Fairy Tales for Millennials: 12 Problematic Stories Retold for the Modern World

by Bruno Vincent

Welcome to the world of Fairy Tales, Millennial style...

Inside you'll find Sleeping Beauty waking up Woke, the Nanny Goats Gruff getting trolled, and three little pigs explaining that - realistically - a house of straw is really the only way a first time buyer can get on the property ladder.

Goldilocks discovers a darling little Porridge pop-up, the Pied Piper shifts his content strategy to attract more followers, and Hansel and Gretel meet a witch with a disruptive approach to clean eating.

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy, Fiction, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Humor

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2019

About the author

Bruno Vincent was a bookseller and book editor before he was an author. His humour books for grown-ups, co-authored with Jon Butler, were national bestsellers and have been translated into seven languages. The TUMBLEWATER books are his first for children.

Reviews

[Claudio Silva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contos de Fadas para Millenials. é, na verdade, fruto de seu próprio tempo e contexto histórico/social e é assim que esta obra deve ser absorvida. Tendo o objectivo de recontar os contos de fadas que tão bem conhecemos num tom satírico

Branca de Neve, Capuchinho vermelho e Patinho Feio (talvez a minha história preferida desta coletânea ) são três, de doze contos, que foram explorados. E, para mim, os melhores. Pois as ideias preconceituosas que estão presentes nos antigos contos de fadas são bem retratadas e criticadas.

Embora todos os contos tenham as suas críticas e há uma dedicação em trazer novos elementos e novos pontos de vista (como três porquinhos que gerenciam uma loja de imobiliário, uma família de três ursos que têm um restaurante de papas de aveia, uma Capuchinho vermelho que faz entregas de comida por toda a floresta ou até mesmo uma princesa que tem um perfil numa aplicação para encontros com sapos), a roupagem que o autor concede fica muito a desejar, deixando-me desiludido ao virar das páginas.

É um livro que tenta ter a sua graça e que tenta aproximar-se da realidade e da faixa etária ao qual se propõe com uma lingua mordaz e atual. Mas que é extremamente fraco e inconsistente, deixando a ideia de uma narrativa divertida e de uma leitura leve, aquém da expectativa...

[Iolanda Ciobanu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book depicting our lives. Some well deserved changes in the stories. Relaxing to read.

[Lieselot Mauroo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word: HILARIOUS!!! I found myself bursting out with laughter several times during the reading of this book.
The stories are completely ridiculous (can't decide though if they're more or less ridiculous than the originals) and off the charts funny!
The parallels with our modern society in these stories are well written and make for some mind boggling laughter (at least in my case).
A very quick and easy read as well; seems like I finished a page just seconds after beginning it.
I enjoyed every second of reading this book and it's very likely I'll read it again in the future.
I so needed a book like this right now and am beyond happy I chose to read this one today.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a quick, funny read and also anyone who loves fairy tales with a modern quirky twist.

[M Beegoo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unsure how I feel about this one. Some amusing jokes here and there, but it never felt clear what the author was trying to say.
At one moment, he would espouse an, albeit clumsy, take down of discrimination and racism, or talk about the merits of eating plant based food, before piling on vegans like they were idiots, or suggesting that unpaid interns should be grateful they have jobs.
Other tales felt woolly in their attempts to make links between fairy tales and modern issues. For instance, the ugly duckling is rewritten so that the duckling is not considered abnormal and grows up accepted. This could have been an interesting criticism of society’s obsession with looks, but at barely a page, the tale only manages to nod to this in a very superficial way.
Further, the short stories often state their morals very obviously, and remove much of the subtlety that makes the genre of fairytale retelling interesting. For instance, the tale of the three Billy goats gruff ends with the troll being told that he is only unkind to others because other people have been unkind to him. He accepts this after only a paragraph, changes his ways, and becomes an educator of misogynists. How realistic.
Other tales had unsatisfying/confusing endings. For instance, the final story in the book ends:
“This was definitely the beginning of something good. Which is the best ending that a story can have. Unless it isn’t. Make up your own mind.”
At face value, this sounds deep, but is really drivel, and sums up how I felt about the book as a whole. It acts like a sophisticated criticism of modern life, but really has very little to say.
Regardless, some of the ideas were interesting and I was amused here and there.
To sum this book up in a few words: Generally silly. Mostly pointless.

[libs :p · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall:
This book was decent. I did feel that it was a bit hit and miss, with some of the stories being really good and others being a bit sub-par. However, all around, this book was a fun read.


SNOW WHITE
4 Stars

This story was really fun and a great start to this collection. I’m really liking the modern spin that they are putting on the tale. I also really liked how relatable the characters are and how it is easy to connect with them because most of them are quite frankly, a mood. I also liked how we got to see women supporting women in this one. It’s such a great change from the original and has a great message.


GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
5 Stars

I really loved this story. It was absolutely hilarious and just so good. It focuses around Goldilocks who is a stereotypical ’influencer’ who thinks that she’s found a hot new B and B. The influencer trope was so funny in this story and it was great to see the bears react to her. It was so funny and overall a great twist.




JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
5 Stars

This story had me creased. I absolutely loved it! The story on the whole was so funny and the spin on Jack being an entrepreneur! That was so funny. And naming the cow Cow Slave also Gad me weak. I thought that it was hilarious! This is definitely my favourite story so far. I would recommend this book just for this one story because this that good and funny!


GRETEL AND HANSEL
4 Stars

This one started a bit bland, but ended up really funny. I really liked how this one played on a lot of millennial obsessions like avocados and sourdough. I felt like the plot in this one was pretty good, although bit as funny of an adaptation as some of the other stories. However, I did love the last line of this story. I thought that it was absolutely hilarious!



THE THREE NANNY GOATS GRUFF
3 Stars

I’ve gotta say that so far, this has definitely been my least favourite. Not a lot really happened and this wasn’t as funny as the others. However, it did have a really good message about learning to love yourself, which is always good and inspiring. This one just wasn’t for me.



THE UGLY DUCKLING
4 Stars

Ah. This was quite good. It challenged societal expectations of beauty. It showed people that we shouldn’t weigh self-worth on outward appearance and that we should love ourselves and others based on personality, not beauty. This was a great message to give. It is also very short, so a great message is packed into a small space.





CINDERELLA
4 Stars

I really liked this one. It made comments on privilege and wealth which made the reader think about the story. It also made a point of addressing the fact that we give to those who already have, not those who need. I really liked Cinderella in this one too. She was a strong, independent woman who knew what she wanted and didn’t need a man. You go Glen Coco!



THREE LITTLE PIGS
2 Stars

I’ve gotta say, I was not a fan of this one. I feel like, as this one was in the synopsis, I was expecting a lot more, and this just really didn’t deliver. This wasn’t funny like the others and it wasn’t as interesting as the others. I was waiting for it to get good and right when I thought it was going to, it didn’t. Overall, I’m just disappointed.



SLEEPING BEAUTY
4 Stars

This was pretty good. I really liked some of the commentary in this about anti vaxxers and consent. It was actually quite funny. I also liked how they didn’t focus on the bit of the story that usually gets focused on and instead cane in at a bit of an unconventional spot. This one really is a problematic tale retold was o be a whole lot less problematic.



THE FROG PRINCE
4 Stars

I liked this one quite a bit. It was actually pretty funny and I really enjoyed it. I was absolutely creased at the Pepe part. I was in my school library and had to stop myself from giggling. This was quite good, but without the Pepe bit would have deffo only been 3 stars as opposed to four.



THE PIED PIPER IF HAMELIN
3 Stars

This one was pretty decent and it did what was advertised in the blurb. However, I was just a little bit confused. Did he get like literal followers of like people following him? I think that’s what it meant, but that is a little bit wired. This one wasn’t great, but it also wasn’t bad. There was just nothing really special about it




LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
4 Star

The cameos! Oh the cameos! I loved the cameos. They were great! This story was actually pretty good and looked at challenging prejudices. It was really interesting and a good take on the story. Not my favourite retelling, but a good one nevertheless.

[Sarna na Kiju · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so terrible. The worst is, the author very often uses the breaking 4th wall of author speaking directly to the reader, and they think it's so smart and funny. It's not. It's annoying af. It's not original or funny or new or entertaining.
It did have some cool ideas, but they all fell short for many reasons. I would normally give a 2 start for the effort, but no. This is terrible. It's one of the books/anthology that tries to be super progressive and show the problems of the world, but make it without understading any of them, the grayness of it all.
A quick summary of the stories below, beware of spoilers since they are short.

-Snow White
Terrible. Absolutely terrible. Blood Red takes the cake. So smart, wow. Amazing.
-Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Mostly irritating and annoying. Ugh.
-Jack and the Beanstalk
Miserable beginning, but the end was pretty neat. By the way, its suggesting that hitting your abusive husband unconscious is an acceptable behaviour.
-Gretel and Hansel
The last sentence is the best, it actually made me feel something. The rest was a huge hit n miss.
-The Three Nanny Goats Gruff
Cute, but the implications and the ending. Ugh. So, if you consider someone to be a prick, stamp on their balls. Great. So progressive.
-The "Ugly" Duckling
Cute, but not really a proper moral. Eff you. This is so shallow. It's not the problem of 'beautiful' labels existing, this whole dilemma is based on something way deeper than the author can understand.
-Cinderella
Fuck you. It had an actual idea somewhere there, but it was ruined by Cinderella being, surprisingly, an entitled brat. Fuck you.
-Three Little Pigs
Now, that was stupidly racist. So, am I to understand all racists are cannibals?
To be honest, the idea for this one is not that bad. I would like to read about the killing trio in a better written book.
-Sleeping Beauty
Started interestingly, ended terribly. Next time I meet someone who has unreal visions of how the world functions, I will just tell them to go to a coma. Fuck you.
-The Frog Prince
Wow, one story that I actually liked. :( im sad.
-The Pied Piper of Hamelin
It wasnt that half bad. I mean, still bad, but better than the others. Maybe my expectations are simply much lower right now.
-Red Riding Hood
This one wasn't that bad either. I like how we had a sneak peak into the previous stories. I've actually learnt something useful about, well, interacting with people of different backround.

So there you go. I got out of my 'Mirai Nikki was such a disappointment and I'm super down because of it' slumber. Time to read better books. Thanks.

[Álvaro Curia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sou daquele tipo de pessoa que, quando lhe recomendam uma comédia, já treme. Sou capaz de assistir impávido ao mais cómico filme, permanecer inalterado com aquela piada de que todos se riem. O tipo de coisas que me faz rir são do mais básico possível: quedas, falhas, situações que deram para o torto. A vida real, portanto.

E depois há o inusitado. O inusitado faz-me gargalhar até chorar, por horas (sem exagero!). Ficar com dores de barriga de tanto rir, continuar quando já todos se esqueceram do assunto, dar uma gargalhada anos depois quando penso no que aconteceu.

O livro de Bruno Vincent procura o inusitado, ou como uma série de lugares comuns da geração millennial podem ser inseridos nos mais tradicionais contos de fadas. Houve vários momentos em que esbocei um sorriso, muitos em que pensei: “genial!” e palmas para a forma como algumas histórias, mesmo totalmente alteradas, continuam a encerrar com uma lição.

Outras claramente mal conseguidas, em que nem sequer consegui perceber onde estava a parte que era suposto ter piada.

Mas vale pena, é uma leitura leve, em que em muitas ocasiões vamos encontrar pontes com tanta da retórica e hábitos da geração pós-milénio.

[Sandra | Leituras descomplicadas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma leitura engraçada feita a partir dos contos de fadas mais tradicionais. Adaptação das histórias que sempre ouvimos em crianças mas que agora são adaptadas aos hábitos da geração Millenial. Como será a capuchinho vermelho com um telemóvel e um vício de selfies? E como seria os três ursos donos de um alojamento local com a caracolinhos a partilhar esse alojamento entre a sua extensa rede de seguidores no Instagram? Uma leitura leve e engraçada que recomendo a todos.

[BlackfishGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up and put it down extensively as there was a chance it was going to be ridiculously tedious. While some bits are a bit laboured, overall I laughed quite a bit and in several instances was a little surprised so I think for a topic that could easily go wrong, this is good fun. I wouldn't pay the full price for it but for £4 I think I got what I paid for!

[Azrael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A number of classic fairytales, brought up to date with modern twist. Each one represents an aspect of contemporary society and attitudes. Although full of stereotypes it is all presented in a humorous, tongue in cheek style that makes for an interesting and hilarious read. From hipsters and instagram fame to commercialism and globalisation; trends in food, dating and social media make an appearance too. These fairytales examine the modern definitions of equality and social constructs, while still keeping elements of magic, and indeed talking animals. It highlights just how many aspects of the traditional stories are politically incorrect in today's climate, while making adjustments to modern sensibilities that are purposely over-exaggerated that show how little some things have really changed despite advances in industry, culture, health, education and technology. A bit of a change to each story demonstrates an undercurrent of numerous issues that have parallels in our world such as immigration, racism, climate change, vaccinations, austerity, political discourse, Brexit and cyber bullying. A fun take on social commentary that is reminiscent of another favourite fairytale retelling of mine - The ASBO Fairy Tales- only taking it to more comical extremes with the use of current topical trends and stereotypes.

[Emi · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, it took me until reading the last story to realise why I didn't enjoy this book that much.

It was quite repetitive, almost quite literally; it contained characters doing the same thing over and over with only surface level differences that didn't contribute much to the narrative. Only one example should be needed to establish their habits.

It constantly broke "show, don't tell," spoon-feeding explanations that sometimes put the story on hold for pages. I didn't realise this at first, it wasn't until it happened again in the last story that I realised this is what was happening and skimmed past it, but the first time it happened it was the beginning of me losing interest and any enjoyment in reading this. Us readers aren't stupid, and won't need things to constantly be explicitly explained like this. And if it adds nothing to the narrative and the 'twist' (usually a parallel to our real world issues), then it needn't be there at all.

The only thing I particularly like is the spin on these traditional stories. Sometimes I didn't expect the ending to be what it is, and sometimes found that it was pretty clever (sometimes it made me roll my eyes), and worked pretty well as a modern day fable. Overall, in my opinion, it's a shame the writing style let it down.

[Paola Fajardo Makarchuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

As per the title, this is a collection of Fairy Tales reimagined with a “Millenial twist”. This is was an entertaining read for me, with some actual Laugh Out Loud moments (e.g. “Piggification of the City”, Seven “Dwarfs” with a Podcast, Sleeping Beauty being “Woke”, Little Red is literally “Riding”) I’m just not sure if all of these “Millenial” references are meant to purely entertain, or is Vincent is ridiculing these modern concepts. Either way, it’s fine. I find some of these concepts ridiculous too, despite being from this generation. My favourite bit is Cinderella. I love me a Modern Princess who does not rely on her family ties to support her needs, or a Prince Charming to take her out of her misery. I wonder if Vincent took inspiration for this version of Cinderella from a real-life royalty in the West.

PS: If Vincent writes a Bible for Millenials, I’d probably be one of the firsts to get a copy of it.

This review along with my personal anecdotes about being an asian millennial, eternal introvert in an extrovert’s job can be found here: http://www.halfreformed.wordpress.com

[Ex Libris Meis]

I am a girl who grew up reading fairy tales, and I believe in them. The specialists could even say that I was influenced by them.
Bruno Vincent decided to translate the classical fairy tales for the Millenials, and thus he wrote “Fairy Tales for Millenials.”
As an example, I chose the Cinderella story.
In this new version, the stepmother is named Queen after the death of her husband, the rightful King. As a Queen, she decides to start a company where she gives the titles of CEO and CFO to her own daughters (nepotism!!!). At the same time, Cinderella becomes “unpaid intern at the firm”.
“She was expected to work sixteen-hour days cleaning the office, managing the stockroom, and signing for and unloading deliveries.”
http://www.exlibrismeis.com/en/2020/0...

[Chaahat Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the classics that you would have read while growling up like Snow white, Cinderella, Princess and the frog, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the beanstalk, Hansel and Gratel, this book has all of them and so many more stories but with a modern spinoff and such savage morals that you will love it.

Through these classics author has promoted gender equality , women empowerment, veganism , capitalistic economy , bitcoin , power of social media and so many more things.

[Carli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading fairy tales, my thesis also focuses on retellings. This book was a breath of fresh air for these well-known tales - it definitely addresses the problematic aspects of the fairy tales for modern readers. The stories included modern references and incorporated modern culture into the Fairyland stories. I laughed so much reading it! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales and reimaginings of the classic tales.

[T.L. Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was actually a Christmas present from my mother-in-law, bless her.

I'll start by saying this book made me actually lol 😂
I'm not a Millenial btw, I'm a Gen X (often forgotten about - middle child syndrome!)

Anyway...
This book takes some of the most infamous fairy tales and gives them a modern twist.
Gone are outdated viewpoints!
They have forms of social media and even Ogre Eats in Fairyland now, you know 👍

Look, different people are going to find different stories here funnier than others. It's all personal taste.

Cinderella may have been my fave, but she always has been.
Only now, she gets full on independent princess status, lol.

Sleeping Beauty is totally woke!
Booyakasha (or whatever the young people say now!?).

Kudos on the non-evil stepmother btw 😉

I feel sorry for the poor wolves - there's clearly still more work to be done on wolf/human relations. Haha!

I read the original Grimm's tales btw - they were terribly gruesome.
These are far more light-hearted.
Give this book a go for a giggle.

[Katheryn Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

These retellings are witty and original, as they address the many problematic features of fairy tales, and more generally update the stories for the modern world. I laughed out loud at several points. I'd especially recommend this book for anyone who is tired of reading about wicked stepmothers and damsels in distress.

[Romi (likes books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got to come back and do a mini review of each story, but I read this... a few months ago now and my memory isn't quite up to remembering my thoughts. I loved Cinderella, didn't enjoy The Three Billy Goats Gruff, thought The Ugly Duckling was inspired and would like to spend more time in these worlds.

[Nisha Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

These 12 fairytales were really good. I think the ugly duckling was one of my favourites but they were all quite clever. I loved how he took the essence of the fairy tale and turned it into something new and relevant for our day and age.

[Deb Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty funny and I liked the way that characters appeared in others’ stories. All twelve stories are well-known fairytales. I suspect it will become dated relatively quickly, but fun for now.

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another very funny book by Vincent! I loved his Five series so I thought I would pick this up, and I’m glad I did because it was brilliant, and I thought it very ironically relatable. It’s about time someone shook those outdated stories up a bit!

[William Gowling]

So I must have read this sometime around Christmas? Maybe? It’s very short so I don’t remember that much about it, but I remember finding it quite funny. Would LOVE to know why I forgot to post this on Goodreads though?

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

While some stories were definitely funnier and better written than others, I overall quite enjoyed this book. It's not one I'd recommend you read in one sitting as it can get a bit tedious. This is just one of those books that you take on the train or bus and read a chapter or two at a time.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this. Enjoyed the writing style and the wit.

[Anne-Wil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun read. It is an hilarious take on the original fairy tales and you can really see the current times in them. Would recommend!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very self-conscious, and, by the end, self-referential. But quite fun!

[Nishtha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious take on traditional fairytales!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant! Loved the retelling of the three little pigs.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilariante não é bem o termo. Esperava mais. Algumas histórias estão bem conseguidas, outras nem tanto. Talvez seja por não haver em mim um millennial...

[Anneke W · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I'm not "millennial" enough, or I wasn't in the right mood to find this witty.