top of page

Recent Posts

Archive

Tags

Chapter 5 - The Rest of the Story




I was reviewing some of the books to be published in February and came across Fagin by Allison Epstein (publishes 2/25/25). It sounds intriguing as it is a retelling of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist from the point of view of Fagin, the head of the gang of thieves who take in Oliver. I always love Classic or Myth retellings, origin stories, or continuations. I often wonder what has become of the characters we get involved with as readers. Or sometimes I think about how a character became the way he or she was in the story. I also like it when an author reimagines a classic in another time period.


While it was the Bible who gave us the idea that "there is nothing new under the sun," (Ecclesiastes 1:9), Shakespeare made the saying better known in his Sonnet 95. Although we'd like to think Romeo and Juliet was original to Shakespeare he took the idea from Ovid. So the practice of reimagining started a while ago.


So here are some books which I have enjoyed or are on my TBR pile that tell the rest of the story.


Fagin the Thief: A Novel by Allison Epstein - This new novel tells the backstory of not only Jacob Fagin but also, Bill Sykes, Nancy, and the Artful Dodger of Oliver Twist fame. As the book Oliver Twist was Dickens' attempt at social commentary (as were most of his novels) I am curious as to how Epstein will incorporate England's 19th century societal woes into Fagin's backstory and into the backstories of the supporting characters. You can bet I will be buying this one.


James by Percival Everett - This is the Huckleberry Finn story from the point of view of Jim, the runaway slave. In the original story by Mark Twain, Huck, Tom Sawyer's friend, fakes his own death to escape his violent father. Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans away from his wife and children. They both take to the Mississippi on an unreliable raft to find freedom. This is our book club selection for May and I can hardly wait to discuss it.


Hester: A Novel by Laurie Lico Albanese - Do you ever wonder how authors get ideas for stories? Take the classic novel, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Published in 1850, about 200 years after the Puritans first came to Massachusetts, Hawthorne could have known very little about the time period, only what had been passed down by others. In Hester, Laurie Lico Albanese tells the story of a woman, Isobel, who comes to the United States with her husband, Edward, who is running away from debt incurred in Scotland. Just days after they arrive in Salem, Edward joins a ship and leaves Isobel behind. Isobel meets young Nathaniel Hawthorne and they are instantly drawn to each other. The rest is in the telling of this well researched and imaginative tale.


1984 Julia by Sandra Newman - If you remember Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, you will remember the dystopian society in which Orwell's hero, Winston Smith, is a rebel who hates the government and keeps an forbidden diary. He enters into an illegal relationship with Julia who convinces him to join the Brotherhood. Winston betrays Julia at the end. This is Julia's story.


Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra - One of my favorite classics is Little Women and this novel by Virginia Kantra is a re-imagining of the story in modern times. Meg is a happy housewife with the house, handsome husband, and beautiful children, but is she really happy and fulfilled? Jo has lost her job as a journalist and finds herself being a prep cook and a food blogger. Beth and Amy have their own stories in the next book but the sisters all need to come together in this one to take care of their mom in North Carolina when she becomes ill. If you are a fan of the original, I know this one will be sure to please (and check out Beth & Amy too!).


Are there any remakes of classics you've read and want to share? Please do!



Comments


bottom of page