Such a brilliant rewrite of a tale that should never have been told to girls as they grew up!
This essay is full of all of the “great palace lies” that were told to those of us who grew up in the 50s and 60s and probably the 70s too !
John Lewis would be so proud of Snow White (aka Maggie) for getting into some GOOD TROUBLE! Bravo to Maggie and bravo to Ally for introducing us to Maggie! This revision is sure to become a new classic!!
Thank you, Susan. I have to admit, I really love re-reading these as a grown woman and seeing how unbelievably toxic they are 😳😳 And re-writing them is very satisfying, and also fun. I want to do the classics, all of them. And burn down the patriarchy as I go 🔥🔥🔥
I was thinking about this hard enough that I floated the idea to my agent. I just have to finish the memoir first or I will hate myself. Or at least get far enough into the edit that it feels manageable. But I’m not gonna lie, I bought Grimm’s Complete Fairytales and it’s sitting on my coffee table right now taunting me lol.
A well told story and a labor of love, Ally. I listened to it like a bedtime story tonight; of course, I'm not sure I'll sleep now. A lot to think about. Great great story.
Thank you so much, Laury. I tell you, reading the fairytales we grew up on as kids is so eye-opening, isn't it? It is enough to keep you up at night! But I do hope you sleep xox
Hi Ally, I really enjoyed your take on the Snow White story. Recently I also pondered about various folklore stories, as well as some passagea from Bible and although I didn't come to any specific conclusion about our collective mind it seems to me that the belief I once had, and that is that humans are good, is now simply gone. The same principle that makes one bad apple turn many others bad, but not other way round seems to apply.
I just watched a video where guy basically said psychopaths run the world because they just don't feel guilt. And good people simply cannot eliminate them because they simply cannot cope with their guilt. And I think that is kind of it. People who are genuinely nice and don't want to get their hands dirty will always lose to bad ones. I mean, I'd love to live in the world where no one has dirt on their hands but I guess that's just utopia.
I would love to read some kind of scientific explanation why men crave power so much. Where does anything we perceive as bad or evil originate?
Anyway, I'm going off topic. Great reading as always! Thank you so much for sharing and just being here! I feel for you and millions of good citizens in USA. I wish you all hope and strength to endure this bullshit.
As always, my best wishes to you and your family 🙏❤️
Thank you, Peter! And yes, I’ve been thinking lately probably 50% of the problems everywhere stem from too many people not thinking about how things are for others. I think there’s so much assumption and projection and just a very large percentage of people who don’t pause and consider how life is for people dealing with totally different circumstances. I dunno, it’s just a theory, but it seems true to me and it’s disheartening. It makes me appreciate the people who do pause and consider those things. Anyway, I appreciate you, and I appreciate your comments as always. I hope you and Anneke are well and I’m sending lots of love from here.
I've always said that my life was completely steered by Beauty and the Beast, believing I could turn the Beasts into Princes if I loved them enough. I don't have to elaborate...
I don’t think I can say “same” hard enough, Jodi. It’s kind of shocking when you re-read these stories as an adult and are like wait. What?!? 🤯🤯 But it’s also a relief to see it clearly and to rewrite them through a whole new lens. I want to do all the classics. Beauty and the Beast for sure. Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel…Grim Tales We Grew Up With! (Not all Grimm, but all grim, my god)
Something I thought of while reading it that makes it even creepier… Maggie was physically 14-years-old, BUT emotionally/mentally she was 14 minus however long she was in the coffin.
Exactly. It’s really a terrible story, isn’t it? Amazing we all grew up being taught it was a love story with a happy ending. I’m glad you enjoyed and I’m glad you’re here, John 🤍
This is so goddam good. Your mind is incredible. Just incredible.
If only you could see the way I’m grinning. Means so much from you. The whole world 🌎
Such a brilliant rewrite of a tale that should never have been told to girls as they grew up!
This essay is full of all of the “great palace lies” that were told to those of us who grew up in the 50s and 60s and probably the 70s too !
John Lewis would be so proud of Snow White (aka Maggie) for getting into some GOOD TROUBLE! Bravo to Maggie and bravo to Ally for introducing us to Maggie! This revision is sure to become a new classic!!
Thank you, Susan. I have to admit, I really love re-reading these as a grown woman and seeing how unbelievably toxic they are 😳😳 And re-writing them is very satisfying, and also fun. I want to do the classics, all of them. And burn down the patriarchy as I go 🔥🔥🔥
Of course he's a Brock. So many perfect details in this.
Thanks for noticing, Rita❤️
Ha, I love this comment! Of course.
Fantastic as always, Ally!
Thank you, Kate! ❤️❤️
Oh holy shit. I remember another one of your essays was a fairy tale.... these collected in a book, please!💜
I was thinking about this hard enough that I floated the idea to my agent. I just have to finish the memoir first or I will hate myself. Or at least get far enough into the edit that it feels manageable. But I’m not gonna lie, I bought Grimm’s Complete Fairytales and it’s sitting on my coffee table right now taunting me lol.
I can't wait to read your memoir!
I can’t wait to read yours, too ☺️
A well told story and a labor of love, Ally. I listened to it like a bedtime story tonight; of course, I'm not sure I'll sleep now. A lot to think about. Great great story.
Thank you so much, Laury. I tell you, reading the fairytales we grew up on as kids is so eye-opening, isn't it? It is enough to keep you up at night! But I do hope you sleep xox
Hi Ally, I really enjoyed your take on the Snow White story. Recently I also pondered about various folklore stories, as well as some passagea from Bible and although I didn't come to any specific conclusion about our collective mind it seems to me that the belief I once had, and that is that humans are good, is now simply gone. The same principle that makes one bad apple turn many others bad, but not other way round seems to apply.
I just watched a video where guy basically said psychopaths run the world because they just don't feel guilt. And good people simply cannot eliminate them because they simply cannot cope with their guilt. And I think that is kind of it. People who are genuinely nice and don't want to get their hands dirty will always lose to bad ones. I mean, I'd love to live in the world where no one has dirt on their hands but I guess that's just utopia.
I would love to read some kind of scientific explanation why men crave power so much. Where does anything we perceive as bad or evil originate?
Anyway, I'm going off topic. Great reading as always! Thank you so much for sharing and just being here! I feel for you and millions of good citizens in USA. I wish you all hope and strength to endure this bullshit.
As always, my best wishes to you and your family 🙏❤️
Thank you, Peter! And yes, I’ve been thinking lately probably 50% of the problems everywhere stem from too many people not thinking about how things are for others. I think there’s so much assumption and projection and just a very large percentage of people who don’t pause and consider how life is for people dealing with totally different circumstances. I dunno, it’s just a theory, but it seems true to me and it’s disheartening. It makes me appreciate the people who do pause and consider those things. Anyway, I appreciate you, and I appreciate your comments as always. I hope you and Anneke are well and I’m sending lots of love from here.
Awesome retelling.
Waiting for the rest.
I've always said that my life was completely steered by Beauty and the Beast, believing I could turn the Beasts into Princes if I loved them enough. I don't have to elaborate...
I don’t think I can say “same” hard enough, Jodi. It’s kind of shocking when you re-read these stories as an adult and are like wait. What?!? 🤯🤯 But it’s also a relief to see it clearly and to rewrite them through a whole new lens. I want to do all the classics. Beauty and the Beast for sure. Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel…Grim Tales We Grew Up With! (Not all Grimm, but all grim, my god)
I don't know if empathy can grow, but if it can, it's stories like this that make it happen.
Oh Wendy, thank you. I don’t know either, but I’d like to think so 🌱🙏🏼
WOW! I love it. Thank you.
Something I thought of while reading it that makes it even creepier… Maggie was physically 14-years-old, BUT emotionally/mentally she was 14 minus however long she was in the coffin.
Exactly. It’s really a terrible story, isn’t it? Amazing we all grew up being taught it was a love story with a happy ending. I’m glad you enjoyed and I’m glad you’re here, John 🤍
So am I… glad I’m here, that is. Thanks for following me. I hope my writings don’t scare you off visiting VN ;-)
I so enjoyed this timely version of the ild male-tale! Thank you. Well done. 👏🩵
Thank you so much, Sara! I’m so glad you enjoyed and very happy you’re here ❤️