Fairest Discussion: Other Resources

Since the discussion for our next book doesn't start until next week, and I don't have much else to say on the subject of Fairest, I'll use today to post up my list of similiar items to the book. If you've got other comments, feel free to share! I'll post the list of discussion questions on Saturday.

Books:
Beastly by Alex Finn (also a movie, though I haven't seen it yet!)
     Beastly is a modern day Beauty and The Beast (obviously, I'm sure). A handsome, popular guy is bewitched into a hideous monster who has 2 years to find someone to love who loves in him return, despite all of his short-commings.

Dusssie by Nancy Springer
     I haven't read this book yet, but if you know me: you know I LOVE Greek Mythology. Medusa has always been one of my all-time favorites! (She's not evil, just misunderstood!) Here's a blurb from Amazon.com:Dusie always knew puberty was going to be confusing, but she never realized it was going to be catastrophic--until she wakes up one morning to find that her hair has turned into a writhing mass of slithering snakes and discovers the real truth about her family: her mother is a Gorgon--right out of Greek mythology--and she was named after her mother's younger sister, Medusa. Her mother had hoped that Dusie's being half-mortal would protect her from inheriting the family curse.
Still reeling from this revelation, Dusie tries to keep her snakes under wraps. But after a boy she likes in school almost exposes her, she discovers another family secret--just one look from Dusie's snakes has the power to send someone right into his own personal Stone Age. Talk about "if looks could kill"!
Dusie better figure out how to control her snakes and her rage, and find a way to get her life back--before anything else disastrous happens.

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
     The Wizard of Oz is another of my favorite book series. Did you know that Mr. Baum wrote FOURTEEN Oz books? And after him, a myriad of other writers wrote 26 more? The "Famous Forty" as they're known don't include every Oz book ever written though, they are simply the ones recognized by the International Wizard of Oz Club. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the 1939 film, but I can assure you: the book is so much better!

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
     No fantasy list would be complete without a mention of Harry Potter. If you haven't read the books, or it's just been awhile: they're always a good read. Especially if you've only seen the movies, the books are a must-read.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
     As mentioned above, I love Greek Mythology. When I discovered The Lightening Thief, I was HOOKED! I tell everyone that Percy Jackson is my new Harry Potter. Each book takes place over the course of a summer (or winter) vacation. Percy grew up, getting kicked from school-to-school because of things he never really had any control over doing. Things just seemed to HAPPEN to him. Luckily, he finds out that he's a son of a greek God and is taken to Camp Half-Blood where he makes friends (and enemies) with the other campers and goes on exciting (and dangerous!) adventures.

The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
     If you liked Percy Jackson, and you haven't read The Red Pyramid yet, I highly reccomend it! With a creative focus on Egyptian mythology, the Kane Chronicles are a quick read and easy to get sucked into. Carter and Sadie are brother and sister who find out that their family is decendant from the Egyptian Pharohs, which gives them certain extra abilities in helping to battle, contain, and work with the Gods. One of the unique things about the Egyptian gods vs. Greek Gods is that the Egyptian gods aren't neccarily...good. But they aren't bad either. They just "are".

The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker
This is one I haven't read, but I did steal the blurb from MORE for you:
After reluctantly kissing a frog, an awkward, fourteen-year-oldprincess suddenly finds herself a frog, too, and sets off with the prince to seek the means--and the self-confidence--to become human again

Mira, Mirror by Mette Ivie Har
 Another I haven't read yet, but MORE has it covered! Long after the disappearance of Snow White's stepmother, the witch trapped in her mirror manipulates a desperate peasant and a merchant's daughter to seek the magic she needs to gain her freedom, but the girls show her a power far greater.

Movies:
I'm sure I could go on forever about all of the fairy tale movies there are, but here are a few you may not have seen in awhile, with links to the MORE page:

Ever After

The 10th Kingdom --You can actually find a book based on the screenplay as well!

Almost every Disney Movie is a fairy tale, but some all-time favorites include:

Snow White

Hercules

Mulan (which I think fits very well with our One World, Many Stories theme this summer)

Beauty and the Beast

Pinocchio

Tangled

The Princess and the Frog

Graphic Novels and Manga:
I always like to try and get people to read Graphic Novels, especially since there is such a great collection spread out across MORE. Here in Augusta, we've got a large variety including two of my favorites, in the YA section:

Fables Fables is a graphic novel that takes place in modern day times, in a Fabletown, beneath New York City. After being exiled from their homeland, the characters from fairy tales settled down and conduct a society similiar to our own, with very unique problems. There is also a short spin off series, Jack of Fables.

Fairy Tail Fairy Tail is a Manga series, available here in Augusta, and has recently been made into an anime. Fairy Tail is the name of one of the magical guilds, made up of a sundry of different powered magicians who work together (and against one another) in order to make money taking up jobs posted in their guild hall.


There are, of course, variations of some of these titles in all kinds of formats. Don't be afraid to surf around MORE and see if there's a movie or a graphic novel of your favorite fairy tale. That's how I find some of the best books.

Post up some of your favorites I don't have listed here, or other suggestions I may have missed. Don't forget to check on Saturday, and I'll post up the discussion questions for Fairest!

Samma