Ron Koertge

There are two things that pretty much guarantee my interest in a book I haven't yet read:

1. Fairy tale retellings.

2. Ron Koertge.

I have yet to read anything by Koertge that I've disliked -- poetry or prose, adult or young adult. And his latest, LIES, KNIVES AND GIRLS IN RED DRESSES, is no less than what I'd expect from a fairy tale book by Ron Koertge.

Cleverly blending the classic, gruesome, Grimm-style folklore with a few modern references, each poem in Koertge's short collection is a mini show more retelling of a fairytale. Spanning from classics like "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Cinderella" to lesser known tales like "The Little Match Girl" and "Diamonds and Toads," each poem takes on a distinctive, artful voice to carry the short narrative.

Among my favorite pieces are "Rapunzel, a Story in Five Parts," a suite of poems in which each player from Rapunzel's mother to Rapunzel herself gives testimony. There's also "Memoirs of the Beast," in which Beauty's beau recounts the tale, including the after Ever After part. The Red Ridinghood retelling is brilliant, with a Red who confesses a bit of a naughty side.

Accompanied by beautiful cut-paper illustrations by Andrea Dezsö, this is a book that both teen readers and adults will want to read over and over again. It's the sort of book that one must buy in hardcover and keep in a drawer in a nightstand. I hope you'll go find a copy for yourself. show less

Benjamin Bancroft is a 16-year-old with cerebral palsy who lives with his proper, over-protective grandmother. His only social activity is seeing old movies once a week at a local theater. Ben is a self-taught movie expert who watches classic films he’s seen many times with an eye for camera angles and set dressing. One day, he runs into Colleen Minou in the theater. She is a blunt-spoken drug addict with no boundaries. They form an unlikely friendship. Colleen challenges Ben's self-pity show more by joking openly and crudely about his disability and urges him to follow his passion for the cinema and make his own movies. By doing this, she forces Ben to come out of his shell and interact with people around him. Ben inspires Colleen to dump her abusive boyfriend and try to get clean. This book was written in 2002, and the dialogue and language are fresh and funny. There is sex, drugs, and swearing throughout this fast-paced book, but the real story is about connecting with others to help you pursue your dream. show less

Engaging, often funny, with other bits of interest than just the 82 yo Pappy being ready for full-time care, including integration, dreams vs duties, desert survival, and a heck of a lot of grown-ups drinking too much. And the lack of resolution bothers me. At least they can consider hiring someone; that'd be cheaper than a nursing home because he needs supervision & light housekeeping, no nursing.

Do you want to sleep? Find another storyteller. Do you want to think about the world in a new way? Come closer. Closer, please. I want to whisper in your ear.

Koertge presents a new, modern take on the fairy tales most of us remember from our childhood. What happened to the stepsisters after Cinderella married her prince? Was Rapunzel really happy with her life or did she crave for what she couldn't have? What about the Little Match Girl? Seen a waif sitting on a street corner selling CD's show more lately? And, what really happens when you are the only one in the village to notice that the King's isn't wearing any clothes and voice it for all to hear and the reaction isn't quite what you expect it to be? What do you do then?

In sort, concise free verse format, Koertge' 23 vignettes are a refreshing if subversive viewpoint of a number of the fairy tales of old. If you aren't up to speed on your fairy tales, brush up before diving into this slim volume: some of these vignettes are written with an expectation that the reader is already versed in the stories that they refer to. The artwork by Dezso is a nice compliment. All the images as black cut paper silhouettes that are eye-catching with a subtle 3-D effect.

Overall, an enjoyable and quick read. show less