Book Review | New World Fairy Tales by Cassandra Parkin | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

New World Fairy Tales by Cassandra Parkin is a five-star collection of short stories based on original fairy tales, blending elements of magic realism and realistic settings.

Key Insights

• 🍰 New World Fairy Tales is a collection of short stories that blend elements of fantasy, magic realism, and realistic settings.
• 👶 Cassandra Parkin's storytelling is imaginative and unique, offering new interpretations of familiar fairy tales.
• 📙 The book explores themes of tragedy and hope, appealing to a wide range of readers.
• 💪 Characterization is a strong suit in this collection, with distinct voices and perspectives for each character.
• 😒 The use of interviews as a narrative device adds depth and connects the stories in a shared world.
• 💯 The collection showcases Cassandra Parkin's skill as a beautiful writer, with a perfect balance between fantasy and reality.
• ❓ Readers who enjoy both extreme fantasy and realistic fiction will find something to appreciate in these stories.

Transcript

hi guys i'm here today to do a quick review of new world fairy tales by cassandra Parkin just to be right there before i go any further this book was a five a five star read for me and this review is basically just going to be what this book is about without spoilers and why i loved it so much so let's dive straight into shall we this book is publi... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Are the stories in New World Fairy Tales faithful retellings of traditional fairy tales?

No, the stories in New World Fairy Tales are incredibly imaginative and blend elements of magic realism with original interpretations of familiar fairy tale themes.

Q: Are the stories set in a realistic world or do they feature fantasy elements?

Most of the stories are set in the real world, particularly in various locations in the United States, but there are subtle elements of magic realism in some of them. One story, in particular, focuses on explicit magic realism.

Q: How does Cassandra Parkin approach characterizations in the book?

Cassandra Parkin's characterizations are spot-on and each individual voice is distinct and interesting. Some interviewees tell their own stories, while others tell the stories of other characters, creating a connected world of fairy tale characters.

Q: Do the stories have consistent themes?

The stories in New World Fairy Tales cover a range of themes, including tragedy and hope. Some stories have unhappy endings, while others are more inspirational and traditionally happy. Overall, the collection offers a diverse mix of themes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• New World Fairy Tales is a collection of short stories published by Salt Publishing in 2011, focusing on retellings of fairy tales.

• Each story is presented as an interview transcript, with the interviewee recounting their own version of the fairy tale.

• The collection includes both obvious adaptations of well-known tales like Snow White and Cinderella, as well as more elusive retellings and amalgamations of multiple fairy tales.