Rumpelstiltskin at Enchanted Conversation

The newest issue of Enchanted Conversation at FairyTaleMagazine.com is up. Here is the direct link to the table of contents. The theme for the issue is Rumpelstiltskin.

This is old news since it went up last Friday actually, but I've been head down in translating tales for upcoming SurLaLune collections which makes my brain go splat when I read other things remotely fairy tale related right now.

My good intentions were to preread and comment, but it just won't be happening for several more days as I deal with heavy, heavy editing and some final translating. But new books will be coming soon. Bluebeard, my friends, is huge at well over 700 pages. More about that later... (And my punchiness has probably shown through on the blog recently, too. It's subtle, but I see it at least, after all I'm experiencing it firsthand.)

Here's a glance at that Table of Contents:

1) Welcome!


2) Little Rattle Belly

3) The Other End of The Tale

4) Rumpelstiltskin (Burns)

5) The Queen's Child Comes In

6) Garbage-To-Gold Spindle

7) He Tore Himself In Two

8) Batul and the Rumpel

9) The Name of the Helper

10) Straw Into Gold

11) The Duchess's Boy

Congrats to KateW and company for achieving another issue...

Twisted Tales by Maureen McGowan

 

These are two new books by Maureen McGowan that are apparently Choose Your Own Adventure types of books. Do you remember Choose Your Own Adventure? That is one book fad I was just at the right age for, in other words, I was smack dab in its target audience when it reached its heydey in the 80s. I owned a few but I have to admit I wasn't a big fan since I reached an ending so quickly that I was bored and would read through the book straight to see what options and endings were present. And I bought most of my books back then (still do) and I didn't feel like I got much bang for my buck with those since they ended in a few minutes. So says the girl who would devour a Nancy Drew in an average of 2.5 hours. I think I still own an official Star Trek edition in which you end up being a red shirt ensign judging from how many times you end up dead from your choices, that's all I really remember of it. It was rather disconcerting to my tween fandom to "die" while reading a Star Trek novel. Oh my, I found it: Star Trek: Voyage to Adventure (Which Way Books No 15).

But back to these books. I only know they are Choose Your Own Adventure/Which Way from the reader reviews. I don't know much more about these, but they may be fun. I imagine I would have loved them if they had been among my options in 1984. I'd probably have fun with them now, too, since just reminiscing is making me smile...and they are fun takes on fairy tales, to boot.

Here are the official descriptions:

Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer (Twisted Tales) by Maureen McGowan

In this thrilling story full of adventure and romance, Sleeping Beauty is more than just a lonely princess waiting for her prince—she's a brave, tenacious girl who never backs down from a challenge. With vampire-slaying talents that she practices in secret, Sleeping Beauty puts her courage to the test in the dark of night, fighting evil as she searches for a way to break the spell that has cut her off from her family. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Sleeping Beauty and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer is an entirely new type of fairy tale–one that will keep today's kids guessing and offer them hours of magical fun.

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (Twisted Tales) by Maureen McGowan

In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince—she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

The Fairytale Hairdresser by Abie Longstaff

The Fairytale Hairdresser by Abie Longstaff was released in the UK (Amazon.co.uk link) this past January but has not been released in the U.S. yet. I don't know if it ever will be, but it is cute from what I have seen of it and I wanted to share it online. I've got Rapunzel on the brain anyway since Tangled was released on DVD/Blu-Ray/etc. yesterday.
Anyway, back to The Fairytale Hairdresser. Here's the description first:

Join Kitty Lacey, the fairytale hairdresser, as she tames the wildest of locks, deals with the most demanding and unusual of customers, ultimately foils the Witch's evil plan and plays cupid to the newly coiffed Rapunzel. (A decent haircut really can work wonders!).

I would love to read this one and learn what the full storyline is. Perhaps someday...you UK readers should look it up during your next trip to the bookstore and let us know!

And now for some pictures:

New Book: Entwined by Heather Dixon

Entwined by Heather Dixon is officially released tomorrow. Isn't that a gorgeous cover? I'm sure there was a big squee over that one by Dixon when she saw it. This is a Twelve Dancing Princesses inspired novel which we haven't had in a little while although there was a gush a few years ago.

Description from the publisher:

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

Starred review from Booklist:

In the half-magical world of Eathesbury, Azalea is the oldest of 12 daughters and heir to her father's throne. When the sisters' mother dies after a long illness, the siblings find a hidden passageway to an enchanted pavilion under the castle where they can dance all night, secretly breaking the rules of mourning. The mysterious and alluring Keeper makes this possible, but he also seems to have less-than-honorable plans for the girls, especially Azalea. The tale's atmosphere becomes increasingly dark and brooding as the truth from ages past comes out, and Azalea realizes just what evil they are pitted against. With several unexpected twists, the story, based on the original Grimms' tale "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes," plunges toward a harrowing conclusion. This first novel is richly imagined with a gothic feel, and Dixon's descriptions of the many dances are thrilling. Although the general story line will be familiar to readers of Jessica Day George's Princess of the Midnight Ball (2009), this romantic fantasy is darker in tone, and the villain resembles the faeries in Nancy Werlin's Impossible (2008) and O. R. Melling's The Hunter's Moon (2005). The story gracefully explores significant themes of grief and loss, mercy and love. Full of mystery, lush settings, and fully orbed characters, Dixon's debut is both suspenseful and rewarding. Grades 7-10. --Melissa Moore

The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Ruth Sanderson

The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Ruth Sanderson is our picture book of the day. I wanted to highlight a Twelve Dancing Princesses picture book today since I am also featuring a post on a new related novel, Entwined by Heather Dixon. This is tied for first place with Kinuko Craft's version as my favorite modern illustrated rendition. It is really impressive how popular this tale has become in the past decade. When I started SurLaLune most people weren't familiar with it. Now even I have a book for it, Twelve Dancing Princesses Tales From Around the World.

And here are some images:

You can read about the conception and execution of this rather famous image (it has been licensed quite a bit) on Sanderson's site at The Artist at Work. Page down to the very bottom.

I Was a Rat

 

The film version of I Was a Rat based on the novel, I Was a Rat! by Philip Pullman, recently received some press. I've never seen this movie and wonder how many of you have seen it. It had a bigger release in the UK in 2001 but is pretty much unknown here. So it was recently featured at the Charleston Film Festival with the hope that it will pick up a larger audience. It is available used on DVD so you don't have to hope for a film festival to see it. Have any of you seen it? For that matter, how many of you have read the book?

From Fairy tale intelligent, funny: Refreshingly different 'I Was a Rat' to be introduced at Charleston Film Festival by Bill Thompson:

Family films need not be pitched at a level of a witlessness, with too-cute kids, clueless parents and story lines that are pure formula.

Armed with an intelligent, humorous script based on the book by Philip Pullman, and fortified by a fine cast, Toronto-based director Laurie Lynd knew that "I Was a Rat" would engage a discerning audience.

"The story intrigued me from the start," said Lynd, who will introduce his movie this week at the second annual Charleston Film Festival, running today through Sunday at the Terrace Theatre. "As soon as I read the script, I knew I wanted to do it because the writing was so rare.

"So much family-oriented material is maudlin and does not treat an audience with respect. By contrast, 'I Was a Rat" is smart and charming, but never saccharine. It's a great, universal kids' story, like 'Cinderella" (of which the tale is a variation) or 'Pinocchio' -- light and fun but with some scary bits. There's a lovely range to it."

Starring Oscar winner Brenda Fricker and Academy Award nominees Tom Conti and Ned Beatty, "I Was a Rat" is fractured fairy tale centering on a little boy who, wandering alone, is taken in by a kindly couple. The boy is cold, damp and eager to take advantage of the offered shelter, but the adults are puzzled by his claims that he was once a rat.

Meanwhile, rumors are rampant at the local newspaper about the prince's new love, a girl who captivated everyone who glimpsed her at a palace ball.

In "Cinderella" we have the familiar story of how the Fairy Godmother turned a scullery maid into a princess and kitchen rats into footmen and pages, dispatching them to the ball. Yet few know that during the gala ball one of those pageboys ran off to play. When the clock struck 12 and Cinderella lit out for home, the pageboy was left behind, unchanged -- a lad dismayed by a dim memory of a former life.

A review summary from The New York Times:

Based on the children's book by Philip Pullman, Laurie Lynd's I Was a Rat is a feature-length fable originally made as a three-part BBC miniseries. A reworking of a popular fairy tale, the story opens with a young abandoned pageboy (Calum Worthy) taken in by a childless couple: the aging cobbler Bob (Tom Conti) and domestic worker Joan (Brenda Fricker). Nicknamed Roger, the pageboy claims that he isn't human at all but a rat, which attracts the interest of the Daily Scourge newspaper, a mad scientist, and a carnival owner named Oliver Tapscrew (Don McKellar). The search for Roger's real home is accompanied by the story of Lady Aurelia (Katie Blake) and her prince (James Millard). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Giveaway: Week 1 Winner and Week 2 Prize

 

Congrats to Mari, entry #33 chosen by Random.org, who won a copy of The Mermaid by Carolyn Turgeon. I've sent you an email Mari requesting your mailing address!

This week's giveaway is a copy of New Orleans Museum of Art: Dreams Come True: Art of the Classic Fairy Tales from the Walt Disney Studio. This is the exhibit book from the special exhibit in New Orleans in 2009/10 that coincided with the release of The Frog Princess. It is about the artwork behind the Disney fairy tale films and is a rare book. I picked up a few copies during my trip to NOMA in December and plan to give away two in total in the coming weeks. I thought a Disney related giveaway would be appropriate this week in conjunction with the Tangled DVD/Blu-ray release. Ironic since Tangled is the only film not covered in the book.

The opening quote in the book is:

So far I've only posted the contest here on the blog where we get 10% of the daily traffic that the SurLaLune main site receives. That means there are less contest entries, but I will be adding it to the main site soon.

“It has always been my hope that our fairytale films will result in a desire of viewers to read again the fine, old original tales and enchanting myths on the home bookshelf or school library...” - Walter Elias Disney