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outcolder's review against another edition
4.0
Often before retelling a Grimm märchen, Sexton lets loose with the full darkness of her worldview, those bits are the best parts. I haven’t given much thought to disability in fairytales before, but Sexton’s sarcastic ableism offers a few head scratchers. There’s also a lesbian thing in Rapunzel here and it’s hard to tell if Sexton agrees with the Grimms or is just being her bitchy self. The hairiest moment is at the end of Sleeping Beauty where Sexton seems to be saying her father raped her?
januaryghosts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
- 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
4.5
aishakare's review against another edition
4.0
There is of course some older/outdated language and allegory in this book, but I really enjoyed Sexton’s take on the Grimm fairytales. In much of the re-telling a, she manages to relate their themes to modern circumstances, thus showcasing the timelessness of shared human circumstances.
pbraue13's review against another edition
4.0
After reading her "Love Poems" this collection is even more interesting as it takes the form of a collection of stories and fairy tales, yet with a Sexton twist which draws you in further. The illustrations make the poems seem more menacing and also dirtier than the words would seem to convey. One of the few moments where the illustrations in a book of poetry enhanced the experience for me. It's so good.
lsparrow's review against another edition
3.0
poetry and fairy tales - this should really be a favorite of mine.
But other than the last poem I did not feel that the poetry added anything to the fairy tales or the fairy tales to the poetry.
But other than the last poem I did not feel that the poetry added anything to the fairy tales or the fairy tales to the poetry.
casparb's review against another edition
not the strongest work here but the poem Rumpelstiltskin got me thinking about this anne as an influence on Anne Carson, the way she leans into a narrative, unpeels it. I feel AC studied this collection in particular quite closely in its tales. In a way it's difficult for me to imagine something like Autobiography of Red being written without Transformations as precursor
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if you can't tell, I didn't do my research on this. but the title and fairytale content suggest that Anne is approaching this collection as a Version (update) of Ovid's Metamorphoses, following the brothers Grimm, rather than the canon of Greek myth. I think that's neat good job AS
regardless of all that I enjoyed myself I like spending time with her
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if you can't tell, I didn't do my research on this. but the title and fairytale content suggest that Anne is approaching this collection as a Version (update) of Ovid's Metamorphoses, following the brothers Grimm, rather than the canon of Greek myth. I think that's neat good job AS
regardless of all that I enjoyed myself I like spending time with her
mfrown's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
zoekaroline's review against another edition
5.0
Anne Sexton and fairytales. What more could you ask for?
paigeyprincess's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
"she eats betrayal like a slice of meat."
Spectacular poetic retellings of popular Grimms' fairy tales. Anne Sexton does poetry just how I like it: dark and beautiful.
My favorite was Briar Rose.
Spectacular poetic retellings of popular Grimms' fairy tales. Anne Sexton does poetry just how I like it: dark and beautiful.
My favorite was Briar Rose.