fairy tales for grown-ups

[noirbettie]

This is cross-posted from my blog because I want a good long list.

Care to help me compile a list? Leave your choices in the comments. I will add the ones I agree with (which is probably any I have read) to my master list.

• Clive Barker's The Thief Of Always
  
• Roger Zelazny's A Night In The Lonesome October
  
• Neil Gaiman's entire catalog
  
• V.S. Naipaul's

Comments

[noirbettie]

Couldn't you make me define something easy, like "list" or something?

I was going for any magical story (not necessarily fantasy) not aimed at children.

Does that help?

I'm afraid I've never read any Terry Brooks. Will reads Sword of Shannara every couple of years and still hates it every time.

[solidkz]

I've read the following fantasy-like books that skirt the periphery of magic and fairy-tale in the real world in a way that I think you'd appreciate:

A Wild Sheep Chase - Haruki Murakami
Dance Dance Dance - Murakami
Sputnik Sweetheart - Murakami
Wind up Bird Chronicle - Murakami

I'm working on Norwegian Wood and Hardboiled Wonderland And the End of the World when I'm not utterly distracted from leisure reading by school. I'd recommend his entire catalog, actually.

[shelbyg]

Oooohhh... I love Wind Up Bird Chronicle! It is definitely an adult fairy tale. Murakami is one of my sister's favorite authors and his books are much of what brought her and her husband together.

Shelby

[shelbyg]

David Flincher's The Game is very much like a Grimm tale though not overtly magical. It has the moral lessons and impossible action of a good Grimm tale.

Would any story with the label of "magical realism" apply? Or are you looking for classic "children's" tales told anew for adults?

Labels are so damn tricky: the more we try to use them the less sense they make. : )

[noirbettie]

I haven't read much magical realism but I suspect it's exactly what I'm thinking of.

But really? Don't overthink it. If you think it's a fairy tale, name it.

[brisrealm]

clive's weaveworld and coldheart canyon...

wow, i am really illiterate in the adult fairy tale world.

i end up reading the young adult ones like lemony snicket and clive's abarat series, but otherwise, my books have been straight up horror, drama, suspense, or historical romance...

[epicallytired]

havent' read the other replies so if i'm repeating i'm sorry

the entire discworld series
specifically
sourcery
hogfather
witches abroad
weird sisters
...you know what...ALL OF THEM
maybe even all of terry pratchett

Jack of kinrowan by Charled de Lint
'til we have faces C.S. Lewis

the long dark teatime of the soul and
dirk gently's holistic detective agency
both by douglas adams

the sirens of titan by Kurt Vonnugut

wicked
confessions of an ugly stepsister (dont' remember the name of that guy, can't be arsed to look it up)