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For this group read we will be doing something different. First, we will choose a theme. Then we will nominate books that match the theme. This thread is to nominate themes. Themes should have something to do with fairy/folk tales or myths/ legends. For example, a theme could be Cinderella, Trojan War, or Merlin.

I'll go with Merlin, as I just read Andre Norton's Merlin's Mirror ;)

I'm going to nominate "Sleeping Beauty" because I found While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell yesterday and it sounds really good!.

Baba Yaga.

Incidentally, do we intend to use the same theme for both the YA and the adult? Some themes are much more prevalent in one than the other.

Yes.

Our current plan is to have both the Adult and YA reads of the same theme/story and discuss the original tale(s) along with the two retellings - sort of like what we did with the Anderson's "Snow Queen" and the buddy read of Vinge's novel-length version.

If a tale wins where there's a ton of nominations on one poll and very little on the other, we'll have to play it by ear.

Cinderella

I choose the theme Merlin.

Oh nice idea!

I nominate 'water'

I nominate Snow White because I just picked up Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi at the library on Wednesday.

Zanna wrote: "Oh nice idea!

I nominate 'water'"

Zanna, the idea was to read an original myth, fairy or Folktale. Do you have something particular in mind for water?

Leah wrote: "I nominate Snow White because I just picked up Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi at the library on Wednesday."

Oh Leah! That looks like something I'd like to read!
For this reason I second the Snow White Theme!

I too just got Boy, Snow, Bird from the library. I didn't know it was a retelling of Snow White.

Did you have a specific idea for books about Baba Yaga, Mary? I too like reading about her, but I can't think of any titles, even though I know I've read them.

There's Baba Yaga Laid an Egg - which I've heard mixed reviews on.
She plays a role in Valente's Deathless - though I don't know how big of a role that is.
I think she's in Enchantment by Orson Scott Card - which is a Russian variant of Sleeping Beauty, by the way.

Zipes has done a themed collection: Baba Yaga: The Wild Witch of the East in Russian Fairy Tales


She's been a minor character in a million and one books. Terry Pratchett, Fafherd and the Grey Mouser, etc.

OOps fail! No, I didn't have a particular tale in mind. Just been thinking about undines and mermaids

Boy, Snow, Bird is on my TBR though!

Except the Queen also features Baba Yaga

I think this is a great idea, but I have some questions:)

First, what about fairy tale short story and poetry collections? They usually retell more than one fairy tale, so would possible themes be, "fractured fairy tales," or "subversive retellings" or "collections"? And then there's those writers who use fairy tales without actually retelling any specific tale, like everything by Kate Bernheimer, or even this month's group read Wildwood. Would "postmodern fairy tale novels" be a possible theme? Or, without trying to rip off the name of the group, "into the forest"? Or what about critical studies that look at a number of fairy tales, like Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion: The Classical Genre for Children and the Process of Civilization?

So narrowing down my question, do themes need to be limited to only specific tales, or can they be broader?

I don't necessarily want to nominate any of the possible themes above, I'm just trying to wrap my head around the idea:)

Themes do NOT have to be limited to specific tales. We will also be alternating between themed reads and not themed reads.

Okay, cool, good to know.

Even though I had all those questions, I like all of the nominated themes and suggested books, so I won't nominate anything this round, but will certainly vote when that time comes.

Enchantment combines Sleeping Beauty and Baba Yaga.

Personally, I second the Cinderella nomination.

Zanna wrote: "OOps fail! No, I didn't have a particular tale in mind. Just been thinking about undines and mermaids

Boy, Snow, Bird is on my TBR though!"

If you like Mermaids and Undines you can certainly nominate them for a theme! Once the theme has been selected, we will have another vote for books that match the theme.

As Chris said, we will alternate betwee a themed read with a non themed read. In the non-themed one of the selections must be an original collection of Tales, and the other books retellings or books about.

Jalilah wrote: "If you like Mermaids and Undines you can certainly nominate them..."

in that case, I do!
thank you for patiently re-explaining = )

Zanna wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "If you like Mermaids and Undines you can certainly nominate them..."

in that case, I do!
thank you for patiently re-explaining = )"

No problem Zanna! How about choosing either a Mermaid tale or Undine tale as the original retelling?

hmm... I am clearly not working hard enough here! *hides*

Zanna wrote: "hmm... I am clearly not working hard enough here! *hides*"

Lol Zanna, we'll make it "Mermaids and Undine"!

you're too kind Jalilah xxx

So up to now we have:
Merlin
Sleeping Beauty
Baba Yaga
Cinderella
Snow White
Mermaids


Anything else?

I got an email from another member. Faires in the woods .

Jalilah wrote: "Zanna wrote: "hmm... I am clearly not working hard enough here! *hides*"

Lol Zanna, we'll make it "Mermaids and Undine"!"

I've heard good things about The Brides of Rollrock Island, although LLanagan kind of scares me...

These all sound great, although I'm not rereading Enchantment, which I didn't like the first time ;)

Miriam wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Zanna wrote: "hmm... I am clearly not working hard enough here! *hides*"

Lol Zanna, we'll make it "Mermaids and Undine"!"

I've heard good things about [book:The Brides of Rollrock..."

The Brides of Rollrock is about Selkies

Any other themes? Last day. I'll put up the poll tomorrow.

Goblins works, btw.

Chris wrote: "Any other themes? Last day. I'll put up the poll tomorrow.

Goblins works, btw."

I think we have enough Chris! I'm going to have a hard time now choosing!

Poll is up.

This is exciting! I like all the themes!