Retellings are an extremely popular trend across various literary genres. It's important to keep in mind that a Retelling is not a Reboot. It usually shifts the point of view to another character involved in the classic story, or transports the story we love and brings it to life in the modern world.
Here are Five of Thera's favorite Retellings from Classic Literature.
1. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole (A Retelling of Don Quixote)
The hapless and hilarious misadventures of Ignatius J. Reilly across a sultry New Orleans backdrop are sure to remind readers of Knight in shining delusion Don Quixote, from Miguel Cerevantes’ classic of the same name. Join Ignatius as he creates havoc everywhere he goes, remains thoroughly convinced of his towering greatness and never learns a thing. It’s great.
2. Grendel by John Gardner (A Retelling of Beowulf)
For anyone who thought the bad guy from the anonymous epic poem may have had more depth than presented on the page, Grendel dares to dig deeper. Presenting the ultimately defeated monster as something of a disillusioned antihero with complex thoughts, emotions and a surprising sense of humor, the book dares you to understand what you were meant to fear.
3. Wicked by Gregory Maguire (A Retelling of The Wizard of Oz)
The quintessential retelling to many fans of the subgenre, Wicked has become somewhat overshadowed by its much sunnier stage adaptation in recent years. But Gregory Maguire deserves endless credit for delving so skillfully into the troubled past of the Wicked Witch of the West with empathy, charm and lovely descriptive writing.
4. Pride by Ibi Zoboi (A Retelling of Pride And Prejudice)
Taking Jane Austen’s timeless love story to Modern day Bushwick, NY, Ibi Zoboi capably remixes the novel's classic themes, tackling gentrification, diaspora wars, class and college applications for a winning YA romance. Zoboi’s dynamic prose and witty dialogue should please Austen fans and contemporary lit fans alike.
5. Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (A Reimagined Continuation of Cinderella)
More of a spiritual sequel than a direct retelling, the wonderfully subversive Cinderella is Dead follows queer teenager Sophia Grimmins (see what they did there?) navigating a world in which the long dead princess has left an inescapable mark on society. But honoring Cinderella’s legacy isn’t for everyone, and Sophia’s rebellious, twist-filled journey shows what happens when happily ever after comes to an end.
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