Raven Girl
By Audrey Niffenegger
Released May, 2013 by Abrams Comicarts
Length: 80 pages
Genres: Fantasy(Fairytale) and graphic novel
Rating: three and a half stars
Acquired: Purchased
This short, unusual fairytale stems from when resident choreographer Wayne McGregor, for the Royal Ballet in London, asked Audrey Niffenegger if she would collaborate on a new dance with him where she would write the story and he would create the dance. When asked what kind of story, he simply said a new fairy tale. Thus came this illustrated, twisted, dark, funny, strange, and oddly charming and whimsical fairy tale about a postal man who falls in love with a Raven and has a child with her.
At only eighty pages, including the illustrations drawn by the author, this fairy tale is rather short; but, not without meaning. It’s one part love story (post man meets Raven who hasn’t learned to fly and takes her home with him because he thinks she’s wounded. A typical boy meets girl at first sight plot) one part identity crisis ( Raven and Post man somehow procreate and have a child hat squawks like a raven, but looks otherwise human with arms and no feathers) one part metamorphosis (if I tell you, I’ll ruin the ending!) and one part, what just happened? Everything you love in a fairytale. There are so many things going on in this macabre story. You have a half raven/half human girl that doesn’t know where she fits in this world. I felt for her, yet was ashamed of myself at times for thinking of how ugly she looked. I will say she got a happy ending. Two, really. And, well deserved.
I loved this little, quirky book. There isn’t much to say. Just pick it up and read it. The illustrations alone are fantastic to look at. The story is great, too. I wish I could have seen how Wayne McGregor interpreted this into a dance. The costumes would be great. Well done, Niffenegger. Definitely something different for me. I was excited about this book and very glad I was not disappointed at all.
indiereadergirl0329 
Jan 15, 2014 @ 04:37:51
I really enjoyed Niffenegger’s The Time Travelers Wife, but was totally let down by Her Fearful Symmetry and have been kind of leery of her work since then. I do love fairy tales and this one is pretty short, so I may have to give it go sometime.
Jan 16, 2014 @ 03:10:56
I loved The Time Traveler’s Life as well. Hated the movie. Just ruined the book, I felt. I have Her Fearful Symmetry, but something has kept me from reading it. I don’t know what. Maybe I’ll finally get to it this year. Try to give Raven Girl a try. It is a short read. Nothing too serious. A little of a what did I just read read that I found delightful. Wouldn’t say my favorite, but enjoyable enough that I’d recommend it.