Title: The Sleeper and the SpindleAuthor: Chris Riddell, Neil Gaiman
First Published: October 22, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 64
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating:
In this captivating and darkly funny tale, Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell have twisted together the familiar and the new as well as the beautiful and the wicked to tell a brilliant version of Snow White's (sort of) and Sleeping Beauty's (almost) stories.
This story was originally published (without illustrations) in Rags & Bones (Little, Brown, 2013). This is the first time it is being published as an illustrated, stand-alone edition, and the book is a beautiful work of art.
The Sleeper and the Spindle was a wonderful surprise and I’m so happy that I picked this book up. The story is a fairy tale reimagining of both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, taking place after Snow was saved and awaiting her wedding day to the prince. In this version of Snow White, she finds herself feeling trapped by the prospects of marriage and makes a decision for herself to become the hero of someone else’s story.
I really enjoyed this feminist twist on Snow’s character, a clear rebellion against traditional princess tropes. The story is told with a simple yet lyrical tone that reminded me of the styles in which many classic fairy tales are written. The story is intentionally written in this way as a direct subversion of classical views of fairy tale princesses and happily-ever-after endings.
Besides the story, the artwork by Riddell is marvelously dark and detailed, they added so much to the book and were one of my favorite parts about it. The illustrations are definitely a necessary element of the presentation that makes this book memorable. The story is still good without them, but it would not have had the same impact, the art really added to the reading experience.
As a side note, this story is romance-free and is not a lesbian fairy tale retelling, despite what the beautiful panel shown above might lead folks to believe. I don’t want to spoil the plot in any way, but I also wanted to make readers aware of this fact before going in and finding themselves disappointed. I’ve seen a few reviewers slam this novella because they expected a lesbian romance and were mad when there was no romance to be found.
The lack of romance didn’t bother me in the least, in fact, it was something I enjoyed about the story. For a book that clearly highlights the fear of being shackled by love and marriage, another romance would have been an odd thing to include in the story. Overall I love this novella, it was a refreshing retelling that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend for folks that enjoy the classics. It’s a quick read and the gorgeous illustrations are worth a glance on their own.
“A week from today, I shall be married. It seemed both unlikely and extremely final. She wondered how she would feel to be a married woman. It would be the end of her life, she decided, if life was a time of choices. In a week from now, she would have no choices.”
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About Chris Riddell
Chris Riddell was born in Cape Town, South Africa, where his father was an Anglican priest and a member of the ANC. The family moved to England in 1963, when Riddell was one year old, and he spent his childhood in a number of different locations, as his father moved between parishes. Both of Riddell’s parents continued to be active in the anti-apartheid movement.
Chris Riddell is an internationally acclaimed writer and illustrator whose many awards include the Nestlé Gold Award and two Kate Greenaway Medals—the most prestigious prize for illustration in the UK. He is the creator of more than one hundred books for all ages, including the immensely popular series the Edge Chronicles and his latest chapter book series, starring the irrepressible Ottoline Brown, which School Library Journal called “exceptional.” Chris lives in Brighton, England, with his wife and three children where he invents his amazing characters in a very tidy shed in his yard.
About Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, nonfiction, audio theatre, and films. His works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book.