Rumpelstiltskin Problem

by Vivian Vande Veide

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

This review is also posted at Pages Unbound Book Reviews.

If you ask Vivian Vande Velde her feelings about “Rumpelstiltskin,” she would tell you the story does not make a lot of sense. If you read her preface to The Rumpelstiltskin Problem, you would probably begin to agree. Vande Velde summarizes the original tale step by step, outlining along the way where characters either do something without any explanation or do something that is explained, but illogically so. Why, indeed, would Rumpelstiltskin accept gold jewelry as payment for turning straw into gold? Apparently he can acquire all the precious metal he could ever want.

Vande Velde attempts to explain the characters’ actions in six original retellings of “Rumpelstiltskin.”

Each of the stories in this collection is fun, a little wild and weird. Vande Velde definitely reveals a quirky streak in this book, and her lighthearted tone is common to all six stories, even as the plots and characters change. All open with a line about how far in the past the story occurred, usually before something random like before sliced bread was sold in supermarkets. Some of the tales are bit more dismal than others, but they never get so depressing that Vande Velde cannot poke a little fun at herself or the characters.

Interestingly enough, although Vande Velde’s retellings are supposed to make more sense than the original story, her characters do often merit a bit of mockery. Vande Velde’s stories are all internally consistent, and her characters always offer explanations for their actions—but their decisions are sometimes still a little crazy. For instance, in one version the miller is poor and is convinced he can tell the king his daughter can turn straw into gold if he gives her three gold coins, and then he and his daughter will simply take the money and run before she is given any straw. Vande Velde gives the miller a reason for telling the king a preposterous lie, but his plan is still ridiculous.

Vande Velde also gives each character a chance to be the villain: the king, the miller, the miller’s daughter, and Rumpelstiltskin. While this does allow for variety in the retellings, it also means it is easy to catch on to the pattern, for readers to guess who will be the villain next. Of course no one expects fairy tale retellings to be overly surprising (especially ones that are only short stories, not novels), but it is a bit disappointing to be able to predict a large part of what will be “new” about a retelling you have not even started to read.

The main problem with this book: After about two tales, the reader probably wants to be done with “Rumpelstiltskin.” The stories may be different, but in the end they all have the same basic plot. This will be a challenge for readers who like to read straight through a book and be finished, rather than patiently read a section or two and replace it on the shelf for another day.

Nonetheless, The Rumpelstiltskin Problem is an imaginative and slightly quirky book, perfect for readers who want to see “Rumpelstiltskin” in a new light.