Scan barcode
toxicpick's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
labunnywtf's review against another edition
5.0
November 2011 - Holy fuckballs. I checked this book out from the library, read it all the way through, and did not in any way recall having read it two years ago.
Is this what going mad feels like?
---
Okay, with the loving of this book!
I read some fairytales I know and love, and some I've never heard of. All of them were just different enough for me to truly enjoy them, especially since I'd never read the "original" versions before. Didn't know what actually happened to Cinderella's stepsisters at the end. The annotations were wonderfully fun, and gave insight into parts I might've skipped over without wondering about. Just a wonderful book!
The adult fairytales at the end were deeply disturbing, though. I understand why they were included, but ye gods.
Is this what going mad feels like?
---
Okay, with the loving of this book!
I read some fairytales I know and love, and some I've never heard of. All of them were just different enough for me to truly enjoy them, especially since I'd never read the "original" versions before. Didn't know what actually happened to Cinderella's stepsisters at the end. The annotations were wonderfully fun, and gave insight into parts I might've skipped over without wondering about. Just a wonderful book!
The adult fairytales at the end were deeply disturbing, though. I understand why they were included, but ye gods.
emmalouise_k's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Very informative. I enjoyed reading the fairytales.
rampaginglibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I was watching The Brothers Grimm last night and it suddenly occurred to me that maybe the problems in my head are caused by my genetics (well that is quite obvious~but my meaning is a little less obvious~i’m referring to the geographical source of my genetics being German, French and Irish and their natural tendencies to war with one another…) I was rather impressed by the movie itself, incorporating as it did, familiar fairy tales into an entirely new story (and i must admit a whole new admiration for Heath Ledger)~i always have been a fan of the Terry Gilliam genre of fantasy/comedy.
Perhaps unsurprisingly i was afterwards inspired to pick up my copy of the Annotated Brothers Grimm to further read up and refresh myself on the history of both these folklorist (and LIBRARIAN) brothers and their times as well as some of the more unfamiliar and familiar tales. I found myself quite enthralled in the whole thing.
One of the purposes the brothers had in collecting the folktales was to try and retain the legends of their people during the French occupation of Germany~they saw in the German tradition of oral folklore something unique to the volk (perhaps a mistaken impression on their part which also lead to further mistaken impressions later when their cause was taken up by the Nazis and they were later seen as Nationalists~which they were not~they just wanted a record of German folktales as Perrault had earlier done with the French and as later scholars would soon attempt to replicate with their own countries. We often think of the Grimm's tales as violent and bloody and well grim but the truth is they didn't start out as quite so. The first editions included much more sex and less violence. The Grimm's thought their audience was more adult and didn't realize the stories would appeal to children so much. With each subsequent edition they began to edit out the sex and add in more violence (interesting eh?)
Perhaps unsurprisingly i was afterwards inspired to pick up my copy of the Annotated Brothers Grimm to further read up and refresh myself on the history of both these folklorist (and LIBRARIAN) brothers and their times as well as some of the more unfamiliar and familiar tales. I found myself quite enthralled in the whole thing.
One of the purposes the brothers had in collecting the folktales was to try and retain the legends of their people during the French occupation of Germany~they saw in the German tradition of oral folklore something unique to the volk (perhaps a mistaken impression on their part which also lead to further mistaken impressions later when their cause was taken up by the Nazis and they were later seen as Nationalists~which they were not~they just wanted a record of German folktales as Perrault had earlier done with the French and as later scholars would soon attempt to replicate with their own countries. We often think of the Grimm's tales as violent and bloody and well grim but the truth is they didn't start out as quite so. The first editions included much more sex and less violence. The Grimm's thought their audience was more adult and didn't realize the stories would appeal to children so much. With each subsequent edition they began to edit out the sex and add in more violence (interesting eh?)
augustbrunk's review against another edition
Annotations weren’t as insightful as I’d hoped. Decided to read the unannotated, but full version instead
onesonicbite's review against another edition
4.0
Although many people disliked the footnotes and comments in the book, I would have to say they were helpful, interesting, but were frequently unnecessary. Some of the comments were obvious, and therefore are a big put off.
But if you are looking for a nice copy of The Brothers Grimm fairytales, I would recommend this. The book has a pleasant cover and excellent artwork featured in the book. They also give fairytales that are usually not put into the modern collection of The Brothers Grimm. These factors I think I worth the money for this particular copy of the book.
But if you are looking for a nice copy of The Brothers Grimm fairytales, I would recommend this. The book has a pleasant cover and excellent artwork featured in the book. They also give fairytales that are usually not put into the modern collection of The Brothers Grimm. These factors I think I worth the money for this particular copy of the book.
titanic's review against another edition
2.0
This is not what I was expected. All my life I’ve been told that the Grimm’s fairy tales are filled with horror and blood, and are so much more interesting than the sensitised version, but that was not what this book showed me.
I was bored in most places, and I think I enjoyed only one story of the forty six in here. The rest were either recycled Cinderella storylines or the same tales of the sister character rescuing her brothers from the curse that has turned them into some sort of bird. I think that tale was in here three times, which just made the whole thing boring.
Plus when it came to the ‘Tales for adults’ section, there was a story called ‘The J*w in the Brambles’ and it was just anti semitic comments throughout. They portrayed the j*w as a thief and money hungry, and being angry for wanting the main character arrested because he made the j*w dance until he handed over his money. It just made me uncomfortable with the whole thing, and was blatant stereotyping and I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially kids.
Also, I think the Grimm’s themselves held antisemite views which really made me want to distance myself from this book as much as possible. Really don’t recommend.
I was bored in most places, and I think I enjoyed only one story of the forty six in here. The rest were either recycled Cinderella storylines or the same tales of the sister character rescuing her brothers from the curse that has turned them into some sort of bird. I think that tale was in here three times, which just made the whole thing boring.
Plus when it came to the ‘Tales for adults’ section, there was a story called ‘The J*w in the Brambles’ and it was just anti semitic comments throughout. They portrayed the j*w as a thief and money hungry, and being angry for wanting the main character arrested because he made the j*w dance until he handed over his money. It just made me uncomfortable with the whole thing, and was blatant stereotyping and I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially kids.
Also, I think the Grimm’s themselves held antisemite views which really made me want to distance myself from this book as much as possible. Really don’t recommend.
okcryptid's review against another edition
5.0
Really great resource-driven read with excellent annotations and further readings. The formatting is easy on the eyes, and I loved the artwork inclusions too. I'm so lucky to have found this book secondhand for research purposes. My volume is all flagged and marked up, and I have no doubt I'm going to wear the spine ragged. It took me more than half a year, but I did it! It's done.
fatima_kazi's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0