Task 15: A Book That Is a Re-Telling of A Classic Story

[Sophie]

I also read Boy, Snow, Bird. Helen Oyeyemi's writing reminds me of that of Toni Morrison.

[Samantha]

i just finished Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. I expected a more straight forward retelling of The Wizard of Oz, but Dorothy didn't show up until the last 100 pages, and was really more of a background character. I definitely see the Wicked Witch in a very different light. The book is full of political intrigue and social injustice!I enjoyed the book and I will find a way to see the musical!

[Danielle]

Samantha,

Wicked is such an interesting book, but the musical is soooo much better!

[Karena]

Kerry wrote: "Karena, have you seen Re Jane: A Novel? Out next month."

I did! I have that one on my list to go buy.

[Karena]

Tatiana wrote: "There are two books worth checking out if you are looking for non white, non American(or non European authors): A True Novel by Minae Mizumura, a retelling of Wuthering Heights set ..."

Thanks so much! I'll look these up for sure!

[Martha]

Karena wrote: "Tatiana wrote: "There are two books worth checking out if you are looking for non white, non American(or non European authors): A True Novel by Minae Mizumura, a retelling of Wuther..."

A True Novel would fit the translation category, too.

[Hockeygirl27]

Katie wrote: "I'm working on "Darcy's Tale" by Stanley Michael Hurd. It's a three volume series that depicts Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy's point of view."


DO WANT. ALWAYS.

[Victoria]

I'm considering Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West because I've always wanted to see the broadway show.

For a contemporary, lighter read, I'm also looking at something by Elle Lothlorien Alice in Wonderland.

[Audra]

Wicked the musical is one of my all-time favorite Broadway shows so I knew I must read this book. I hated the book. It was a slog for me and nothing like the musical.

[Sophia]

Cinder by Marissa Meyer was my choice for this task. It's been on my to read list since it came out but I was reluctant to start it. I ended up really getting into the story--very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Mary Sue]

Just finished Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. I didn't like this book very much :-(

[Jennifer]

For this challenge, I chose The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor. It is a retelling of Alice in Wonderland. It is okay, I guess. Nothing to write home about. But, hey! One more task checked off my list.

[Diane]

I've decided to read "Cinder" for this challenge, but I'm also interested in reading "Boy, Snow, Bird."

[Heidi]

Just completed to satisfy this task. This is a masterful retelling of several classic fairy tales woven into a new story. I recommend it to anyone looking for a book to complete this task. Engaging read that compels you forward.

[Jayne]

This sounds great, Heidi. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Monica]

I'm thinking about getting either Rhett Butler's People or The Wind Done Gone, but since I got Mr. Fox in a Book Riot Quarterly box and already have The Historian on my shelves I may pick one of those, just because it's easy.

[Ruchika]

I read Never Let You Go: A Modern Fairytale for this task and I wasn't expecting to like the book as much as I did. I thought it would be like most adult fiction that is usually published but it was incredibly well etched out and entertaining.

I recommend it for anyone who is looking for a nice, page turner with a wee bit of angst :)

[Tessa]

I am thoroughly enjoying Uprooted by Naomi Novik right now. I had thought I would count it for this task but it looks like it isn't a retelling of a specific folk story. I'm thinking it thus does not count. Thoughts? (Regardless, the book is great and I will keep going.)

[Katie]

I just came across this list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

It's a list of modern YA retellings of classics and such.

I notices that The Princess Bride is on there....thoughts? Would that count? I read it last month, just because I wanted to, but now I'm wondering if I can count it here?

[S.]

I'm going with Prince of Shadows: A Novel of Romeo and Juliet by Rachel Caine. It's been on my wish list forever.

[Book Riot]

Katie wrote: "I just came across this list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

It's a list of modern YA retellings of classics and such.

I notices that The Princess Bride is on ther..."

Interesting -- it's not really a "retelling" in its own right, since it's just framed that way in the story (it's meant to FEEL like a retelling, even though it's wholly original). Maybe you can count it for a different task?

[Megan]

I read The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood - it retells The Odyssey from Penelope and the Maids perspectives. It was excellent. I definitely recommend.

This would also count for the written over 65 challenge

[Mark]

I'm still struggling a lot with finding something to read for this challenge.

I might pick out one of the books from 'The Austen Project' for this... http://theaustenproject.com/

Northanger Abbey perhaps.

[Zach]

I read Railsea by China Mieville for this one. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Elizabeth]

After having just watched all seasons of Sons of Anarchy, which was inspired by Hamlet, I'm now reading Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, a novelization of Shakespeare's play by A.J. Hartley and David Hewson.

[Leah]

I didn't know Hartley did a retelling of Hamlet -- awesome. I loved Macbeth and I just can't wait to get this.

A lot of people already recommended A Thousand Acres. I will third, fourth, fifth, etc. them. I am currently reading it and it is excellent.

[Elizabeth]

I also loved Hartley's Macbeth! And A Thousand Acres is one of my all-time favorite novels!

[Paulette]

As a Jane Austen fan, I tried Emma: A Modern Retelling by Alexander McCall Smith. I enjoy most of his books, but I love the original Emma better

[Sha'ron]

Just finished reading Belzhar and it was surprisingly good. I guess all the reviews I read prior made me apprehensive. Although the ending was not as 'clean' as I would have liked it was a good retelling

[Judith]

I'm reading The True Story of Hansel and Gretel, a novel of ware and survival by Louis Murphy for this challenge. I'm about 1/3 through the book and am enjoying it very much.

[Judith]

I read "The True Story of Hansel and Gretel, a novel of war and survival" by Louise Murphy and would recommend this book to anyone looking for a book to fullfill this challenge category.

[Bonnie G.]

I am considering Bitter Greens for this challenge. It interweaves the Rapunzel story with the true story of a French novelist. Would this meet the challenge?

[Book Riot]

Bonnie wrote: "I am considering Bitter Greens for this challenge. It interweaves the Rapunzel story with the true story of a French novelist. Would this meet the challenge?"

Go for it!

[Kate]

Book Riot wrote: "Katie wrote: "I just came across this list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

It's a list of modern YA retellings of classics and such.

I notices that The Princess Br..."
Can we double dip? I do have some books that would count in 2 categories, I thought we needed a different one for each category.

[Book Riot]

Kate wrote: "Book Riot wrote: "Katie wrote: "I just came across this list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

It's a list of modern YA retellings of classics and such.

I notices th..."

The purpose of the challenge is to read widely, so don't double dip -- it's probable you can find another book on that list, though, to check off a different box!

[Kate]

Kate wrote: "Book Riot wrote: "Katie wrote: "I just came across this list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

It's a list of modern YA retellings of classics and such.

I notices th..."
OK, thanks! That's what I thought....but I haven't kept up with all the posts and thought someone knew differently- am reading harder...yes, I am.....loving it, too.

[CallMeSensei]

The Iron King

I went with The Iron King by Julie Kagawa which, I think, is an interesting YA twist on A Midsummer Night's Dream.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/635924400

[Miss Jones]

For this task I read Wide Saragasso Sea by Jean Rhys(might have spelled the name wrong). It's a retelling of the classic Jane Eyre. I thought the book was good. Not great but there was one part in the story that made me laugh out loud a little. I give it three stars.

[Judith]

I just listened to the audio CD's of "Two Plays for Voices" by Neil Gaiman. This is comprised of two short stories, the first "Snow Glass Apples" is a retelling of Snow White with a rather gruesome twist. The second story, "Murder Mysteries" is a retelling of the fall of Lucifer, also from a different perspective. Normally I like Gaiman's writing, but I had issues with these stories, especially the second one.

The first story wasn't bad, the evil queen, not so evil and snow white, not at all pure and oh the handsome prince, not at all what you thought.

I can't say I completely understood the second story. I was good with it until the end and then I thought to myself, did I miss something? I had really mixed messages as to what was actually going on. I'm either really obtuse or this story wasn't at all clear.

[Bonnie G.]

I just finished Bitter Greens for this challenge. It was fantastic! This is a book I would likely have never read without the challenge, and it turned me on to a new author. Thanks Book Riot.

[Amy]

Bonnie wrote: "I just finished Bitter Greens for this challenge. It was fantastic! This is a book I would likely have never read without the challenge, and it turned me on to a new author. Thanks ..."

Thanks Bonnie! I added Bitter Greens to my TBR based on this. love retellings!

[Bonnie G.]

Amy wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "I just finished Bitter Greens for this challenge. It was fantastic! This is a book I would likely have never read without the challenge, and it turned me on to a new ..."

I hope you like it as much as I did!

[Nancy]

I read Re Jane by Patricia Park, a retelling of Jane Eyre with a contemporary Korean-American woman as the main character.

[Betsy]

I finished Boy Snow Bird a few weeks ago - I highly recommend it. The language and characters kept it fascinating, and the ending completely surprised me.

[Trinity]

Still trying to get through Queen Mab: A Tale Entwined with William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. It's on Kindle Unlimited, but it's been hard to get into thus far.

[Paulette]

I just finished Neil Gaiman's retelling of Sleeping Beauty in his new book The Sleeper and the Spindle - the twist on the classic fairy tale was satisfying! The illustrations are wonderful as well.

[Stephanie]

For this challenge I read Alcestis. It's kind of a gloomy book and I don't know if a lot of people (or even most people) will like it. But if you've read greek myth and been bothered by how disposable women can be in it... it's a satisfying read on that level. At least for me.

[Karen]

I just finished The Canterbury Sisters, and really enjoyed it.
Che's eccentric mother's dying wish was to take her ashes to Canterbury. Che reluctantly joins a group called Broads Abroad as they are about to walk the sixty-mile hike from London to Canterbury. Along the way, they decide to tell tales like the original pilgrims did, except they tell stories from their own lives. It's a great chick lit sort of read that could be just the thing as we approach the finish line!

[Alicea]

The Lunar Chronicles by Melissa Meyer definitely fits the bill. I'm currently reading Winter.

[Jen]

For this one, I read The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh, which is a retelling of the story of Scheherazade in One Thousand and One Nights. I finished it back in September, on 09/15/2015. ★★★★

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...