dark funny lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Grimm Tales for Young and Old
"Swiftness is a great virtue in the fairy tale.
All we need is the word "Once..." and we're off."

 
Pullman has gone back to the origins of these well known stories.  They are back to the dark, morality tales they once were. 
 
I was surprised by how many of these tales are much more violent than nostalgia and sentiment had me remembering.  And also how originally it was the "evil mother" coming up with murderous plans against her own children, rather than the "wicked stepmother".
 
Recommended for young and old.

I didn’t really know what to expect here; I had a big Brothers Grimm collection as a child and I didn’t know if I’d just be bored by silly stories for kids (though I was aware that a lot were more gruesome than you might expect).

I shouldn’t have worried: there’s something about the narrative and style of the stories that makes them easy to read but also really interesting. There’s a rhythm to them which draws you along, and Pullman’s commentary gives some interesting insights.

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

A good book, just seen him do a talk about it also. Very good all round.
adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

Took this out from the school library a lot when I was still in school and got the audio book as a present. Older fairy tales are my jam.

A minha infância foi pautada por histórias. De adormecer, para entreter, personificadas através da ilustração, do cinema de animação e até do teatro (enquanto espectadora e até atriz). E as histórias dos irmãos Grimm fazem parte do meu imaginário desde que me lembro — e, acredito, do vosso.

Rapunzel, Cinderella, Hansel e Gretel, O Alfaiatezinho e O Capuchinho Vermelho foram algumas das 50 histórias dos Irmãos Grimm que Philip Pullman decidiu reunir e recontar através da sua assinatura. Uma visão mais crua, menos encantada e mais próxima das histórias originais — sempre com uma nota de rodapé no final de cada conto com alguns detalhes e curiosidades sobre essa história.

Eu adoro conhecer as histórias originais dos contos que marcaram o meu crescimento e imaginação, mas confesso que saí para lá de desapontada com este livro que explodiu em todas as livrarias. Os contos são contados de uma forma preguiçosa e insípida, o que poderia dever-se ao facto de as histórias originais não terem uma dinâmica tão coerente ou incrível como as suas adaptações. No entanto, esta obra intitula-se como uma apresentação destes contos através do tom de Philip Pullman que, não tendo lido nenhuma outra obra da sua autoria, não me convenceu a querer descobrir mais. Os seus comentários parecem-me mais interessantes do que o próprio ângulo das histórias, e aquilo que prometia ser uma leitura interessante e de origem, tornou-se num livro pouco estimulante e enfadonho que se estendeu demasiado tempo na minha mesa de cabeceira pela falta de vontade em terminá-lo. A muito custo, finalizei-o para que possa recomendar-vos com propriedade a não o abrirem.

I enjoyed this a lot. I've always wanted to read the Grimm Fairy Tales and this was a great verson to read first!

Amazing fairytale retellings. There are plenty of stories in here which were completely new to me and the short bitesize stories made it perfect commute listening. Samuel West is a brilliant narrator too, just the right degree of giving the characters different personalities without detracting from the stories.