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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
In fairy tales the characters are just paper dolls, because they don't need to be anything else. They are defined by a single attribute - beauty, wickedness, jealousy, innocence, bravery... Michael Cunningham retells not the story so much as the characters and the result is stunning.
I wrote about it here: https://booksnat.wordpress.com/2015/12/05/two-books-about-storytelling/
I wrote about it here: https://booksnat.wordpress.com/2015/12/05/two-books-about-storytelling/
Fairy tales retold. Some of them were really good, dark and creepy. Some were actually pleasant. A nice audiobook to listen to during my walks.
interesting take on some old tales. didn't see the point of the last story though.
Average rating: 2.6
Let's start off with the positive: It has pretty illustrations by Yuko Shimizu. It tries to give the fairy tale retellings a contemporary twist. Unfortunately, that is all I enjoyed. I could not connect to the writing style at all. Some of the stories do not seem to have a real plot or retell the fairy tale just to change the last three sentences. Maybe it just was not for me, as I know some people really enjoy this collection. Here are my individual ratings (with German titles; sorry, but I read it in German):
Ent. Zaubern 2.5/5 a short introduction to the collection
Ein wilder Schwan 3/5 The Wild Swans following one of the princes
Die verrückte Alte 3/5 Hansel and Gretel but it is all about the witch
Gehänselt 3/5 Jack and the Beanstalk following Jack and the giantess
Vergiftet 3/5 Snow White, a dialogue between her and the prince after the ending of the original fairy tale
Die Affenpfote 3/5 The Monkey's Paw following what happens to the White family
Kleiner Mann 3.5/5 Rumpelstiltskin from his perspective, the only story I really enjoyed
Standhaft. Zinn 2.5/5 The Steadfast Tin Soldier from the perspective of the Ballerina and mostly looking back at what happened in the original story
Biester 2/5 Beauty and the Beast from the perspective of the Beauty
Ihr Haar 2/5 Rapunzel from the perspective of both the prince and Rapunzel at the end of the original fairy tale and afterwards
Und sie lebten glücklich 1/5 some kind of conclusion I guess?
Let's start off with the positive: It has pretty illustrations by Yuko Shimizu. It tries to give the fairy tale retellings a contemporary twist. Unfortunately, that is all I enjoyed. I could not connect to the writing style at all. Some of the stories do not seem to have a real plot or retell the fairy tale just to change the last three sentences. Maybe it just was not for me, as I know some people really enjoy this collection. Here are my individual ratings (with German titles; sorry, but I read it in German):
Ent. Zaubern 2.5/5 a short introduction to the collection
Ein wilder Schwan 3/5 The Wild Swans following one of the princes
Die verrückte Alte 3/5 Hansel and Gretel but it is all about the witch
Gehänselt 3/5 Jack and the Beanstalk following Jack and the giantess
Vergiftet 3/5 Snow White, a dialogue between her and the prince after the ending of the original fairy tale
Die Affenpfote 3/5 The Monkey's Paw following what happens to the White family
Kleiner Mann 3.5/5 Rumpelstiltskin from his perspective, the only story I really enjoyed
Standhaft. Zinn 2.5/5 The Steadfast Tin Soldier from the perspective of the Ballerina and mostly looking back at what happened in the original story
Biester 2/5 Beauty and the Beast from the perspective of the Beauty
Ihr Haar 2/5 Rapunzel from the perspective of both the prince and Rapunzel at the end of the original fairy tale and afterwards
Und sie lebten glücklich 1/5 some kind of conclusion I guess?
A genuinely enjoyable alternative interpretation of several fairy tales, viewed from a more modern and yet strangely timeless perspective. My personal favourite was the beautifully written "Steadfast; Tin" which seemed to speak more honestly of a marital relationship and its unique version of love than anything my (admittedly ignorant) experience has so far encountered.
Overall enchanting, engaging and certainly worth a read.
Overall enchanting, engaging and certainly worth a read.
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Small book of modern dark takes on traditional fairy tales, sort of similar to [a: Mallory Ortberg|7811262|Mallory Ortberg|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1415233773p2/7811262.jpg]'s terrific Children's Stories Made Horrific series.