Reviews

Aesop's Fables by Aesop

nikikalyvides's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

clittleford3's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.0

Fun to read the original source of so many classic stories. I do wish some of the stories were a little more developed. 

nlgeorge73's review against another edition

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3.0

Some familiar ones, some new ones.

tomstbr's review against another edition

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3.0

Naturally there are some classic lessons to be learned, but the stop-start nature of the reading really threw me.

voxlunae's review against another edition

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funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25

novelideea's review against another edition

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funny informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

gabiharvey's review against another edition

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hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I mean... it's definitely not one of those books to try and binge read, but rather something to pick up when you're feeling inspired or in need of a little life lesson. I perhaps would've liked it better if I treated it like a coffee table read. However this book is so mfing gorgeous I can't.

sraev19's review against another edition

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4.0

Start with Aesop. If, like me, you are endeavouring to read some of the classic fairy tales, fables, and myths begin your journey with Aesop.

Translated by Laura Gibbs, this collection contains six hundred fables. While the book does not boast to be a complete collection, Gibbs notes that she selected fables from sources that had not been translated into English before; approximately one quarter of the fables are newly translated versions.

Gibbs groups the fables by themes in order to facilitate an easier and more pleasurable read. She says that her numbering of the fables is not intended for academic use—she provides the fables’ sources and their Perry numbers for that purpose—but for the casual reader. As a result, the collection is divided into small sections based on morals; for example, “Fables about False Friends” and “Fables about Wickedness Punished.”

This grouping does make for a smooth and enjoyable read. There is sense and order, and I breezed from one fable to the next, eager to discover more about false friends or wickedness punished. There is overlap in content and theme between the fables in each section, but because they are grouped together rather than spread out, like the Andersen and Grimm brothers tales are, I didn’t feel as though I were rereading the same tales over again. The fables felt less repetitive and tedious this way.

Aesop’s Fables is different from Andersen’s and the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales in other ways as well. The fables are significantly shorter, some as brief as one sentence. They don’t have the same storytelling qualities as the fairy tales. Intent on delivering morals instead of complex characters and stories, the fables don’t have much in the way setting, imagery, metaphor, or plain pretty writing. They get to the point, and many fables have supplemental material explaining that very point.

The fables are compulsive reads. The animals in the stories are cunning, witty, and devious yet also naïve figures that are entertaining to root for or against. The casual violence that is so heavy in Andersen and the Grimm brothers is sprinkled throughout Aesop and adds a touch of dark humour. And of course, the morals and themes of the fables still resonate today.

The moral of this story? Aesop’s Fables is a collection of light, readily digested tales and is a great gateway into the world of classic fairy tales, fables, and myths.

dasbaum's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective fast-paced

3.0

virgilsaeneid's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

 Thank you Netgalley for this ARC

An excellent new translation, Robin Waterfield's cherry-picked collection of 400 Aesop's Fables makes for an interesting reading experience. As someone who grew up reading the whimsical fairy tale versions of Aesop's Fables frequently retold in children's books, revisiting the fables was a cathartic and enjoyable experience. Waterfield's translation makes for an excellent gateway into revisiting the classic fables through an adult perspective, as it removes the more childlike interpretations of the stories aimed towards children.

Revisiting Aesop's Fables for the first time since I became a student of ancient history was also an interesting experience, too. When I read the fables as a child, I wasn't aware of their roots in Antiquity, but after thoroughly studying the Mediterranean's ancient history, Waterfield's selection of fables is highly enlightening. The fables chosen by Waterfield often reflect the intrinsic nature and paradigms of Classical society and offer a deeper insight into the beliefs and morals of these societies. I ultimately envision this book being a staple of any historian's bookshelf, especially those focused on the lifestyle and religious mythos of Greece. Especially with that gorgeous cover art!

Ultimately I gave Waterfield's Aesop's Fables 4/5 stars. While I did enjoy revisiting these tales, it's not my usual kind of book, and I ultimately believe that it was geared towards a different audience than me. Still, I applaud Waterfield on his translation, and deeply appreciated the attached further readings list and selection of translated works.