Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers

Top authors revamp fairy tales

"Notable writers including Michael Cunningham and Joyce Carol Oates have revamped old fairy tales for a new collection called My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me. Guest host Lynn Neary speaks to writers Kate Bernheimer and Neil LaBute about the new book" in this podcast. There's also a transcript below it if you prefer to read about it than listen.

If you were to rewrite a fairy tale, which one would you choose and why? What would you do different to make it more contemporary?

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Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on November 9, 2010 at 3:32am

Oooh! Definitely Little Red Riding Hood! I love it, so I think it'd be fun! I'd totally put a little more creepy in it. I mean, a little girl being attacked by a wolf on her way to her grandmother's? Totally classic, but what about a teenager sneaking out after dark to meet her boyfriend, who turns out to be a demon or a vampire or something? And then, instead of being saved by a forester with an axe, a guy she's known all her life, never noticed, but suddenly pretty much owes her life to? Lol, I think that'd be cool! Oh, I think I feel a story coming on...TO MICROSOFT!!! :) Lol!

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Permalink Reply by Kay Elizabeth on November 10, 2010 at 7:05pm

LOL! Strike while the iron's hot, girl. :)

Callie Leah said:

Oooh! Definitely Little Red Riding Hood! I love it, so I think it'd be fun! I'd totally put a little more creepy in it. I mean, a little girl being attacked by a wolf on her way to her grandmother's? Totally classic, but what about a teenager sneaking out after dark to meet her boyfriend, who turns out to be a demon or a vampire or something? And then, instead of being saved by a forester with an axe, a guy she's known all her life, never noticed, but suddenly pretty much owes her life to? Lol, I think that'd be cool! Oh, I think I feel a story coming on...TO MICROSOFT!!! :) Lol!

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Permalink Reply by scribbler on November 12, 2010 at 9:31pm

I liked Rumpelstiltskin but they beat me to that. The Snow Queen was a childhood favorite. I guess I would need to set it in a different landscape. The Snow Queen would be a gritty grunge queen ruling over an industrial wasteland and riding in an Army Surplus open top jeep instead of a sleigh.

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Permalink Reply by Betzy Crypt on November 13, 2010 at 9:19pm

I'd probably do beauty and the beast. ;)
as simple as that.
or...The little mermaid? lol idk.
im thinkin disney films.
lets add some blood in there! lol

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Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on November 16, 2010 at 11:40am

Oh, I love the Snow Queen! I haven't heard it in forever though!

scribbler said:

I liked Rumpelstiltskin but they beat me to that. The Snow Queen was a childhood favorite. I guess I would need to set it in a different landscape. The Snow Queen would be a gritty grunge queen ruling over an industrial wasteland and riding in an Army Surplus open top jeep instead of a sleigh.

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Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on November 16, 2010 at 11:41am

Mmmmhmmm *bobbs head all sassy like* lol :)

Kay Elizabeth said:

LOL! Strike while the iron's hot, girl. :)

Callie Leah said:
Oooh! Definitely Little Red Riding Hood! I love it, so I think it'd be fun! I'd totally put a little more creepy in it. I mean, a little girl being attacked by a wolf on her way to her grandmother's? Totally classic, but what about a teenager sneaking out after dark to meet her boyfriend, who turns out to be a demon or a vampire or something? And then, instead of being saved by a forester with an axe, a guy she's known all her life, never noticed, but suddenly pretty much owes her life to? Lol, I think that'd be cool! Oh, I think I feel a story coming on...TO MICROSOFT!!! :) Lol!