Some Kind of Fairy Tale

A Novel

By: Graham Joyce

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Some Kind of Fairy Tale is the mesmerizing new novel from acclaimed author Graham Joyce.

Twenty years ago, 16-year-old Tara Martin disappeared from a small town in the heart of England. Now, her sudden return and the mind-bending tale of where she’s been will challenge our very perception of the truth.

For 20 years after Tara Martin disappeared, her parents and her brother, Peter, lived in denial of the grim fact that she was gone for good. Then suddenly on Christmas Day, the doorbell rings at her parents’ home, and there, dishevelled 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 one-of-a-kind journey every bit as magical as its title implies - and as real and unsentimental as the world around us.

Graham Joyce, a winner of the O. Henry Award, the British Fantasy Award, and the World Fantasy Award, lives in Leicester, England, with his family. His books include How to Make Friends with Demons, Smoking Poppy, Indigo (a New York Times Notable Book of 2000), The Tooth Fairy (a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 1998), and Requiem, among others.

©2012 Graham Joyce (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Joyce blends reality with fantasy in this modern-day fable.… Though Joyce envisions an intriguing realm nestled against our own, what’s most compelling are his characters’ chaotic emotions and reconnections as they struggle to cope with what they can’t understand.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“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)

I really like this book

Any additional comments?

This is not really a supernatural fantasy kind of book, while the idea of the fairy world is in the core of the story, the actual story revolves around the natural human world with only some brief flashes to the other world.
And yet this is a great story, the characters are all very vivid and present as real people, the story line is interesting, a little mysterious, not predictable.

I would most definitely recommend this book.

Really Enjoyed this Book

I am not usually into fantasy books but this book had plenty of non-fantasy in it to keep my interest. The fantasy part was interesting but not too overdone for me. All the characters were interesting and well fleshed out. There was humor, drama, a psychoanalyst (to try and figure out the fantasy) and fantasy (of course). The writing was very good and the narrator was excellent.

Enchanting!

If you could sum up Some Kind of Fairy Tale in three words, what would they be?

Whimsical. Dark. Engrossing.

What other book might you compare Some Kind of Fairy Tale to and why?

A little bit of a 'Lovely Bones' quality.... Although vastly different story lines, the main character,Tara, is almost like a ghost in the story, trying to help the others understand.

Any additional comments?

Well written and intriguing. Loved the story and the characters. It has a dark quality to it and due to the explicit material in several parts, I would say not suitable for teens. But it's wildly entrancing and I would highly recommend!

Slow start but picks up

While there was some obvious things, I really liked some of the twists and turns. The quotes from all different sorts of people plus the "historical" account of the wife was supposedly switched with a fairy. I don't know if it was true or not but it was a nice detail and added believability.

The most memorable moment was the ending, both the ending and the epilogue ending.

I admit I thought I was getting a bit more of the fairyland than the book presented but I liked how grounded it was in the human world.

I will admit readily that the superior reading and wonderful accents were one of the main reasons I bought the book, and both did not disappoint.

Slow

John Lee was not right for this book. His narration made it slow. It was difficult to stay with it.

Really enjoyed, LOVED narrator/reader

What did you love best about Some Kind of Fairy Tale?

the characters and the reader's interpretation of their conversations and thoughts. Very funny sometimes! Had a good outloud laugh more than once while driving. it was also very easy to visualize everything in the story.

What other book might you compare Some Kind of Fairy Tale to and why?

cant think of specific title. just a good story mixing reality with fantasy and myth.

Who was the most memorable character of Some Kind of Fairy Tale and why?

Ritchie, Jack, and Mrs. Larwood. Ritchie for his deep love for Tara, and his honesty and sly wit that showed itself on many occassions. I could envision him very well, and happy for how his life finally turned for the better at the very end. Jack for his youthful adventure and efforts to solve his interesting problem. Mrs. Larwood (sp?) as the bizarre neighbor with her cake and lemon soda.

Any additional comments?

This was my first G. Joyce novel and my first listen with John Lee. Looking forward to more of either/both!

Great, fun, enchanting!

Excellent character development. Graham Joyce weaves a fanciful story that entertained throughout
Also loved the erotica
Highly recommended

Unusual with two old fashion story!!

I picked this book up on a whim. it's a great story with unexpected twists and the storytelling was captivating! I will now read more by Joyce.

Eh.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The title. Maybe the blurb? I thought I was getting a completely different book than what it turned out to be.

What was most disappointing about Graham Joyce’s story?

It was just not the story I was expecting. I expected it to be more similar to fairy tales and less a vague shadow of a fairy tale.

Not what I expected.

Not what I expected, but very fun! And well read. I will definitely recommend to my more adventurous female friends.