A very brief post on a new, phenomenal book. Leave it to Lemony Snicket to give us a unique and creepy (but oddly comforting) take on a kid's fear of the dark. And only Lemony Snicket would give the dark a voice, a home, a purpose. Jon Klassen's illustrations perfectly accompany this tale--giving me a new favorite duo. Are you still reading this?! Go! Go, buy The Dark by Lemony Snicket!
Happier Rumpled
I have always loved fairytales: from the classic “Once upon a time”, to the many ways we recreate these stories in theatre, movies, books. Alas, I have never loved the tale of Rumpelstiltskin—never found meaning or motive behind the characters. Reading Rumpled, by Lacey Louwagie, has changed this. Louwagie has a way of making me take a deeper look at things I’ve brushed off (or purposely ignored—like Rumpelstiltskin). Louwagie’s story starts with the classic maiden-in-the-tower and misshapen magic-worker, but then her story has its own wings. This Rumpelstiltskin is a court jester who has promised to deliver a child to his mentor in exchange for learning the ultimate magic trick: altering his appearance. Louwagie’s fairytale for adults fills in what the traditional tale has always neglected: motive, heart, moral ambiguity, unrequited love, betrayal. Extremely skilled with discourse (a talent I’ve always admired), Louwagie gives this flat (and eerie) old tale several twists that, ...
I've never read anything by Lemony Snicket. Does that make me a bad person? I have been curious about this, though. :)
ReplyDelete:-) Snicket's writing leans toward the overly-dramatic (WAY overly-dramatic), snarky pseudo-mystery/bleakly humorous . . . if that makes sense. His "Series of Unfortunate Events" is a big hit with kids (I also enjoy them). "The Dark" is less melodramatic, and I'm excited to see that Snicket (which is a pen-name) has a voice for younger audiences, too. Klassen was an ideal illustrating choice.
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