What Fairy Tales are Missing

"Fairy tales have a fairy-tale likeness." Kate Bernheimer

Perhaps it is the fact that fairy tales are so familiar, and they always have certain essential elements, from the 'once upon a time' to 'happily ever after', and the characters - the three brothers, the King and Queen, the Princess or the Prince, the tailor or the miller's wife - we know these people already, yet still delight to hear their story. 

But fairy tales rarely come with maps, specific names or specific places. Perhaps I like to retell fairy tales so I can add in the little details. I enjoy the little details.

Eleven Noteworthy Fairy Tale Books from 2011

It's that time again for me to present a list of my favorite noteworthy books from last year. I've been looking over all books I read, picking out my favorites and remembering them all. Last year I did some unusual reading it seems, peculiar yet similar themes kept popping up all year long, from time traveling to mysteries abounding with Sherlock Holmes. Some books were frighteningly fluffy, others peerless literature. Some featured Victorian werewolves and vampires in a steampunk setting, and others had bizarre aliens, and one had a very strange dancing cat.

The Very First

I've been thinking lately about the beginning of the story, how it begins, where it begins, that sort of thing. The beginning is important, for obvious reasons. I have to confess, but I'm a harsh judge of a book's cover and the first sentence. When I wander through a bookstore, normally heading straight for the fantasy or YA section, I glance over the spines and titles. I'm drawn to certain authors, but also certain colors catch my attention (in particular jewel tones, blues and greens, sparkles - what am I a bird?)

When I pick up a book, if I'm drawn in by how it looks, then I'll usually read the back or summary and thirdly I'll flip the pages to the first sentence. I'm looking for something particular. Will it be good enough? Will I like this book? What's it all about? Even though I'm ready to decide one way or the other, if I'll spend my time on this book or not, I'm also desperately searching for a really good read. Deep down I want the book to be shocking and wonderful and dazzling. I put quite a bit of pressure on the book, don't I? The first sentence needs to capture my attention immediately. Perhaps it will, with a bit of clever, catchy wording, or something shocking about death or being dead already.

Here are some I liked:

Breaking the rules or why I don't understand grammer sometimes.

I just recently finished Salman Rushdie's newest book Luka and the Fire of Life. First, let me say, wow. It is an amazing book, the best I've read this year, in months actually. The book is set in the same world as his previous children's book, Haroun and the Sea of Stories. You must go read these two books immediately, Terrwyn. Haroun and the Sea of Stories is in my top books EVER list. Luka and the Fire of Life will probably join it.

Before I started reading Rushdie's new book I was prepared for a great story, and the possibility I might be reading one of my favorite books ever. That's a lot of expectation to put on a book, not to mention, since Luka and the Fire of Life is sorta a sequel, I'd probably compare it to the first book, Haroun and the Sea of Stories. (See, even the titles of both books are similar.) However, within the first sentence none of that stuff mattered, I dove right into the story and loved every minute of it. This was one of those books I wanted to read and read and never stop - and at the same time I didn't want to read, because I wanted the story to last forever.