Some Kind of Fairy Tale - Hardcover

Joyce, Graham

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385535783 ISBN 13: 9780385535786

Publisher: Doubleday, 2012

Synopsis

Some Kind of Fairy Tale is a very English story. A story of woods and clearings, a story of folk tales and family histories. It is as if Neil Gaiman and Joanne Harris had written a Fairy Tale together. It is Christmas afternoon and Peter Martin gets an unexpected phonecall from his parents, asking him to come round. It pulls him away from his wife and children and into a bewildering mystery. He arrives at his parents house and discovers that they have a visitor. His sister Tara. Not so unusual you might think, this is Christmas after all, a time when families get together. But twenty years ago Tara took a walk into the woods and never came back and as the years have gone by with no word from her the family have, unspoken, assumed that she was dead. Now she's back, tired, dirty, dishevelled, but happy and full of stories about twenty years spent travelling the world, an epic odyssey taken on a whim. But her stories don't quite hang together and once she has cleaned herself up and got some sleep it becomes apparent that the intervening years have been very kind to Tara. She really does look no different from the young women who walked out the door twenty years ago. Peter's parents are just delighted to have their little girl back, but Peter and his best friend Richie, Tara's one time boyfriend, are not so sure. Tara seems happy enough but there is something about her. A haunted, otherworldly quality. Some would say it's as if she's off with the fairies. And as the months go by Peter begins to suspect that the woods around their homes are not finished with Tara and his family...

About this title

Product Description:

Acclaimed author Graham Joyce's mesmerizing new novel centers around the disappearance of a young girl from a small town in the heart of England. Her sudden return twenty years later, and the mind-bending tale of where she's been, will challenge our very perception of truth.

For twenty years after Tara Martin disappeared from her small English town, her parents and her brother, Peter, have lived in denial of the grim fact that she was gone for good. And then suddenly, on Christmas Day, the doorbell rings at her parents' home and there, disheveled and slightly peculiar looking, Tara stands. It's a miracle, but alarm bells are ringing for Peter. Tara's story just does not add up. And, incredibly, she barely looks a day older than when she vanished.

Award-winning author Graham Joyce is a master of exploring new realms of understanding that exist between dreams and reality, between the known and unknown. Some Kind of Fairy Tale is a unique journey every bit as magical as its title implies, and as real and unsentimental as the world around us.

Review:

"Joyce's ravishing novel is about disruption and grief, about the risks of being charmed or stolen away from what we love. Though he draws faithfully on English folklore, Joyce has clearly gone beyond book-learning and made the "crossing at twilight" to the fairy kingdom himself. His writing is enthralling, agile and effortless."
"--New York Times"
"Graham Joyce's new novel "Some Kind of Fairy Tale" is one of the most impressive fantasy books we've read in ages.... Graham Joyce has obviously steeped himself in fairy-tale lore, and his attention to detail (and to the significance of those details) is pretty astonishing. But what really makes "Some Kind of Fairy Tale" stand head and shoulders above most other fantasy novels I've read lately is the strong focus on the characters. Joyce's slow, careful narrative style draws you in to a story that's as much a family drama as it is a magical adventure.... Joyce takes a steady, masterful approach that explores one simple story from every angle, holding it up to the light until we see the hidden images revealed by each separate facet. Joyce has written a brilliant book that will make you think about the meaning of fairytales in a new way."
--io9.com
"Ultimately, it isn't Joyce's clever self-awareness that pushes "Fairy Tale" into the stratosphere. It's the way he weaves these twisty ideas into a straightforward, achingly resonant story of a broken man who's found his long-lost sister. His prose and dialogue, even more than usual, are carved with balance, clarity, and subtlety. As a writer, Joyce is often praised as "unsentimental." That couldn't be further from the truth. Sentiment underscores everything in "Fairy Tale," from Tara's struggle to establish her sanity to the heartsick people who loved who she was--and are trying to love what she's become. That sentiment, though, is rarely precious, and it never comes cheap. As its title trumpets, "Some Kind Of""Fairy Tale" meditates on the nature of what

"Here is a keenly observed tale of a family in crisis, one that mixes fantasy and psychiatry in a potent cocktail." --Stephen King, "The Best Books I Read in 2012," "Entertainment Weekly"
"Ravishing. . . . [Joyce's] writing is enthralling, agile and effortless." --"The New York Times Book Review "
" "
"Joyce's fiction is an unusual--and unusually satisfying--hybrid. He's interested in all the things that preoccupy literary novelists: finely drawn characters, the beauty and sadness of life's inevitable transitions, families in all their ambiguous and endlessly fascinating complexity. His prose is precise and unsentimental. Yet into the fabric of these relationships he weaves elements of folklore and myth." --Laura Miller, "Salon"
"One of the most impressive fantasy books we've read in ages." --io9.com
"Reading "Some Kind of Fairy Tale" is a little like stepping into an enormous, brilliantly camouflaged mantrap.... Joyce's books are as seductive as anything you'll find in contemporary fiction." --"Richmond Times-Dispatch
"
"Clever, funny and poignant." --Sarah Waters, author of "The Little Stranger "
"Fans of novels featuring dark, haunted woods, overgrown English moors and changelings hidden in the dense brush will be absolutely delighted." --"BookPage
"
"Joyce's fairy tale is one of dark and dangerous collision." --"The Washington Post"
"I became a rabidly devoted fan of Graham Joyce's the first time I read his work." --Peter Straub
""Some Kind of Fairy Tale" is fantastically formed, complete with a gently portentous premise, a marvelous cast of characters, and a narrative as smart and self-reflexive as it is at first old-fashioned. Enigmatic and intellectual, yes, yet readily accessible and massively satisfying, Joyce's latest is a joy." --Tor.com
"One of my best reads in decades." --L. Dean Murphy, "Bookreporter
"
"I won't bother saying Graham Joyce deserves to find a wider audience in America; rather I think the American audience deserves to find him." --Jonathan Lethem
"Dark and haunting." --"The Free Lance-Star
"
""Some Kind of Fairy Tale" is all about passing through walls: between people, between truths, between worlds. But where a lesser writer might strain to keep all those layers in focus, Joyce projects a vision of the heart as rich and ethereal as the age-old tradition "Fairy Tale" invokes. . . . As its title trumpets, "Some Kind of""Fairy Tale" meditates on the nature of what it means to tell stories. But wisely and hauntingly, it does so through a spellbinding story of its own." --"The Onion"'s A.V. Club
"Joyce's fiction has always displayed a certain generosity of spirit that lifts it above the ordinary. . . . Joyce as a writer is a master charmer. . . . Mesmerizing." --"The Guardian "(London)
"Haunting, brilliant. . . . "Some Kind of Fairytale" works the same sort of magic [as "The Limits of Enchantment"] and in many ways is even more accomplished. This time, people, pay attention." --"Locus
"
"Reality and fairy tale are beautifully interwoven in this contemplative story about relationships, love, and dreams. In a unique blend of thriller and fantasy, Joyce creates a delightful page-turner that his fans and newcomers alike will find hard to put down." --"Booklist"

Here is a keenly observed tale of a family in crisis, one that mixes fantasy and psychiatry in a potent cocktail." Stephen King, "The Best Books I Read in 2012," "Entertainment Weekly"
Ravishing. . . . [Joyce s] writing is enthralling, agile and effortless. "The New York Times Book Review"
""
Joyce s fiction is an unusual and unusually satisfying hybrid. He s interested in all the things that preoccupy literary novelists: finely drawn characters, the beauty and sadness of life s inevitable transitions, families in all their ambiguous and endlessly fascinating complexity. His prose is precise and unsentimental. Yet into the fabric of these relationships he weaves elements of folklore and myth. Laura Miller, "Salon"
One of the most impressive fantasy books we ve read in ages. io9.com
Reading"Some Kind of Fairy Tale"is a little like stepping into an enormous, brilliantly camouflaged mantrap . Joyce s books are as seductive as anything you ll find in contemporary fiction. "Richmond Times-Dispatch
"
Clever, funny and poignant. Sarah Waters, author of "The Little Stranger "
Fans of novels featuring dark, haunted woods, overgrown English moors and changelings hidden in the dense brush will be absolutely delighted. "BookPage
"
Joyce s fairy tale is one of dark and dangerous collision. "The Washington Post"
I became a rabidly devoted fan of Graham Joyce s the first time I read his work. Peter Straub
"Some Kind of Fairy Tale" is fantastically formed, complete with a gently portentous premise, a marvelous cast of characters, and a narrative as smart and self-reflexive as it is at first old-fashioned.Enigmatic and intellectual, yes, yet readily accessible and massively satisfying, Joyce s latest is a joy. Tor.com
One of my best reads in decades. L. Dean Murphy, "Bookreporter
"
I won t bother saying Graham Joyce deserves to find a wider audience in America; rather I think the American audience deserves to find him. Jonathan Lethem
Dark and haunting. "TheFree Lance Star
"
"Some Kind of Fairy Tale" is all about passing through walls: between people, between truths, between worlds. But where a lesser writer might strain to keep all those layers in focus, Joyce projects a vision of the heart as rich and ethereal as the age-old tradition "Fairy Tale" invokes. . . . As its title trumpets, "Some Kind of" "Fairy Tale" meditates on the nature of what it means to tell stories. But wisely and hauntingly, it does so through a spellbinding story of its own. "The Onion" s A.V. Club
Joyce s fiction has always displayed a certain generosity of spirit that lifts it above the ordinary. . . . Joyce as a writer is a master charmer. . . . Mesmerizing. "The Guardian "(London)
Haunting, brilliant. . . . "Some Kind of Fairytale" works the same sort of magic [as "The Limits of Enchantment"] and in many ways is even more accomplished. This time, people, pay attention. "Locus
"
Reality and fairy tale are beautifully interwoven in this contemplative story about relationships, love, and dreams. In a unique blend of thriller and fantasy, Joyce creates a delightful page-turner that his fans and newcomers alike will find hard to put down. "Booklist""

Here is a keenly observed tale of a family in crisis, one that mixes fantasy and psychiatry in a potent cocktail." Stephen King, "The Best Books I Read in 2012," Entertainment Weekly
Ravishing. . . . [Joyce s] writing is enthralling, agile and effortless. The New York Times Book Review

Joyce s fiction is an unusual and unusually satisfying hybrid. He s interested in all the things that preoccupy literary novelists: finely drawn characters, the beauty and sadness of life s inevitable transitions, families in all their ambiguous and endlessly fascinating complexity. His prose is precise and unsentimental. Yet into the fabric of these relationships he weaves elements of folklore and myth. Laura Miller, Salon
One of the most impressive fantasy books we ve read in ages. io9.com
ReadingSome Kind of Fairy Taleis a little like stepping into an enormous, brilliantly camouflaged mantrap . Joyce s books are as seductive as anything you ll find in contemporary fiction. Richmond Times-Dispatch

Clever, funny and poignant. Sarah Waters, author of The Little Stranger
Fans of novels featuring dark, haunted woods, overgrown English moors and changelings hidden in the dense brush will be absolutely delighted. BookPage

Joyce s fairy tale is one of dark and dangerous collision. The Washington Post
I became a rabidly devoted fan of Graham Joyce s the first time I read his work. Peter Straub
Some Kind of Fairy Tale is fantastically formed, complete with a gently portentous premise, a marvelous cast of characters, and a narrative as smart and self-reflexive as it is at first old-fashioned.Enigmatic and intellectual, yes, yet readily accessible and massively satisfying, Joyce s latest is a joy. Tor.com
One of my best reads in decades. L. Dean Murphy, Bookreporter

I won t bother saying Graham Joyce deserves to find a wider audience in America; rather I think the American audience deserves to find him. Jonathan Lethem
Dark and haunting. TheFree Lance Star

Some Kind of Fairy Tale is all about passing through walls: between people, between truths, between worlds. But where a lesser writer might strain to keep all those layers in focus, Joyce projects a vision of the heart as rich and ethereal as the age-old tradition Fairy Tale invokes. . . . As its title trumpets, Some Kind of Fairy Tale meditates on the nature of what it means to tell stories. But wisely and hauntingly, it does so through a spellbinding story of its own. The Onion s A.V. Club
Joyce s fiction has always displayed a certain generosity of spirit that lifts it above the ordinary. . . . Joyce as a writer is a master charmer. . . . Mesmerizing. The Guardian (London)
Haunting, brilliant. . . . Some Kind of Fairytale works the same sort of magic [as The Limits of Enchantment] and in many ways is even more accomplished. This time, people, pay attention. Locus

Reality and fairy tale are beautifully interwoven in this contemplative story about relationships, love, and dreams. In a unique blend of thriller and fantasy, Joyce creates a delightful page-turner that his fans and newcomers alike will find hard to put down. Booklist

"

"Here is a keenly observed tale of a family in crisis, one that mixes fantasy and psychiatry in a potent cocktail." --Stephen King, "The Best Books I Read in 2012," Entertainment Weekly

"Ravishing. . . . [Joyce's] writing is enthralling, agile and effortless." --The New York Times Book Review

"Joyce's fiction is an unusual--and unusually satisfying--hybrid. He's interested in all the things that preoccupy literary novelists: finely drawn characters, the beauty and sadness of life's inevitable transitions, families in all their ambiguous and endlessly fascinating complexity. His prose is precise and unsentimental. Yet into the fabric of these relationships he weaves elements of folklore and myth." --Laura Miller, Salon

"One of the most impressive fantasy books we've read in ages." --io9.com

"Reading Some Kind of Fairy Tale is a little like stepping into an enormous, brilliantly camouflaged mantrap.... Joyce's books are as seductive as anything you'll find in contemporary fiction." --Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Clever, funny and poignant." --Sarah Waters, author of The Little Stranger

"Fans of novels featuring dark, haunted woods, overgrown English moors and changelings hidden in the dense brush will be absolutely delighted." --BookPage

"Joyce's fairy tale is one of dark and dangerous collision." --The Washington Post

"I became a rabidly devoted fan of Graham Joyce's the first time I read his work." --Peter Straub

"Some Kind of Fairy Tale is fantastically formed, complete with a gently portentous premise, a marvelous cast of characters, and a narrative as smart and self-reflexive as it is at first old-fashioned. Enigmatic and intellectual, yes, yet readily accessible and massively satisfying, Joyce's latest is a joy." --Tor.com

"One of my best reads in decades." --L. Dean Murphy, Bookreporter

"I won't bother saying Graham Joyce deserves to find a wider audience in America; rather I think the American audience deserves to find him." --Jonathan Lethem
"Dark and haunting." --The Free Lance-Star

"Some Kind of Fairy Tale is all about passing through walls: between people, between truths, between worlds. But where a lesser writer might strain to keep all those layers in focus, Joyce projects a vision of the heart as rich and ethereal as the age-old tradition Fairy Tale invokes. . . . As its title trumpets, Some Kind of Fairy Tale meditates on the nature of what it means to tell stories. But wisely and hauntingly, it does so through a spellbinding story of its own." --The Onion's A.V. Club

"Joyce's fiction has always displayed a certain generosity of spirit that lifts it above the ordinary. . . . Joyce as a writer is a master charmer. . . . Mesmerizing." --The Guardian (London)

"Haunting, brilliant. . . . Some Kind of Fairytale works the same sort of magic [as The Limits of Enchantment] and in many ways is even more accomplished. This time, people, pay attention." --Locus

"Reality and fairy tale are beautifully interwoven in this contemplative story about relationships, love, and dreams. In a unique blend of thriller and fantasy, Joyce creates a delightful page-turner that his fans and newcomers alike will find hard to put down." --Booklist

About this edition

• Publisher: Doubleday
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0385535783
• ISBN 13: 9780385535786
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 310