taishu22's review against another edition
5.0
This book series made such an impression on my childhood that I'll always think of it fondly. I definitely need to reread and get to know all the finer details again, but I remember just loving it.
leslieb963's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a fun, lighthearted read. Not overly complicated, the ending was nonetheless satisfying.
jnak's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning was a little slow but once they got to the forest it picked up and it was worth it in the end
bensmelanie's review against another edition
4.0
I just read this for the second time before moving on to the rest of the Books of Bayern. As beautiful and enchanting as I remember.
paradoxically's review against another edition
4.0
The Goose Girl is a lovely, lyrical book that is based loosely on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. I was rather surprised to find that I enjoyed it as much as I did, but I found that I couldn't put it down and raced through the pages and just lost myself in the world that the author created. The most important bits of the fairy tale are placed in the book, but enough artistic liberty was taken so that the tale seemed both fresh and new, even if one knows how it would generally go.
The beginning is a bit slow, and I found myself a bit frustrated with Ani and her struggles because she is clumsy and a bit meek and when her mother sends her off to get married () she hardly protests. Ani acknowledges the fact that she would obey, and dislikes that fact, and that's when you see the start of Ani's journey to find herself and find her place in the world. To evolve and stand up for herself and believe in the people around her.
And that's one of the best things in the story, Ani's personal growth. You see her go from weak and helpless to someone more self assured, filled with both purpose and direction. She doesn't learn how to fight. She doesn't try to directly go against Selia and the conspirators. But she finds strength in herself and in others that was just a joy to read.
The world in this book was lovely. Full of magic and yet ordinary at the same time. Both good and bad people--and people who are neither--fill the pages, and while you can't sympathize with the villains, you understand how the plot unfolds (well, for the main two conspirators).
Granted, a few things went a little too easily, but this book isn't particularly deep, and it doesn't have to be. Just take it at face value as a pretty, entertaining read, and that's pretty much all you need, sometimes. 4 stars.
The beginning is a bit slow, and I found myself a bit frustrated with Ani and her struggles because she is clumsy and a bit meek and when her mother sends her off to get married (
Spoiler
at the same time making her relinquish the crown for her birth countryAnd that's one of the best things in the story, Ani's personal growth. You see her go from weak and helpless to someone more self assured, filled with both purpose and direction. She doesn't learn how to fight. She doesn't try to directly go against Selia and the conspirators. But she finds strength in herself and in others that was just a joy to read.
The world in this book was lovely. Full of magic and yet ordinary at the same time. Both good and bad people--and people who are neither--fill the pages, and while you can't sympathize with the villains, you understand how the plot unfolds (well, for the main two conspirators).
Granted, a few things went a little too easily, but this book isn't particularly deep, and it doesn't have to be. Just take it at face value as a pretty, entertaining read, and that's pretty much all you need, sometimes. 4 stars.
kstring's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I was blown away by this book. First off, a huge shoutout to the audiobook producers--I've never listened to a full-cast audio book and now I'm hooked and don't know if I can go back to regular audiobooks. There was a little input at the end from Shannon Hale talking about how she came to write this book. She said there were more than 30 drafts of this book written before the storyline was finally written to Hale's standards, and I can definitely tell. The world is well-developed, the characters are believable and likeable, and the plot line is engaging, new, and refreshing. I was really drawn into the story with the details and the suspense of the pending conclusion. Even after reading the book, I'm not sick of the characters, the plot, or the world. I could tell that every little thing had been thought out and that a lot of time and thought had been put into creating this. I'd call it a masterpiece of literature.
Recommended for readers of all ages.
Recommended for readers of all ages.
ivireads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
dalessilim's review against another edition
5.0
Underrated and has been one of my favorites since grade school. A sweet fairytale that scratches the itch for adventure, romance and magic without being overly dark and sensuous like many YA fantasies now. I miss books like this.