"Kissing the Witch" is a collection of stories written by Emma Donoghue. It was first published in 1997 and is a unique and thought-provoking take on traditional fairy tales. The book consists of thirteen interconnected stories, each one with a female protagonist who goes through various trials and transformations. Donoghue's stories are not your typical fairy tales. They challenge the traditional norms and expectations placed on women and explore themes of identity, power, and agency. The author reimagines familiar tales like "Cinderella," "Snow White," and "Little Red Riding Hood" and gives them a fresh perspective.
Donoghue writes from a lesbian feminist perspective about things that aren’t what they appear to be, finding yourself, finding your identity and finding your voice.
Her mixed bag of five tales is framed by the presence of three performers who in turn each take the role of a girl whose answered prayers invariably invoke that homily Be careful what you wish for. A final segment The Tale of the Kiss , not based on any source text, but suggested by various folk motifs about oracles and magic helpers, tells how one woman came to be a witch.
The author reimagines familiar tales like "Cinderella," "Snow White," and "Little Red Riding Hood" and gives them a fresh perspective. One of the striking features of "Kissing the Witch" is the way Donoghue combines storytelling techniques. Each story is narrated by a character from a previous tale, creating a chain of storytelling that connects the stories together.
Kissing the witch
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Последний раз отредактировано Lisa 9 февраля 2023 г. | История Издание Kissing the Witch (1993)This unique narrative structure adds depth and complexity to the collection as a whole. Throughout the book, themes of love, desire, and empowerment are explored. Donoghue's female characters are not passive damsels in distress waiting for a prince to save them. Instead, they take control of their own lives and make choices that challenge the established narrative. The title, "Kissing the Witch," is a metaphor for breaking free from societal expectations and embracing one's true self. It symbolizes the act of challenging norms and finding one's voice in a world that seeks to silence it. Overall, "Kissing the Witch" is a captivating and thought-provoking collection of stories that will leave readers questioning the traditional narratives they have grown up with. Donoghue's reimagining of fairy tales challenges and subverts the gender roles and expectations that are often embedded in these stories. It is a celebration of female strength and agency, reminding us that there is power in rewriting our own narratives..
Reviews for "The Power of the Witch's Kiss: Love, Lust, and Spells"
1. Jane - ★☆☆☆☆ - I found "Kissing the Witch" to be incredibly boring and confusing. The stories seemed disjointed and lacked a cohesive narrative. I struggled to connect with the characters and found myself losing interest after a few pages. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this book to others.
2. Michael - ★★☆☆☆ - While the premise of "Kissing the Witch" was intriguing, I found the execution to be lacking. The writing style was overly descriptive and flowery, making it difficult to follow the plot. Additionally, the characters felt one-dimensional and I did not feel invested in their stories. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this collection.
3. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆ - I was really excited to read "Kissing the Witch" as I enjoy retellings of classic fairytales. However, this book fell short of my expectations. The stories felt rushed and lacked depth, leaving me unsatisfied as a reader. The author seemed to rely heavily on cliches and did not bring anything new or unique to the table. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh take on fairytales.
4. Robert - ★★☆☆☆ - "Kissing the Witch" had an interesting concept, but I felt it was poorly executed. The storytelling felt disjointed and I often found myself confused about what was happening. The characters lacked development and I struggled to connect with them. Overall, I was disappointed in this book and would not read it again.
5. Amanda - ★☆☆☆☆ - I was expecting "Kissing the Witch" to be a feminist exploration of classic fairytales, but I found it to be underwhelming and superficial. The stories lacked depth and failed to offer any meaningful critique of the original tales. I was disappointed by the lack of originality and would not recommend this book. There are much better feminist retellings out there.