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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
being a yapper can save your life but goddam take a breath in between stories or something…so confusing and hard to keep up with
Really, putting aside all the positive historical and cultural things in its favor, in the end... it's just a lot of fun!
I had been meaning to read this for quite some time. The only trouble is there was no "this". It's a cleverly clothed collection of Middle Eastern fairy tales. Unlike the Brothers Grimm collection I have, this one attempts to weaves dissimilar stories into one tale. That tale is of a king that has lost faith in women. He believes they will always betray the man they marry. So his beats them to it. He marries a woman, kills her on her wedding night, and does it again the next day. This continues until, Scheherazade, volunteers to marry him but has a plan. She will tell him a story every night, but not come to the end of the story when sunrise, the time appointed for execution, arrives. Her trick works and the King spares her life one more night, so that he can hear the end of the story she told. This continues for 1001 night, or so I'm told.
Apparently, there are no shortage of versions out there. None of which I've found has all 1001 stories. This version contains but a few of them, enough to give me a feel for the themes. Genies and other magical beings abound. Though, this edition doesn't contain Aladdin, that story is one of the 1001. So, too, is Sinbad the Sailor. Reading the man's adventures called to mind Gulliver's travels. In the 7 stories he finds himself on may a strange island, having to outsmart many a strange beast. By the 4th journey, I am left wondering what's wrong with the fool? Every time he travels, he gets ship-wrecked and it take him 7 journeys to call it quits? I guess Scheherazade needed to go back to what worked.
One last note, if you've every seen those Russian dolls that have another smaller doll inside it, which in turn has an even smaller doll inside of it, this collection is like that. Scheherazade tells a story and has the tailor or the barber or whomever tell a story within that story. Sometimes Scheherazade's storyteller has a tale containing a storyteller of it's own. You often find yourself reading about a story within a story within a story. You can easily lose you bearings. The saving grace for this, though, is that the deeper you go in the chain of stories, the shorter that story is, so you don't have to keep your bearings for all that long.
I don't think I'd recommend reading this book like a normal book. Had I known better I most likely would have read a story here and there and not plowed through the entire thing.
Apparently, there are no shortage of versions out there. None of which I've found has all 1001 stories. This version contains but a few of them, enough to give me a feel for the themes. Genies and other magical beings abound. Though, this edition doesn't contain Aladdin, that story is one of the 1001. So, too, is Sinbad the Sailor. Reading the man's adventures called to mind Gulliver's travels. In the 7 stories he finds himself on may a strange island, having to outsmart many a strange beast. By the 4th journey, I am left wondering what's wrong with the fool? Every time he travels, he gets ship-wrecked and it take him 7 journeys to call it quits? I guess Scheherazade needed to go back to what worked.
One last note, if you've every seen those Russian dolls that have another smaller doll inside it, which in turn has an even smaller doll inside of it, this collection is like that. Scheherazade tells a story and has the tailor or the barber or whomever tell a story within that story. Sometimes Scheherazade's storyteller has a tale containing a storyteller of it's own. You often find yourself reading about a story within a story within a story. You can easily lose you bearings. The saving grace for this, though, is that the deeper you go in the chain of stories, the shorter that story is, so you don't have to keep your bearings for all that long.
I don't think I'd recommend reading this book like a normal book. Had I known better I most likely would have read a story here and there and not plowed through the entire thing.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was interested to read this as a way to understand some of the stories inspiring books I have read recently that have Persian and Indian settings. However, I can't really recommend this edition. It is a 19th century translation and then I am sure it has gone through some Amazon editing and shortening. We lose sight quite quickly of Scheherezade telling stories that merge into stories. There's no wrapping up at the end of the last story (I wonder if it has been cut off somewhere). The misogyny and descriptions of black slaves are not good ... A modern retelling through a 21st century lens not a 19th century British colonialist lens would be good.
Some of the stories were interesting and exciting. Some were dull. I am no closer to knowing anything about the cultural background that I was seeking.
Some of the stories were interesting and exciting. Some were dull. I am no closer to knowing anything about the cultural background that I was seeking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Slavery
Finally got to finish this book. That was tiring, ngl. I found the story was fun to read at first, but it keeps getting more and more confusing everytime I moved to the next pages.
I loved the idea of Queen Scheherazade have to tell an unfinished story to King Schahriar in order to prolong her life, and I thought it would be the main plot, but man, even after the first tale, that's not even on the plot anymore. I mean, I want to know what happened to them.
It was basically a short story collection. I liked some stories in here. But the thing is, I was expecting more of Queen Scheherazade journey.
Or did I read the wrong version? I'm so confused.
I loved the idea of Queen Scheherazade have to tell an unfinished story to King Schahriar in order to prolong her life, and I thought it would be the main plot, but man, even after the first tale, that's not even on the plot anymore. I mean, I want to know what happened to them.
It was basically a short story collection. I liked some stories in here. But the thing is, I was expecting more of Queen Scheherazade journey.
Or did I read the wrong version? I'm so confused.
This was a good collection of stories. I enjoyed them but after awhile they started to kind of run together. Glad I read it and would recommend it to others looking to read something that you can pick up every once and awhile.
Nostalgia is the most addictive of them all.
I already know these tales and yet I was not able to stop myself. Knowing everything that was going to happen, I found myself reading to know what happens next?!
Alladin is smarter. Sindbad is cowardly. Alibaba is the same.
Maybe I'll read it again sometime in the future, just to get that nostalgic shot.
I already know these tales and yet I was not able to stop myself. Knowing everything that was going to happen, I found myself reading to know what happens next?!
Alladin is smarter. Sindbad is cowardly. Alibaba is the same.
Maybe I'll read it again sometime in the future, just to get that nostalgic shot.
It's a Matryoshka of tales and stories. Some feel a little draggy, some are nice and fun, but the way this book wrapped up feel off because it doesn't address its beginning, which is a Sultana telling plenty of tales just to keep a Sultan from beheading her.
Jeez, I finally sat down to complete this. Stupid life getting in the way! Regardless, I really enjoyed all the stories! Of course I was mainly reading to know the actual story of Aladdin and had an interest in Sinbad the Sailor as well, but a lot of the stories were good! Some very violent and all of them very misogynistic, but good old...old times, I guess? No, it was bad sometimes. I did enjoy the fantasy aspects the most of out of the stories. A different kind of mythology than I typically read. Interesting curses as well like with the talking fish, but that's all I'll say of it. Enjoyed this one for being a classic! Ya know, everything except the misogyny. :)
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
interesting storytelling