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Six-Gun Snow White
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
46 posts | 65 read | 61 to read
A New York Times bestselling author offers a brilliant reinvention of one of the best-known fairy tales of all time with Snow White as a gunslinger in the mythical Wild West.Forget the dark, enchanted forest. Picture instead a masterfully evoked Old West where you are more likely to find coyotes as the seven dwarves. Insert into this scene a plain-spoken, appealing narrator who relates the history of our heroines parentsa Nevada silver baron who forced the Crow people to give up one of their most beautiful daughters, Gun That Sings, in marriage to him. Although her mothers life ended as hers began, so begins a remarkable tale: equal parts heartbreak and strength. This girl has been born into a world with no place for a half-native, half-white child. After being hidden for years, a very wicked stepmother finally gifts her with the name Snow White, referring to the pale skin she will never have. Filled with fascinating glimpses through the fabled looking glass and a close-up look at hard living in the gritty gun-slinging West, this is an utterly enchanting storyat once familiar and entirely new.
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mariaku21
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Mehso-so

@Clwojick #pantone2023 #taylorswift2023readingchallenge

This was an interesting take on a fairytale retelling and it was different enough to keep me reading along.

A solid read that had a bit of a slow start as I did find that it started a bit slow but once I got going I was all in!

The only reason I didn't rate this higher is that it feels a bit meh in the beginning, good in the middle and abrupt ending that left me meh.

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BookmarkTavern
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Mehso-so

Snow White is the daughter of a Nevada oil man and a Crow woman named Gun That Sings. And with a ruby encrusted gun named Rose Red, she is determined to find her place in the wild West.

I read this 6 years ago, and I‘m glad I tried the audiobook. The narration was absolutely perfect, melding the western with the magical. The story is a fun & fierce retelling, but with an abrupt ending & a level of racism that just felt heavy handed. 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

76 likes1 comment
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silentrequiem
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Mehso-so

It may be time to acknowledge that Valente may not be for me. Her style tends to be experimental. Sometimes it works; most times it doesn't. This didn't.

This was based off Snow White (obvs). It's weird and the narrative style was folksy non-linear storytelling, which was neat but also off-putting. The ending was super out of left field. I was also uncomfortable with a white author's depiction of the continual racism Snow White faced.

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rachelsbrittain
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Panpan

A fairy tale reimagining of Snow White in the old American West. I enjoyed aspects of the story--& some of the changes & allusions to fairy tales like her ruby-encrusted gun named Rose Red--but overall wasn't blown away. And the recurrent cruelty & racism toward Snow White for being half Crow didn't sit right with me-- esp coming from a white author. It felt excessive and gratuitous. Honestly wish I'd devoted that reading time to something else.

TobeyTheScavengerMonk I‘m sorry to read that, because that Charles Vess cover freakin‘ rules. 4y
rachelsbrittain @TobeyTheScavengerMonk it is a very cool cover! 4y
LibrarianRyan I agree. I could see why so many people liked it but I didn‘t. 4y
41 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Lizpixie
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Mehso-so

Bk2 of my #BuzzWordBookathon is this retelling of the Snow White fairytale in which the MC is a half Crow Indian half white gun toting cowgirl in the Wild West. Not sure it really worked for me, I don‘t know whether it‘s because I‘m not a western fan(especially when they use hokey accents. A lot.)or if the story itself was the issue. Still giving it a so-so not a pan, it may be to others tastes. And it‘s one more colour down for my #buzzword🤍

Clwojick I think that western may be the only genre I‘ve never tried. Don‘t think I‘d enjoy it at all! 5y
hes7 Ooh, interesting! 4y
52 likes2 comments
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SW-T
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Panpan

This had been on my TBR for ages. Didn‘t care for it when I finally got to it.

Pro‘s: very short, interesting illustrations, Snow White retelling, nice cover art
Con‘s: felt choppy, disjointed, experimental, slow, and very boring

#fairytaleretelling

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BookmarkTavern
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Yeehaw, Littens! It‘s time for a Western themed #sundayfunday!

1. True Grit, the John Wayne one
2. United States Deputy Marshall Bass Reeves
3. Six Gun Snow White by Catherynne Valente

Don‘t forget to tag me! 🤠

Bklover I saw the John Wayne True Grit movie at the drive-in when I was a kid. (I‘m 60, so yes, it was a long time ago). It‘s always been one of my favorites! 5y
BookmarkTavern @Bklover My aunt showed it to me one day when she was taking care of me. I had finished reading it the day before, and I would not stop talking about it. think I was 12. 😁 5y
44 likes2 comments
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Craftylikefox
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Made it to another Monday!

📚Six Gun Snow White - I want to read it
🎬The Magnificent Seven
🎼 Into the Great Wide Open

#manicmonday @JoScho

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GrilledCheeseSamurai
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Chocolate cake and Valente for lunch. ❤️

mabell Glass of milk? 5y
GrilledCheeseSamurai @mabell got milk? 😅. 5y
GrilledCheeseSamurai @mabell and yes. But it was in the fridge. No warm milk for this guy...even for the pic. 😅 5y
mabell Ha! Well as long as you have it 😄 5y
71 likes1 stack add4 comments
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LaraReads
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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#booked2019 winter season prompts complete! I feel like booked & #readharder both are helping me to read some new things I never would have explored otherwise! ❤️ The tagged book, for example. So thankful for the Litsy community who has brought such fun challenges into my life!

BarbaraTheBibliophage Great job! So glad you‘re enjoying it! 👏🏻♥️📚 6y
Cinfhen That‘s wonderful!!! I feel the same way. I really enjoyed 6y
42 likes2 comments
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allisontshannon
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
Pickpick

This retelling of Snow White was incredibly refreshing. I often forgot it was a retelling, having moments of recognition such as who the hunter was or what a certain moment symbolized. The imagery astounded me. It could be amazing and beautiful and gruesome. There are some disturbing moments in this book, including sexual assault. I haven't finished a book in over a year so SGSW is now especially special to me.

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vlwelser
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

This was sort of fun. It's really short. 💖📚

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BiblioNyan
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
Panpan

If I were to summarise this book, I‘d have to say that it‘s racist & supremely offensive especially towards Native Americans. I‘m so tired of narratives where POC are compared to animals due to having dark skin, while non-POC are portrayed as being the most beautiful ppl ever. If that wasn‘t bad enough, they have to go thru all the levels of Hell to become strong, fierce people—rape & oppression. I can‘t convey enough how painful this was. 1/5.

KirstieE Yikes! Glad I didn't put this on my tbr... 6y
12 likes1 comment
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BiblioNyan
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Starting this today. This is a Snow White re-telling where Snow White is a gunslinger in the Wild West, & I believe she‘s also an Indigenous person! Super excited for it.

#fairytale #fantasy #western

16 likes1 stack add
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LibrarianRyan
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

4⭐️ This is probably the most interesting retelling of Snow White I have ever read. It‘s almost hard to call it a fantasy. And aren‘t most fairy tales fantasy? The fantasy is there, but it‘s small. It‘s still important to the story. But wow!

Full review on GR and LT.

Ps. I hate this cover

43 likes2 stack adds
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LibrarianRyan
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

I have to sleep on this before writing my review. I know I overuse the word interesting but that is the best word for it. It‘s a Snow White retelling but then again no it‘s not. As I said more later.

Ireadkidlit I‘ll be waiting for your considered and slept on review😃— I‘m intrigued simply by the title and the fact that you picked it. 6y
LibrarianRyan @Ireadkidlit it had been on my list for a while but was actually sent in a swap box (last Halloween I believe). But, yes. You‘ll see it tomorrow. Starting tonight 6y
64 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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LibrarianRyan
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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A very true thing you see in fairy tales frequently. Changing for love.

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LibrarianRyan
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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I love this explanation of Snow Whites name.

62 likes3 stack adds
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LibrarianRyan
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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This description s is beautifully annoying.

“But when Gun That Sings* returned to town with her relations and Mr H had opportunity to clap eyes on her again, he knew he could not be satisfied except to own her entirely. A man don‘t rent a silver mine. He buys it right out. “🤯

silentrequiem Mines sometimes cave in and trap or kill people. #justsaying 6y
LibrarianRyan @silentrequiem let‘s hope. The first chapter pissed me off. In a good way. I can‘t wait to see how the story evolves. 6y
70 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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MadCatRamble
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

When Catherynne Valente does a thing, she does it all the way. In this case, she pulled off a western retelling of Snow White with a bad ass, complicated POC heroine, a creepy, complicated villainess and enough of the uncanny to give it a lovely edge of strangeness. It‘s a gritty novella with gorgeous evocative prose - the kind of book you gobble while trying to savor the words.

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WhatDeeReads
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

The subtitle is: A Fully Loaded Fairy Tale

Y‘all know by now that mama is a sucker for a re-telling with a badass POC heroine. Oh man, it‘s amazing. It‘s so profound. There are such strong themes that emerge once Snow White is made into a Native American woman. I am here for it.

36 likes5 stack adds
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daniwithtea
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Fairy tale retellings can be such a shot in the dark; not sure about this Snow White western. (Pun completely and unapologetically intended.)

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Kalalalatja
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Someday, I‘m going to read this retelling of Snow White set in the #wildwildwest. Someday, when I get all the money. Someday, when I get a grip on my unruly tbr. Someday, sigh..

#HeatofJuly

Liatrek 🤣🤣 unruly TBR 6y
LibrarianRyan I have this book to read tooo. 6y
BarbaraBB 😂😂 I know exactly what you mean ♥️ 6y
See All 6 Comments
Ddzmini I know I keep adding books to my tbr on Litsy it‘s out of control and I buy books so often my husband thinks I‘m book crazy so I‘m trying to finish the books in the house before I get anymore it‘s just not working out 😖📚📚📚📖 6y
Kalalalatja @Liatrek @LibrarianRyan @BarbaraBB the eternal struggle of the bookworm 🙄😂📚 6y
Kalalalatja @Ddzmini I feel your pain! I was on a book buying ban for the first four months of the year until I got under 30 unread physical books. It was hard, but having a “goal” also motivated me a bit 👍 6y
82 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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Kaseybjohn
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Panpan

That was super weird. I would be okay if I hadn‘t read it. Not bad enough to bail, but the worst part was how it tried SO HARD to sound like a western. That‘s not necessary.

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LibrarianRyan
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Holy guilted schnikes Batman!

In an attempt to be more organized I decided to make a list of all the books I have receive in Swaps since I started.

No wonder my book shelves are full. You are all an awesome and generous bunch of Litens. Time to get reading.

77 likes1 stack add
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Daisey
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

This was a gritty and fascinating retelling of Snow White in the Wild West.

#audiobook #LRC16 #sameageauthor #LitsyReadingChallenge

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JPeterson
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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RealBooks4ever
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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I love this novella, about a mixed race girl in the Wild West! #Six #NovemberByTheNumbers

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KCorter
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

I borrowed this audiobook from the library as a potential pick for #TheRetellingBookswap. I didn't get to it in time, but I figured I should read it anyway before it expired. Why did I wait?! This #fairytaleretelling was outstanding! Valente is a phenomenal storyteller. Do yourself a favor and don't wait to read this like I did!

P.S. Julia Whelan, the narrator, was impressively good. Experience this on audiobook, if you can.

KCorter @ChasingOm If you like the Valente books I sent you, definitely read this one as well! 7y
72 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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JacquelynLovesYou
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Catherynne Valente is my fave.

6 likes1 stack add
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LibrarianRyan
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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OMG OMG OMG. I have always wanted an Out of Print book bag but could never bring myself to buy one. And now Nancy Drew and I will be BFF. Plus I have this book on my TBR for a while (Goodreads not Litsy). So excited to be wrong. So So excited !!!!! #summersantagoespostal

erzascarletbookgasm Love the tote bag! 7y
Itchyfeetreader This bag is amazing ! 7y
100 likes1 stack add2 comments
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JPeterson
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Finished the #ERMadLibs reading challenge. A few changes from my original plan, but I'm happy with how it turned out. 😄👍

saresmoore 🙌 7y
rachellayown 👏👏👏 7y
EclecticReaders Awesome!! 7y
kspenmoll 🎉🎉🎉 7y
81 likes4 comments
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JessReads
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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I love me some Catherynne Valente!

29 likes3 stack adds
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StaceyKondla
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

After a busy day I finished this one in bed tonight. I was expecting quirky and funny, but got bittersweet and poignant instead. This is a wonderful re-telling and also a commentary on sexism and racism. It is raw and it hurts and it drags you through the pages. Brilliant!

gossamerchild That sounds fascinating. 7y
CherylDeFranceschi Such a good read! 7y
47 likes1 stack add2 comments
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StaceyKondla
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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I was having a hard time deciding what book to read next, so I finally decided on this bite-sized novella to tide me over for the rest of the day.

398.2 lol I have to read this! 7y
Alytrue I loved this one. Very different take on Snow White! 7y
51 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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JPeterson
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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#AprilTBR #AprilBookShowers

At least the first two books of the month. The rest of the month will be a surprise and impulse grabs. 😄

BookFreakOut Snow White sounds great, I loved Bear and the Nightingale. 8y
Alytrue I loved Six Gun - such an interesting take on the fairy take, and I love her writing. 8y
KerriNTurner I have Six-Gun Snow White on my to read list too, will be great to see what you think of it! 8y
100 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Kalalalatja
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Some of the #fairytaleretellings on my #tbr that I haven't bought yet. Maybe some of them will end up under the Christmas tree this year 😉
It would seem I got a thing for Snow White retellings 📚

#photoadaynov16

DeborahSmall Snow White was my favourite as a child and still is ❤️🍎 8y
Kalalalatja @DeborahSmall It is one of favourites as well, together with Beauty and the Beast 👌 8y
43 likes2 comments
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Eyelit
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

Oh boy, did I love this! It has so many things that I love: fairy tales reimagined, magical realism, and the Wild Wild West. This eminently readable reimagining of Snow White is darker and grimmer than the original tale and is such a quick read. So glad this caught my eye at the library!

ReviewsandReadathons Love retellings!! Added to my TBR! 8y
readinginthedark Love Valente! I'll have to read this one! 8y
42 likes9 stack adds2 comments
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Grimlock
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
Pickpick

Love, love, love. Perfection. Didn't quite understand the ending - but the journey was so fun and meaningful, I didn't really care.

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ness
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
Pickpick

A classic fairy tale reimagined as a Western? Sign me tf up. It's exactly what I wanted it to be.

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ness
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Wild Western Snow White? Sign me up.

2 likes1 stack add
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kaylaraeintheway
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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Pickpick

This re-telling of the classic Snow White fairytale by new new favorite author Catherynne M. Valente is A.MA.ZING. The Old West setting and Snow White's half-white/half-Native American heritage leads to lyrical and haunting commentary on race and gender. This is a must read for sure!

1 like1 stack add
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grumpygirlbooks
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
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I did not know this existed until today. I think I'd like to try it.

1 like1 stack add
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Bookishaf
Six-Gun Snow White | Catherynne M. Valente
Mehso-so

I really wanted to like it. It's Snow White (half Native-American/half white) in the wild wild Midwest. I couldn't get into the story that well and the ending seemed really rushed. But if you like fairy tale remixes, try it. It's short enough :)

2 likes1 stack add