The Deal Me In short story reading challenge continues apace. I assigned Lang’s Rainbow Fairy Books to the diamond suit, and drew a diamond again this week. The story, from Iceland, was:
Prince Ring
Y’all, I have GOT to go to Iceland sometime. Not only do they have really cool rocks, not only do they have Bjork, they have stories like this.
First, I love fairy tales that just go on and on, with one adventure piled on top of another. You’re like, Could this even GET any wackier? And the story answers, Hold my beer.
Also, I like “younger son” stories, where the least likely to succeed does succeed. This one is different, though. Prince Ring is the only son, and he’s kinda like a male, royal me. Lazy — check. Scared of everything — check. Incapable and unabitious– check, check.
Lucky for Ring, he runs across a talking dog who attaches himself to him, is fearless, strong, energetic, and can do anything. The dog is who I think I am when I think about myself.
So Ring succeeds and marries a King’s daughter. The dog … Well, I encourage you to read the story. I finished it shaking my head, and glad I wasn’t any of the women in the story. They were prolly all shaking their heads, too.
A WRITING PROMPT BASED ON MY POST: Write about a boy and his dog. Not you, Harlan; you done done that.
MA
Jay Carr
June 11, 2018 at 4:26pmSounds like a great story. I visited Iceland last year and hope to go again and spend more time sightseeing as opposed to last year when I was in Reykjavik almost the whole time playing chess (nerd alert!) in the renowned Reykjavik Open. I did learn of writer Alda Sigmundsdottir and subsequently read her book “Icelandic Folk Legends: Tales of Apparitions, Outlaws and Things Unseen” – kinda dark but very interesting.
Marian Allen
June 12, 2018 at 11:02amCongratulations on making it into the Open! As someone who has played chess on about the level of, “Tell me again how this horsey thing moves?” I’m impressed! That book sounds good…. Are you the one who got me onto Kelly Link? Dammit, I have bought MORE BOOKS since I joined this story reading challenge!
Jay Carr
June 12, 2018 at 11:07amThanks! It is an “Open,” though, so anyone can play if they pay the entry fee (and travel to Reykjavik I guess). I did get to play one of the very top players in the world in one game, though, which was pretty exciting for me as an amateur. (Oh, he won…) I don’t know Kelly Link, so that wasn’t me. I will happily take credit for William Trevor purchases though. 😀
Marian Allen
June 12, 2018 at 11:45amNo, it was Tammy Breitweiser; she puts me onto all kindsa good stuff: https://tammysreadinglife.wordpress.com/2018/06/06/read-and-reflect-magic-for-beginners/