(no subject)

[badseed1980]

Morning, y'all.

I have not had an easy time waking up the past two mornings. I think it's possible I may be fighting off a cold. I have had a scratchy throat since yesterday, and by the end of the work day yesterday, I was exhausted and feeling like crap. I'm less exhausted now, but that may change during the day. We'll see. I can't remember the last time I had a cold. It's been over a year. Maybe a year and a half. I usually get two bad colds a year. I've been lucky. Hopefully that lucky streak will continue.

I have a date night with J, but he's sick too (I may have caught a cold from him), and so he won't be spending the night. Poor guy. He is just not built for getting up early, and finds it easier to drive home from Boston at midnight than to do so at 7:30am the following day. I understand. I'm the other way around, but I know not everyone is. I may pick up something fast and easy (shut up, snarky people) for dinner if I'm feeling like crap.

I'm re-reading a book of retold fairy tales these days. Love it. I have always loved fairy tales, and there's so much that can be done with them. I never get tired of hearing them told in new ways, or even old ways. I think the thing that re-awakened that love in me was reading Neil Gaiman's "Snow, Glass, Apples" (an adult and disquieting retelling of Snow White, for those of you who haven't read it). Reading his Stardust also helped, because while it's not a classic fairy tale, it has all the proper elements and tropes of a good fairy tale, and satisfied me in the same way that the classics do. I want to read or watch a good reworking of "Beauty and the Beast" one of these days. That's always been a favorite of mine.

What makes Labyrinth fall short for me as a fairy tale, much as I love it? The ending. A coming-of-age quest story should not end with "Oh, it was all a dream!" which it basically does. She doesn't really defeat the Goblin King or change him in any way, only escapes him with her brother. She escapes back into the arms of the friends she's conjured from childhood comforts, still a child. I think a good fairy tale would have ended with Sarah's defeat of Jareth causing him and the goblins (and the goblin city) to be transformed, and with her remaining as his queen. She faces the darkness, changes it, and is thereby changed herself into an adult.

OK, enough fairy tale ranting. I got carried away. :)

Comments

[inathunderstorm.livejournal.com]

I like your ending of Labyrinth. There is a lot of good fanfic that ends like that. ;)

Also, I am sorry you are feeling poorly! ::sends you snuggles::

I laughed at the fast and easy comment. :D?

You morning people are weird.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm not feeling too bad right now. Just a little scratchy and occasionally cough-y.

[mama-hogswatch.livejournal.com]

Your Labyrinth rant is almost exactly word for word mine.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

AWESOME. Great minds think alike!

[mama-hogswatch.livejournal.com]

By the way, if you're not familiar with the writings of Joseph Campbell, give yourself a treat. The Power of Myth is a bit simple and maybe TOO accessible, but it still contains a good distillation of his general work.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I have a copy, and I've heard a few bits of it, but I haven't read it fully yet. Maybe I ought to, soon.

[mama-hogswatch.livejournal.com]

Given your outlook, I think you'd enjoy it a great deal.

[cygninae.livejournal.com]

There certainly aren't enough fairy tales doing the rounds these days - what's the book if you don't mind my asking?

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

It's an anthology called Silver Birch, Blood Moon, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. Apparently, it's part of a series of such anthologies. I got this one used: it appears to be out of print, as are most of the others. Lots of good stuff in it.

[cygninae.livejournal.com]

Aha! Of the Snow White, Blood Red fame? I've read that, and greatly enjoyed it. Thanks. I'll look out for this one.

[leenah.livejournal.com]

i imagine the cold is going around. bluh.

staying home worked well for me, but i also have bucketloads of sickdays. i'm at the stage of constantly clearing my throat because of post nasal drip (disgusting). throat hurts a little, but not much.

all that sleeping last week was wonderful. try it, if you can. :) sleep goooooood.

[macropixi.livejournal.com]

If you're not familar with Robin McKinley I highly recommend her.

She did not one, but two retellings of Beauty and the Beast. Beauty and Rose Daughter. She also did a retelling of Donkeyskin (Deerskin) and Sleeping Beauty (Spindles End)

Robin McKinley is someone I reread constantly.

[elissa-carey.livejournal.com]

I LOVED Deerskin, though I must warn those who are triggery with issues of family and abuse before recommending. Definitely broke my heart, it was so good.

[macropixi.livejournal.com]

mmm good point on Deerskin... yes, could possibly be triggery

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Interesting, and good to know. Thanks! I'll keep an eye out for her books.

[macropixi.livejournal.com]

Oh and she redid Robin Hood too...

http://www.robinmckinley.com/

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

awesome! I will check that out, too!

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

I loved RM's Sunshine, a very interesting take on vampires and magic, imo.

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

So far I am enjoying Stephen R. Lawhead's version of Robin Hood. I picked it up on a whim at the bookstore yesterday.

I always like a good Robin Hood retelling.

[vapidblackrose.livejournal.com]

So hey...I managed to lose the invite to the bridal shower but I was interested in coming. Is that still ok? If so, would you e-mail the info? Thanks
A

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Oh, absolutely! I'll send you the info. Glad you can make it! :)

[hippie1025.livejournal.com]

There's a really interesting and different Beauty and the Beast retelling called Beast (http://www.amazon.com/Beast-Donna-Jo-Napoli/dp/0689870051/) by Donna Jo Napoli. It's set in Persia and is told from the point of view of the cursed prince.