New Book: Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon

Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon was released last week. Right now the book is priced $7.90 on Amazon while the ebook is $9.99. As you can guess, this is a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid. I don't have a copy and I haven't read it, but the cover is certainly pretty.

Book description from the publisher:

Two sheltered princesses, one wounded warrior; who will live happily ever after?

Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while her kingdom is at war. One gloomy, windswept morning as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea, she witnesses a miracle: a glittering mermaid emerging from the waves, a nearly drowned man in her arms. By the time Margrethe reaches the shore, the mermaid has disappeared into the sea. As Margrethe nurses the handsome stranger back to health, she learns that not only is he a prince, he is also the son of her father's greatest rival. Sure that the mermaid brought this man to her for a reason, Margrethe devises a plan to bring peace to her kingdom.

Meanwhile, the mermaid princess Lenia longs to return to the human man she carried to safety. She is willing to trade her home, her voice, and even her health for legs and the chance to win his heart….

A surprising take on the classic tale, Mermaid is the story of two women with everything to lose. Beautifully written and compulsively readable, it will make you think twice about the fairytale you heard as a child, keeping you in suspense until the very last page.

Carolyn Turgeon has one previous fairy tale retelling, Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story.

New Book: Rapunzel by Sarah Gibb

Rapunzel: Based on the Original Story by the Brothers Grimm by Sarah Gibb was released last week. I was rather shocked when there weren't more Rapunzel picture books released last year to coincide with Tangled. I haven't seen this one in person but I did find several images around the web that charmed me. This has an old-fashioned feel, old-fashioned as in 1950s illustrations.

Product description from the publisher:

Beautiful Rapunzel is locked away in a tall, tall tower, visited only by the little creatures of the forest and the witch who has imprisoned her. Until one day a handsome prince, passing by on his horse, is transfixed by the magical sound of Rapunzel singing to her animals friends and knows he must reach her... Can true love transform Rapunzel's life forever?

Mother Holly by John Warren Stewig and illustrated by Johanna Westerman

Mother Holly by John Warren Stewig and illustrated by Johanna Westerman is today's picture book. Mother Holly (Frau Holle, Mother Holle, etc.) is a Grimms' tale that isn't as well known to casual fairy tale readers these days. When they read it, many consider it a Cinderella tale, which it is very similar to, but it is actually of the Diamonds and Toads family, ATU 480. There will be a Diamonds and Toads collection published from SurLaLune later this year, by the way, and I wrote an article on the tale for Faerie Magazine last year which appeared in Issue 20.

But back to Mother Holly. I am sentimentally attached to this picture book--and it is out of print like so many but easy to find used, just follow my links--because it is how I introduced my eldest niece, Leighton, to the tale years ago. She wasn't even quite at the age where sitting for the longish text was quite conceivable, but she sat through it and begged to hear it again and again. So I became quite familiar with this retelling by Stewig along with Westerman's illustrations. There aren't many picture book versions of this tale for English readers, and this is the most readily available one, so this certainly has a treasured spot on my shelves.

Book description from the publisher:

Two sisters--kind, industrious Rose and vain, lazy Blanche--experience two very different adventures when each tumbles down a well and into the magical world of Mother Holly. Rose's journey begins accidentally, but because of her generosity to all she meets along the way, and her hard work for ugly but kind Mother Holly, she returns home in a shimmering gown covered in gold. Envious of Rose's good fortune, Blanche decides to visit Mother Holly herself, but her pride, laziness, and foul temper earn her an apt and well-deserved punishment. John Warren Stewig's retelling of this little-known tale by the Brothers Grimm offers children a satisfying new ending that demonstrates how with help, redemption is possible. And Johanna Westerman's lovely, intricately detailed illustrations, as spellbinding as Mother Holly's magic door, are pure enchantment.

And now for the illustrations:

 

Fairy Tale Films Week: The Slipper and the Rose

 

Since I've declared this Fairy Tale Films Week on the blog and promised to share some of my favorite fairy tale films, I must start with The Slipper and the Rose. After all, barring the animated Disney features, this was my very first fairy tale film. And for years I knew virtually nothing about it, even its title.

This is one of those movies that would be played as filler on Sunday afternoons on one of the local stations and occasionally the networks. I wasn't given much TV viewing time as a child, especially on Sundays, but on occasion a bout of bronchitis or such would send me to the couch on a weekend where this would appear magically on the little screen for me, with me usually missing some portion of the beginning and thus the title and credits sequence. I didn't know what it was but I knew I loved it and I remember rediscovering it at least two or three times before I finally was old enough to get a title from the TV guide in the paper. (Oh, I feel old.) The film wasn't even that old for it was released in 1976 but just timed for my discovery.

Then I eventually was able to record it when we owned a VCR and watched it quite a bit. I eventually saw it on the big screen when I was in college when it was shown one Friday night on campus. I was thrilled. I remember sitting in the theatre with some friends. It was a big audience that night and the first time Richard Chamberlain broke into song--for this is a musical--most of the guys in the audience broke into hoot and hollerin' laughter. They didn't know they were in for a musical, especially with Mr. Thorn Birds himself. Yes, the musical numbers just suddenly happen, so it is a shock, but I imagine a lot of guys didn't have very successful date nights if they didn't wise up quick because I doubt I was the only girl in the theatre with an emotional attachment to the movie.

Is it a perfect movie? No. Is it still a hidden gem? Yes, certainly. Here are my reasons why:

1. The aforementioned music. I think the music to this one blows Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella away, even my favorite version with Julie Andrews. I like some of the songs from R&H and even performed a few of them long ago for a musical comedy class, insuring I was quite intimate with them. I prefer these songs by the Sherman Brothers who also gave us the music to Mary Poppins. The tunes are catchier but lusher at the same time. And overall, they are consistently better than the R&H ones. There are some standouts by R&H but there are some I just don't like very well, too. I like all of the music offered here by the Shermans. Personal taste, but I have met many over the years who agree.

2. One of the bitterest complaints against this version is how passive Cinderella is. Valid point. However, I've always considered this movie to be the prince's story. We all forget that he is just about as passive as her in the tale. We even tend to dislike him for just being a silent paragon of princeliness who hasn't much character at all, a blank blob we can lay our own expectations over. The Slipper and the Rose shares his story about politics and protocol. He is expected to marry well and most certainly not for love. This becomes an important part of the plot, one usually glossed over or completely ignored in other versions of the tale. He has to fight for what he wants. It's different and thus entertaining. There are some unexpected twists to the story, too, not major ones, but somewhat unusual.

3. The setting and scenery and costumes, oh my. This is lush. It's the 70s fantasy version of another era and it is pretty to look at if not the height of historical accuracy. However, it is Cinderella so is historical accuracy necessary? No.

4. All the character actors. Singing and dancing no less. If you love BBC productions, so many of the faces we know, especially from older movies and series from the same era, are here. And they sing and dance which is quite amusing.

5. The Fairy Godmother as played by Annette Crosbie. She just may be my favorite fairy godmother. If I could pick one for myself, I'd pick her without a moment's hesitation. These days she is best known for One Foot in the Grave but she is a brilliant fairy godmother and made such an impact that I recognized her immediately when I first saw One Foot in the Grave. She has great lines and delivers them with great aplomb, many referencing other fairy tales which makes it fun for me as a grown-up who gets the references. She is spunky and funny and very no nonsense, a great antidote to the Disney Fairy Godmother with her Bibbidis and Bobbidies and Boos. 

Finally, the DVD is out of print and selling rather expensively. There are several illegal videos on YouTube--the studio hasn't pursed them--but I always feel bad showing them here even if they are one of the few ways to view the film since the studio isn't releasing the movie for purchase right now. However, I found a passable movie trailer made by a fan, so I thought I would share it here.

Beastly Does Better Than Expected

From 'Rango' Wins Four-Way Shootout: Box Office Report March 4 - 6 by Gary Susman:

Also opening better than expected was teen horror/romance 'Beastly,' with an estimated $10.1 million, good for third place. Predictions had suggested the movie would open at around $8 million, since neither Vanessa Hudgens nor Alex Pettyfer is a proven box office draw, and since the teen movie market already includes 'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' and 'I Am Number Four' a very similar film to 'Beastly,' right down to the casting of Pettyfer as the unearthly, tormented lead. Nonetheless, 'Beastly' had terrific word-of-mouth, especially among viewers under 18.

That's good news. I wonder how it will fare next weekend up against Red Riding Hood and with word of mouth. Never underestimate the power of Beauty and the Beast...

Raisel's Riddle by Erica Silverman and Susan Graber

Purim is in two weeks, so I thought a fitting picture book for today would be Raisel's Riddle by Erica Silverman and illustrated by Susan Gaber, a Jewish Cinderella story set around Purim.

Book description from the publisher:

What's more precious than rubies, more lasting than gold?

Raisel knows. She learned it from her grandfather, a poor scholar who taught her. When he dies, Raisel finds work in the home of a rabbi. His jealous cook makes Raisel toil from sunup to sundown. And as the Jewish holiday of Purim approaches, Raisel works even harder. The rabbi's son presides over the Purim dinner, and Raisel listens closely when he responds to riddles posed by his guests. Is it possible that this young man can answer Raisel's riddle? Erica Silverman's lively retelling of the Cinderella story features a heroine for whom knowledge is as essential to happiness as love.

The good news is that this book is in print and will most likely remain so thanks to its popularity in education and as more unusual Cinderella story,

And now for some images of Susan Gaber's illustrations:

Fairy Tale Films Week

With Beastly released this weekend and Red Riding Hood release next weekend, it's rather an automatic to discuss fairy tales and films this week. In fact, as someone who has been immersed in Bluebeard recently for the upcoming SurLaLune book release, I am including Jane Eyre, the newest film version of it, in the list since it is officially released next weekend, too. (The poster image above gave that away for me, didn't it?)

 

What does this mean? I'm not entirely sure yet, but I know I will be highlighting academic books about fairy tales and film for one thing. There are several and I imagine this abundance of new releases will inspire more writing from both the professionals and the students.

For today, I am most curious to know which of these three movies interests you the most?

Also, what is your favorite fairy tale film of all time? That's not quite fair of me since I have a list. I am attached to several which I plan to highlight this week, too. But I am curious to know what your favorites are...

And since you are here, here's the trailer for the new Jane Eyre. The trailer inadvertently emphasizes the fairy tale qualities of the story, which are really quite numerous.