Who Would Like This Book:
If you're into dark, twisted takes on classic fairy tales and folktales, "The Merry Spinster" serves up something truly unique. Mallory Ortberg brings sharp wit and a distinctly modern sensibility to old stories, blending humor with a deep dive into the unsettling and strange. Fans of unconventional short story collections and those who've loved Ortberg's previous work (or The Toast's quirky style) will find plenty to savor here. It's especially perfect for readers who enjoy exploring the darkness and complexity beneath well-known tales.
Who May Not Like This Book:
This collection isn't for everyone. Some readers found the experimental style, especially with playful pronouns and gender fluidity, confusing rather than insightful. The tone can be quite bleak, even for those expecting grim fairy tales, and the stories' horror elements may be more disturbing than delightful. The mix of sources and uneven quality between stories left a few people cold, so if you're after traditional or comforting retellings, you might want to look elsewhere.
About:
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Mallory Ortberg offers sharp, witty retellings of classic fairy tales and folklore. The stories weave together different elements, creating a mix of dark humor and chilling twists. However, the collection has a reputation for being uneven, with some tales resonating while others leave readers confused or disappointed. Notably, the retelling of The Velveteen Rabbit stands out as particularly disturbing, prompting strong reactions from readers.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains high content warnings for horror elements, dark themes, and potentially disturbing twists on beloved stories.
From The Publisher:
From Mallory Ortberg comes a collection of darkly mischievous stories based on classic fairy tales. Adapted from the beloved "Children's Stories Made Horrific" series, "The Merry Spinster" takes up the trademark wit that endeared Ortberg to readers of both The Toast and the best-selling debut Texts From Jane Eyre. The feature has become among the most popular on the site, with each entry bringing in tens of thousands of views, as the stories proved a perfect vehicle for Ortberg's eye for deconstruction and destabilization. Sinister and inviting, familiar and alien all at the same time, The Merry Spinster updates traditional children's stories and fairy tales with elements of psychological horror, emotional clarity, and a keen sense of feminist mischief.
Readers of The Toast will instantly recognize Ortberg's boisterous good humor and uber-nerd swagger: those new to Ortberg's oeuvre will delight in this collection's unique spin on fiction, where something a bit mischievous and unsettling is always at work just beneath the surface.
Unfalteringly faithful to its beloved source material, The Merry Spinster also illuminates the unsuspected, and frequently, alarming emotional complexities at play in the stories we tell ourselves, and each other, as we tuck ourselves in for the night.
Bed time will never be the same.
Ratings (3)
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It Was OK (1) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (16):
Read It (3) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (7) | |
Not Interested (5) |
1 comment(s)
ortberg is known for her humor, which is what i've always loved about her
she's so funny and so nerdy and that particular flavor of funny nerd isn't found anywhere else
but the merry spinster takes her writing a little farther than the biting wit of the toast
these stories are scary, dark, they trip you up in unexpected ways, and even when i don't get the many references, i enjoy the sly smile of a bad guy getting her way
ortberg often refers to daughters and sons with interchangeable genders, something that makes her stories a step removed from reality
(i believe ortberg identifies as a man now but i'm referring to her here as "she" because the author is mallory ortberg)
What can you read after
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror?
About the Author:
Mallory Ortberg is the co-creator of the Toast and the author of the New York Times Bestseller Texts From Jane Eyre.
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