just to check really... ok for now i can say i love the feel of the book, the physical of it, it looks beautiful, the pages are formatted in a lovely way, looks enticing, well better go and finish my story. thanks tangledthreads and oh the label which you've got the bcid on is very beautiful. 

Journal Entry 5 by katayoun from Tehran, Tehran Iran on Wednesday, January 05, 2005

well it was a quick read and also it was unresistable, you just wanted to read them. can't say i really liked the style of the writing, i like things in the simple way not the lyrical style and well i'm also biased and i like fairy tales to be fairy tales! :) among the stories i like "wolf" and "ice" the best and again i must say that the feel and look of the book was perfect, don't know how to explain, you'll have to see.
thanks tangledthreads for this ring, it is now ready to go to lauraloo29, i've got the address and everything, seems like this book wants to make up for the lost time! and so will be mailed after the weekend, either saturday or sunday. 

Journal Entry 6 by katayoun from Tehran, Tehran Iran on Monday, January 10, 2005

on it's way to lauraloo29, should be there in a month, give or take a week, and OFCOURSE hopefully and touch wood, NEVER tempt fate and postal systems :)
thanks tangledthreads 

Journal Entry 7 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Arrived today! I have a couple of rings before it, but I will keep it moving. Thank you. 

Journal Entry 8 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Saturday, February 05, 2005

This book is next! I plan to start today! :) 

Journal Entry 9 by lauraloo29 from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Sunday, February 06, 2005

I enjoyed these stories much better than Kissing the Witch by Emma Donoghue. I loved Glass, and thought Wolf was excellent (I can't say I loved it because of the topic). I didn't understand Tiny and I'm still rolling it around in my head. I also don't know the story that Bones retells so I shall have to read that one.

Will be sending it on its way on Feb 11th.

Thank you for sharing! 

Journal Entry 10 by nekki2976 from Mumford, New York USA on Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Received it today. I'm in the middle of about 3 books, but I plan to start it today (and probably finish it, the way I'm feeling) so that I can send it on its way -- the longer I have a bookring, the worse I am about getting it on to the next person as of late, so I'm not keeping this more than a week. 

Journal Entry 11 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Saturday, April 16, 2005

The book arrived today. Thank you! I'll get this read and on to the next reader as soon as I can. 

Journal Entry 12 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Wednesday, April 20, 2005

I should stop reading these retellings of fairy tales - I'm never satisfied by them, especially the ones that try to modernize the story. I just really don't enjoy reading about people with such empty lives. And there's the problem - where is the depth of character? Yes, original fairy tales come with flat, stock characters, but that doesn't mean that the retellings also have to do so. And I feel for the most part that's what we get here.

I did find "Beast" to be a fairly good story, though. And I can tell that the author writes very well with wonderful words, but the stories themselves just didn't do it for me. Perhaps they're too pomo for me (I am a medievalist after all).

Anyway, I'm off to the post office right now, so this one will soon be on its way to the next reader, who I really hope will enjoy it more than I did. Thank you for sharing it! 

Journal Entry 13 by raralovestoread from Ponchatoula, Louisiana USA on Monday, April 25, 2005

I received this book in the mail today. I will start reading it asap. 

Journal Entry 14 by raralovestoread from Ponchatoula, Louisiana USA on Tuesday, May 10, 2005

As in most books of short stories, there were some stories I liked better than others. I thought "Wolf", "Rose", and "Beast" were the most well-written ones. For me, "Ice" was the confusing story - will someone please enlighten me as to which fairy tale it was retelling? Thanks for sharing this book, tangledthreads. I look forward to reading more fairy tale adaptations.

Today I am mailing this book to weeblet in Virginia. (SandDanz already has a copy.) 

Journal Entry 15 by weeblet from Jacksonville, Florida USA on Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Journal Entry 16 by weeblet from Jacksonville, Florida USA on Thursday, May 19, 2005

that was lovely- i really enjoyed it. my favorites were 'glass', and 'wolf'. gorgeous bookplate! mailing tomorrow...
thanks (again!) for sharing, tangledthreads- i always enjoy your offerings :) 

Journal Entry 17 by MollyGrue from Tacoma, Washington USA on Tuesday, May 31, 2005

I have a couple of rings ahead of this one, but I should get to this one soon. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 18 by MollyGrue from Tacoma, Washington USA on Wednesday, June 01, 2005

I loved this collection, and was somewhat surprised to have the stories resonate the way they did. Powerful writing with narrator voices that really were very clear. I expected my favorite story to be Beast, but instead I found that it was Ice, even though I've never really liked or understood The Snow Queen before. Beautiful collection and I'm really glad I got a chance to read this. Thanks!

Reserved for the next reader! 

Journal Entry 19 by MollyGrue at in the mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, June 04, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (6/4/2005 UTC) at in the mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to tvymdear. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 20 by tyvmdear from Thompson, Manitoba Canada on Monday, June 13, 2005

Received today.
Will read ASAP and let this "Nomadic book from the library of tanglethreads" continue its journey. 

Journal Entry 21 by tyvmdear from Thompson, Manitoba Canada on Monday, June 13, 2005

I really enjoyed reading this book but as with most of you, I was also confused by a couple of the stories.
Thank you for sharing this book with all of us. I already have starbytes address and will drop in the mail tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 22 by tyvmdear from Thompson, Manitoba Canada on Tuesday, June 14, 2005

This little book spend less than 24 hours with me and is now on its way to Malaysia to spend some time with "starbytes".
It should arrive quickly as I sent it air mail.

Thank you for including me in this ring.

**UPDATED July 29/05**

Well, so much for paying the extra for air mail, the book still hasn't arrived. Hopefully it will be there soon.