Reviews

Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales from Around the World by Kathleen Ragan

estelle_'s review

adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

arachne_reads's review

4.0

I did not find Ragan's commentary useful; it often seemed only half-related, or a half-hearted platitude based on the tale in question. The folktales stand on their own, and did not need individual wrap-ups. They were intriguing choices, and it was fascinating to read in these tales ideas about how gender is composed and displayed through many different cultures. As a work, I found it incredibly useful in examining certain motifs in European folktales. Ragan's introduction, however, was much more powerful.

esperata's review

3.0

These are not the usual familiar European tales. The editor has selected stories most of us won't be familiar with. The range of plots cover all kinds of heroism and the stories are set all over the world. This means some of the customs or expectations will seem strange but there should be something here to suit everyone.

jen1110's review

5.0

This collection of folktales stars women. It's full of all sorts of different ways to be a girl. Some dress as men and make a fortune. Some kill dragons. Some just take care of their families and build communities.

I'm looking forward to reading these stories to Emi and Ox. I've already adapted some of them for bed time - now to pick out more.

thuja's review

3.0

This was a tough book to rate. The stories themselves were generally more a 4.5, although there were certainly more than a few that were definitely indigenous stories filtered through a very western rewriting.
The commentary after each story by Kathleen Ragan, however, was awful. It didn't add anything to the stories, it was just sort of stream of consciousness and pretty tone deaf at times.