The group is specifically focused on women whose stories have been sensationalized and that have plagued media cycles.Įach character has her basis in a fairy tale, despite the modern setting. How To Be Eaten begins with the introduction of five female characters, all of whom have responded to an email advertisement seeking to set up a support group for trauma survivors in New York. By modernizing the setting of each character’s tales, Adelmann is able to place today’s context onto their narratives and uses their stories to demonstrate a range of important issues with how women are perceived in media and how men often shape their narratives.įair warning: spoilers ahead for anyone who hasn’t read this book.īook Review: How To Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann The book is an inventive approach to classic fairy-tale heroines that places them in a modern-day New York trauma support group.

It took a few months before I moved it up my list of priority books to purchase, but I’m glad I finally pulled the trigger and bought it because it was a really enjoyable (and quick) read. Agent: Jenni Ferrari-Adler, Union Literary.How To Be Eaten began showing up in various areas of the top-picks sections at my local bookstore some time in late 2022 and the premise was so unique I was instantly intrigued. Revisionist fairy tales are nothing new, but Adelmann’s are elevated by accomplished prose and wry humor. In the background is a running commentary about the power structure of narratives (“Morals create a labyrinth of rules geared toward blaming the victim,” says Bernice, quoting a woman who later became one of Bluebeard’s victims). Adelmann’s retelling of “Rumpelstiltskin” is particularly good it involves Raina, the oldest of the group, and includes a stunning revelation during one of Will’s sessions of an imp-human sex scene.

Then there’s Ashlee, a “survivor” of a Bachelor-esque dating show and Ruby, who as a child was swallowed by a wolf. Everything was great until Bernice discovered his secret habit of imprisoning and murdering women in his mansion. First up is Bernice, who was whisked into a whirlwind romance with a tech billionaire nicknamed “Bluebeard” for his blue-dyed beard. Every Friday evening, they meet in a YMCA rec room to drink coffee and share their experiences. Six women, all public figures, join a mysterious group therapy experiment facilitated by the handsome if preternaturally bland Will. Adelmann’s funny and poignant debut novel (after the collection Girls of a Certain Age) invokes classic and modern fairy tales to portray a group of traumatized women.

How to be eaten a novel maria adelmann