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solarsonist's review
3.5
i am decidedly going to start logging required readings here again bc idk why i stopped. anw i love fairytales. some were better than others.
_ghostie_'s review
dark
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
lattelibrarian's review
4.0
I read this for class, and honestly? It was a delight. There were so many different versions of tales in here--some very old, some very contemporary, some from Italy, China, all over the world. She also includes critical texts from Zipes, Bettelheim, Gilbert & Gubar, and of course our good ol' Vladimir Propp.
Altogether, this makes for a powerful and punchy anthology that's sure to help any fairy tale-lover along their way of learning and appreciating them. As far as textbooks go, it's well worth the read.
Review cross-listed here!
Altogether, this makes for a powerful and punchy anthology that's sure to help any fairy tale-lover along their way of learning and appreciating them. As far as textbooks go, it's well worth the read.
Review cross-listed here!
jailala's review
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
An excellent collection and reflection of fairy tales
ohnoflora's review
4.0
I really enjoyed reading all the variations of these classic fairy tales, particularly as there was some I wouldn't have thought to put together until reading them consecutively (Hansel & Gretel and Little Thumbling, for example). I also enjoyed the chance to re-read Hans Christian Andersen - and finding his stories more horrific, with their ecstasies of pain and death, than any of the supposedly more gruesome tales from the Grimms.
The collection of criticism at the end was interesting in the way it gave an overview of critical approaches to fairy tales - a lot of Freud, it seems.
The collection of criticism at the end was interesting in the way it gave an overview of critical approaches to fairy tales - a lot of Freud, it seems.
jasonfurman's review
4.0
A nice concept for a collection, The Classic Fairy Tales is divided into sections for each of the classic stories (Little Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Cinderella, Bluebeard and Hansel and Gretel). Each section has a somewhat lengthy introduction, that is a little heavy on feminist psychoanalysis/Bettleheim etc., but still interesting. Then it has five or six variants of the stories, including the classic Grimm and/or Perrault versions, versions drawn from other cultures around the world (like Egypt and China), and often modern versions by the likes of Roald Dahl or Margret Atwood. The juxtaposition works quite well. In addition it has sections for Hans Christian Anderson and Oscar Wilde containing their classic stories. Like all Nortons, it has an extensive set of critical readings at the end, not all of which I read, but a few of which were interesting.