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emilysbookblog's review
4.0
A quick grimm story about a young mermaid who meets a man and falls in love. The first half is similar to the Disney classic in terms of the sorry and beautiful descriptions of under the sea but then it takes a DARK turn. TLM was one of my favourite childhood movies and despite the differences I loved the original story!
avonlea_booknerd's review
2.0
So I finally read The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. Growing up the Disney movie was my all time favorite, I was obsessed with it. So I've always wanted to read the original story. I knew going into this that it was way different then the Disney version. But oh my goodness! I did not expect this. Honestly if I had read this as a little girl I would have been completely freaked out. Reading this NOW freaked me out. What in the world? I can't believe this is a children's story. I will admit that I loved Hans Christian Andersen's writing style, so I will read some more of his work. I just hope that not all his stories are so creepy! I listened to this on audio and it was completely unabridged. The whole sea witch scene seriously scared me! LOL.
In the end, I think it's worth reading because as weird as it is it's very entertaining. I just didn't care for the story. I would not read this to someone who's very young though. I gave The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen 2/5 stars.
In the end, I think it's worth reading because as weird as it is it's very entertaining. I just didn't care for the story. I would not read this to someone who's very young though. I gave The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen 2/5 stars.
nin275's review against another edition
5.0
I rated this based on the Disney's sugar coated version where the girl was as twisted and puke-worthy to leave her whole world behind for a guy, who (the prince) at least chose her in the end and was only under the evil witch's spell. I can still live with that.
But the original version? Don't even get me started.
But the original version? Don't even get me started.
ilse0778's review
4.0
I loved the Disney-version and knew the original was very different, but never had the chance to actually sit down and read it. I am really glad I finally could! Anderson’s descriptions are beautiful and the plot heartbreaking. All in all well deserving of these four stars!
mandarchy's review against another edition
4.0
I cannot read the Interrupting Chicken books to my students without first building their background knowledge and I cannot rely on their exposure to the Disney classics to get the story across. For those of you who have read the original, you know what I mean when I say I was grateful for this edition when I needed to read the story to my youngest students. I really think that the original Little Mermaid is a YA book - not a primary read. Even so, there were parts where I had to elaborate and parts where I had to gloss over. In the end the students loved sharing how the movie was different and they were especially eager when they learned I had not ever seen the movie version.
lighthartedreader's review against another edition
5.0
I love this so much! It is a story with so much melancholy but full of love throughout! I read this version so many times when I was a kid! From the Disney version, original Hans Christian Andersen and any retellings I am always a lover of the Little Mermaid <3
sergiitoleyendo20's review against another edition
4.0
Nos encontramos, de primeras, a una versión de la historia clásica de La Sirenita. No puedo decir que me haya sorprendido la historia, pues ya la conocía, pero aún así, me sigue encantando ☺️
La edición es en pasta dura, de un tamaño llamativo, colores muy vivos y unas ilustraciones, tanto de la princesa del mar como de la estatua de su príncipe, brillantes, juveniles y entrañables
La edición es en pasta dura, de un tamaño llamativo, colores muy vivos y unas ilustraciones, tanto de la princesa del mar como de la estatua de su príncipe, brillantes, juveniles y entrañables
larrys's review against another edition
1.0
Hans, Hans, Hans, you sick fuck.
I haven't read the Disney version but I bet it ain't nothing like this.
The original (translated) version includes:
The cutting out of a tongue
Threats of murder
Black milk coming out of a witches breast
Hierarchy of sisterly beauty
Marital possessiveness
And perhaps most disturbingly of all, the overall message as explained in the final paragraph:
"Unseen, we glide into human homes where there are children, and whenever we find a good child, one who makes its parents happy and deserves their love [because obviously some children don't deserve love], God shortens our time of trial. The child never knows when we fly through the room; if its goodness makes us smile with pleasure, a year is taken from the three hundred. But if we see a naughty, evil child, then we must weep tears of sorrow, and each tear adds one day more to our time of waiting."
Now kiddies, your bedtime story is over. SLEEP TIGHT.
None of this is a sleight on the translator and artist of this particular version, who both did an excellent job. The pastel drawings by Christian Birmingham are evocative and beautiful, and the large format of this volume invites lengthy gazing. My question is rather, how has this story survived? Of all the stories that might be readapted, time and time again, why this one?
I haven't read the Disney version but I bet it ain't nothing like this.
The original (translated) version includes:
The cutting out of a tongue
Threats of murder
Black milk coming out of a witches breast
Hierarchy of sisterly beauty
Marital possessiveness
And perhaps most disturbingly of all, the overall message as explained in the final paragraph:
"Unseen, we glide into human homes where there are children, and whenever we find a good child, one who makes its parents happy and deserves their love [because obviously some children don't deserve love], God shortens our time of trial. The child never knows when we fly through the room; if its goodness makes us smile with pleasure, a year is taken from the three hundred. But if we see a naughty, evil child, then we must weep tears of sorrow, and each tear adds one day more to our time of waiting."
Now kiddies, your bedtime story is over. SLEEP TIGHT.
None of this is a sleight on the translator and artist of this particular version, who both did an excellent job. The pastel drawings by Christian Birmingham are evocative and beautiful, and the large format of this volume invites lengthy gazing. My question is rather, how has this story survived? Of all the stories that might be readapted, time and time again, why this one?