Play Book Tag discussion
June 2019: Retellings
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Announcing the June Tag
I have several Shakespeare retellings, but trim #30 is Vinegar Girl so I will be reading that. Also from Hogarth Shakespeare (that I have) are:
New Boy
Hag-Seed: The Tempest Retold
Macbeth (already read)
Not Hogarth, but Shakespeare retelling also on my to-read is We That Are Young
Excuse my language, but SHIT. If creepy had won, the tag and my Trim number would FINALLY have matched!
Not that I don't mind retelling, it's just that creepy had more on my trim list, which is how I'm voting this year!
OK Idit and others, I really need help! I want a smart retelling, not a fluffy romantic fantasy written for teens. Though I wouldn't mind light and fluffy if it's also very adult (as in steamy).
Perhaps Mythology, a classic book, or a lesser known fairytale. Mermaids? I'd love to know more about the mythology of Cupid and Psyche.
Any romance writer can claim the book is based on Pride and Prejudice, and I don't want a pale substitute.
I loved Circe and Songs of Achilles, but I don't want to read the Pat Baker book so soon after Achilles.
Does anyone recommend Once Upon a River as a retelling? I might give The Bear and the Nightingale another try.
I also have a Sherlock Holmes retelling that looks good.
Nancy, I am going to read Helen of Troy! Fits retelling AND Greece for Horizons! It is a bit of a beast at over 600 pages but it has been on my TBR for some time.Interested in that?
Okay, I have several books on my TBR that are possibilities, but I think I am going to go with:Helen of Troy
It also fits Greece and it is a nice long audiobook and I will have LOTS of time in a car commuting next month.
If I get through that, then my next options are:
The Princess and the Fangirl
Cinder (is this FINALLY the month?!? lol)
Meli wrote: "I have several Shakespeare retellings, but trim #30 is Vinegar Girl so I will be reading that. Also from Hogarth Shakespeare (that I have) are:
New Boy
[book:Hag-..."
Woohoo for the aligning of Trim and the monthly tag! Any chance you can tie it to Greece?!?
I really liked Hag-Seed, but my IRL book club was split on it. I think one of the aspects that really enhanced it for me was that I first listened to The Tempest on audio. There is a great theatrical performance that includes Ian McKellan and it is only like 4 hours long (if it was even that long).
NancyJ wrote: "OK Idit and others, I really need help! I want a smart retelling, not a fluffy romantic fantasy written for teens. Though I wouldn't mind light and fluffy if it's also very adult (as in steamy).
..."
I have a few you might look into
The Once and Future King-Arthurian
Daughter of the Forest-Irish Fairy tale
Deathless - high my list for this Russian Fairytale
Naamah-retelling of Noah's Ark by his wife-also high on my list
Unmarriageable-Pakistain retelling of Pride and Prejudice
Jenny wrote: "No idea if any of these are fluffy but here's my list: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list..."I see you have Death Comes to Pemberley on your list--I always love a good P&P retelling!
Along those lines, I enjoyed Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld. It was super fluffy and very contemporary romance/chick lit, but I thought it was entertaining if you like that genre.
Joanne wrote: "The Once and Future King-Arthurian."I love The Once and Future King and have been thinking about rereading it. I could reread a retelling for the month of June!
Hmmm....
This is actually a dtb that I've had on my tbr forever, The Third Witch by Rebecca Reisert. It is a retelling of Macbeth.
Nicole R wrote: "Joanne wrote: "The Once and Future King-Arthurian."I love The Once and Future King and have been thinking about rereading it. I could reread a retelling for the month of June!
Hmmm...." Good too know! I trust your opinion
I will publish a list of options that I’m looking at a soon as I get to my computer. Oh God I’m excited! I know this is a tough one for some of you, but if I can be helpful I’m happy to. You can go in lotta ways with this. Greek mythology, old midrash characters from the past. Even historical fiction with old Royal courts is on the list. As well as fairytales, old myths. Shakespeare. I actually think this month is going to be super fun, even for the ones who didn’t expect to like it.
NancyJ wrote: "OK Idit and others, I really need help! I want a smart retelling, not a fluffy romantic fantasy written for teens. Though I wouldn't mind light and fluffy if it's also very adult (as in steamy).
..."
Amy wrote: "I will publish a list of options that I’m looking at a soon as I get to my computer. Oh God I’m excited! I know this is a tough one for some of you, but if I can be helpful I’m happy to. You can go..."
Speaking of Greek mythology, my son and I listened to House of Names, a retelling of Orestes & Electra--the audiobook is well done, indeed. Don't be fooled my my 3 stars, I hate tragedies and found a few things in here I didn't care for, but it was well written.
I have not one of these books marked want to read, and I think I even voted for this! I know for sure I didn't vote for creepy. I will have to figure this out soon.
Nicole R wrote: "Nancy, I am going to read Helen of Troy! Fits retelling AND Greece for Horizons! It is a bit of a beast at over 600 pages but it has been on my TBR for some time.Interested in that?"
Yes I might be. There are a few books about her. It was annoying when reading about the Trojan war that we never got to hear her point of view, or know what actually happened to her. Let's just hope there is more to her than beauty.
I'm reading Jane Eyre right now for my May Trim book. Does anyone know if there are any good Jane Eyre Re-tellings?And I received A Court of Thorns and Roses for Christmas. I might read that (but I need another series like a whole in the head LOL).
Karin wrote: "Amy wrote: "I will publish a list of options that I’m looking at a soon as I get to my computer. Oh God I’m excited! I know this is a tough one for some of you, but if I can be helpful I’m happy to..."re House of Names...
I read about Agememnon (sp?) in Songs of Achilles. He definitely wouldn't be welcome in my house! I can just imagine how it ends.
I recently read 'And the Ocean was our Sky' by Patrick Ness (sorry can't link, on phone). It's a retelling of Moby Dick from the whale's perspective.
NancyJ wrote: "Karin wrote: "Amy wrote: "I will publish a list of options that I’m looking at a soon as I get to my computer. Oh God I’m excited! I know this is a tough one for some of you, but if I can be helpfu..."Actually, he isn't even the worst villain in this retelling! The three POVs are Clytemnestra, Electra and Orestes. The biggest "monster" doesn't have his own voice. Interestingly, one of the the victims, Orestes, is told in third person, and the two women are told in first person. Agamemnon's actions set most of this in motion, but he is not a main character.
Doughgirl5562 wrote: "I'm reading Jane Eyre right now for my May Trim book. Does anyone know if there are any good Jane Eyre Re-tellings?.."
Wide Sargasso Sea is about Rochester's first wife. It sounds really interesting to me, and I've heard people rave about it, but the average rating isn't very high. I just noticed that there are a lot of study guides for it, so it was considered important enough to be taught in classes. It's short enough to take a chance on it I think.
Sigh, I was so not in the mood for 'retelling'! Oh well, I have plenty on my TBR for this - and at least one of them is slotted for either a Pop Sugar challenge prompt I still need to fill or an Around the Year challenge prompt. My TBR offers:
Juliet by Anne Fortier - I need a Shakespeare retelling and already own this one.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - because I loved Circe last fall - but don't want to read it so soon after.
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood - one of my suspended holds with NYPL ebooks.
Hmmmm - I also have 2 different translations of Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita and need to read at least one of before July 1. Given that the translations available vary so widely and wildly -- including ones from during censorship and post-censorship -- I could consider each translation a 'retelling'.
I also have at least 2 different translations each of Iliad, Odyssey, and Beowulf. Probably more. Another option.
Doughgirl5562 wrote: "I'm reading Jane Eyre right now for my May Trim book. Does anyone know if there are any good Jane Eyre Re-tellings?."I read Jane Steele not long ago and it was enjoyable!
Johanne wrote: "I recently read 'And the Ocean was our Sky' by Patrick Ness (sorry can't link, on phone). It's a retelling of Moby Dick from the whale's perspective."Darn it! This looks good too!
Here's my list - I don't know which one I'll yet pick.Retelling:
Hag Seed
(Persuasion - a book on my TBR retelling this)
Wicked
Sea Witch
Flame in the Midst
My Lady Jane
The Star Touched Queen
Bitter Greens
The Book of Lost Things
Home Fire
The Mermaid’s Daughter
The Winter of the Witch
Sisters of the Winter Wood
By the Book
Alex and Eliza
For the Most Beautiful
Well, I should have checked TrimTBR selection before posting earlier -- my #30 is The Song of Achilles. And since Horizons for June is Greece - I've got a triple header in one book! Guess I'm going to be in the mood to read it in June after all. Clearly some force is determined for that to be my selection.
BTW, another option for retellings are Mary Renault's books.
I am going to read (at least) For The Most Beautiful, (Golden Apple Trilogy #1), as it is both a Greek Mythology re-telling, and it satisfies Greece. Its going to be a 2 for 1 for Horizons, and I will pick another re-telling as well.
Here are some retelling recommendations:Geekerella (fun, young adult contemporary romance)
For Darkness Shows the Stars (science fiction retelling of Austen's Persuasion)
The Penelopiad
Jane Austen in Scarsdale (contemporary romance retelling of Austen's Persuasion)
Bone Swans (a collection of 5 novellas/short stories that feature fairy tale retellings)
Bound (YA Cinderella retelling set in ancient China)
Briar Rose (fairy tale retelling set in World War II)
Fire and Hemlock (Tam Lim)
The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur (Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur retelling)
Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams (celtic mythology)
Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles
Here are some on my TBR that I may try:
The Star-Touched Queen (Hindu mythology)
Where Three Roads Meet: The Myth of Oedipus (Oedipus retelling)
Medea (Greek Myth)
Across a Star-Swept Sea (Scarlet Pimpernel)
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast)
Hag-Seed (The Tempest)
Eligible (Pride and Prejudice)
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wizard of Oz)
Pride (Pride and Prejudice)
The Queens of Innis Lear (King Lear)
The Mere Wife (Beowulf retelling)
The Gospel of Loki
A Song for Ella Grey (Orpheus and Eurydice)
I think I threw my points to creepy, but I was pleased to see this win too.My recs:
The Starlit Wood: New Fairy Tales is a phenomenal collection of short stories interpreting various fairytales, including a who's-who of spec fic contributors list.
Warm Bodies is basically Romeo and Juliet, if Romeo was a zombie and Juliet a living girl. The book is utterly charming, and so is the movie they made of it a few-ish years ago.
Ash is a stunning YA Cinderella retelling.
Cinder and the rest of the series by Marissa Meyer is a delight, but it's definitely YA, so it might not be everyone's jam.
Every Heart a Doorway and its companion novellas by Seanan McGuire get tagged as retellings because they play with a lot of fairy tale tropes, and they're stunning writing.
In addition to For the Most Beautiful, I am also going to read Bitter Greens. Sounds like fun. Also Home Fire is on this retelling list, but I don't quite know why. I might read that too....
Theresa wrote: "Well, I should have checked TrimTBR selection before posting earlier -- my #30 is The Song of Achilles. And since Horizons for June is Greece - I've got a triple header in one book!..."Yes, the gods are sending you a message! And if you don't listen, they'll strand you on an island with no books.
Cora - You have so many great options!I've been meaning to read Persuasion for a long time. If I can fit it in this week (for the beautiful tag) I might fit in a retelling of it next month.
For Darkness Shows the Stars (science fiction retelling of Austen's Persuasion) sounds a lot more challenging than the one in Scarsdale (which is near where I grew up).
: Found this awesome link of YA Retellings There's a (very small) infograph that you can enlargen- breaks the retellings down to fairy tales, classics, Shakespeare, and mythology.
Down farther on the link it breaks it down with more about the book titles and info.
Cora wrote: "Here are some retelling recommendations:Geekerella (fun, young adult contemporary romance)
For Darkness Shows the Stars (science fiction retelling of Austen's [book..."
Cool lists, thanks for sharing them both! Medea sounds tempting
I found a few more that I forgot earlier:My Jim (It is the perspective of Jim's wife (Huck Finn))
Fool (King Lear)
Fuzzy Nation (retelling of Little Fuzzy)
Till We Have Faces (Cupid and Psyche by CS Lewis)
The Ballad of Black Tom (retelling of Lovecraft's The Horror at Red Hook, it is a novella)
Nicole R wrote: "Meli wrote: "I have several Shakespeare retellings, but trim #30 is Vinegar Girl so I will be reading that. Also from Hogarth Shakespeare (that I have) are:
[book:New Boy|3170625..."
Yay on Cinder!!!
Two other suggestions if you would like a biblical retelling: The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Amy wrote: "In addition to For the Most Beautiful, I am also going to read Bitter Greens. Sounds like fun. Also Home Fire is on this retelling list, but I don't quite know why. I might read that too...."Amy, who is the author of Home Fires (there are a few similar titles)?
Things I read- The Penelopiad (odyssey, greece)
- The Hours - partly a retelling of Mrs. Dalloway
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead a good play - taking two side characters from Hamlet. The movie is really cool as well
- for those on a comics binge... there's Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile. Not sure if it can count as a retelling - it mashes up all the characters from the different tales. but it's good fun.
- the Narnia books
-The Gospel According to Jesus Christ - Saramago is a really good author
-If you want anything from steamy to downright pornographic (and worse) - go fanfiction. it literally has it all. from really good to horribly horrible. A friend of mine told me in her youth she wrote star trek fiction. (I tried to get her to reveal pen name but it remained secret). But any popular book will have hordes of them. and if you sift through you can find some gems (... fear not, there are PG13 ones too).
-The Golden Fleece by Robert Graves (Jason and the argonauts - greece)
What I might read
- Grendel - taking Beowulf and telling form the monster's point of view
- Wide Sargasso Sea - waiting on my shelf. Have been meaning to read it all last year (About the madwoman in the attic in Jane Eyre)
- The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories - another one that has been waiting its turn since last year. I adore Angela Carter and really want to read this one (fairy-tales I assume with feminist take)
- Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles because I want to read something by Jeanette Winterson
- Ransom - sounds interesting and greek, and David Malouf - whom I really want to read
-Girl Meets Boy... Ali Smith, another author I have been meaning to read (based on part of Metamorphoses of Ovid)
others ...
- The Golden House by Salman Rushdie (I think paralel to ancient rome(?))
- The Red Tent (bible, Jacob's daughter)
- East of Eden (bible)
Nicole R wrote: "Joanne wrote: "The Once and Future King-Arthurian."I love The Once and Future King and have been thinking about rereading it. I could reread a retelling for the month of June!
Hmmm...."
Oh I was thinking that was an original, duh. I was thinking of putting the series on my TRIM list. I'd like to at least read the first book to see if I like it.
Not my first choice... but not to worry.This tag seemed to be used mostly for fairytale retellings, and YA retellings at that. They don't interest me too much. But, there are other ways to apply the label. I can recommend a few of those.
The Snow Child - based on a fairytale, but more like adult magical realism
Longbourn - Pride and Prejudice from the servant perspective
Biblical retellings:
The Red Tent
The Testament of Mary
The Secret Chord
King Arthur retelling:
The Mists of Avalon
The Once and Future King
The Crystal Cave (actually not a favorite, but I can't remember why)
The opposite of the Hogarth Shakespeare retellings:
William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope
And these are middle grade or young adult retellings that I really liked:
Briar Rose - not really a retelling of the story as it is making use of the story as a metaphor. It's also a holocaust story.
The Sleeper and the Spindle - wonderful illustrations, not for young children, great for middle school
Idit wrote: "Things I read- The Penelopiad
- The Hours - partly a retelling of Mrs. Dalloway
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead a good play - taking two..."
Wow, you came through with some really smart options. I'm so glad retellings won!
I ordered Wide Sargasso Sea from downtown. The library doesn't have many copies surprisingly. They have call numbers which is odd for fiction. I hope they're not just critiques or summaries
I plan to read a CS Lewis book called Till We Have Faces about Cupid and Psyche.
I also plan to read a king Aurthur story, at least Sword in the stone if not the whole set (The Once and Future KIng).
I've wanted to read East of Eden for a long time, but I keep putting it off for some reason. The movie was a hit at a family movie night years ago, but I know I missed a lot.
I liked Penelope in Circe, so that's a possibility.
I have another Jeanette Winterson book on my shelf about Napolean. It's due back soon, but it might work.
I know absolutely nothing about Beowulf. I wonder if I should read the original first.
I'm also planning to read Once Upon a River (I liked the first chapter), and maybe Bear and the Nightingale (I had a mixed reaction to the sample).
Jgrace wrote: "Not my first choice... but not to worry.This tag seemed to be used mostly for fairytale retellings, and YA retellings at that. They don't interest me too much. But, there are other ways to apply ..."
I love your list. and also love how organized it is.
Makes total sense to group by original (unlike my chaotic message lol)
I have Mists of Avalon both as an audio and print.
People have been banning her - I wasn't sure why, and never researched. That might be the reason why subconsciously I've been putting it off. or the 50-something hours of a audio book. I really do want to (one day) know more about the Arthurian legends
NancyJ wrote: "Idit wrote: "Things I read- The Penelopiad
- The Hours - partly a retelling of Mrs. Dalloway
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead a good play..."
I recommend Seamus Heaney's version (retelling ;)) of Beowulf. It's surprisingly readable and worth knowing
Idit wrote: " recommend Seamus Heaney's version (retelling ;)) of Beowulf. It's surprisingly readable and worth knowing ."And if you can get Seamus' audiobook of it...marvelous. And I don't even reallyy like audiobooks!
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
The Song of Achilles (other topics)The King Must Die (other topics)
The Penelopiad (other topics)
Wide Sargasso Sea (other topics)
The Silence of the Girls (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Georgette Heyer (other topics)Josephine Tey (other topics)
Lucinda Riley (other topics)
Jenni James (other topics)
Eloisa James (other topics)
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retellings!
Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.
Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as retelling on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.
One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Let us know what you plan to read. Make recommendations to others. Share good lists you find. Let the discussion begin!