Politically Correct Bedtime Stories ( A book review)


Title: Politically Correct Bedtime Stories
Author: James Finn Garner




Note: All efforts have been made to keep this review short and spoiler-free.

The first edition of this book was published in 1994. It has been reprinted several times since then. 

I have re-read this little book for the third time. At each read I find myself more in admiration of the author’s ability to write something so seemingly light accompanied by an acute subtext. The book is filled with mirth at the desire of today’s generation to be presented as free of bias and overflowing with feelings of equality, fraternity and alternative lifestyles.  The subtext of the content, portrayed most prominently from the seat of the narrator, applies strongly to the contemporary desire for excessive verbal caution[1]. The author was definitely ominous, if not, downright predictive, in his adaptations.

More than this, however, the book is an acute observation of the drastic changes in the discourse of the societal narrative. Fairy tales were considered a medium for representing socio-cultural constructs at the time of their origin; similarly, Garner adapted these age-old fairy tales to represent the contemporary sociological mores that may exist within the globalized topographical context.

The stories are light, funny and, at all times, poignant. 

Sadly this tiny little book appears be out of print in some bookstores. Shame. A few may be available on the internet. The stories are no more than 3-5 pages most of the time. A highly recommended read.




[1] that may be invariably followed by excessively diametrically opposite (in)action(s)

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