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gabiharvey's review
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
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.
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.
virgilsaeneid's review against another edition
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.
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.
cilie's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
This is a really cozy book to read in small bits, like a story a day.
It is quite repetitive and there is a clear moral to every story, a moral which hasn't always aged with grace, but the writing is nice and clear, the illustrations wonderful, and some stories have lived on in western culture.
I do which that there was a for- or after-word explaining where these stories come from as they are clearly not all from Aesops time around 700 BC - this i especially clear in the one taking place in America.
It is quite repetitive and there is a clear moral to every story, a moral which hasn't always aged with grace, but the writing is nice and clear, the illustrations wonderful, and some stories have lived on in western culture.
I do which that there was a for- or after-word explaining where these stories come from as they are clearly not all from Aesops time around 700 BC - this i especially clear in the one taking place in America.
kalin_grace's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
vinsmokerosie's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
i can’t believe i read a whole 262 pages of short stories of life lessons and been entertained all the way through. mostly all of them incorporate animals as (for example) it’s universally known that lions are scary, fearless, prideful etc and they are in human-like situations or with speech in the fables which is such a perfect way of storytelling. a lot of these do get repetitive with the same lessons at the end but still enjoyable nonetheless.
i find the history behind these so interesting as there isn’t a lot of information about aesop himself. we know he was once a greek slave. the stories would have been said amongst one another for entertainment purposes and to teach people lessons of morality during the 6th century bce and then collected 3 centuries after his death. the stories served as a code by which the weak and powerless could speak out against the strong and powerful during a time where open speech was dangerous. criticisms could be made against the government openly with the fables.
aesop is the originator of ‘the boy who cried wolf’ which i didn’t know until reading this.
some of my favourites:
~ the man and the lion travelling together
~ the old woman and the doctor
~ the stag at the spring and the lion
~ the lion and the mouse who returned a kindness
~ the bandit and the mulberry tree
~ the field mouse and the town mouse
~ the woodcutter and hermes
~ the travellers and the bear
~ the son and the painted lion
~ the tortoise and the hare
some lessons i enjoyed:
~ someone with a wicked nature who is determined to do wrong, when he cannot do so in the guise of a good man, does his evil deeds openly
~ one ought not to welcome the over-friendly advances of new acquaintances in preference to old friendship. We must remember that when we have become old friends they will strike up friendships with others, and those new friends will become their favourites
~ it is that what skill denies us, chance often gives us freely
~ neither should we delude ourselves into always expecting the same success, considering how changeable life is. But we should tell ourselves that there is never such good weather that a storm might not follow
~ a wicked nature is often recognized by its exterior
~ all men have been favoured by God, who has given them language; but certain of them are indifferent to such a gift, and prefer to envy the animals who are devoid of both feelings and speech
~ one must be lenient and not allow oneself to be carried away uncontrollably, for it often happens that people easily angered cause even greater harm to themselves than to those they wish to injure and increase the problems they had already
~ many people boast of how brave and fearless they are, but when put to the test are exposed as frauds
~ some people tend to be bold in words and cowardly in deeds
~ it is easier to endure blows from strangers than it is from those nearest to you
~ in dangerous situations it is often the friends whom we suspect who save us, while those on whom we rely betray us
~ men, fearing a lesser danger, sometimes throw themselves into a greater one
~ it is thus that often our anticipation is mistaken: the things which seem troublesome to us turn to our advantage, and those things which we hold beneficial show themselves to be injurious
~ many people are not in the least disturbed at the harm that befalls them, provided they can see their enemies’ downfall first
~ people who give in to jealousy and hurt those who are weaker than themselves could fall into the same trap: they pay the price when all the harm they have done is unexpectedly revealed
~ jealous people envy qualities which they don’t possess and lose their own
~ do not judge merit by quantity, but by worth
~ at times men, instead of being content with moderate profits, pursue fantastic prospects and, in so doing, foolishly let go of what they have in their hands
~ sometimes even when servants are freed from slavery they are not necessarily rid of the burdens of servitude
~ even a severe punishment doesn’t change people who, by nature, are bad characters
~ liars gain only one thing, which is not to be believed even when they tell the truth
alanffm's review against another edition
5.0
Timeless fables that I really should have read as a kid.
clstrifes's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
_ash0_'s review against another edition
4.0
Yay found a version which has good stories written in simple English. Reading this book to my son.