Once upon a time, I was in college. While in school I took a class called Women, Work, and Family in Europe (I know, you are soooo jealous right now.) While I was in that class, I wrote the single GREATEST blue book essay that has ever been written. Seriously, it was brilliant. I compared two different versions of Little Red Riding Hood in the context of the time periods in which they were written. I recognized all the female stereotypes and postulated that Little Red Riding Hood was characterized as a witch by accidentally eating her grandma… I got an A+. I mean, an actual A+… I didn’t even know those existed, other than in my daydreams…
I dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween twice (once when I was in first grade which was ADORABLE, and once when I was a Freshman in college which was also adorable, and not slutty at all.) The other day I was checking out some of my fellow book bloggers, and I came across a post by Alison at the Cheap Reader. She had the GENIUS idea to run a little something she’s calling Project Fairy Tale. A bunch of book bloggers have chosen their respective tales (I won Lil Red, in case that wasn’t obvious) and are going to read the original tales (Grimm style) as well as some modern rehashes and fractured fairy tale type novels.
Hey there, Little Red Riding Hood…
How awesome, right?! Technically, we’re supposed to be using mostly young adult novels to do our comparisons, but I’m a rebel, and I only enjoy YA literature on occasion. I have every intention of mixing in a few more adult (NOT PORN) versions of the tale… If I can find them. Why oh why has Gregory Maguire not written a version of Little Red Riding Hood?! Sigh. I’m sure I’ll find other works.
Project Fairy Tale is going to go live in early 2013. I know, it sounds far away, but YOU aren’t the one reading a whole bunch of versions of the same fairy tale and rocking it out compare/contrast style, so cut us some slack. (Unless you’re an interested blogger, because I’m sure Alison would love more participants! Click here for the details!)
Anybody have book suggestions for me? I’m already planning on including the twisted versions from Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber, but otherwise I’m free as a bird. If anyone knows of anything, let me know!
This is quite good if you dig macabre takes on fairy tales… And really, most fairy tales are macabre to begin with…
roshni9179
good 🙂
Alison
You should read Cloaked in Red: http://thecheapreader.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/quick-thoughts-cloaked-in-red/
It’s a short story collection of 8 retellings of Little Red Riding Hood. It’s pretty awesome!
Words for Worms
Thanks for the suggestion! I’m really excited about this whole project. I feel my inner nerd squealing with glee!!!!!
Quirky Chrissy
Awesome! I want to play! Additionally… I WAS a Slutty Red one Halloween. In fact, I think I borrowed your cape. And then-boyfriend was The Big Bad Ass Wolf. O:-)
Words for Worms
Go visit thecheapreader@wordpress.com and see which tales are taken. This will be fun to do together! Yay for cinderblocks!
Lyssapants
sounds appealing. can’t wait to read it!
Words for Worms
I’m pretty excited about it too. I’m already thinking of puns and bad jokes!
Lyssapants
yesssss!
susanpen
This sounds like so much fun. Especially for an english major book nerd. Of course I am a new blogger, so am intimidated to ask for the story of The three billy goats gruff. I LOVEd that story as a child and can already think of 2 other versions.
Advice to a new blogger? I guess it never hurts to ask.
Words for Worms
Don’t be intimidated! You should TOTALLY play along! Head on over to the Cheap Reader and call dibs! I wish I could give you brilliant advice, but I have no idea what I’m doing. Just write stuff, bug your facebook friends, and get a twitter account :). I love reading other book blogs, I’ll follow you!