Title: Precious
Author: Nalo Hopkinson
In: Silver Birch, Blood Moon (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Fairy tales, Retellings
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 1999

I often wonder just what happens after the happily ever after in fairy tales. Marriage is honestly not the ending, but just the beginning of another chapter in life. And, although I like to imagine sometimes that the happily ever after moment and joy continues, I’m not always that optimistic. I like that Hopkinson took this idea and emphasised that sometimes we have to recreate our own happily ever after.

The name of the original fairy tale completely eludes me, but Precious / Isobel is a very familiar character. I love that originally, having diamonds, flowers and precious jewels fall from her lips was considered a gift. Yet, it ultimately turns into a curse. And, although her husband ‘saved’ her from servitude to her family, it was ultimately Isobel herself who was able to save herself from her curse and craft a whole new life for herself.

The rage of women and the frustration that we sometimes feel when we are constantly overlooked and ignored seems to be a bit of a note that I’m finding in stories lately. I love that Isobel is able to use this anger to actually release herself. Her final rant and moment of release was beautiful, and definitely a moment that I will continue to remember with fondness.

Image source: Wikipedia