Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
I’ll be honest with you, it took about 200 pages for me to really start getting into this book. As was my habit, I really didn’t read much about the story (although in hindsight I should have reacquainted myself with the original Snow White and Rose Red), so I wasn’t as prepared as I might have normally been for some of the most disturbing, dark scenes I’ve read in a long time.
I’m a fan of dark re-tellings. I loved Brom’s The Child Thief and often recommend it. I’ll be recommending Tender Morsels as well, but not to as many folks – as this retelling makes Brom’s look like it’s child’s play.
Although not-explicit, there is brutal attacks and incest in this book – in fact it’s the springboard for the story. To Lanagan’s credit, the story doesn’t revolve around these horrible acts, but they are always there and present in the background.
At times it was confusing and I had to go back and re-read several pages to figure out who’s point of view I was reading, but each time I did so I found a new passage or turn of phrase that made it worth while. This is a beautifully written book, just not a book for everyone. I cannot imagine handing this story off to a young teenager with an “Enjoy!”.
This story spoke to me, especially these days when I am feeling down and depressed and like life has really kicked me hard. I catch myself wishing for a heaven of my own, as Liga found, but when all is said and done, I wouldn’t give up my life, my family, the hardships and the joys for something of sheltering and imperfect peace. Although I wish I was an Urdda, I know I am more of a Branza, a girl who thinks she wants the quiet and peace of an imaginary heaven but really needs to experience life here.
