F*cked up fairytales; sinful cinderellas, prince alarmings, and other timeless classics

 

Title of the book: F*cked up fairytales; sinful cinderellas, prince alarmings, and other timeless classics 

Author: Liz Gotauco

Publisher: W.W. Norton

Publishing Date: 2025

ISBN: 9781324106333

Summary: 

Bawdy, shocking, and hilarious interpretations of classic and rare fairy tales from a beloved TikTok storyteller.

Based on the wildly popular TikTok series, F*cked Up Fairy Tales presents modern retellings of some of the strangest and darkest stories humans had the audacity to invent. Inspired by sources across the world, “Cosbrarian” Liz Gotauco conjures gossipy animals, homicidal royals, doomed commoners, and shape-shifting beaux—all reckoning with complicated, adult problems that “Disney versions” have sanitized. In entertaining asides, Gotauco offers insight into the stories’ contested origins, spills deliciously weird details about fairy tale authors like Madame de Aulnoy and the Brothers Grimm, and explores timeless themes that have long tickled the human subconscious, from accidental bestiality (“So . . . You Married an Animal”) and catastrophic marriages (“Crappily Ever After”) to the vexed question of what to do with your murderous lindworm child (“F*cked Up Family Trees”). Sexy, disturbing, and outrageous, with stylish, distinctive illustrations, F*cked Up Fairy Tales celebrates the astonishing diversity of the oral tradition, reaffirming our universal love for a story that’s messy as f*ck.

Author Info:
(From goodreads)

N/A

Personal Opinion:

I was really excited about reading this book. I was excited to see the fairytales and their not so beautiful parts which is what I got. I was also excited to learn that the author knew about Howard Schwartz, the Jewish folklorist. What I enjoyed about the book are diversity of fairytales from almost all continents ( did she include any Australian/Aboriginal stories?) There are about 25 stories and they are very diverse, coming in from places as far as South America, different parts of Asia, Central America, Europe and even some Indigenous peoples. And yes there is a Jewish folktale. A lot of folktale are also unforgettable and there is a lot of passion from the author. What I didn't like is the commentary, references to modern day life that I don't understand and references to stories that don't even appear in the book. The style is this: first the author retells the fairytales in her own words and then the story is interrupted for authors personal commentary so far on the story, be it on action or characters or perhaps comparison to other folktales that aren't in the book, and I am checking to see whether or not she included the said fairytales in the book, which I quickly found annoying. I imagine for readers who are looking for a very diverse collection of fairytales as well as modern day commentary, then this book will be a right fit for them. 

This was given for review 

3 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)