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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Gemma is an old woman with three granddaughters. As they grow up, she often tells them the story of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty). It is not until the girls get older that they realize their grandmother has not merely been telling them a story--she has been telling HER story, the story of how she survived during the Holocaust.
While the Holocaust and a fairy tale do not seem like they go together, Yolen does a masterful job of weaving the two together in a way that is so natural and lovely that it will take your breath away.
Anyone interested in WWII and/or fairytales should give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.
While the Holocaust and a fairy tale do not seem like they go together, Yolen does a masterful job of weaving the two together in a way that is so natural and lovely that it will take your breath away.
Anyone interested in WWII and/or fairytales should give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I like fairy tale retellings IF they are done in a original way. Cinderella has been done to death. I've been in a Magical Realism phase lately, so a modern retelling of a classic tale with non-magic explanations definitely intrigued.
I came across Briar Rose on goodreads and was captivated by the premise. The main character, Rebecca, has heard her grandmother's strange version of Sleeping Beauty all her life. It's a unique version where the evil fairy comes with silver eagles, the castle is surrounded by a different type of briar, and when the prince kisses the princess awake no one else in the kingdom awaken. Rebecca never thinks much of this until while her grandmother is dying she claims that the story is true and that she was Briar Rose. The grandmother elicits a deathbed promise from Rebecca to track down the truth. I don't want to give anything away, so I will just say that what she uncovers goes back to World War II.
The very idea of this book is so powerful. I was astounded by such an original and moving story. The premise of the book definitely gets a five, but the overall book gets four stars. I felt that it could have dug just a little deeper. SpoilerYolen could have really hit the Sleeping Beauty/Holocaust analogy out of the park. But the ending was a bit abrupt. I also did not like her romance with her boss who is twelve years older than her. It felt like that plot line was just thrown in there to give Rebecca a chance at the typical "happy ending." Although this was in the adult section and the library and the main character is twenty-three, it did at times seem more like a YA book. But I did enjoy it. It's a very quick read (barely 200 pages), and I would definitely recommend it.
I will warn readers that this is not a happy, fluffy, Disney sort of fairy tale. This is much more like [b:The Complete Fairy Tales - The Brothers Grimm|23127308|The Complete Fairy Tales - The Brothers Grimm|Brothers Grimm|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1409459813s/23127308.jpg|42675562] in tone.
This review fulfills the "Book You Can Finish in a Day" category of the Popsugar reading challenge.
http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-Challenge-2015-36071458
I came across Briar Rose on goodreads and was captivated by the premise. The main character, Rebecca, has heard her grandmother's strange version of Sleeping Beauty all her life. It's a unique version where the evil fairy comes with silver eagles, the castle is surrounded by a different type of briar, and when the prince kisses the princess awake no one else in the kingdom awaken. Rebecca never thinks much of this until while her grandmother is dying she claims that the story is true and that she was Briar Rose. The grandmother elicits a deathbed promise from Rebecca to track down the truth. I don't want to give anything away, so I will just say that what she uncovers goes back to World War II.
The very idea of this book is so powerful. I was astounded by such an original and moving story. The premise of the book definitely gets a five, but the overall book gets four stars. I felt that it could have dug just a little deeper. SpoilerYolen could have really hit the Sleeping Beauty/Holocaust analogy out of the park. But the ending was a bit abrupt. I also did not like her romance with her boss who is twelve years older than her. It felt like that plot line was just thrown in there to give Rebecca a chance at the typical "happy ending." Although this was in the adult section and the library and the main character is twenty-three, it did at times seem more like a YA book. But I did enjoy it. It's a very quick read (barely 200 pages), and I would definitely recommend it.
I will warn readers that this is not a happy, fluffy, Disney sort of fairy tale. This is much more like [b:The Complete Fairy Tales - The Brothers Grimm|23127308|The Complete Fairy Tales - The Brothers Grimm|Brothers Grimm|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1409459813s/23127308.jpg|42675562] in tone.
This review fulfills the "Book You Can Finish in a Day" category of the Popsugar reading challenge.
http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-Challenge-2015-36071458
This is a beautifully written story. I have always loved fairy tales and have always been interested about learning about the Holocaust.
I loved how Yolen tied in the tale of sleeping beauty with one womans experience during WWII. It was both beautiful and devastating. The beginning was a little slow just because there really wasn't any mystery, from the cover of the book I already had an idea that it had to do with being a prisoner in a concentration camp. But it surprised me how in depth the story and mystery of the fairy tale actually went.
One of my favorite things about this story is the character development. All the important characters have such vibrant personalities that as a reader you feel like you know them just as much as if you were actually in the story.
And I also like that not everything was explained, usually that drives me crazy but in this story it worked. This story is a great mix of fantasy meets realistic fiction.
I loved how Yolen tied in the tale of sleeping beauty with one womans experience during WWII. It was both beautiful and devastating. The beginning was a little slow just because there really wasn't any mystery, from the cover of the book I already had an idea that it had to do with being a prisoner in a concentration camp. But it surprised me how in depth the story and mystery of the fairy tale actually went.
One of my favorite things about this story is the character development. All the important characters have such vibrant personalities that as a reader you feel like you know them just as much as if you were actually in the story.
And I also like that not everything was explained, usually that drives me crazy but in this story it worked. This story is a great mix of fantasy meets realistic fiction.
I wasn't sure about this book as first. For me it took awhile for the book to really get interesting and the plot to get going. But in all honesty the ending makes the whole book worth it. The whole story comes together beautifully and I was very satisfied. I would recommend this book to a friend who loves history.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I really liked this book, it was an easy read yet still a page turner. This is the perfect middle school book, yet odd it is about a 23 year old. I thought it was a great combination of fairy tale and WWII. I would use this as a novel study in my classroom for sure.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. I picked it up because I love fairy tales, but that's not what I got. Yolen uses the Sleeping Beauty story to tell the story of a Nazi extermination camp in Poland in WWII. The first part of the book didn't really grab my attention, but the latter half was hard to put down. The part where Josef P. tells his story was very powerful, but a little too graphic for me at parts. Definitely too many sexual themes for its intended audience, in my opinion. I also felt like there were still a few too many unanswered questions at the end. It did have me thinking (and dreaming) about the story all night, but I'm not sure that I'm better off for it.
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen -- If I'm not mistaken, this was like my gateway drug book for fairy tale retellings that are also historical fiction. Jane Yolen is amazing no matter what she tackles, but this is still a particular favorite! Have fun blending sleeping beauty and WWII. Happy Reading!
I read this in part of a day--couldn't stop once I'd started. Part of a series in which the different authors are invited to retell a fairy tale in their own ways. Yolen combines the story of Sleeping Beauty with a fictional Holocaust story.
Mistakenly shelved as a Young Adult novel in our library, it is an adult novel with adult themes.
Highly recommend!
Mistakenly shelved as a Young Adult novel in our library, it is an adult novel with adult themes.
Highly recommend!