Happy New Year (a little late)! As the New Year is so often a time for people to reinvent themselves -physically, emotionally, spiritually – I thought I’d compile a list of books wherein reinvention is the name of the game. In this case, it is the classics themselves, which have been reinvented by modern authors. Without further ado, here are my picks for the best retellings of classic stories (a very popular subgenre these days)!
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
This highly compelling re-imagining of The Scarlet Letter is set in America in the near future. In this America, church and state are no longer separate and criminals are not imprisoned but rather dyed specific colors that denote their crime. In the case of the protagonist, Hannah Payne, she has been genetically altered to be a Red–the color of murder. Hannah has been convicted of killing her unborn child and has refused to name the equally complicit father, a famous evangelical pastor. This remarkably disturbing novel functions both as political commentary and well-crafted entertainment and owes as much to The Scarlet Letter as it does to The Handmaid’s Tale. The story of Hannah’s punishment, her passion, and her surprising journey will linger a long while after you’ve finished reading it.
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
I am an unabashed Jane Austen fan and generally find all of the recent Austen-inspired literature to be third-rate knock-offs. However, once in a blue moon, a novel will come along that captures the spirit of Austen in new and intriguing ways. For Darkness Shows the Stars, a YA retelling of Persuasion, is such a novel. Set in the dystopian future where humanity has barely managed to survive a genetic apocalypse of its own making, the novel deftly explores the ramifications of genetic modifications, the dangers of blind faith and the complexities of class, while remaining true to the plot of Austen’s original story. The novel’s protagonist, Elliot North, is smart, prickly, and compelling–in short, worthy of her Austen lineage. Even if you’re not an Austen fan, you’ll love this story for its intelligence and insight.
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
The Hours is a hard book to describe, in part, an homage to Virginia Woolf, and a retelling of her masterpiece Mrs. Dalloway, it is a rich testament to the ways in which novels can impact and shape us. Deeply sad, superbly written, The Hours explores the interior lives of three women living in three different time periods–Virginia Woolf in 1923, Clarissa Vaughan in 1990, and Laura Brown in 1949–and the intersection of love, loss, and despair. A slim novel, it manages to speak volumes about the secret truths we carry within us and the daily beauty and sorrow we are witness to. It’s by no means an easy book to read, as befitting any tribute to Woolf, but it is marvelous and well worth the effort.
Railsea by China Mieville
As most of you know by now, I am an avid science fiction fan. Having read widely within the genre, I can safely say that China Mieville is possibly the most inventive, surprising, subversive, and intellectual writer in the field. Genre aside, he’s widely considered to be one of the most eminent writers working in the world today and deservedly so. Railsea, his most recent work is nominally intended for a young adult audience but is so rich and complex that it would certainly captivate any adult reader. A retelling of Moby Dick, the novel introduces us to a world where the “seas” are a vast network of railways and the monsters hunted are giant moles. Our main character, Sham, is a young doctor’s assistant aboard a moler ship serving a captain intent on hunting down an elusive mole responsible for her lost arm. Is the premise absurd? Yes. The world is wildly improbable? Certainly. Is it a fantastic, mind-boggling read? Absolutely!
March by Geraldine Brooks
More of a parallel novel than a retelling, March is the story of Mr. March, the long-absent father from Little Women. Geraldine Brooks writes stunning historical fiction and this slender work is one of her very best. March is a clergyman, a transcendentalist, and an abolitionist intent on living life according to his lofty, yet often naive, ideals. The novel takes us into the dark heart of war and delivers us into the horrors, the guilt, and the small moments of redemption that occur in such times. Mr. March (who is based on Alcott’s father) is a compellingly human character; at turns flawed and tragic, inspiring and riveting. For those who loved Little Women, Brooks’ depiction of Marmee will be a surprise, but I think, a welcome one.
And finally, for those of you looking for some visual entertainment, look no further than the masterful and highly addictive reinvention of the 1970s show Battlestar Galactica. Arguably the best TV show ever made, its commentary on Bush-era politics, exploration of religious faith, representation of gender roles, and good old-fashioned space battles make this series a must-see. It’s so good that the cast and writers actually were invited to the UN to discuss human rights issues and global politics! See the trailer if you’re curious…
Happy reading and watching!