Title: Sentence Like a Saturday Author: Seanan McGuire In: Mad Hatters and March Hares (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Fantasy, Wordplay Dates read: 18th February 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: “- just a little girl.
When a small child travels down the path to Wonderland, they have to swap places… Kitty finds herself in a whole new riddle and body. Once a Cheshire, and now a little girl. So why is a sentence like a Saturday?
This is my second Seanan McGuire short story (the first being The Mathematical Inevitability of Corvids) and it is just as twisted! In a less sick, going to kill someone way. But in a twisting of words and riddling kind of way. After finishing each paragraph I would take a deep breath. Just because the way the sentences stream into one another was so intensely done that I wouldn’t breathe. It almost worked like one whole sentence.
I’ve never been insanely into riddles, yet this story (and
many of the others in this collection) have made me think that there is a need
to ignite this interest. After all, the entire story read like a riddle. And I
couldn’t tear my eyes off of it.
I loved the ending of this tale. It was both sad and sweet.
Perfect and tragic. It certainly bought a tear to my eye as I turned the last
page, and that’s something that I always enjoy and appreciate.
Title: In Memory of a Summer’s Day Author: Matthew Kressel In: Mad Hatters and March Hares (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Fantasy, Wordplay Dates read: 28th January 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: Can we play with them, forever and ever?
Tours to Wonderland aren’t quite what one would expect… and they can leave you a little bit twisted and turned around. Whether you are a guest or a tour guide.
I don’t know if I’d ever willingly go on a tour through
Wonderland. There just seems to be far too much that can, and will, go wrong. And
this short story reinforces that idea. I definitely only ever want to read
about Alice’s adventures… the real place just seems far too dangerous and
bizarre.
Although this short story isn’t as heavy on the wordplay as
some of the others in this collection, it is still kind of twisting and turning
in the way it tells the narrative. Kind of like the original journey through
wonderland… it is kind of hard to keep track of what exactly is happening and
where they are. Yet, there are all of the hallmarks that everyone remembers
from the original. Including Alice. Which was kind of sad…
Title: Run, Rabbit Author: Angela Slatter In: Mad Hatters and March Hares (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Fantasy Dates read: 27th January 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: He knows what to look for in newcomers
Rabbit is on the run from the Queen. But it isn’t until he is caught that he realises what a twisted trap he has laid for himself.
Sometimes it is fun to imagine what happens to the characters after you turn the last page of the story. Especially when you are dealing with characters such as Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It’s not a story that has a clear beginning and ending. And it’s one that leaves a lot of imaginative license – there aren’t a lot of very specific plot lines and it gives a lot of fluidity and manoeuvrability to the storyline.
This short story takes the idea of “what happens after” and
creates a whole new narrative. One in which the Rabbit is something a little
more evil. A little more twisted, and even Alice is turned into a darker and
more sinister version. Which, on rereading the original storylines, I can
completely understand the dark and twisty storyline and feeling.
Title: Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen Author: Serena Valentino Series: Villains #1 Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Fantasy, Villains Dates read: 4th – 16th January 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Disney Press Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: Given what Snow has already told us of them, I would advise we keep a close watch on the sisters, for I do not trust them.
The tale of the young princess Snow White and her evil stepmother the Wicked Queen is widely known. Despite a few variations from telling to telling, the story remains the same – the Queen was jealous of the girl’s beauty, and this jealousy culminated in the Queen’s attempt on the sweet, naive girl’s life.
Another tale far less often spoken of is the one that explains what caused the Queen to become so contemptuously vile. Still, some have attempted to guess at the reason. Perhaps the Queen’s true nature was that of a wicked hag and her beautiful, regal appearance a disguise used to fool the King. Others claim that the Queen might have hated the girl for her resemblance to the King’s first wife. Mostly, the Queen is painted as a morally abhorrent woman who never loved another being during the course of her miserable life.
In fact, the theories about exactly what caused the Queen’s obsessive vanity and jealous rage are too numerous to catalogue. This book recounts a version of the story that has remained untold until now. It is a tragic tale of love and loss, and it contains a bit of magic. It is a tale of the Wicked Queen…
I bought the first three books of this series on a whim
because I saw their pretty covers on someone’s Facebook page. Normally I do a
little research into a series before I do this. But I mostly just got a little
bit too overexcited and just went for it. And I’m really glad that I did! This story
takes the original Disney version of Snow White and gives it so many glorious
twists and turns that leaves you understanding and sympathising with the
villain. One of the scariest villains of my childhood for that matter – the
Wicked Queen.
I was expecting a story that justified the Queen’s actions
in the well-known Disney version fairy tale. What I wasn’t expecting was for
the story to continue on beyond her turning, and to her actual decision making that
occurs throughout the entire movie. And even continued on beyond the
happily-ever-after. It gave the story a much more intense and intriguing storyline
that I just wasn’t expecting.
Although you know that there isn’t really going to be a happily ever after, you still kind of hope for one. Valentino is just that good at inspiring sympathy for a villain. I haven’t had the fortune to read many villain-based tales and I thought that this was a great start into the sub- genre. Especially when considering that this is based on one of the best-known fairy tales. And it uses the Disney version which is the retellings most commonly recognised.
Throughout this story, my heart bled for the Queen. I was so incredibly attached to her and loved that although she turns evil as expected, you could understand more and more why she ended up that way. I can’t wait to pick up The Beast Within and find out how Valentino spins that tale.
A town is cursed with horrible luck, but a new sheriff in town and a big problem on the eve of Christmas might be just what’s needed to change it all.
I really liked this story. I kind of wish that it was part
of a greater series… a small town that is perpetually cursed. Especially on a
Wednesday. That in and of itself is a great premise for a novel or series. And
then there’s the sheriff who came to drink himself to death. And the Indian man
who is running around in a tuxedo… they don’t entirely fit into the Western
theme.
I didn’t really get a Christmas spirit vibe or feeling from
this story. The only thing that is Christmassy about this tale is the fact that
it all takes place just before that special day of the year. And the fact that
there is briefly snow. Because apparently snow means Christmas. For me, snow
means… well, no point of the year. Because it never snows where I’m from…
It might take a bet on the names of Saint Nick’s reindeers to finally get what is owed to him… but this debt collector and his motley crew will definitely do it.
I think that this story in some way relates to the characters in A Very Special Girl. And I enjoyed it just as much. It has the comedy and horror aspect that I’m beginning to associate with Resnick’sshort stories. They’re funny and take some very typical aspects of fantasy and twist and turn them into something satirical and entertaining.
The fact that this story had not only a satirical spin, but also
one that featured trying to name Santa’s reindeer made it incredibly fun. Especially
when the names that were reported to be correct were kind of random. Yet, connected.
It just worked beautifully. I need to find out if there is a greater series or
something to sink my teeth into…
Title: Greylands Author: Isobelle Carmody Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves: Death, Fantasy, Mental health Dates read: 1st – 2nd January 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Ford St Year: 1997 5th sentence, 74th page: She stroked the bundle of rags tenderly, and a strange thought entered Jack’s chilled mind.
One wakeful night in the aftermath of his mother’s death, Jack enters a land devoid of colour or scent. Here he meets the tragic laughing beast and Alice, a strange girl with a secret.
Will Jack escape before the terrifying wolvers find him? Or is he destined to be trapped in the Greylands forever?
Only the cats know…
I really had no idea what to expect from this novel. I know that I love Isobelle Carmody’s writing, but this is the first truly young novel that I have read by her. It is also, weirdly enough, the first standalone story that I have read. And man, I wasn’t disappointed. This was one of those stories that left me thinking, contemplating and wondering long after I turned the final page. This is certainly one of those stories that lingers long after you finish, in the best way possible.
The fragmented nature of this story highlights Jack’s
misunderstandings and confusion beautifully well. As do the mystical and dreamy
scapes in which he moves – both the real world and the Greylands. The settings
are so incredibly vivid and yet vague that you can see the hazy contrast
perfectly in your minds eye, and it emphasises the symbolism behind Jack’s
confusion and grief.
Even if you don’t fully understand what is happening
throughout Jack’s adventure, the beginning, middle and end (literally named
this) give a great account as to what the symbolism means. And also the ways in
which this reality bisects with our own. Having the character write his own
story is a new-to-me ideal, and I loved how well it worked.
Dealing with grief and issues of mental health can always be
quite difficult. And there are few literary pieces I’ve found that deal with
such topics in an open, accessible way. The fact that this is done in a language
that young children can access is all the more impressive and is exactly what
helps this story to linger in my mind’s eye so strongly.
Title: Mercury Author: Priya Sharma In: Mad Hatters and March Hares (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Family, Fantasy Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: Beyond it were the cells.
Alice is taking care of her sick father in a prison cell and trying to sell his beautiful hats at the same time. But, sadly as his disease gets worse, so do their circumstances until there may be nothing left for either of them to salvage…
The idea for the Mad Hatter in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland comes from the idea of mercury poisoning in hatters. So I loved the idea of a short story based around this idea. Especially one that still encompasses the innocence of Alice and the land of Wonderland.
Since writing that first paragraph, I have probably spent
about thirty minutes trying to think of what to write next. What to say to emphasise
the awesomeness of this story. But, everything that I can think of gives away
part of the storyline. This story takes you on such an unbelievable adventure
that at once feels both modern and old. There is a great number of twists and
turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Title: Conjoined Author: Jane Yolen In: Mad Hatters and March Hares (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Animagus, Easy reading, Fantasy Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: “The value,” he used to say, “is not what a thing is worth intrinsically but what someone is willing to pay for it.”
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are constantly fighting, but that isn’t what makes their ape friend travel to Wonderland. Rather, a cheshire cat, a battle with the Jabber Wocky and a series of rather interesting events send him forth.
I thought that this story was going to be about Tweedledee
and Tweedledum. Until I slowly realised that it is about an orangutan in the
circus… which Tweedledee and Tweedledum are part of. Talk about a rapid change
of direction!
Tweedledee and Tweedledum are both such humorous characters,
but it wasn’t until I read this story that I really wondered how such human-like
creatures could be in Wonderland. And then it really wasn’t until the very end
that I felt like this was a great beginnings story. How the Tweedles made it to
Wonderland, where the idea of “off with your head” came from… and so many other
things.
The connectivity between modern-day circus performers and
acts, the Cheshire Cat and the world of Wonderland was incredibly fun. And I
was mostly just disappointed that the story was over so quickly… after all, I
wanted to know more about the man-ape that took centre stage.
Title: My Own Invention Author: Delia Sherman In: Mad Hatters and March Hares (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fantasy, Wordplay Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: There is always an Alice in the seventh square.
The knight from the chessboard has another Alice to watch, and there is a lot of wordplay while he does so.
One of the things that I love about Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is the incredibly insane wordplay. The fact that nothing quite makes sense and you feel like you’re on an intense trip. Well, Sherman captures that feeling perfectly in her short story, My Own Invention. It probably didn’t help that I had had a few glasses of wine when I read this story…
This tale almost takes a tiny snippet of Through the Looking-Glass and embellishes it with the experiences of the knight. The words are still twisted upon one another, and there are a few comments about there is always an Alice (implying that there are many). Like the original Carroll tale, I’m not really 100% sure what even happened in this… but I loved every minute of it!
Earth and Skye 