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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
As the old saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. " For the second time this year I judged a book on its cover, and again found the experience not equal to the beauty of the book's binding.
While the short story "Cast You Bread Upon the Waters" was a personal favorite, much like Samanta Schweblin's "Mouthful of Birds" the remaining anecdotes failed to satisfy the fantasy fan in me, as well as the horror fan in me. Hopefully a re-read at a later date will change my mind, and I will remain optimistic about that future outcome.
Although this book was not my first round pick, I am sure it will grow a fan base as time goes on.
While the short story "Cast You Bread Upon the Waters" was a personal favorite, much like Samanta Schweblin's "Mouthful of Birds" the remaining anecdotes failed to satisfy the fantasy fan in me, as well as the horror fan in me. Hopefully a re-read at a later date will change my mind, and I will remain optimistic about that future outcome.
Although this book was not my first round pick, I am sure it will grow a fan base as time goes on.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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:
Complicated
I dig fairytales. Like, I really love them and I read them all. (I have a sizable collection of fairy/folk tales from around the world and I’m slowly working my way through each volume.)
With that said, I was really looking forward to this little short story collection. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but overall this was kind of a letdown.
Eleven stories in all & blurbs in the cover from [a: Kelly Link|24902|Kelly Link|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1422586197p2/24902.jpg] and [a: Rainbow Rowell|4208569|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1342324527p2/4208569.jpg], I thought it would be a romp. I think truly enjoyed 3(?) of the stories and that’s about it.
Each of the stories is based on one or more stories - fairytales if the Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen variety - but with a twist. For instance, the story ‘The Rabbit’ based on ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ isn’t about a soft cuddly stuffed animal that wants to be loved, it’s more along the lines of a murderous stuffed animal sucking the life out of the little boy who owns it. (That was one that I liked, creepy as it was.)
Ortberg can write, and well at that, it’s just that this overall left me feeling, meh.
With that said, I was really looking forward to this little short story collection. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but overall this was kind of a letdown.
Eleven stories in all & blurbs in the cover from [a: Kelly Link|24902|Kelly Link|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1422586197p2/24902.jpg] and [a: Rainbow Rowell|4208569|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1342324527p2/4208569.jpg], I thought it would be a romp. I think truly enjoyed 3(?) of the stories and that’s about it.
Each of the stories is based on one or more stories - fairytales if the Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen variety - but with a twist. For instance, the story ‘The Rabbit’ based on ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ isn’t about a soft cuddly stuffed animal that wants to be loved, it’s more along the lines of a murderous stuffed animal sucking the life out of the little boy who owns it. (That was one that I liked, creepy as it was.)
Ortberg can write, and well at that, it’s just that this overall left me feeling, meh.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Be aware this book has instances of gaslighting and guilt tripping which can make it hard to read.
I liked the retellings, though I didn't recognise all the stories. Still, I would recommend this if you're into twisted fairy tales.
I liked the retellings, though I didn't recognise all the stories. Still, I would recommend this if you're into twisted fairy tales.
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The children's stories we've come to think of as familiar had a generally dark origin, but in the collection of tales in Mallory Ortberg's The Merry Spinster, the darkness and creepiness is developed into something rather unsettling.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Weaving sinister tones and ideas into tales that are recognizable, this collection twists the familiar into something entrancing. Adding a new layer of psychological terror and feminist commentary to the stories, the tales take on an entertaining new life. The stories contain some beautiful writing and some interesting ideas, but as with many collections, there are stronger and weaker stories; many of the weaker stories built themselves up well only to have a disappointing and anticlimactic ending. Though an intriguing concept to include gender fluidity in some of the tales, without the proper context for it within the world of the narrative, it made it difficult to become fully immersed with the story.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Weaving sinister tones and ideas into tales that are recognizable, this collection twists the familiar into something entrancing. Adding a new layer of psychological terror and feminist commentary to the stories, the tales take on an entertaining new life. The stories contain some beautiful writing and some interesting ideas, but as with many collections, there are stronger and weaker stories; many of the weaker stories built themselves up well only to have a disappointing and anticlimactic ending. Though an intriguing concept to include gender fluidity in some of the tales, without the proper context for it within the world of the narrative, it made it difficult to become fully immersed with the story.
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes