2014: The Year of Literary Spin-offs!

[Scheherazade]

Next year, I would like to read some spin-offs based on other literary works. So far possible books in my list:

- Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys ~ Jane Eyre

- Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James

- Little Vampire Women by Lynn Messina

- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth-Grahame Smith

- Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin ~ The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

- Grendel by John Gardner ~ Beowulf

- Lost Paradise by Cees Nooteboom ~ Paradise Lost

- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller


Any other suggestions are welcome!

[mona amon]

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard is supposed to be good (I haven't read it yet).

[kev67]

Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser, a spin-off of Tom Brown's School Days (although I doubt it's your thing).

[Scheherazade]

Thank you for your suggestions!
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard is supposed to be good (I haven't read it yet).It is a great play. One of the funniest things I have read as well.
Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser, a spin-off of Tom Brown's School Days (although I doubt it's your thing).Only one way to find out, I guess, but first I need to read Tom's Brown's School Days :D

Will add that to my 2013 reading list right away!

[TheFifthElement]

How about Grendel by John Gardner which is a spin off of Beowulf (and excellent). Lost Paradise by Cees Nooteboom is linked to Paradise Lost. Anno Dracula is a steampunk incarnation of the obvious though I don't know if that one is any good as whilst I own it I haven't read it yet. The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud owes a lot to Alice in Wonderland, though I wouldn't say it was a spin off per se. Bridget Jones, of course, is another obvious one.

Oh and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is very moving and beautiful.

[Seasider]

I think Susan Hill wrote a spinoff to "Rebecca". Haven't read it though.

PS I just googled it and it's called "Mrs de Winter"

[ladderandbucket]

Finn by Jon Clinch - tells the story of Huck Finn's father. Clinch's style reminds me of Faulkner or Toni Morrison. I thought it was an excellent book.

Also, I heard of a book called Ahab's Wife which I want to read one day.

[TheFifthElement]

Worth mentioning the Canongate myths series which involves retelling or reinterpretation of various myths from around the world. I have been reading/reviewing on my blog (see link in signature). Recommends are: Weight by Jeanette Winterson, The Goddess Chronicle by Natsuo Kirino and The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood.

Also worth mentioning The Gospel According to Jesus Christ by Jose Saramago for a reinterpretation of the story of Jesus.

[kev67]

There's a book titled, Professor Moriaty: The Hound of the d'Urbervilles by Kim Newman. I haven't read it, but I was amused by the cheek of it.

[Scheherazade]

Many thanks for your suggestions!

So far in my list:

1. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys ~ Jane Eyre

2. Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James

3. Little Vampire Women by Lynn Messina

4. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth-Grahame Smith

5. Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin ~ The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

6. Grendel by John Gardner ~ Beowulf

7. Lost Paradise by Cees Nooteboom ~ Paradise Lost

8. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

9. Penelopiad by Atwood

10. Mrs de Winter by Susan Hill


Any other suggestions are welcome. Need at least 4 more spin-offs.

[TheFifthElement]

Shout when you're planning to read Lost Paradise. I am always looking for an excuse to re-read that book. It's stunning.

How about The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter? It's a book of short stories all of which are retellings of fairy tales. Also Foe by J M Coetzee which is based on Robinson Crusoe.

[Calidore]

Fantasy-comedy author Tom Holt wrote a fun sequel to Wagner's Ring cycle called Expecting Someone Taller. Parke Godwin followed up his (wonderful IMO) retelling of the Arthurian Legend, Firelord, with Beloved Exile, which follows Guinevere after Arthur's death. Both authors have other spin-offs from classic stories, but these two are my favorites of those I've read.

[Bustrofedon]

I have read neither but am intrigued by Finn and a book that I think was called Lo's Story but this was a while ago and it may not be in print. The latter is Lolita's point of view the former, Jim's.

[kasie]

Is there no end to your ambitious reading plans, Scher? :smile5:

I'm never sure if I like the idea of spin-off or not - is it a form of plagiarism or is it an act of homage? I can't decide. Sometimes I feel the new author can't think of an original idea so takes up someone else's inspiration.

For what it's worth, however, there are one or two titles on your list that I personally would not bother reading, if I were you (and I expect a degree of reaction to some of these comments!)

Death comes to Pemberley - what was P D James thinking of? Weak, predictable plot, a true spin-off that relies on the reader's affection for the original.

Song of Achilles - thin writing, 2D characterisation, too much telling, not enough showing. Mary Renault made so much better a job of the period - I would recommend her Greek stories over this title.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - don't even go there. I'm struggling through this for a book club; I wasn't at the meeting when this title was put forward - whoever suggested it owes us all a drink by way of apology.

But in case you think I am being unduly severe, I enjoyed Wide Sargasso Sea when I read it and felt it did add something to Jane Eyre. I also enjoyed Mary Reilly and went back to read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde because I couldn't remember the part Mary plays in the original. And I enjoyed the different perspective in the retelling of Odysseus' homecoming in The Penelopiad.

I haven't read Mrs De Winter but Susan Hill is usually a reliable author. (I like her horror stories - have you read The Man in the Picture?)

Have you come across the detective books by R N Morris? He takes the investigating magistrate from Crime and Punishment, Porfiry Petrovitch, and makes new cases for him to solve. The first story is A Gentle Axe, in which Porfiry is reintroduced and surrounded with a credible cast of characters, colleagues and suspects, depicted in a style that is a homage to Dostoyevsky. At first, I was doubtful but the style grew on me and I became endeared to Porfiry and the trials under which he conducts his investigations.

[Scheherazade]

Thank you for your feedback, Kasie. Always wonderful to hear from you. I will add A Gentle Axe to the list :)

[papayahed]

How about Scarlet as the spinoff to Gone with the Wind.

[Scheherazade]

Started with Wide Sargasso Sea, which was an excellent read: 8/10 Rhys manages not only to capture the characters' psychology perfectly but also develops them further. I am sure Ms Bronte would have been proud!