Fairy Tale Inspiration & A Reading Challenge Chat & Catch-up

[@donnareadler]

I’m not surprised at all that so many people have joined your reading challenge, I think people are craving interaction and community atm (I know I am!) and your prompts are so inspiring. For my January retelling book I chose to read Wicked and I’m enjoying it very much, but I didn’t join the challenge until 1/3 of the way through the month of January so I don’t think I will quite finish it before the end of the month. Hopefully I will be able to catch up in February. 💕

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Ooo Donna that’s a great choice, it’s so different to everything actually you’ve watched isn’t it …I’m so excited to see what they do with the second movie. I think community is wonderful isn’t it just sharing it and feeling each other across the ether all on a common thread. I love it ❤️❤️❤️

[@donnareadler]

I haven’t actually seen either the movie or the musical yet (I know, I know, I’m probably the only person left who hasn’t, lol) but I’ve heard they’re quite different from the source material of the book.

[@LarimarTide]

I was super behind on my own choice for January (Fearie Tales: Stories of the Grimm and Gruesome), I thought short stories would be an easy start to the challenge but I’ve struggled to want to pick it up! I listened to this video while I was painting my kitchen & jumped on your recommendation, borrowed Cinder from my library as an audiobook & bloody loved it! I’m already on Scarlet 🤣 so thank you for that! Hopefully my own choices for the rest of the year will go better as I was supposed to be using the challenge to get through some of the books already on my shelves 😂🤣😂🤣 but there can never be too many books right? 📚 📚📚💚

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

@@LarimarTide I literally squealed!!!! Isn’t it fabulous and it doesn’t stop I think each book gets better and better. So excited you are reading it ❤️❤️❤️🙌

[@LarimarTide]

@CandySoulAndSoil it's so good, such a great combination of things that make up the story & how the writer incorporates the traditional elements but used in a wildly different way!

[@TarotTherapeia]

Loved this Candy. I have Magickal Faerytales: an enchanted collection of retold tales by Lucy Cavendish & illustrated by Jasmine Beckett-Griffith. It’s a linen cover hardback of retold fairy tales through the lens of Magickal practice . It is sublime and you prompted me to pull it off the shelf to read along with the challenge xo

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Oh wow I didn’t know this book existed that sounds magical. I’m so pleased you are joining in ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jinxminx55]

yes - that's the one I just read! it's a lovely book (as long as you get on with jasmine beckett-griffith's art work - it's not my favorite style but I love their oracle decks so much I can appreciate it). I also have snow and rose by emily winfield martin, which is a middle-grade retelling of snow white and rose red, which I read a couple of years ago. she's the author and the illustrator (I actually had a jigsaw puzzle with an illustration from this book before I knew of the book) and it's beautifully written and illustrated. I'm not on storygraph but I'll be following the challenge here :)

[@christellesartfactory2124]

Love your videos, Candy. That’s the second time I watch you talk about books, and the second time I end up on Amazon 😂 not complaining though, last time I got the shades of magic trilogy . I’m on the first book and absolutely loving it. This time I got the lunar chronicles, and saved the chronicles of Alice series (because I can see these being my February treat ❤). Thank you so much for the great recommendations. I’ve been so used reading nonfiction and learning, that it’s so refreshing jumping in to these fantastic worlds ❤❤❤

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

@@christellesartfactory2124 oooo honestly if you have the same reading taste as me you are going on a magical and brilliant reading adventure with those! I hope you love every single second ❤️❤️❤️

[@whalesong813]

I am really enjoying this months prompt of fairy tale retellings. So far I've read a Cinderella and a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I had to laugh, I just picked up Cinder at my library and just started it this morning. I am going to check out Storygraph today and see if it is something I can actually use lol. Have a great day reading and I am looking forward to your next video!

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Oh this is beyond exciting thank you so much for joining in and I’m super excited you are reading the lunar chronicles now too ❤️❤️❤️

[@CLP-fz5fy]

Your videos are always a pleasure to watch, Candy, thank you! The illustrator of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland is Ana Juan, an artist from Valencia here in Spain. She made the Tarot Cats deck published by Fournier and has done some great books, including a very dark version of Snow White. I also really enjoyed your winter reading videos. I am a huge Tove Jansson fan, ever since I was a little girl. Thank you. ❤ Cora

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Oh my gosh that’s fantastic to know I will check them out. You don’t happen to know the title of the Snow White book do you? ❤️

[@CLP-fz5fy]

@CandySoulAndSoil I do! It's called Snowhite -- with just the one w. I checked and it's still in print and available in Spanish or Italian. I don't think it was ever translated into English but there isn't much text to it really, it's mostly illustrations.

[@snezhok4300]

hello, Candy! ❤ I joined your challenge as well, even though I decided not to use Storygraph - I'm trying to minimize my online time this year 😊 so far I've read some fairytales by Scandinavian authors, and I'm hoping to finish an anthology of Siberian (this is where I'm from) folktales today I've been also enjoying an absolutely marvelous book about Pamela Colman Smith by Stuart R. Kaplan ('The Untold Strory') and I've learned from it that Pixie was not just a fairytales illustrator, but she actually was a remarkably gifted storyteller herself! I looooooved this synchronicity! next I'll be reading 'East' by Edith Pattou, which is a retelling of a Norwegian folktale ❄ and I'm very excited for February - I want to read as much vampire manga as possible thank you for such a wonderful challenge that brought joy and play into my reading ❤

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Oh I adore this so much! I love love love you found that synchronicity with Pamela I’m going to check out that right away! And mostly I adore reading you are having fun with this. It blows my mind that people can come together like this and have fun even though miles away. All the reading you’ve done sounds so fun and I can’t wait to hear what you read in fanguary now ❤️❤️❤️

[@LaurikaBretherton]

Oh I like the look of the lunar chronicles. I will go and see where I can find them.

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Ooo I want to read both of those. I only realised a few weeks ago that the wide Sargasso Sea was Betha’s perspective and I am so desperate to read it now. Thank you laurika ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Oh and I’m so glad you are enjoying it and top of the class with the reading 🥳❤️🙌

[@Bookishtravels1]

I remember Cinder and the subsequent books and had a lot of fun with them 🎉 I think my favourite was Scarlet 😊 I did not really get on with Heartless sadly. Christina Henry is fun too 🎉 Do love a good charity shop hunt 😊

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

@@Bookishtravels1 I can just Remeber being swept away in the lunar chronicles. Oo a charity shop is the best thing. I’m about to film a haul video full of goodies ❤️❤️ lovely to see what you think of the books. I’ve been checking out your 52 challenge and see one prompt is a book with a moon on the cover. My March prompt is moonlit March and I’m reading the moonstone by Wilkie Collins if you wanted to Buddy read? ❤️

[@Bookishtravels1]

@@CandySoulAndSoil Looking forwards to your haul, sounds fab! I really need to do more videos for the challenge haha, A buddy read sounds fab, i am a slowish reader, just to warn you. Let's find a way to chat outside of YT and then we can chat freely about our experiences with the book :) Let me know!

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

@@Bookishtravels1 yes that’s awesome are you on Instagram that’s super easy for chatting

[@Bookishtravels1]

@ i do have an insta account but i don’t use it, but maybe this is the perfect opportunity to use it for chat with you! Beware, i can chat for days 😂

[@juliambada]

Yeah! I've joined your challenge on StoryGraph. May end up a bit late with my January read because I'm already reading a few books (I always read several simultaneously) but I already know my candidates!

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Wonderful! And absolutely no rules about joining in late can’t wait to hear about it ❤️❤️❤️

[@Ejcfarley]

✨ ❤

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@SunshineDawn7]

Hi Candy 🍬 🍬 I am a slow reader because i don't have much time to read before i fall asleep but i am currently reading the coven by chandelle lavaun, the complete series and then i am going to read the coven by harper Lwoods and the second book the cursed by the same author but if i can find my vampire lestat book i might read that for february. My hubby just rearranged all my books and decks and i can't find anything. It's all in boxes. I keep praying for a house with a million shelves lol. 😂😂Sorry i am having trouble typing because of rotator cuff issues, so not doing as well as usual. Good luck with your book 📙reading challenge. Always nice to see you 🤗🤗❤❤

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Sunshine dawn for you my friend you can join in with any book and ignore prompts! Is that cheating …. Technically yes! Do I care …. Nope! lol so glad you are here and I’m sorry to hear you are having wrist ( is it wrist? ) issues. If I ever win a lot of money I would buy you a house with a library and tarot shelves and a doll room and playrooms for the grandkids too ❤️❤️❤️

[@SunshineDawn7]

@@CandySoulAndSoil Awe 🥰Thank you so much my friend 😊You are the Sweetest 🍬🍬It is mostly torn rotator cuffs in shoulders but arthritis with degeneration in my whole body. I also have neuropathy in my feet, hands and it is taking over everywhere.Not to mention hardening of the arteries. Finally going to see a new Doc at the end of the month.Mine was usless. Still trying to stay positive though.I have my Beautiful little Granddaughter to think of. I can't wait to get up there and see her. I have been collecting Crissy and Velvet dolls and fixing them up to play with her😊😊Now i need to hunt down a tea set and little table and a chairs for her. We are going to have so much fun. I also plan on making more doll clothes and have bought a few cute little hippie outfits for Velvet and Crissy lol 😂I wish you and Tilly could come with us. I so wish we lived in the same country. That would be so nice 🥰🥰🤗🤗🌞🌞💖💖🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@beanbaghagwag]

❤

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@aspasiarising4732]

I'm participating in your book challenge and so excited to be doing so. I finished "My ANtonia" by Willa Cather, which is a prompt by another channel you mentioned in your introductory video (can't remember the name). And for my Retelling I'm reading "The Bear and the Nightingale" by Katherine Arden, which I'm really enjoying. Thank you so much for sharing, Candy.

[@laynagilbert4450]

Ooh I just finished the bear and the nightingale. Just realised I'm ahead on the challenge ❤

[@aspasiarising4732]

@@laynagilbert4450 Cool. I'm enjoying it. Although Konstantin hitting a little too close to home for me in these "interesting times."

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Ooo I’m so interested to hear what you thought of my Antonia I’ve not read it but would like to. Also the bear and the nightingale is on my winter shelf and I’m confused, I’ve heard it’s a retelling but also that it’s a witchy book? The cover blurb doesn’t give a lot away? So pleased you are both taking part ❤️❤️❤️

[@aspasiarising4732]

@@CandySoulAndSoil I actually wouldn't suggest "My Antonia" as the first Cather book to read. I would suggest either "O Pioneers!" or "Death Comes to the Archbishop." The next Cather I read will be "The Professor's House." Yes, "The Bear and the Nightingale" definitely has witches, among other magical elements.

[@SecondThoughtsAboutTheMission]

This was so much fun! I’m nearly finished with my book for January! And it’s a series (which I hadn’t realized) so I’ll have to read the other two. I can’t wait for Fanguary! 😊❤

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Ooo can’t wait to hear about what you read. Oh snd Rachel that video with you and your daughter was so fantastic! She really is incredible isn’t she I can only imagine how much you adore her. Tell her a huge thank you from me ❤️❤️

[@SecondThoughtsAboutTheMission]

❤❤❤ I’m so happy to hear how much you enjoyed it Candy. She is amazing, yes. I love her immensely. I’ll be sure to tell her what you said. Thank you 😊

[@NicoleACottageWitch]

I read some Icelandic folk tales recently, which was fun, and a library book came in, so I might be getting a little head start on February.

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Ooo Nicole I love love love you are taking part ❤️❤️

[@janetlittler9079]

Hello Candy. Thanks for this video. I have read Alice by Christina Henry, which I really enjoyed. It was a first for me...a retelling. I have also started David Copperfield for the 'Decree Course' that you mentioned as a long term goal. I wondered if you are going to do videos on how to study etc, for those of us who are following along? That would be great. Have been watching your channels for years and always find them enjoyable. Thank you x Looking forward to all you do this year xxx

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Jane this is so exciting I am so pleased you are following along. I will be making videos yes about the dickens readalong and the diy degree too. Did you know Alice is one of three books. I know because I just bought my daughter book two the red queen. I can’t wait to hear how everybody is getting on and David copperfield has my heart! ❤️

[@janetlittler9079]

@CandySoulAndSoil Thank you Candy...I'll look into those other books. Look forward to your videos.

[@rachellangella8595]

I'm planning to read The Wren in the Holly Library, which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but I haven't started yet. I'm really tempted by the Lunar Chronicles now, though!

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Ooo that sounds awesome I’m going to check out the wren in the holly library now. You can’t go wrong with the lunar chronicles ❤️

[@Pixelchus]

I've joined your reading challenge as well, it was so much fun picking a book for each month. I have never really joined any reading challenges before. I decided to go with Lady Macbeth! I finished within a week, I think, it was so good. I considered reading another retelling, but I think I will keep the Candy Reading Challenge books as my little monthly treat. Are you planning to read multiple themed books if you finish yours earlier?

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

Ooo I’m so excited you’ve joined in. Lady Macbeth sounds awesome!!! I’ve read a few Retellings yes but mainly because I’m studying fairy tales this year so it will probably be ongoing. Next month I’ve got more than one book too as I’m looking at gothic literature alongside fairytales but after that I’m not sure possibly I’ll go to the one book then. It’s all good fun isn’t it. I’ve loved segmenting the reading year and then seeing other people join in ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@lorwynmoontide]

I don't have storygraph, but a retelling I've read for January is Romeo and Juliet pretty much; Warm Bodies! Maybe not fairytale, but a retelling at the least 😅

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

@@lorwynmoontide oh how fabulous. I haven’t heard of that. Did you enjoy it?

[@lorwynmoontide]

@@CandySoulAndSoil I thought it was great. Didn't care for the series as a whole, but the first book is really good. It's a zombie romance? As weird as that sounds. A zombie named R and a girl named Julie. If you don't mind some slightly more adult content (Id think it'd be 17+ for themes), mostly due to a few descriptions of gore. There's also a movie that tones down and cuts out that stuff.

[@roxieblue9150]

I added the Christina Henry Alice book to my books list a year or so ago -my notes from the recommendation say it’s pretty dark and disturbing and gory so I haven’t worked myself up to it.

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

My daughter said the same after she read it ❤️