There will be those who argue that retellings of classic literature are unoriginal and no better than the endless remakes of films that are. Prometheus is the god that has his liver eaten by an eagle everyday. You may read about romeos adventures in an urban gang or find dorian gray set against the aids epidemic of the 1980s, but ultimately you get the chance to experience your favorites for the first time, all over again. Films based on classic novels movies made from classic. Jun 11, 2014 11 modern retellings of classic novels.
Margaret atwood, the penelopiad 2005 a chorus of competing female voices from the underworldthose of penelopes 12 maids accused of treasonous plotting and hanged by her son, telemachusprovide the backdrop for this counterepic to the odyssey. I dont care about the continuing stories what happened after elizabeth and darcy got married is best left to the imagination, but give me a modern spin on an austen classic and theres a good chance i wont leave my reading chair until i turn the last page. Ya classic literature retellings score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. If youre looking for fantasy works with arthurian elements but arent adaptations of earlier source material, then guy gavriel kays fionavar tapestry, susan collinss the dark is rising, and even robert e.
Prometheus provoked the ire of zeus when he stole the sacred fire of the gods from mount olympus and gave it to mankind. Ya retellings of classic literature if theres one thing i love, its a good retelling. From historical fiction to fantasy to dystopian, our classic fairy tales and novels have been retold over and over in various genres and age groups from childrens to teen to adult literature. Pride and prejudice retellings have the most options, but youll also find retellings of jane austens. Modern retellings of jane austens novels readers lane. Its no secret that james joyces ulysses has inspired legions of ardent fans. If youre looking to supplement your reading list with some modern classic books or retellings, we have 7 amazing ones ready. With these modern retellings of classic stories, youll find the same familiar characters in notsofamiliar settings. The prime example is moby dick, which i have read and i will. May 23, 2016 i propose, for those of you with a classic literature book hangover, that the next best thing to do is read modern retellings of your favorite classics. Naomi novik has written a few books based on old fairy tales not classic literature exactly but still retellings of classic stories. Like the original medieval legend, updikes is also a tragic love story. Jan 04, 2017 whether its adapted fairy tales, rewritten classic literature, updated fables, or modern greek mythology retellings, im a sucker for rereading tales ive already been told in new and exciting. Here are eleven of our favorite contemporary retellings of classic literature.
Ya books based on classic literature from epicreads an epic chart of 162 young adult retellings. Bringing oncesilenced voices to the fore and reimagining stories for presentday audiences, these modern retellings of. Pride and prejudice retellings have the most options, but youll also find retellings of jane austens other novels, little women, peter pan, and more. In the year i worked on persephone, so did several other completely unconnected authors. Knights of the lunch table scholastic, 2008 retelling of the story of king arthur and his knights, by. In 1998 the modern library editorial board voted it the best american novel and the second best novel in the english language. The plucker updatedthe plucker updated by brom author on sep012010 paperback. I propose, for those of you with a classic literature book hangover, that the next best thing to do is read modern retellings of your favorite classics. Ya retellings based on classic literature riffle books. See more ideas about ya books, retelling, books young adult. Electric literature is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2009. There are a lot of persephone and hades retellings out there.
I reread many of these titles while composing the red word, loving the sense that these master storytellers were reworking the heavy, hardened clay of the malecentered. Apr 07, 2020 the science fiction genre is often overlooked, but it shouldnt be. Sometimes, the books we read for class can feel repetitive. Classics to modern movie retellings published august 30, 2012 classics whether they are novels, plays, or epics offer us great characters, interesting plots, and lots of things for discussion but sometimes they can be a little tough to tackle. Dec 31, 2017 no matter which type of reader you are, modern retellings could be just your cup of tea. Everything you want to know but are afraid to ask 22042020. Motion sets his novel nearly forty years after the conclusion of the stevenson classic and centers on the children of jim hawkins and long john silver.
Modern retellings of jane austens classic books several years ago harpercollins embarked on a project to publish modern retellings of jane austens six classic novels. Two hundred years after a supervolcano causes an ice age on earth, making the planet uninhabitable, seventeenyearold mechanic stella ainsley accepts a position as governess on the rochester, a private space ship orbiting the moon, falls in love with theships reclusive captain, befriends the secretive crew, and uncovers a plot. The stories found within are rich in characters, worlds, and nuance. The science fiction genre is often overlooked, but it shouldnt be. Classics to modern movie retellings published august 30, 2012 classics whether they are novels, plays, or epics offer us great characters, interesting plots, and lots of things for discussion but. Something magical happens when a writer revisits a classic plot.
Bringing oncesilenced voices to the fore and reimagining stories for presentday audiences, these modern retellings of the classics are not to be missed. Some retellings of classic literature that may appeal to boys. Fortunately, many modern authors have created their own stories that adapt the plots, characters, andor spirit of. Eligible pride and prejudice retelling, by the book persuasion retelling, and the spring girls little women retelling. The best modern retellings of classic literature 29012020. Fortunately, i really enjoyed silver as it can be enjoyed both as a continuation or as its own standalone story. As a jane austen fan, im a sucker for a good retelling. She grew up having nancy drew books read to her by her father, and is now an avid reader of mystery, thriller, and horror. These pieces of literature are undeniable classics. Nov, 2017 as a jane austen fan, im a sucker for a good retelling. Jul 29, 2016 if you havent read the daughters of zeus series yet, you should start with persephone, a modern day, young adult retelling of the classic greek myth.
Totally impromptu and unofficial but super fun book awards. With a fantastic range of monsters, villains, damsels, gods and mortals, the folklore of the classical world has been much studied. Classics seven classic european novels to add to your reading list 30042020. Classics classic books to tick off your bucket list 21042020. As more and more of these classic book retellings started popping up on our upcoming releases lists, i knew i wanted to add this category to our february reading challenge list. Spinning silver is my favorite, but uprooted was great, too. Four of the five original stories were written by women.
Sep 26, 2016 retellings of classic stories and folklore are easy to find no matter what genre you love to read, and the possibilities are endless. Whether its adapted fairy tales, rewritten classic literature, updated fables, or modern greek mythology retellings, im a sucker for rereading tales ive already been told in. This section contains ya retellings of classic stories, but they are the only young adult retellings that we could find. Whether youre obsessed with greek myths or intrigued by japanese folklore, this list is sure to have a title or two that can offer a great introduction to these beloved stories across the world.
John updikes retelling of tristan and isolde is set in brazil and spans over two decades, beginning in the 1960s and ending in the 1980s. Feb 26, 2014 presenting ya retellings an epic infographic brought to you by epic reads. Our mission is to amplify the power of storytelling with digital innovation, and to ensure that literature remains a vibrant presence in popular culture by supporting writers, embracing new technologies, and building community to broaden the audience for literature. There are many important books published decades or even centuries ago that have great significance but im not going to recommend them for your reading enjoyment. Jul 25, 2018 electric literature is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2009. Modern retellings of classic literature xoxo after dark. Classic books from the macmillan collectors library. Ive been told this is a common phenomenon in publishing.
Jun 15, 2018 classic literature is great, but even i, an avid reader and stereotypical english major, sometimes wish these stories were a bit more contemporary. Discover four reasons you should try tapping into the richness of literary history by writing books based on classic literature. Even though scandal and rumor have destroyed the binat familys social prospects, their secondoldest daughter alys has found a satisfying career teaching english literature to schoolgirls. The year 2018 marked the 200th anniversary of mary shelleys sciencefiction classic frankenstein was first published. They delve deeply into these wellloved favorites and use them as jumping off points to explore new. Ya books based on classic literature from epicreads an epic chart of 162 young adult retellings jake, reinvented. Retellings of classic stories and folklore are easy to find no matter what genre you love to read, and the possibilities are endless. Two hundred years after a supervolcano causes an ice age on earth, making the planet uninhabitable, seventeenyearold mechanic stella ainsley accepts a position as governess on the rochester, a private space ship orbiting the moon, falls in love with theships reclusive captain, befriends the secretive crew, and uncovers a plot that. From modern retellings of jane austen to william shakespeare, here are 6 cult films inspired by classic literature. Many of atwoods novels deal with myth and legendher more recent works are dystopian myths of her. Readers of the novel have even been known to stage live readings of the bookwhich can take up to 36 hours. Jun 16, 2015 some stories are so moving, so ubiquitous, that we cant get them out of our collective mindshakespeare, jane austen, childhood fairy tales.
This list of the best retellings of classic books includes a variety of genres and novels, so you may just find something new that piques your interest. If youre looking for retellings or reimaginings of medieval arthurian literature, then the once and future king by t. Apr 02, 2014 from modern retellings of jane austen to william shakespeare, here are 6 cult films inspired by classic literature. Scott fitzgeralds the great gatsby and thought, man, this would. In honor of the release of the strange and deadly portraits of bryony gray by e. Harper, 20 retelling of james and the giant peach, by roald dahl. Any decent modern retellings of the arthurian legends. An epic chart of 162 young adult retellings epic reads. Trying to continue a work of classic literature strikes me as a rather daunting task. Odysseus epic adventure sparked ideas in the minds of james joyce, william faulkner, and more.
Xoxo after dark recommends three modern retellings. And luckily, weve got three books were absolutely loving to recommend. This twist on pride and prejudice sets the classic romance in modernday pakistan. Heres a list of modern fairy tales written to appeal to todays teen girls. Spotlighting previously silenced voices and reimagining stories for presentday audiences, these modern retellings of the classic books are not to be missed. Literary retellings of your favorite classic tales including the spring girls by anna todd, circe by madeline miller, and more. Five modern retellings of classic stories to read and love history lizzie as more and more of these classic book retellings started popping up on our upcoming releases lists, i knew i wanted to add this category to our february reading challenge list. These inspired authors have reimagined beloved novels and iconic characters in a fresh way. We have added a few more titles to the lists below and they are. Here are 12 classic scifi novels everyone should read.
Mar, 2018 the books in this list are the smartest, most beautifully wrought adaptations of classical myths ive ever encounteredand they all just happen to be by female writers. Believe it or not, that wasnt the case back when i wrote persephone. They named several of the authors that would be attempting the near impossible taskimproving on austens original worksand they named it the austen. Modern retellings of jane austens novels jane austen may have only written six novels, but youd never know it by the sheer volume of updates, retellings, unofficial sequels, and fan fiction thats been written in and around the worlds she created. Aug 10, 2019 ya retellings of classic literature if theres one thing i love, its a good retelling. Read your way through this list of 162 young adult books that are all retellings or reimaginings of popular classic literature, myths, fairy tales and shakespearean plays. If you are looking for modern fairy tales with a twist, check out some of these fairy tale retellings.
Best young adult persephone and hades retellings kaitlin. Best young adult persephone and hades retellings kaitlin bevis. Fortunately, many modern authors have created their own stories that adapt the plots, characters, andor spirit of the originals for a new century. Knights of the lunch table scholastic, 2008 retelling of the story of king arthur and his knights, by howard pyle neil gaiman, illustrated by skottie young. Classic literature is great, but even i, an avid reader and stereotypical english major, sometimes wish these stories were a bit more contemporary. The revival of the classics in renaissance europe led to an incredible upsurge of hellenocentric thought, with art and literature. For me, classic books need to be readable because im not studying literature at university these days.
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