December 30, 2010
“As a kid, fairy tales weren’t my favorites. These have changed me. Each voice is distinct. Stories from around the world are re-explored by Aimee Bender, Joy Williams, and Corvallis’ own Marjorie Sandor, among others. ‘The Color Master’ delves into the creation of color in cloth, something Bender loved in the fairy tale ‘Donkeyskin’ that she read as a girl. John Updike and Joyce Carol-Oates both rework Bluebeard. Williams addresses John James Audubon’s ethics through a story of Baba Iaga and her pelican child. At the close of each, writers note what fuels their obsession and retelling. I’m far from finished, and not about to stop.”—Sarah, Grass Roots Books & Music, Corvallis