"Kissing the Witch" is a collection of feminist fairy tales written by Emma Donoghue. The book was first published in 1997 and consists of thirteen interconnected stories that reimagine classic fairy tales from a feminist perspective. Each story in "Kissing the Witch" features a female protagonist who navigates through different challenges and confronts the patriarchal norms and expectations within their respective tales. Donoghue's retellings strip away the passive, one-dimensional female characters often found in traditional fairy tales and instead present complex, multi-dimensional women who defy societal expectations and find their own agency. The title of the book, "Kissing the Witch," is a reference to one of the stories within the collection, where a young woman's journey begins with a fateful kiss to a witch. This act of kissing the witch sets off a chain of events that ultimately leads to the protagonist's self-discovery and liberation.
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Title Kissing the Witch Old Tales in New Skins Author Donoghue, Emma ISBN 9780064407724 Publisher HarperTeen Published 1999 Binding Quality Language English Condition Used Very Good Clean, unmarked copy with some edge wear. Ideally, this reading process will contribute to an understanding of how Kissing the Witch, in conjunction with its reader, can be said to queer fairy tales.
This act of kissing the witch sets off a chain of events that ultimately leads to the protagonist's self-discovery and liberation. Through her narratives, Donoghue creates a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of gender, power, and identity. She challenges the traditional fairy tale tropes of the damsel in distress and the prince charming, instead championing the strength and resilience of women.
“Mouth to Mouth: Queer Desires in Emma Donoghue’s Kissing the Witch.”
This reading of Emma Donoghue’s Kissing the Witch attempts to magnify the “queer moments,” textual and formal, that any reader may (or may not) notice and (re)focus them so that their disruptions come to the fore, thus realigning the relationship between reader and text. Ideally, this reading process will contribute to an understanding of how Kissing the Witch, in conjunction with its reader, can be said to queer fairy tales. This article assumes that once such a reading is produced, it becomes easier to produce, if not more difficult to avoid, similar readings of Kissing the Witch’s intertexts and, by extension, the fairy-tale genre itself.
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This dissertation contributes to scholarship on contemporary fairy-tale fiction and film by looking at the figures of the storyteller and listener and the act of storytelling itself in a range of texts produced or translated into English within the last thirty years. My focus texts include the television mini-series Arabian Nights (1999); the feature length film Pan’s Labyrinth (2006); the collection Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue (1997); and the embedded cycle of stories ―The Story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses‖ in Jeanette Winterson‘s novel Sexing the Cherry (1989). All of these texts thematize the act of narration in a variety of ways and to various ends. I consider how the relationship of narrator and listener is played out in relation to gendered and sexual subjectivity and the desires that the tales inscribe. I ask how each of these texts engages with normative and queer desires, and how these desires are represented and narratively produced through an exploration of the textual dynamics of metanarrational comment, narrative framing, and narrative authority. In the first half of the dissertation I examine the dynamics of narrative authority in two cinematic engagements with the fairy tale. These chapters take the cinematic narrator into account as a prime mover in directing the ways narrative authority flows. I contend that in both cases narrative authority is related to gender and political and familial hierarchies. The second half of my dissertation explores narrative and sexual desire from a perspective that allows for a broader understanding of how hetero-normative and non-normative subjects are textually produced both thematically and formally. I demonstrate a reading practice that seeks ―queer possibility‖ and emphasizes flexibility and epistemological constructs rather than the ontological status of a text as either inherently queer or straight.
Kissing the Witch is a fiction collection written by Irish author Emma Donoghue, who was born in Dublin. Her works, including the well-received novel Room, have received many awards and were renowned bestsellers. Kissing the Witch is a fantasy collection of thirteen fairy tales; the text represents a new way of narrating the old fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White. Each princess's story changes dramatically, from Cinderella loving her stepmother to Bella's beast being a woman in love with Bella during this whole time. The stories addresses life-changing decisions and transformation. Donoghue uniquely changes these stories from their dull archaic appearance to the modern plot-twists.
The stories delve into themes such as love, desire, jealousy, and freedom, showcasing the complexities of female experiences. "Kissing the Witch" is a noteworthy contribution to feminist literature, as it subverts the traditional narratives and tells stories from a female perspective. By giving voice to female characters and rewriting their destinies, Donoghue dismantles the misogynistic undertones often associated with fairy tales. Overall, "Kissing the Witch" is a refreshing and empowering collection that breathes new life into familiar tales. It challenges societal norms, celebrates female agency, and encourages readers to question and reimagine the stories that have shaped our cultural consciousness. Donoghue's skillful blend of imagination, feminism, and storytelling makes "Kissing the Witch" a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the power of narratives and the resilience of women..
Reviews for "Kissing the Witch: Reimagining Fairy Tales Through an Empowered Lens"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Kissing the Witch" as I love fairy tale retellings. However, I was extremely disappointed with this book. The writing was lackluster, and the stories felt disjointed and confusing. I struggled to connect with the characters and found myself becoming increasingly disinterested as I progressed through the book. Overall, it was a letdown and I don't think I would recommend it to others.
2. Michael - 1 star - "Kissing the Witch" was supposed to be a feminist take on classic fairy tales, but it fell flat for me. While I appreciate the concept, the execution was poor. The author seemed more focused on pushing her agenda rather than creating a compelling narrative. The stories lacked depth and failed to engage me as a reader. I was left feeling unsatisfied and I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking retelling of fairy tales.
3. Sarah - 2.5 stars - As someone who enjoys fairy tale retellings, I was excited to read "Kissing the Witch". However, I found myself struggling to get through this book. The writing style was overly simplistic, and the stories lacked the depth and complexity that I usually expect from this genre. While I appreciate the author's attempt to reinvent these classic tales, I felt that the execution fell short. Overall, I wasn't impressed and wouldn't recommend it to fellow fairy tale enthusiasts.