'A collection of stories delectable, formidable, and nimble. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Carry On Ortberg bloodily turns familiar tales inside out.' ― Rainbow Rowell, No. 'Dark and dreadful and persistently clever. 'Ortberg’s sly, scathing renditions.strike directly at the heart.The book brings the shock of the new and the shock of recognition into play at the same time it’s a tour de force of skill, daring, and hard-earned bravura.' ― Publishers Weekly (starred review) 'A wholly satisfying blend of silliness, feminist critique, and deft prose makes this a collection of bedtime stories that will keep you up at night for all the right reasons.' ― Kirkus Reviews (starred review) 'Empowering, subversive.Daniel Mallory Ortberg twists fairy tales into elegant garrotes.There's not a single weak link in the cat's-breath chain of this collection.incredible.' ― The New York Times Book Review Vulture's 6 Books You Should Read This March Publishers Weekly: The Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2018 Ms Magazine: '6 Feminist Reads for Winter' The Millions: 'Most Anticipated: The Great 2018 Book Preview'īuzzFeed: 'The 33 Most Exciting New Books Of 2018'īookRiot: '101 Books Coming Out in 2018.'īustle: '35 Most Anticipated Books of 2018' The Huffington Post: “60 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2018”īustle: “35 Most Anticipated Books of 2018”ĪV Club: '10 Books We Can't Wait to Read in 2018' NYLON: “50 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2018” The Rumpus: “What to Read When 2018 is Right Around the Corner” 'synopsis' may belong to another edition of this title. Unfalteringly faithful to its beloved source material, The Merry Spinster also illuminates the unsuspected, and frequently, alarming emotional complexities at play in the stories we tell ourselves, and each other, as we tuck ourselves in for the night. Readers of The Toast will instantly recognize Ortberg's boisterous good humor and uber-nerd swagger: those new to Ortberg's oeuvre will delight in this collection's unique spin on fiction, where something a bit mischievous and unsettling is always at work just beneath the surface.

Sinister and inviting, familiar and alien all at the same time, The Merry Spinster updates traditional children's stories and fairy tales with elements of psychological horror, emotional clarity, and a keen sense of feminist mischief. The feature has become among the most popular on the site, with each entry bringing in tens of thousands of views, as the stories proved a perfect vehicle for Ortberg’s eye for deconstruction and destabilization. Adapted from the beloved 'Children's Stories Made Horrific' series, 'The Merry Spinster' takes up the trademark wit that endeared Ortberg to readers of both The Toast and the best-selling debut Texts From Jane Eyre. From Mallory Ortberg comes a collection of darkly mischievous stories based on classic fairy tales.

The Merry Spinster by Daniel M. Lavery