Today I’m taking part in the Book Blogger Hop, a weekly hop hosted by Billy B at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer (originally created by Jennifer at Crazy-For-Books). You can see the hop schedule here.“Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end on Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.”
Question of the Week: Do you enjoy reading retellings of, or ‘sequels’ to, classic novels? Why or why not?
(submitted by Maria @ A Night’s Dream of Books)
Surprisingly, I actually haven’t read many retellings yet, although I’ve added many to my ‘to read’ list on Goodreads. Retellings appeal to me because I like the concept of taking a familiar story like a fairytale and turning on its head or taking it in a new and original direction. They have to bring something new to the table, otherwise, what’s the point? I’m interested in retellings that have a different setting or genre to the original (past to modern day or fantasy to sci-fi, for example) or those that challenge our previous notions about a character.
The one that really sticks out to me is Wicked by Gregory Maguire, which is the first retelling I ever read. I love the way he expanded the universe of The Wizard of Oz and added lots of interesting details and backstory. What I liked best was how he took the classic caricature villain-the Wicked Witch of the West-and turned her into a complex and sympathetic character that I ended up rooting for. The film Malicifent works in a similar same way. Some of the retellings I’m most looking forward to reading are The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury, Cinder by Marissa Meyer and Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell.
I’m currently trying my hand at writing my own science fiction retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. It’s based on a short story that I wrote a few years ago and decided to develop. It’s really fun thinking up sci-fi versions of all the characters, settings and symbols from Carroll’s work and I’m really excited about how this project is developing. Stay tuned!
Before you go…
Are you a fan of retellings? What are your favourites?
Great post! I didn’t even think about Wicked! I haven’t read the book, but I’ve listened to the soundtrack to the musical dozens of times. I also checked out Unhooked and uhhhhh that books sounds SO GOOD! I love all things Peter Pan — definitely adding that one to my TBR list!
That’s awesome that you’re writing a retelling of your own! Do you think you’d wanna post a snippet for us to read? 😀
Yeah, the book of Wicked is good but more political than the show. I love all things Peter Pan too, it kind of encapsulates my childhood. When I went to Disneyland Paris and saw the fireworks and they started playing the Peter Pan music I randomly burst into tears, to everyone’s shock and amusement! It was just so emotional! Ha ha. Yes, I’ll definitely be sharing some extracts here on the blog when I’ve completed my first draft. I’ll be looking for beta readers too!
I am definitely a fan of retellings and also enjoyed Wicked.
And I love the sound of your sci-fi retelling of Alice. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to read it sometime!
Fingers crossed! I’ll be sharing extracts here on the blog when it’s done.
I loved Wicked. It was a great story. I still have to read the last book in the series, Out of Oz.
I haven’t read that one either. I adored the stage show of Wicked as well. Such a brilliant story.
I would like to read Cinder sometime. I am the same, I add the retellings to my TBR list but still haven’t gotten to them. 🙂
My TBR list is just shocking. I would get through them if only I didn’t have to ‘adult’ all day.