Truly Grim Tales (Laurel-Leaf Books) [Mass Market Paperback]

Priscilla Galloway (Author)

Book Description

Series: Laurel-Leaf Books | Publication Date: October 13, 1998

Based on the well-known fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, and Hans Christian Andersen, these retellings will intrigue and disturb readers. From a futuristic "Little Red Riding Hood" in which giant clams and carnivorous beasts stalk humans, to the real reason why the giant in "Jack and the Beanstalk" needs to eat human bones, to a version of "Snow White" told from the wicked stepmother's point of view, fans of fairy and folk tales will find much to interest them.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cinderella's princely suitor has a foot fetish; Rumpelstiltskin deliberately lets his name be known to the hapless miller's daughter, who-unknown to her-is really Rumpelstiltskin's daughter; Snow White's stepmother, who comes from an abusive home, worked at a slaughterhouse before winning a beauty contest. Galloway broodingly revisits eight classic fairy tales, prowling about their dark corners to lay in additional helpings of pain and loss. A few of her plots are overwrought and none of them produces the frisson of The Magic Circle, Donna Jo Napoli's masterly reworking of Hansel and Gretel. And yet their subversive promise to reveal the "real" story, and even their morbidly romantic motifs of self-sacrifice, intelligently cater to adolescent tastes. Nearly operatic in their conception and accomplished in their execution, these stories could also serve as a guide to young writers: their inventive, vigorous exploration of familiar territory easily stimulates the reader's own imagination. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up?Lovers of twisted fairy tales will eat up this collection. Eight unfamiliar stories from the Grimms, Perrault, and Andersen are retold from the viewpoints of the villainous characters now recast in more sympathetic roles, or at least shown to have human frailties. In "The Name," for example, the lonely Rumplestiltskin is torn between allowing the young queen (his long-lost daughter) to know his name and wanting to raise his grandchild himself. "The Good Mother," a version of "Red Riding Hood" set in a world where humans are in danger from giant clams and carnivorous beasts, reveals the wolf's main concern to be feeding her starving pups. "The Prince" is a sullen, twisted young man with a foot fetish who is fascinated by the sight of two small feet in glass slippers. Galloway has done a masterful job of getting inside of the characters; the concept of "two sides to every story" is illustrated with some excellent examples here. The addition of unusual details, such as the sci-fi setting for "The Good Mother" or the poor-trash childhood of Snow White's stepmother in "A Taste for Beauty," underscores the uniqueness of this volume. YAs will appreciate the offbeat approach.?Mary Jo Drungil, Niles Public Library District, IL
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (October 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440227283
• ISBN-13: 978-0440227281
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #448,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both intriguing and entertaining, young adult or not., December 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Truly Grim Tales (Paperback)

Ms. Galloway is able to put an interesting and very entertaining spin on the retelling of classic tales, we've all heard as children. Her unique writing style is both humerous and captivating. I found her Truly Grim Tales to be an imaginative and unique collection. I would highly recommend it to any young adult who enjoys, mystery, science fiction, horror or folklore.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No thanks, November 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Truly Grim Tales (Laurel-Leaf Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this anthology in hopes of discovering new depths and interpretations of familiar fairy tales. Dark interpretations are usually quite insightful and I thought that this would be an entire collection of chilling and clever retellings.

Nope.

Truly Grim Tales are simply not a lot of fun to read, though (or perhaps because) they certainly live up to the title. The emphasis seems to be purely on making the tales grim, rather than adding new perspectives. I found the resulting stories to be leaden and often revolting, rather than fascinating. Unless you enjoy grimness for the sake of grimness, I would advise skipping these tales in favor of Patricia C. Wrede's remarkably clever and creepy retelling of an old ballad, "Cruel Sisters" (in The Book of Enchantments) or Vivian Vande Velde's equally clever Rapunzel retelling, "Straw into Gold" (in Tales from the Brothers Grimm and Sisters Weird). For dark novel length retellings, Donna Jo Napoli's Zel (Rapunzel) and The Magic Circle (Hansel and Gretel) are a must.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting and clever spin on some old tales, April 4, 2001

By 

bookchicky (Delaware, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Truly Grim Tales (Laurel-Leaf Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've always relied on the likes of Angela Carter, Datlow & Windling, and Tanith Lee (among a myriad of others) to feed me my daily dose of fairy tale interpretations, but Priscilla Galloway has prepared such a sumptuous offering of delightful shorts that I've added her to my collection of favorites. You have to applaud the gorgeous Rapunzel tale told from the birth-mother's point of view and set among the Bedouin peoples. If not, try the Cinderella story told by a heartbroken Prince with an undeniable foot fetish, or a Jack and the Beanstalk story in which giants must grind 'pygmy' bones for their bread to curb the effects of a fatal genetic bone disorder. My favorite of them all, though, is the retelling of Hansel and Gretel from the witch's/stepmother's point of view...delightful, dark, and desperate. The writing flows well, perfect for an early teen to adult audience without being either condescending or insultingly simple. Give it a chance, and you won't be disappointed.