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cnidariar3x's review against another edition
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Took a lot of effort to mine anything of value from my two read-throughs.
Not unenjoyable, but a little too experimental, fragmented, and dated for me.
I haven't read any of the authors' short stories, but it feels appropriate that folks swear his shorter works are better.
Some interesting thematic and character trope subversions going on, but not enough to really recommend it. Unless highly active reading is your jam.
A lot of what-the-f*ck going on in this book.
Not unenjoyable, but a little too experimental, fragmented, and dated for me.
I haven't read any of the authors' short stories, but it feels appropriate that folks swear his shorter works are better.
Some interesting thematic and character trope subversions going on, but not enough to really recommend it. Unless highly active reading is your jam.
A lot of what-the-f*ck going on in this book.
jordanbates91's review against another edition
5.0
Snow White by Donald Barthelme
Scribner Paperback Fiction, New York. 1965
“The hair is black as ebony, the skin white as snow” when reading this sentence you might immediately think of the Brothers Grimm, but this is not the case here. When looking at Donald Barthelme’s Snow White I was shocked to see the blood red and white cover with a corset on the front and back of it. Barthelme’s Snow White is taking the Grimm brother’s fairy tale to a whole new level, putting a contemporary spin on it. We see Snow White and the dwarfs living in the city and going about their daily lives. We soon learn the provocative nature of Snow White and the dwarfs, clinging to their shower times together; the most important thing to them.
We, as the reader, are now exposed to a new world in relation to Snow White, one with many sexual innuendoes and a place where she has already met prince charming. We get to see into the lives of the dwarfs and what they endure everyday along with their awaited showers. We get to finally see the thought process of Snow White and how she interacts with the dwarfs and how they put up with each other.
Barthelme takes all of the main characters and places and imagine them as real people. Jane - the Evil Queen; Hogo - the Mirror; Paul - Prince Charming. Consequently, we are able to connect with these characters on a different level when they have an actual name and we can relate to them. You also get to interact with Jane, the Evil Queen; you don’t see her plotting the demise of Snow white, you almost feel sympathy for her every day life. When getting to see into the everyday lives of these people we almost start to lose sight of how Snow White ends. When we get closer to the ending, and with a unexpected twist, you sit there trying to think about everything you have read about Snow White and comprehend what just happened.
Barthelme has cerated a new realm of fairy tale, interjecting real life amongst fantasy. This book would startle most people with the language, different narrators, and of course the little tid bit in the middle of the book. Barthelme’s writing is strong- willed in creating something of his own. I would love to be able to take a fairy tale and make it my own and put as much raw emotion into it. The satire with the raw emotion in this book intrigues me to write more this way, almost taking the raw emotion and putting a twist on it. This is exactly what Barthelme’s writing does and what makes this story such an amazing read.
Scribner Paperback Fiction, New York. 1965
“The hair is black as ebony, the skin white as snow” when reading this sentence you might immediately think of the Brothers Grimm, but this is not the case here. When looking at Donald Barthelme’s Snow White I was shocked to see the blood red and white cover with a corset on the front and back of it. Barthelme’s Snow White is taking the Grimm brother’s fairy tale to a whole new level, putting a contemporary spin on it. We see Snow White and the dwarfs living in the city and going about their daily lives. We soon learn the provocative nature of Snow White and the dwarfs, clinging to their shower times together; the most important thing to them.
We, as the reader, are now exposed to a new world in relation to Snow White, one with many sexual innuendoes and a place where she has already met prince charming. We get to see into the lives of the dwarfs and what they endure everyday along with their awaited showers. We get to finally see the thought process of Snow White and how she interacts with the dwarfs and how they put up with each other.
Barthelme takes all of the main characters and places and imagine them as real people. Jane - the Evil Queen; Hogo - the Mirror; Paul - Prince Charming. Consequently, we are able to connect with these characters on a different level when they have an actual name and we can relate to them. You also get to interact with Jane, the Evil Queen; you don’t see her plotting the demise of Snow white, you almost feel sympathy for her every day life. When getting to see into the everyday lives of these people we almost start to lose sight of how Snow White ends. When we get closer to the ending, and with a unexpected twist, you sit there trying to think about everything you have read about Snow White and comprehend what just happened.
Barthelme has cerated a new realm of fairy tale, interjecting real life amongst fantasy. This book would startle most people with the language, different narrators, and of course the little tid bit in the middle of the book. Barthelme’s writing is strong- willed in creating something of his own. I would love to be able to take a fairy tale and make it my own and put as much raw emotion into it. The satire with the raw emotion in this book intrigues me to write more this way, almost taking the raw emotion and putting a twist on it. This is exactly what Barthelme’s writing does and what makes this story such an amazing read.
caterina_x's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure how I feel about this odd little book. I've never read Barthelme before and his astonishing prose.
I'm giving 4 stars simply for the audacity, the experimental prose, the sharp reflections of life and reality. But I didn't enjoy it that much, esp. the first part. Any pleasure to be found in these pages is strictly intellectual, and I prefer my stories to combine intellect and emotions.
I'm giving 4 stars simply for the audacity, the experimental prose, the sharp reflections of life and reality. But I didn't enjoy it that much, esp. the first part. Any pleasure to be found in these pages is strictly intellectual, and I prefer my stories to combine intellect and emotions.
sentient_meat's review against another edition
5.0
If you've never read Barthelme you've never read. Thats all there is to say.
heypretty52's review against another edition
3.0
For my review of this book, see the Goodreads review of Grady McCallie.
lizsmartie13's review against another edition
2.0
(a whooshing sound as this book flies utterly and completely over my head)
cool_veins's review against another edition
2.0
i hate donald barthelme and i hated this stupid book.what a wacky guy. some pages were good. i liked the part where the book ends.
apermal2's review against another edition
4.0
I learned that Snow White is a bit of a slut. An entertaining read, but a bit hard to follow.
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