The Forest Family

This has been such a big favourite of mine since I got it when I was eleven. I am in love with the fact that they live in the forest, are gleaners and storytellers, and the fact that this story is inter-weaved with so many other stories.

This story takes Snow White and Rose Red and traditional women's wisdom as it's jumping off point. It weaves in many other fairytales into its tapestry -- at times the story is too dense to be satisfying.

I love how Bidger weaves a variety of different stories - English folktales, European fairy tales, Bible stories into this delightful narrative but the best part for me is the re-telling of Sir Gawain and the Loathly lady - I can hear Bodger's voice as I read this story and it is as moving and stirring now as when I first heard her tell it!.