Another book that should have been better. I was enticed to read this by very good reviews and an appealing cover design. But an interesting premise and an charming cover do not make a good book.The premise of the book is that Mama Inez, a mysterious matriarch with magical powers and a psychic dog Toby, feels that the world is out of balance. This has happened before and she knows what the remedy is--storytelling. So Mama Inez sends out invitations to the four winds for people to come and tell their stories to right the world. Each storyteller has his own background which colors the tale he or she tells. All of the tales are well-known folk or fairy tales--Jack and the Beanstalk, Pecos Bill and Slewfoot Sue, The Princess and the Pea--but they are given special twists, which don't always work. The Red Riding Hood tale, the last one, really doesn't work at all. The stories are short and feel undeveloped. The writing style is light and graceful, but the stories are unremarkable and slip from the memory easily.The character of Mama Inez remains mysterious. Who is this woman who summons the storytellers? Does she have her own story? Where is the story set? It could be Spain; it could be New Mexico. If you are an avid reader of fairy tales, this book will leave you feeling hungry for more substance. This was listed on a list of best books for high school classrooms or something, so I got a second-hand copy to check out. . . It's got potential, but somehow the author's tone annoys me--it's too preachy, somehow, working too hard to convince the reader that the world of the Serendipity Market where stories set the world straight is actually real!!! and just like our world!!! While the twists on the fairy tales were entertaining, the book moved slowly. I can't think of a high schooler who'd really like this collection, tho I could see jigsawing it to use in a class on folk tales/inherited wisdom, etc. Too ponderous and cutesy for my liking.
What do You think about Serendipity Market (2009)?
Cute. Retellings of the more popular fairy tales from a perspective other than the main character's.
—starfish470
beautifully told. Once I started it, i found it very hard to put down.
—frlia
One of my top favorite books. Recommend to anyone who likes fantasy.
—iulianne
Quick reading small book - magic tales - whimsical.
—6123
