Waking: A Fairy Tale - discussion

[Odette]

Our April 2013 book is
Waking: A Fairy Tale by Alyxandra Harvey-Fitzhenry

Who's reading?

I couldn't find any reviews, but here's an excerpt on googlebooks

Here's an article on Sleeping Beauty from the Endicott website.

[David]

I finished this last week but it didn't leave much of an impression.

[Kim]

I am! I almost forgot about this. So glad you sent a message. Just downloaded the book.

[Melanti]

This is one where all my normal book sources are coming up empty. I think I'm going to have to resort to paying real money for it!

(I feel proud... I've read the vast majority of the books in the Endicott article.)

[Brittany]

I really like this book and am excited to see what you guys think of it!

[Jalilah]

I am so happy! My library has it.

[Shveta]

I've read it before, but I'll happily follow along with you.

[Jalilah]

Melanti wrote: "This is one where all my normal book sources are coming up empty. I think I'm going to have to resort to paying real money for it!

(I feel proud... I've read the vast majority of the books in th..."

Which article Melanti? Do you mean the Mythic Fiction list? If there is a different article would it be possible to post it?
Thanks in advance!

[Melanti]

The article Odette linked to which talks about several different Sleeping Beauty retellings.

[Odette]

I'm sorry to say my library doesn't even have this as a read-in-library-only copy (although they do have several of the author's newer books).

I'll be interested to hear what the rest of you think of it.

[Odette]

Melanti, that's impressive!
I've read most of the Datlow-Windling fairy tale series (the short stories section), and Briar Rose by Jane Yolen, but none of the others. I'm really interested in reading "From the Beast to the Blond."

I just tested the links for the "on the web" stories at the end of the article and unfortunately only the first one works. (The second one leads to an interesting website called "folktexts," but not to the Briar Rose story listed.)

What do you all think of the Sleeping Beauty story in general? Good basis for a modern novel - or an overused plot?
Do you have any favorite stories or novels based on Sleeping Beauty?

[Jalilah]

Melanti wrote: "The article Odette linked to which talks about several different Sleeping Beauty retellings."

Oh yes! I somehow missed the link. I have not read any of them. I'll start with Waking.
Odette, I don't think any tales can be over used if it is done in an artistic and creative way.

[Melanti]

Google to the rescue.
Here's a link to a pic of the Staircase of Thorns: link
Here's some pics of the Caz Love piece: link
Coover's Briar Rose novella -link

Of the novels listed, I liked Jane Yolen's version best.

Robert Coover's version didn't greatly impress me while I was reading it, but it's lingered in my head for years.

My absolute favorite version, though, is Catherynne Valente's Silently and Very Fast which you can read here: link

But I adore Valente's work in general, and she's somewhat of an acquired taste.

[Melanti]

As far as Sleeping Beauty in general - I think it's one that needs to have a lot of liberties taken to make a palatable, understandable book.

Otherwise, depending on what version the author is using for their "base" story, you have Prince Charming carrying off Sleeping Beauty while she's asleep (?!), or impregnating her (ew!), marrying her as soon as she awakens, etc. All of which are rather disturbing.

[Jalilah]

Melanti wrote: "As far as Sleeping Beauty in general - I think it's one that needs to have a lot of liberties taken to make a palatable, understandable book.

Otherwise, depending on what version the author is u..."

Yes I agree! the original Italian version would be rather creepy' not to mention not very PC if told as it is as a novel.

However talking of taking liberties in the story, the Italian director Roberto Benigni did just that with his film version of Sleeping Beauty The Tiger and The Snow: http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/...

I found the film to be deeply moving.

[Melanti]

I FINALLY was able to drop by the post office and pick up my copy of this book this morning.

It's a very quick read - I was done (with time to spare to chat here) before I had to log into work.

I liked it a lot, though IMO it's more "influenced by" or "incorporating themes from" Sleeping Beauty rather than being an actual retelling.

It actually talks almost as much about the pre-Raphaelites and Lizzie Siddal as it does the fairy tale, so those of you who liked the biography of her from last year or Hand's Mortal Love will probably see a lot of familiar names, poems and paintings referenced.

[Odette]

Melanti, that definitely increases my interest. Ever since reading Mortal Love, any reference to the Pre-Raphaelites gets my attention. How do sleeping beauty and that artistic group overlap in the novel?
Thanks for all the additional links.

Jalilah, the trailer for the film looks good. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Kim]

I finally had time to read the book this morning, and I really enjoyed it. I agree that it was more influenced by Sleeping Beauty than it was a retelling. I enjoy that sort of modern fairy tale the most, so I liked that. I loved all of the pre-Raphaelite references, too. I do wish there had been a longer, more thorough wrap-up, though. The ending was really abrupt.

[Melanti]

Odette - I knew the Pre-Raphaelites would interest you! The "Sleeping Beauty" came into play mostly as imagery and a little symbolism.

For the pre-Raphaelites, it comes into play several ways... Luna lives in an artist's commune of sorts, and her mother is a fan of the style. Beauty is a painter. They have a school project where they're researching the pre-Raphaelites.

Where they merge together is a bit spoilerish, so ... (view spoiler)[Beauty is trying to paint a picture of her dead (suicide, drowned) mother as she looked in the bathtub. She's having great difficulty, until at the end of the novella, she realizes that the painting would work if she did it in the pre-Raphaelite style, perhaps like Millais's Ophilia or some of the paintings of Lady of Shalott. (hide spoiler)]

[Jalilah]

In spite of the fact that it is clearly written for teens, I rather enjoyed this novel. The combination of pre-Rafaelite movement and the Sleeping Beauty influence worked for me. I would definitely be open to reading other novels by this author. It looks like Waking is one of her earlier books and she has written many more since under the name Alyxandra Harvey

[Jim]

Odette wrote: "Melanti, that's impressive!
I've read most of the Datlow-Windling fairy tale series (the short stories section), and Briar Rose by Jane Yolen, but none of the others. I'm really interested in readi..."
Just wanted to chime in that From the Beast to the Blonde is amazing. As for as Sleeping Beauty-inspired novels, Briar Rose by Robert Coover is pretty out there but interesting...Jan Yolen's Briar Rose is more conventional but very good.