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kevin_shepherd's review against another edition
4.0
“…strive for something a touch more hard-edged, intentional, altogether less arty…”
Angela Carter mines the depths of human depravity in a manner that makes my beloved Shirley Jackson look like Mother Goose. In fact, many of her stories are familiar fairytales (e.g. Beauty and the Beast, Puss in Boots, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, etc.) that have been reimagined with blood and mayhem and debauchery.
“…this art, if viewed theologically, may, perhaps, be blasphemous.”
I can’t say that every story worked for me. A few of them were so fundamentally bizarre that even I, as sick and twisted as I am, came away wondering “what dafaq?” But even the off-target misses have an odd appeal. Carter infuses all of her stuff with a kind of feminist fortitude—Knights in Shining Armor and Prince Charmings need not apply—and that worked for me in a big way. 4 stars.
Angela Carter mines the depths of human depravity in a manner that makes my beloved Shirley Jackson look like Mother Goose. In fact, many of her stories are familiar fairytales (e.g. Beauty and the Beast, Puss in Boots, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, etc.) that have been reimagined with blood and mayhem and debauchery.
“…this art, if viewed theologically, may, perhaps, be blasphemous.”
I can’t say that every story worked for me. A few of them were so fundamentally bizarre that even I, as sick and twisted as I am, came away wondering “what dafaq?” But even the off-target misses have an odd appeal. Carter infuses all of her stuff with a kind of feminist fortitude—Knights in Shining Armor and Prince Charmings need not apply—and that worked for me in a big way. 4 stars.
terrypaulpearce's review against another edition
4.0
The early-to-middle period stuff is solid five-star gold. Later it gets a little experimental for my taste.
nicolcc12's review against another edition
4.0
En un principio tenía mis dudas. Después de leer La cámara sangrienta no sabía si Angela Carter me gustaba, pero QUERÍA que me gustara.
Ahora, al terminar todos sus cuentos, puedo decir que me encanta. Para esto tuve que pasar por un proceso de adaptación con sus "temas" (aquellos que le gusta abordar, por lo menos), de manera que disfrute los relatos finales mucho más que los primeros, aunque tal vez también tenga que ver que son trabajos de más adelante en su vida, cuando ya había evolucionado como autora (a pesar de que toda su obra se mantiene con una muy buena calidad. Es una combinación de ambas cosas, supongo.
Si tuviera que escoger un texto de todo el libro (contiene 42 "cuentos"), esta vez tengo una respuesta segura: "Cenicienta o El fantasma de la madre, tres versiones de un cuento", específica y únicamente la primera versión, Las chicas mutiladas. Allí ofrece una lectura crítica, feminista y excesivamente interesante del cuento de La Cenicienta, aportando incluso "versiones alternativas" (en las que desgraciadamente no ahonda) donde las hermanastras, Cenicienta y madrastra se alían para deshacerse del padre.
Sin embargo, si sólo quieren buscar unos cuantos cuentos en internet y no tragarse este tocho de libro, adjunto un listado de mis favoritos (just in case someone is interested
Ahora, al terminar todos sus cuentos, puedo decir que me encanta. Para esto tuve que pasar por un proceso de adaptación con sus "temas" (aquellos que le gusta abordar, por lo menos), de manera que disfrute los relatos finales mucho más que los primeros, aunque tal vez también tenga que ver que son trabajos de más adelante en su vida, cuando ya había evolucionado como autora (a pesar de que toda su obra se mantiene con una muy buena calidad. Es una combinación de ambas cosas, supongo.
Si tuviera que escoger un texto de todo el libro (contiene 42 "cuentos"), esta vez tengo una respuesta segura: "Cenicienta o El fantasma de la madre, tres versiones de un cuento", específica y únicamente la primera versión, Las chicas mutiladas. Allí ofrece una lectura crítica, feminista y excesivamente interesante del cuento de La Cenicienta, aportando incluso "versiones alternativas" (en las que desgraciadamente no ahonda) donde las hermanastras, Cenicienta y madrastra se alían para deshacerse del padre.
Sin embargo, si sólo quieren buscar unos cuantos cuentos en internet y no tragarse este tocho de libro, adjunto un listado de mis favoritos (just in case someone is interested
kimberlylands's review against another edition
5.0
Obsessed. How have I lived so long not reading Angela Carter?! Gahhhh
holley_cornetto's review against another edition
4.0
Many writers whose work I admire have cited Carter as an influence. I can see why. Angela Carter's short fiction collection did not disappoint. Her work deals with dark themes, and the stories take some time and attention to read. It isn't something that you can sit and read in a short amount of time, and then walk away. These stories require you to linger over them a little longer, and to dig a little deeper when thinking about why they work as fiction, and what they are trying to tell us about the world. Perhaps this is why they have stood the test of time, landing Carter a well-earned place among modern literary greats.
beaky's review against another edition
the writings style wasn’t for me - may return to Carter’s works in smaller increments later on
girljames's review against another edition
2.0
Excellently crafted, but not for me.
I read three stories from the Bloody Chamber collection, and they were all about quasi-mythical maidens getting shipped off to fulfill the dangerous whims of cruel male monsters. I have enough of my own baggage around sexuality - I'd rather not add to it.
I read three stories from the Bloody Chamber collection, and they were all about quasi-mythical maidens getting shipped off to fulfill the dangerous whims of cruel male monsters. I have enough of my own baggage around sexuality - I'd rather not add to it.