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adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
fast-paced
A short collection of five fairy stories by Oscar Wilde. Three of them, admittedly, are rather mawkish, and I say that even though I really do like "The Happy Prince" very much indeed. That sickly sentimentality tips rather too far in "The Nightingale and the Rose," however, and Wilde's simpering sense of sacrifice, sacrifice beyond all sense, pops up again in "The Devoted Friend." I think I am supposed to feel sorry for poor downtrodden Hans, but I don't. The Miller is a terrible person, a user of the first degree, but when someone is so desperate to be a doormat, well, I won't say that they invite people to tread on them, because that is awful, but Hans might as well have written Kick Me! all over himself in indelible ink. I can't help but think that the Miller, as with the titular protagonist of "The Remarkable Rocket," represent some of the strongest characterisation here, even if they are satire. Everyone else is just so unrelentingly saintly, especially the poor doomed birds. Wilde does love his doomed little birds.
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Five short stories that seem like typical fairytales at first – but turn out to be a lot darker and more cynical. There is no poetic justice served, instead, the stories (at least most of them) describe futile acts of self-sacrifice. The writing was beautiful, with vivid imagery and witty social commentary.
The Happy Prince - 4 stars
This was probably my favourite story. The ending is tragic, but there is beauty too: the swallow becoming more selfless and forming a deep bond with the prince, the good they actually did in the city (although we never get to see the effects of their sacrifices, which is interesting – how much were they actually able to help?).
The Nightingale and the Rose - 4 stars
I felt quite similarly about this story as about the previous one: it was sad, yet beautiful. What makes it especially tragic is that the ending is not even that remarkable: A young man is rejected by his crush and thoughtlessly throws away his present for her. Only the readers know of the nightingale’s terrible sacrifice and her trust in the man’s love that went into that gift.
The Devoted Friend - 2 stars
Where the previous two stories were tragic yet beautiful, this one was just infuriating. The characters are over-exaggerated to the point of making the story less impactful. Even Hans and his refusal to stand up for himself at all were just annoying. In the end, I was glad it was over.
The Selfish Giant - 3 stars
I loved the beautiful descriptions of the giant’s garden and the children’s joy that brought back the spring. It didn’t leave a lasting impression though and I was a bit disappointed by the ending.
The Remarkable Rocket - 2.5 stars
Funnily enough, this is the story that comes closest to poetic justice, with the rocket being insufferable and thinking he is way more important than he actually is, and the “highlight” of his life (being set alight) going entirely unnoticed. It was funny, but also a little absurd.
All in all, these stories gave me a lot more to think about than I had expected right after finishing them. I don’t know if I will ever be returning to them though, since as a whole they leave you feeling a little hopeless.
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Happy Prince 4
The Nightingale and the Rose 3.5
The Selfish Giant 4
The Devoted Friend 3.5
The Remarkable Rocket 3.5
medium-paced
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a collection of five short stories, that are fairy-tale-like moral fables, not only for children, but drenched in subtle hints aimed at the older readers.
When questioned about the maturity of the language in his stories, Wilde ridiculed the idea that "extremely limited vocabulary at the disposal of the British child" should be "the standard by which the prose of an artist is to be judged".
These tales are dark and colorful at the same time, and deal mostly with selfishness, compassion, egotism, Christianity, goodwill and love.
When questioned about the maturity of the language in his stories, Wilde ridiculed the idea that "extremely limited vocabulary at the disposal of the British child" should be "the standard by which the prose of an artist is to be judged".
These tales are dark and colorful at the same time, and deal mostly with selfishness, compassion, egotism, Christianity, goodwill and love.
Is there anything that Oscar Wilde can't do? Poetry, fairy tales, prose, plays - he is truly amazing!
These fairy tales were all wonderful (albeit sad) in their own respect with meaningful morals and exquisitely executed anthropomorphism. I shall review them in order of preference:
The Happy Prince (5 stars)
I absolutely loved this one. The meaning behind all that happens was wonderful and the ending was amazing. I really want to buy an illustrated copy now.
The Selfish Giant (4.5 stars)
I adored the use of seasonal symbolism in this one and the fantastic way in which Wilde described the effects of the seasons upon gardens. The moral was also wonderful.
The Nightingale and The Rose (4.5 stars)
I really liked this one. It was sad, because the poor little Nightingale's sacrifice was made in vain and the humans were fickle, selfish beings. It would have been better if the love between the humans was worth the sacrifice to begin with and perhaps something happened to cause an unhappy end, rather than it being so superficial, however I guess that was the point.
The Devoted Friends (3 stars)
I didn't like this one so much. It would have been better if it had just been Little Hans' story, rather than Little Hans' story being told by other animals. Also, the moral should have been clearer, as Little Hans seemed more desperate than devoted - doing so many feeble tasks for the Miller.
The Remarkable Rocket (2.5 stars)
This one was significantly longer than the others and not nearly as good. I didn't like the story being centred on the Rocket much and the meaning behind the story was not as poignant as that of the others.
These fairy tales were all wonderful (albeit sad) in their own respect with meaningful morals and exquisitely executed anthropomorphism. I shall review them in order of preference:
The Happy Prince (5 stars)
I absolutely loved this one. The meaning behind all that happens was wonderful and the ending was amazing. I really want to buy an illustrated copy now.
The Selfish Giant (4.5 stars)
I adored the use of seasonal symbolism in this one and the fantastic way in which Wilde described the effects of the seasons upon gardens. The moral was also wonderful.
The Nightingale and The Rose (4.5 stars)
I really liked this one. It was sad, because the poor little Nightingale's sacrifice was made in vain and the humans were fickle, selfish beings. It would have been better if the love between the humans was worth the sacrifice to begin with and perhaps something happened to cause an unhappy end, rather than it being so superficial, however I guess that was the point.
The Devoted Friends (3 stars)
I didn't like this one so much. It would have been better if it had just been Little Hans' story, rather than Little Hans' story being told by other animals. Also, the moral should have been clearer, as Little Hans seemed more desperate than devoted - doing so many feeble tasks for the Miller.
The Remarkable Rocket (2.5 stars)
This one was significantly longer than the others and not nearly as good. I didn't like the story being centred on the Rocket much and the meaning behind the story was not as poignant as that of the others.