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A Wild Swan
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
41 posts | 42 read | 62 to read
Fairy tales for our times from the Pulitzer Prizewinning author of The Hours A poisoned apple and a monkey's paw with the power to change fate; a girl whose extraordinarily long hair causes catastrophe; a man with one human arm and one swan's wing; and a house deep in the forest, constructed of gumdrops and gingerbread, vanilla frosting and boiled sugar. In A Wild Swan and Other Tales, the people and the talismans of lands far, far awaythe mythic figures of our childhoods and the source of so much of our wonderare transformed by Michael Cunningham into stories of sublime revelation. Here are the moments that our fairy tales forgot or deliberately concealed: the years after a spell is broken, the rapturous instant of a miracle unexpectedly realized, or the fate of a prince only half cured of a curse. The Beast stands ahead of you in line at the convenience store, buying smokes and a Slim Jim, his devouring smile aimed at the cashier. A malformed little man with a knack for minor acts of wizardry goes to disastrous lengths to procure a child. A loutish and lazy Jack prefers living in his mother's basement to getting a job, until the day he trades a cow for a handful of magic beans. Reimagined by one of the most gifted storytellers of his generation, and exquisitely illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, rarely have our bedtime stories been this dark, this perverse, or this true.
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review
Adventures_of_a_French_Reader
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Pickpick

Very interesting retelling of well-known tales with a modern twist. Of course, I preferred some over others, but I've found them all well-constructed and well-written. And I can only praise the author for having surprised me with these inventive retellings.

21 likes1 stack add
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Tanner
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Someone doesn‘t want me to start this one.

Texreader ❤️🐈😻 4y
15 likes1 comment
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totalshrew
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Most of us can manage our own undoings. Vengeful entities seek only to devastate the rarest, the ones who have somehow been granted not only bower and trumpet but comeliness that startles the birds in the trees, coupled with grace, generosity, and charm so effortless as to seem like ordinary human qualities.
Who wouldn't want to fuck these people up?

From Dis. Enchant

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Kalalalatja
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Pickpick

I took a day off today just because, and celebrated with possibly the biggest croissant in town, a second cake (because why not), and finishing this wonderful book from @erzascarletbookgasm ❤️

These tales take well known fairytales and flip them on their head. We get a tale from Rumpelstiltskin‘s perspective, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and the title story, 7 Wild Swans. Very well done, I enjoyed them a lot!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Enjoy!!! ❤️📚 5y
Suet624 Yum. 5y
erzascarletbookgasm It‘s great to take a day off to recharge, to simply do something relaxing.. That gigantic croissant looks yummy! Glad you enjoyed the book. ❤️ 5y
Kalalalatja @erzascarletbookgasm a day off was needed. And now there‘s only 2,5 weeks until I have 2 weeks off for Christmas vacation, so I feel like I can just get through it 😉 the book was so much better than I expected, so thank you! @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Suet624 it was so delicious 🤤 5y
JennyM Glad you‘ve had a day to recharge. You always have the best treats to eat!!!! 5y
69 likes5 stack adds5 comments
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Kalalalatja
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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BarbaraBB I didn‘t know he wrote a new one. Looking forward to your review 5y
BarbaraBB Oops, I notice it‘s from 2015! Completely missed it 😊 5y
Rissreads This sounds really interesting. I look forward to your review and thoughts. 5y
69 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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Kalalalatja
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Dear Jessie, thank you so much for the #birthdaybooks ❤️ I finally got around to picking them up from the PO today. I‘m really excited for the tagged book, it has been on my tbr for ages! I already own and have read the Pinborough book (and really liked it!), but then I can #PayItForward to someone else, who hopefully will like it too!

Thank you my friend!

erzascarletbookgasm I hope you‘ll enjoy the tagged book!❤️ Bad stalking on my part regarding the other book...I loved the story. I hope someone else will be able to enjoy it. 😊 5y
Kalalalatja @erzascarletbookgasm it is tough keeping up to date with all the books we Littens read 😂 don‘t worry about it ❤️ 5y
69 likes2 comments
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RachelS89
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Mehso-so

This book just wasn't for me.
It's too bitter and cynical for my taste, and the author seems to have a very dim view of marriage and relationships. It's kind of like reading the literary equivalent of an Alanis Morrissete album.

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MsJPilkey
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Picked up a couple of finds at the bookstore. #shakespeare #shortstories

2 likes1 stack add
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Skygoddess1
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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On to my second book for the @24in48 readathon. A quick read filled with clever retellings of classic fairy tales. Enjoying this with a cup of tea. #24in48 #readathon #currentread

8 likes1 stack add
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ju.ca.no
Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Just started this collection of Fairytale Retellings with my beautiful bookmark from @Sarah83
The illustrations are beautiful but I didn‘t like the first story... let‘s see if the next ones are more enjoyable for me

Cinfhen Love the bookmark 😍 7y
Sarah83 I don't need to tell you, that you must use this bookmark for your new Mary Poppins edition? 😍 7y
ju.ca.no @Sarah83 I will😍😍😍 7y
Sarah83 Hope to see it. 😍 7y
Meeko93 I love that bookmark!!! 7y
68 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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ju.ca.no
Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Seriously though: who lets me wait on my own, next to a bookshop for half an hour? Well, my train apparently. I don't think I need to tell you what happend😅 (how could I ever leave such a pretty book behind anyways)

MayJasper Blame the train! 😁 7y
ju.ca.no @MayJasper haha oh yes! The train obviously is to blame😂 7y
MayJasper Does 'ein wilder schwan' mean A Wild Swan? Sounds too simple. 7y
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ju.ca.no @MayJasper yup, in this case it is this simple😊 7y
MayJasper It sounds really good. 7y
ju.ca.no @MayJasper it does! I'm glad I've found it!😍 hopefully I'll be able to read it soon😊 7y
52 likes6 comments
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Howseldomtheydo
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Love the unruly braided font #tbr #forfontssake #anditsAugust

[DELETED] 206653737 Oh good font, very unique! 7y
elkeOriginal I can't say I even noticed it was a braid when I bought my copy! 7y
93 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Simona
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Some classics children's tales with darker twists and turns 😱It was my favorite book in April.

#sizzlinsummerbooks #retelling

vivastory I loved this book 7y
Simona @vivastory I'm not huge fan of retells, but I loved this one too! 7y
69 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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avapxos
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Pickpick
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avapxos
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Beautifull illustrations in #awildswan #love

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sightlined
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham

"Happy endings. Too many to count."

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Simona
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Good reading month! A Wild Swan is my favorite book in April. It's collection of well known fairytales, but with dark twists (and with beautiful illustrations). Thank you @TheLondonBookworm for recommendation😘

#aprilbookshowers #bestofapril

TheLondonBookworm Oh yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :) it's so creepy cool isn't it. A real twisty maze of wonders. 🖤 that book :) 8y
Simona @TheLondonBookworm O yes it's! Thank you again for recommendation 🙏 8y
Gissy Amazing!! 📚📚📚📚👏👏👏👏 8y
Simona Thanks 😊 @Gissy (edited) 8y
76 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Simona
Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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I'm starting my #deweysreadthon (2 hours delay) with this fairy tales book.

#readathon #springcleaningreadathon

okthislooksbad Ooh that's a magical cover 😍😍 8y
Simona @okthislooksbad It's beautiful 😍 Cover and stories❣️ 8y
48 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Ubookquitous
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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#signedsunday the dustjacket is embossed with a wing design, Yukio Shimizu's ink drawings ore beautiful, and it is signed. One of the more beautiful books on my #favoriteauthors bookshelf.

14 likes1 comment
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BookmarkTavern
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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It's been a couple months since I was able to do one of these monthly challenges, and I've missed it, so I'm excited to join in again! #marchintoreading #marchTBR @RealLifeReading

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Eliza-beta
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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I just started this. Super clever so far!

CrowCAH Quite the script! 8y
79 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
sightlined
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
Pickpick

These shorts are all brilliant studies in empathy and the dark twists of the psyche. He picks the fairytale characters we think we know (or the footnotes, the ones we overlook) and redraws them. Beauty thinks she‘s got game, Rumpelstiltskin just wants to be a father. The brother left with a swan's wing for an arm struggles after the fairytale ends. It‘s sure dark. But Cunningham is sharp, and knows better than to let the light go out completely.

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nikirtehsuxlol
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Magic is sometimes all about knowing where the secret door is, and how to open it.

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nikirtehsuxlol
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Here in the city lives a prince whose left arm is like any other man's and whose right arm is a swan's wing.

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MadCatRamble
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Pickpick

Beautiful. Cunningham adapts and interprets these fairy tales with a modern, sly edge and acres of respect for the traditions behind them. I couldn't be happier to have started my reading year with it.

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Bree.Hill
Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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"Only Beauty knew that the beat would track them down, and murder them. Only Beauty understood what a single rose might signify, what's acts a rose could inspire, if you lived without hope."

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LA_Mead
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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If you're looking for a re-imagined set of fairytales, look no further!

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Bree.Hill
Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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'Here are the moments that our fairy tales forgot or deliberately concealed; the years after a spell is broken, the rapturous instant of a miracle unexpectedly realized, or the fate of a prince only half cured or a curse.'

6 likes1 stack add
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bitterbear
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Pickpick

The stories were/are good but it's the illustrations that really make this book wonderful.

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Redwritinghood
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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#fairytaleretelling This book is a collection of short stories all based on fairy tales. I always enjoy Michael Cunningham's writing and liked all the stories in this collection. #photoadaynov16

bitterbear These stories reminded me of Ronald Dahl. 8y
47 likes1 comment
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bookishnerd
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Pickpick

I actually finished a book!! One of my cats has vanished so my mind has been too distracted to concentrate and I was in a slump of sorts to begin with. I guess a shorter work was a good plan. This is a collection of adult fairy tales based on the collections we are familiar with as children. It was a very dark take on them, but I enjoyed them and great art, too. This is worth checking out!

DuckOfDoom I hope you find your cat again! 8y
bmsddk Congrats about the book! Hope your cat returns safely to you. 8y
Eyelit Sorry to hear about your kitty! 💜 hope it makes its way back home! 8y
34 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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BethFishReads
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Pickpick

Dark and modern fairy tale retellings. I like the blend of traditional stories with contemporary details. Beautiful artwork too.

jennifersmeth Looks like one up my alley! 8y
BethFishReads @jennifersmeth yes I think you'd like it 8y
jennifersmeth I've requested it from the library! 8y
41 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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BethFishReads
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Thrilled to have a copy of this collection (now in paperback). Such a gorgeous book. Short pices with a dark, adult fairy tale feel. The art 💕

DebinHawaii What lovely illustrations! ❤️📚 8y
BethFishReads @DebinHawaii they're amazing 8y
BookishFeminist I really enjoyed this book! @LauraBeth this is the book I was telling you about. 😀 8y
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bookishnerd Oh, I need this. I wanted it anyway, but so pretty. 8y
LauraBeth @BookishFeminist stacked it 😀 8y
BethFishReads @BookishFeminist I may have to read it next @LauraBeth 8y
BethFishReads @bookishnerd the illustrations and nice paper were surprises 8y
BookishFeminist It's a really quick read! 8y
bookishnerd I had my eye on it as an audio so now I am glad I didn't. 8y
TotoroReads I love dark fairy tales! This looks good!! 8y
RunningnReading This has been on my list for so long; I need to pick up a copy! 8y
60 likes6 stack adds12 comments
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Bookishaf
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
Pickpick

A quick and good read! The graphics are amazing and the stories will make you rethink all our treasured fairytales and folklore. Reality can be harsh sometimes. You'll see what I mean when you read it. #LateNightLitsy

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Hgahagan
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. I loved this take on the fairy tales chosen and how he brought them into our world and our time but yet kept them true to the original. If you like different telling a of fairy tales I highly recommend this book.

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Hgahagan
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. I loved this take on the fairy tales chosen and how he brought them into our world and our time but yet kept them true to the original. If you like different telling a of fairy tales I highly recommend this book.

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Hgahagan
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. I loved this take on the fairy tales chosen and how he brought them into our world and our time but yet kept them true to the original. If you like different telling a of fairy tales I highly recommend this book.

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LA_Mead
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Picked up a few more books today...

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Poindextrix
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
Pickpick

I love fairytales. I love dark and twisty. I love a dark and twisty take on fairytales.

11 likes2 stack adds
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SarahK
A Wild Swan: And Other Tales | Michael Cunningham
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Pickpick

New twists on familiar tales. Michael Cunningham did an excellent job presenting fairy tales in a new light

6 likes1 stack add