What were your favorite books as a child? Did you have a favorite character or hero?

When I was young, we were constantly exposed to the works of Peter Rosegger, who was a hero in Styria, my home state. He wrote incredible stories with a focus on our region, so he was one of the favorites.

We also constantly read these terribly violent stories by the Grimm Brothers. I mean, the cleaned-up versions of these are nowhere near the horror stories we used to read. It’s no wonder my brother was a total scaredy-cat and afraid to walk home alone after you realize he had been exposed to the tales of the Grimm Brothers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/books/review/arnold-schwarzenegger-by-the-book.html?ref=books

Who knew that Arnold Schwarzenegger would be the go-to guy for what to read next?  I cannot help but think of Neil Gaiman’s wonderful line about his own craft every time I see a picture of the Governor/Terminator: “I make things up and write them down.”

Here’s the link to the 10-part BBC broadcast on the Brothers Grimm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pjjzs/episodes/guide

1. Episode 10

   Marina Warner considers the future of the Grimm brothers’ tales.

   Episode 9

2. Marina Warner examines the tales’ history of censorship.

   First broadcast: 27 Dec 2012

   Episode 8

3. Marina Warner explores the Grimm brothers’ tales.

   First broadcast: 26 Dec 2012

4. Episode 7

   Marina examines the deeper meanings read into the tales by writers and psychologists.

   First broadcast: 25 Dec 2012

5. Episode 6

   Marina Warner probes the fate of the tales at the hands of the Nazis.

   First broadcast: 24 Dec 2012

6. Episode 5

    Marina Warner is drawn into the tales’ rich history of illustration.

   First broadcast: 21 Dec 2012

7.  Episode 4

8. Marina identifies real people and places believed to have inspired the Grimms’ collection

10. Episode 3

    3/10 Marina Warner enters the magical worlds of the fairy tale.

    First broadcast: 19 Dec 2012

    Episode 2

11. 2/10 Marina Warner traces Grimms’ tales back to their ancient origins.

    First broadcast: 18 Dec 2012

12. Episode 1

    1/10 Marina Warner introduces the Grimm brothers and examines the story of The Frog King.

    First broadcast: 17 Dec 2012

http://www.theonion.com/articles/the-hobbit-to-feature-53minutelong-scene-of-bilbo,30727/

‘The Hobbit’ To Feature 53-Minute-Long Scene Of Bilbo Baggins Trying To Figure Out What To Pack

The film, one of three upcoming Lord Of The Rings prequels based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, reportedly suspends its main narrative action for almost a third of its screen time while the main character rummages through his house trying to figure out what clothing and personal possessions he will need for his journey.

“Yeah, he just sort of fusses around for a while, wondering aloud whether he should pack an umbrella or not, and laying out different coats on his bed,” said Hollywood Reporter critic Todd McCarthy, who attended an early press screening this week. “And then there are long stretches—I’m talking like 10, 12 minutes—where he’s just sitting in a chair silently thinking about what he’s going to need.”

http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2012/11/25

With thanks to Scott Kominers for the tip-off.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/11/philip-pullmans-twice-told-tales-fairy-tales-from-the-brothers-grimm.html

http://io9.com/5961916/guillermo-del-toro-explains-the-biggest-mistake-people-make-in-telling-stories-for-children

Guillermo del Toro talks about his new movie, Rise of the Guardians, and tells us a lot about monsters, darkness, and how to write for children.

What’s the difference between a monster movie and a dark fairy tale?

It’s a very, very, very thin difference. I think that horror stories come from fairy tales, in a way. They share a lot of similarities. I think the difference is tonal. You know, the fairy tale contains a lot more elements of magic and whimsy and the the horror story contains a lot more, sort of, almost existential feelings — sort of dread, and ultimately they are similar melodies, played at a very different key.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article3597972.ece

A fairytale writer and cultural anthropologist who has been defending the disappearing culture of the Pomor people in the frozen north of Russia is facing trial for high treason.

The case against Ivan Moseyev — suspected by the Russian secret police of fomenting discontent among the 7,000 descendants of 18th century Norwegian trappers — highlights the political sensitivity of the Arctic region. Human rights campaigners are worried that the use of treason charges marks a new development in the treatment of dissidents. “This is the only case that I know about of treason laws being used in this way,” said Patricia Kaatee, a policy adviser for Amnesty International in Norway. It fitted into a pattern of tougher action against critics of President Putin, she added. “Amnesty deplores that the repression of dissenting political views has become harsher since Putin came to power.”

Mr Putin was elected to a third presidential term in March.

The work carried out by Mr Moseyev, 54, included compiling folk tales, songs and a dictionary. The work was funded by Norway as part of the transnational Barents Sea co-operation project to help civil society in the region.

“With financial support from Norway, Moseyev produced a dictionary of the languages of the Pomors,” said an FSB secret police analysis prepared for the indictment. “On the basis of this he published a series of articles and conducted activities aimed at harming Russian security.”

http://blogs.uflib.ufl.edu/news/2012/10/19/baldwin-library-speaker-series/

Roosterteeth now has an anime version of Little Red Riding Hood.  I’m assuming that it’s a series inspired by video-game technologies.

Not too much is known at this point about the series. RWBY stands for Red, White, Black and Yellow and is pronounced “Ruby”. The teaser shows a red riding hood-type character decimating a horde of “werewolves” using a very unique and deadly weapon. The animation looks simply amazing, combining smooth animation with anime-influenced art. It’s not quite cell-shading but gives off that feeling. So far, this is just a look at the type of fight choreography to expect in the series, but it is promised to have interesting characters and a deep story ingrained in all aspects of the series. What I also like about this series that most of this show will be worked on by some of the unsung heroes that work behind the scenes now on Red vs Blue among many of the other shows RT has produced. In a way, this is sort of their time to shine and show what they’ve got. I’m extremely hyped for this and cannot wait for this to come out. 

http://risingsuntokusatsu.com/2012/11/07/new-rooster-teeth-original-series-rwby-to-hit-in-2013/

In a HuffPo chat last night, Jack Zipes referred to the faux feminism of many fairy-tale adaptations–the effort to bring tales up to date by turning the girls/women into warriors.

Alison Richards writes about culinary delights and horrors in the Grimms’ fairy tales.

What I wasn’t quite prepared for was all the culinary horror that goes along with this fairy tale deliciousness. Forget about edible houses, magic apples, and winter strawberries. Young women and small children are just as likely to top the menu. Variously gulped down whole, fattened for roasting, neatly sliced for serving, or cut up into stew.

In the story “The Robber Bridegroom,” the gruesome kitchen prep is the final stage of what can only be described as a gang rape. A band of drunken thieves drag home a young woman, force her to drink three full glasses of wine “one white, one red, one yellow,” tear off her clothes, and finally, they “chopped her beautiful body into pieces, and sprinkled them with salt.”

“The Juniper Tree” goes even further. A wicked stepmother kills her husband’s young son so that their daughter will inherit everything. In order to conceal the hideous crime, she chops up the little boy’s body and turns him into a pot of stew. When his father returns home, he tucks into a hearty meal. “Oh, dear wife, this stew tastes so good!” he declares. And then he demands a second helping.

And almost as bad as the prospect of becoming dinner is the prospect of having no dinner at all — many of these stories are haunted by the specter of hunger. It’s famine and despair that sets the whole plot machinery of Hansel and Gretel in motion. Mothers threaten to eat or abandon their own children because there is no food. Outside of the palace or noble house, people survive on a meager diet of bread, roots and herbs with the occasional egg or apple. Step children and outcasts get dry crusts and whatever they can forage.

http://www.nhpr.org/post/brothers-original-fairy-tales-offer-grimm-menu