Folk Tale – Cannonball Read 17

Just a piece of the puzzle

Issunboshi: A Graphic Novel by Ryan Long

February 19, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Picture it: Feudal Japan where creatures of myth and folklore are real. You can liken it to some Western stories (which came first? I do not know, but I assume the Asian ones) and the adventures our tiny hero has will meet the pages with clever text and images. This graphic novel, Issunboshi: A Graphic Novel by Ryan Long, unfolds in quick layers. There are a few surprises, but for the most part, you know where things are going. The idea of “you do not […]

A classic twist

The Runaway Dosa by Suma Subramaniam

May 4, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

“The more you eat, the more you crave! You can’t catch me, no matter how brave!” In another review I mentioned that I like folk tales, though if one is retold just to retell it by adding a few diverse elements, but keep the rest, I am not really a fan. However, The Runaway Dosa showed me that might not always be the case. Suma Subramaniam took The Gingerbread Man story, but added an Indian twist that pays tribute to the old and new. Based […]

Book Club Discussion Post: Alif the Unseen

September 17, 2021 by faintingviolet Leave a Comment

Welcome to our Fairy tale Adaptations book club! This go round we’ve selected four books that showed their author’s take on various fairy tales and folktales. Each of our books below have their own Discussion Posts and don’t forget, we’ll be having our Zoom Book Club on Saturday September 18 at 7 pm EDT. Other Discussions The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden Deerskin by Robin McKinley Sea Witch by Sarah Henning Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson For those of you returning […]

The Book the Bookclub book is based on

Donkey-Skin by Charles Perrault

September 3, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Donkey-Skin by Charles Perrault is a Cinderella meets Goose Girl fairy tale. I know little to really nothing (other than what I read in this version and a bit in the publisher description) of the story therefore, I am not sure if it is pre-these fairy tales or after those others. But it has that same French/European feel of an old school, classic, not-Disney tale. While things are not “in face” they are no questions what is happening. And not all of it is very […]

I’m as bad as the fool: filling up greedily, wanting more, loving it but not feeling satisfied

Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord

January 28, 2020 by zinka Leave a Comment

It’s been difficult for me to write about Redemption in Indigo. Karen Lord’s novel feels familiar and good in so many ways. It reminds me of the kinds of fairy tales and fables we’re told as children of normal but brave lives interrupted by magic, gods or other mystical beings hidden in sight, and important lessons drawn from their exchanges. But this familiarity, which is partially drawn from the brevity of the tale, was also a draw back for me. I wanted even more from […]

The not so naked truth

The Chinese Emperor’s New Clothes by Ying Chang Compestine

March 29, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I saw the cover dragon of The Chinese Emperor’s New Clothes peeking up off the cart, hidden behind several other titles, it was sitting on. I enjoy a good story from Asia (particularly if it is about Japan or Chinese New Year). I was hoping this was a Chinese New Year story, instead what I got was the “true story” of the Emperor’s New Clothes. I also like alternative tellings of stories we know and this was a delightful treat. Ying Chang Compestine’s story differs […]

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Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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