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If you know your fairy tales, then you've probably already read some of the inspirations for this story, most notably Perrault's "Donkeyskin." But McKinley does something really different, brave, and (to my mind) far more interesting here with this story, giving her characters far more believable reactions, motives, and resolutions.
It's a great book, although it's much darker and more melancholy than many of McKinley's other works. It is also NOT for young children, although I do think it is per ...more
It's a great book, although it's much darker and more melancholy than many of McKinley's other works. It is also NOT for young children, although I do think it is per ...more
I have been thinking of reading this book for a long time, but haven't picked it up earlier because of the nature of the fairy tale Donkey Skin on which it is based. Ms. McKinley conveys the horror of the incident without offending her readers with a graphic description of the initial horrible event. After that it is a retelling of the madness and healing of our heroine and eventual punishment of the evil-doer. Well written.
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I needed a break from Naipaul and Trollope and picked this up on a whim. Many thanks to Elizabeth, who initially recommended it; I am enthralled. Today I found myself talking back to the canine characters as I read.
That may say something about me, but also about the skill of the author, this is surprisingly good fiction.
McKinley stays true to the folk-tale spirit (I remember this as Donkeyskin), but is subversive about her princes (rather than just charming, they're ineffectual or horrifying o ...more
That may say something about me, but also about the skill of the author, this is surprisingly good fiction.
McKinley stays true to the folk-tale spirit (I remember this as Donkeyskin), but is subversive about her princes (rather than just charming, they're ineffectual or horrifying o ...more
Jan 03, 2011
Katie Lawrence
marked it as to-read
Jan 25, 2011
Shellie (Layers of Thought)
marked it as to-read
Shelves:
spec-fic-fant-fairytales-fable-myth
Jul 31, 2011
Sarai
marked it as wish-list
Nov 07, 2011
Mortalform
marked it as to-read
Nov 11, 2011
Mindy
marked it as to-read
Nov 14, 2011
Trinity
marked it as to-read
Dec 08, 2011
Kristi
marked it as to-read
Jan 25, 2012
Ali
marked it as to-read
Dec 25, 2012
Angela Randall
marked it as to-read
Aug 28, 2013
Eric Orchard
marked it as to-read
Aug 29, 2013
Kelsey
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2017
Jeephpy
marked it as to-read
Feb 15, 2018
Katie J Schwartz
marked it as to-read
