These Children Who Come At You With Knives, And Other Fairy Tales: Stories (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
A more cartoonish, less humane version of the George Saunders style, using a hammer rather than a sharp carving knife to destroy the miniatures after painstakingly creating them and imbuing them with pathos. I liked his first couple of fractured fairy tales (especially the ones with real morals), but eventually I got tired of the nihilist shtick, and at this point in time anyone who glorifies Charles Manson, even as a pop-culture joke, is going to lose points with me. If that makes me a bourgeois pig, then so be it. I know I'm just repeating what a lot of others have already said, but overall I was very disappointed with this book. I suppose I really shouldn't complain since the book was free, but here's what I think.I'm a fairy tale lover, and I've read many different kinds, including the original, dark Grimm tales. So when I saw that this book was a book of dark fairy tales, I was prepared for twisted, somewhat unhappy endings. That's not the part that upset me.But, this collection really fell short of my expectations. I found the creation story in the preface delightful and witty. Unfortunately none of the other stories in the collection even came close to matching that brilliance. They were incredibly juvenile and most were unnecessarily crude. It seemed like the author was just writing in profanity and filth for their own sake. The endings were also very abrupt and uncreative, and many of the tales were very predictable. They didn't leave you with any kind of moral or message other than "Life sucks." Overall, other than the first story, I'd say don't waste your time. At least, don't buy a copy. Check it out from the library or borrow it.
What do You think about These Children Who Come At You With Knives, And Other Fairy Tales: Stories (2010)?
Black humor I guess, but not really funny. Just sorta melancholy.
—Ghiz
An entertaining idea that quickly became predictable and gross.
—Kader
