Amazing Hotel of Pipes — Mexico

A new eco-hotel in Mexico made of concrete pipes makes it a good negosyo idea here in the Philippines. Combining the concept of pod-like hotel rooms, with the growing trend of eco-responsible tourism and the use of waste materials for construction, architects T3arc have created the 20 room Tubohotel made from recycled concrete pipes. As you can see in the picture above it also looks good and enticing to sleep in there.

09 More images after the break...

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Top 10 Fairy Tale Reworkings at ListVerse

  

Last week on ListVerse, a list of interest to readers here was shared: Top 10 Fairy Tale Reworkings by Ella McConnell. It makes an interesting list and not all of them are the usual suspects, but some are. (It seems Pan's Labyrinth always makes these lists now although it isn't a true fairy tale retelling.) This post of mine isn't about attacking the list--for it is a valid one for McConnell--but to inspire conversation about our own lists. Some of her choices make some of my "most important" lists and some wouldn't be anywhere near my own list. For example, I'd replace The Princess and the Frog with Tangled in a heartbeat. I'd keep Shrek and The Bloody Chamber, of course. And so on and so on. I'd have to think about it more and I wouldn't really be able to choose a top ten unless under severe duress.

My question is: What is your top ten list of fairy tale retellings?

Here's McConnell's introduction:

Most will agree that fairy tales often form an integral part of our childhood. Whether it’s being read Ladybird’s Little Red Riding Hood, or watching Disney’s classic rendition of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, chances are you know a good number of them off by heart. More recently our favorite fairy tales have been experiencing a resurgence in popularity, but not necessarily in the formats you might expect. Films, comic books, video games and more are all drawing inspiration from fairy tales these days (although some of these adaptations work better than others). Here follows what I hope is a handful of the more interesting ones; what some lack in flawless execution, they make up for in heart.

I don't want to copy any more of her comments and reasons for her list, but will provide the list of titles for easier reference and discussion here if you so choose. Do click through to read her reasons, but here are the titles:

10. The 10th Kingdom

9. Shrek

8. The Princess and the Frog

7. The Path (This is a video game which I have discussed on SurLaLune here and here.)



6. Enchanted

5. The Brothers Grimm

 

4. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

3. Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl

 

2. Pan's Labyrinth

1. Fables created by Bill Willingham

Thanks to Lisa S. for also sharing the link to this list! It was off and on my radar...

Fairest: New Fables Spin-off Series

From SDCC 2011: FABLES Spins-Off New Monthly Series, FAIREST by Vaneta Rogers:

Early next year, fans of Vertigo's Fables series will get more of the stories they love as writer Bill Willingham spins off a second comic titled Fairest.

And artist Phil Jimenez will be helping him kick the new comic off, along with the incomparable Adam Hughes on covers.

Announced on Saturday during the Fables panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the new series will focus on stories about popular character Cinderella, as well as other "fair" ladies from Fabletown like Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel.

While Willingham and artist Mark Buckingham will continue to create the main Fables title, various writers and artists will contribute to the stories contained in Fairest. But the first story arc of Fairest will be written by Willingham with art by Phil Jimenez.

There is an interview with Willingham about the series on the article page which you shouldn't miss if you are a fan.

The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric

 

The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric was released yesterday. I received a review copy through the Amazon Vine program.

Book description from the publisher:

Teodora has always longed to visit Venice, and at last she has her chance. But strange and sinister things are afoot in the beautiful floating city. Teo is quickly subsumed into a secret world in which salty-tongued mermaids run subversive printing presses, ghosts good and bad patrol the streets, statues speak, rats read, and librarians fluidly turn into cats. And where a book, The Key to the Secret City, leads Teo straight into the heart of the danger that threatens to destroy the city to which she feels she belongs. An ancient proverb seems to unite Teo with a Venetian boy, Renzo, and with the Traitor who has returned from the dark past to wreak revenge. . . . But who is the Undrowned Child destined to save Venice?

My brief review of the book because I hate writing plot descriptions:

As I read this book, I realized just how little I really knew about Venice. I am a voracious reader but somehow my experiences have inadvertently kept me away from books set in this fascinating city. I admit I was first drawn to the book by the cover, then by the setting and finally by the mention of fantastical creatures, especially mermaids which are of high interest of late. The book didn't disappoint. The story is summarized elsewhere so I won't do that here. I started reading it without caring because the above mentioned features were enough of a draw for me. I enjoyed the main characters, Teo and Renzo, even more than I expected. I loved the setting. I enjoyed the history. I was entertained and I learned much during my reading.

One of the loveliest aspects of the book was an appendix with sections of "Places and Things in The Undrowned Child that you can still see in Venice" and "What is true, and what's made up?" It kept me from having to interrupt my reading to go look up so much for I always want to know more when I read books like this. Recommended for fantasy fans, especially if they like their fantasy mixed with historical fiction. Yes, it's aimed at younger readers, but adults with interests in the genre just may enjoy it more...

Kim Kardashian Candids in Los Angeles

 Kim Kardashian Candids in Los Angeles, 08 more images after the break...

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Unlucky Sheep

Somewhere in the mountains, a very unlucky sheep hang on cable,  I don't know the exact reason, 02 more images after the break...

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What is hidden behind the Celebs

Celebrities, as they are. Many thanks to the paparazzi, they show us what is hidden behind the star retouch photoshop. The stars are beginning to get nervous at the sight of these pictures. These stars will not Photoshop. 28 more images after the break...

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Hights of Stupidity

Hights of Stupidity, 15 more images after the break...

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Lifelike Pencil Drawings

These very realistic pencil drawings are by artist Paul Lung. The detail and contrast of the drawings are so lifelike that it is difficult to believe that they are not photographs. 26 more images after the break...

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