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4.67k reviews for:
By Rowling, J.K. The Tales of Beedle the Bard Paperback - January 2017
J.K. Rowling, J.K. Rowling
3.96 AVERAGE
4.67k reviews for:
By Rowling, J.K. The Tales of Beedle the Bard Paperback - January 2017
J.K. Rowling, J.K. Rowling
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
FIRST OF ALL, I have never read this one until now. This was SO shocking to me!!!!!!!! I guess I was sort of a fake fan. I have remedied that now.
Also, this took me way too damn long to read because of school...but other than that, I throughly enjoyed this one. I mean, it's really no surprise because these are just fairytales and I am apparently a child at heart.
I love the concept of learning lessons about real-life people problems, morals, and advice through magical stories. They just increase the size of this mundane world and allow you to slip into a place where the impossible become the possible. How fun is it to dabble in a world where true love exists, monsters are slain, and you can have an adventure of a lifetime?
Anyyyywayss, I really liked the Tale of the Three Brothers (obviously). One surprise tale that I liked was The Fountain of Fair Fortune! I really liked these stories because it was a chance to dive into this world again and experience magic. Dumbledore provides commentary, which is super insightful and throughly entertaining. If you love this world, please read!
Also, this took me way too damn long to read because of school...but other than that, I throughly enjoyed this one. I mean, it's really no surprise because these are just fairytales and I am apparently a child at heart.
I love the concept of learning lessons about real-life people problems, morals, and advice through magical stories. They just increase the size of this mundane world and allow you to slip into a place where the impossible become the possible. How fun is it to dabble in a world where true love exists, monsters are slain, and you can have an adventure of a lifetime?
Anyyyywayss, I really liked the Tale of the Three Brothers (obviously). One surprise tale that I liked was The Fountain of Fair Fortune! I really liked these stories because it was a chance to dive into this world again and experience magic. Dumbledore provides commentary, which is super insightful and throughly entertaining. If you love this world, please read!
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Stepping into these tales for the first time with the new illustrated edition, the Bard’s tales are almost the equivalent of magical fairy tales for the Wizarding World. Some of them are kinda memorable while others are dark and somber, all do include commentary from the Greta Albus Dumbledore. Still, it’s a nice read for those who want more of that “Harry Potter” magic and this edition adds a lot of content and beautiful art. A- (91%/Excellent)
Read this one on a hot Sunday afternoon while I stretched out my neglected hips. Cute reading.
While a moderately entertaining book of short tales, since it's being included in the "Harry Potter" canon of works, I had to give it one less star than I was initially inclined to. Obviously it isn't going to measure up to the sheer magnitude of the novels, but I was still disappointed nonetheless. The stories themselves are not quite up to par with Grimm's fairytales, as a couple of Rowlings' were kind of cheesy (especially "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot"). Part of the difficulty that Rowling was unable to overcome was making such short stories appeal to both young and old alike. With the exception of "The Warlock's Hairy Heart," the tales tend to be aimed more towards a younger audience.
What redeems this book is the commentary by Dumbledore. His words are insightful and give a slightly better glimpse into the Potter world. I think that this part may appeal less to children and more to the teen and adult fans of the novels. Overall, I enjoyed the book, finishing it in about an hour. While not a necessary addition to the Potterverse, it does flesh things out a little more and give us some interesting tidbits. Also, seeing as how Rowling is done telling Harry's story, I'll take what little more I can get.
What redeems this book is the commentary by Dumbledore. His words are insightful and give a slightly better glimpse into the Potter world. I think that this part may appeal less to children and more to the teen and adult fans of the novels. Overall, I enjoyed the book, finishing it in about an hour. While not a necessary addition to the Potterverse, it does flesh things out a little more and give us some interesting tidbits. Also, seeing as how Rowling is done telling Harry's story, I'll take what little more I can get.
Rating: 7 out of 10
This is one of those books that are almost impossible not to enjoy. Five magical, wonderful short stories with fun and witty comments from Dumbledore and lovely illustrations. It read very easily and never failed to maintain my interest.
The tales were fantastic. They were all different from each other and had their own special vibe, going from sweet, feel-good stories to dark tales. What they did have in common was an authentic fairy tale feeling and valuable lessons.
Like I said before, there were notes from Dumbledore for each of the stories. They usually talked about the Wizarding World's reaction and opinion of them, but there were also funny anecdotes and Dumbledore even taught the reader some wizard history. They didn't further the lore a lot, but added some nice moments and were generally wholesome.
About the illustrations, I know some readers may think the ones in the first edition were too simplistic, but I personally think they were good enough and also had kind of an ancient look that fitted the atmosphere incredibly well.
Overall, there are no excuses for not reading this book. It is short (maybe a little too short, I would’d rather have more stories) and adorable; and despite not being perfect, I believe it is worth everyone’s time. It will surely make you smile.
This is one of those books that are almost impossible not to enjoy. Five magical, wonderful short stories with fun and witty comments from Dumbledore and lovely illustrations. It read very easily and never failed to maintain my interest.
The tales were fantastic. They were all different from each other and had their own special vibe, going from sweet, feel-good stories to dark tales. What they did have in common was an authentic fairy tale feeling and valuable lessons.
Like I said before, there were notes from Dumbledore for each of the stories. They usually talked about the Wizarding World's reaction and opinion of them, but there were also funny anecdotes and Dumbledore even taught the reader some wizard history. They didn't further the lore a lot, but added some nice moments and were generally wholesome.
About the illustrations, I know some readers may think the ones in the first edition were too simplistic, but I personally think they were good enough and also had kind of an ancient look that fitted the atmosphere incredibly well.
Overall, there are no excuses for not reading this book. It is short (maybe a little too short, I would’d rather have more stories) and adorable; and despite not being perfect, I believe it is worth everyone’s time. It will surely make you smile.
I found Dumbledore's commentary far more interesting than the actual stories.
After catching the enthusiasm of my friend Margaret, I was off to my local chain bookstore between classes to pick up Tales of Beedle the Bard. I hadn't been planning of buying it, but Margaret has a way of upping the ante when it comes to fostering my love for Harry Potter (or Snape, as it were).
I took the advice of Susan over at Wizard's Wireless, and I didn't rush through...I took my time.
When readers open the book they find that it's "Translated from the Ancient Rules by Hermione Granger", has "Commentary by Albus Dumbledore", and has an "Introduction, Notes, and Illustrations by J.K. Rowling". This lends to feeling that the reader is back in the wizarding world and that the tales are part of the cultural reality of Harry and the gang.
Now, I am not one of those HP fans that remembers every last detail of every book. I do know kids like this. They can recite charms, list character facts and draw a map of Hogwarts at a moment's notice. Not me. But it didn't matter.
There are 5 tales within the book, and each tale is followed by Dumbledore's comments with additional footnotes by Rowling. Of the five, my favourite is "The Warlock's Hairy Heart". It's gruesome in the tradition of early Grimm, and is written is such a way that the reader has an amazing visual in mind. I was actually scared for a moment or two as well! What a treat to read fairy tales where I am not sure what is about to happen!
Each story is different than the one before, and I think there is something in there for everyone. There is also an interesting commentary on the censorship of children's stories (hhmmmm...wonder why?). "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot" was not only challenged by the Malfoy clan for the mixing of pure blood and muggle bloods (don't want to give the kiddies any wayward ideas), but it was actually rewritten by Beatrix Bloxam who believed that the tales of Beetle the Bard were "damaging to children, because of what she called their unhealthy preoccupation with the most horrid subjects, such as death, disease, bloodshed, wicked magic, unwholesome characters, and bodily effusions and eruptions of the most disgusting kind." (p.17)
Brilliant, I say.
These are fun, scary and sophisticated stories. Followers of Harry Potter would do well to give it a read. I think that fans of traditional fairy tales might want to give these a whirl as well.
I took the advice of Susan over at Wizard's Wireless, and I didn't rush through...I took my time.
When readers open the book they find that it's "Translated from the Ancient Rules by Hermione Granger", has "Commentary by Albus Dumbledore", and has an "Introduction, Notes, and Illustrations by J.K. Rowling". This lends to feeling that the reader is back in the wizarding world and that the tales are part of the cultural reality of Harry and the gang.
Now, I am not one of those HP fans that remembers every last detail of every book. I do know kids like this. They can recite charms, list character facts and draw a map of Hogwarts at a moment's notice. Not me. But it didn't matter.
There are 5 tales within the book, and each tale is followed by Dumbledore's comments with additional footnotes by Rowling. Of the five, my favourite is "The Warlock's Hairy Heart". It's gruesome in the tradition of early Grimm, and is written is such a way that the reader has an amazing visual in mind. I was actually scared for a moment or two as well! What a treat to read fairy tales where I am not sure what is about to happen!
Each story is different than the one before, and I think there is something in there for everyone. There is also an interesting commentary on the censorship of children's stories (hhmmmm...wonder why?). "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot" was not only challenged by the Malfoy clan for the mixing of pure blood and muggle bloods (don't want to give the kiddies any wayward ideas), but it was actually rewritten by Beatrix Bloxam who believed that the tales of Beetle the Bard were "damaging to children, because of what she called their unhealthy preoccupation with the most horrid subjects, such as death, disease, bloodshed, wicked magic, unwholesome characters, and bodily effusions and eruptions of the most disgusting kind." (p.17)
Brilliant, I say.
These are fun, scary and sophisticated stories. Followers of Harry Potter would do well to give it a read. I think that fans of traditional fairy tales might want to give these a whirl as well.
I was gifted this for Christmas a few years back. As far as children's books go, the stories are well-written. It is fun to read the lore that young witches and wizards in the Wizarding World would have read.
I enjoyed the commentary from Dumbledore.
I enjoyed the commentary from Dumbledore.