"Unique and entertaining analysis of nursery rhymes and fairy tales."

The author has produced a short but very entertaining laugh- out-loud analysis of nursery rhymes and fairy tales, and given us what she considers some more realistic short tales to ponder, what she refers to as "incredibly warped stories". Although they use some standard fairy tale characters, they are not rewrites of the original stories, but rather a whole different perspective on the events.

Ms. Popek starts out on nursery rhymes. Little Johnny Finn obviously likes watching animals suffer, since he put pussy in the well; Jack the Nimble was a pyromaniac; the Little Old Lady who lived in the Shoe was guilty of child abuse. Oh, and let us not forget Georgie Porgie, who tempted little girls with sweets and then molested them.

She then moves right along to the fairy tales. Her analysis of Rumplestiltskin, for example, leads us to understand her conclusion that "We have a lying S.O.B. of a father, a greedy king, a morally challenged little man, and a young girl that has learned to lie, cheat and steal to get what she wants." Along the way she speculates about Rumple's possible involvement in black market baby selling--why else would he want the girl's firstborn child?

The ten short stories--ranging from half a page to ten pages in length each--are highly warped but far more realistic and believable versions of princesses kidnapped by trolls, fairy godmothers, leprechauns, handsome princes, and not-so-evil stepmothers.

If you've got a spare hour and want a good laugh--and a truly enlightening look at what we're teaching our children with bedtime stories--try this "collection of frivolous fallacies".

Reviewed by Raelene Gorlinsky
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted August 29, 2003

Summary

Many fairy tale creatures are misunderstood and stereotyped as bad guys. Hey, they're not all bad. Take Ogres for instance, they have problems just like anybody else. Ogres need love too, you know.

These mature fairy tales tell "the rest of the story." Find out why the Pied Piper had such a problem with kids. Were Hansel and Gretel juvenile serial killers? Did Red Riding Hood have a wolf fetish? Find out this and more in FAIRY TALES WITH A FREUDIAN FLAIR: A Collection of frivolous fallacies. This is a hilarious collection of ten short stories that will make you never look at fairy tales and nursery rhymes the same way again. It's a rollicking romp through the demented mind of S. Joan Popek.

Hint: Don't skip the Introduction. Some say the Introduction is the best part. But you can be the judge...and jury...and...gulp...executioner.