Sisters, ah yes, I know
all there is to know about sisters since I have two of my own and a cousin who
is more like an older sister than a cousin.
Or do I? Know all there is to
know about sisters – that is?
I chaffed through my
childhood while Mom read or told us stories about sisters and how the youngest
one was always the prettiest, wittiest, smartest, best all around at
everything. How come it was never the
oldest?
Well at least when our
cousinly theatre was presented, I played the part of Cinderella. Well, it was because I was the theatrical
type and my sisters and cousin weren’t.
But secretly, deep down, I was so relieved that the oldest could do
something beautiful, special, right.
One of my favorite stories
as an eldest sister growing up in the 50’s was Snow White and Rose Red. Why?
Because both sisters were all those wonderful things that seemed in most
tales to belong only to the youngest.
Both sisters marry a prince.
This month it is my turn
to choose the book and lead the book discussion for my book club (Broads, Books
and Banter). At Jane Yolen’s suggestion I decided to have members read one
of the books in the Fairy Tale series edited by Terri Windling. These novels are remakes of the old fairy
tales. Snow White and Rose Red by
Patricia C. Wrede, was one of them. It
is set in medieval England. The
Land of Fairy borders the land where the home of the widow and her two
daughters is located. The novel follows to
some degree the Grimm’s tale, but with delightful diversions.
Other novels in the Fairy Tale series
include Briar Rose, by Jane Yolen; Tam Lin, by Pamela Dean; Jack the Giant
Killer, by Charles de Lint; The Nightingale, by Kara Dalkey; White as Snow, by
Tanith Lee; Fitcher’s Brides, by Gregory Frost; The Sun, the Moon and the
Stars, by Steven Burst; and Persinette, by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont La Force. If you haven’t discovered this series of old
tales set in more modern times, you’re in for a treat.
