“She gave birth to a son shortly after her 90th birthday and nursed him until he was seven years old. The boy is growing enormously, he could tear out a tree with roots while still at kindergarten.” “The bride left the groom at the altar. She swapped him for a richer and more handsome man who she had met on the way to the ceremony.” “He gained the villa, titles, and status through marriage. He came here as an illegal worker, made his living by cleaning at a lonely aristocrat’s home, until she fell in love with him and asked for his hand in marriage.” 

Fairy tales teach children about the world, but read as bizarre stories to adults. Slovak fairy tale heritage, as documented by Pavol Dobšinský, is far from what we consider traditional now – and rather close to everything our society deems strange and unsettling. The most peculiar picks will be heard at this year’s reading event.