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A review by annettebooksofhopeanddreams
Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro, Cornelia Funke
4.0
Even though a lot of friends have been talking about this movie, I've never seen it. I'm not sure why, because I can remember a few occasions it has crossed my path. I guess I've just always decided for something else, probably because the posters had something scary and terrifying. And it's only recently that I discovered that I'm much better at handling scares than I used to be.
But this book was the perfect opportunity to discover this story for the very first time. I've made sure not to look anything up that I didn't know yet. I didn't read summaries, didn't listen to the music, didn't see movie clips. I started this book completely fresh and as a blank slate. And the story for sure didn't disappoint.
The story has a very unique feel. It has a lot of fairytale elements, fairies, fauns, magical labyrinths, a missing princess, magical items, witches. But it also has a lot of realistic dramatic elements that keep the story very grounded. I hadn't expected so much historical elements in this story. Because both the Underworld elements and the Upperworld elements played such an important part, the story somehow did feel realistic. Especially because a lot of the problems were real.
The writing style enhances this. It has both a fairytale vibe and a very realistic vibe. It's hard to pinpoint it. On one hand I wanted to read it quickly to devour the story, but I also wanted to take it slowly, to take in each word, the rhythm, the style and the atmosphere of all those kind of treats that was so carefully crafted.
Because of the different point of views all characters get layers and a little depth. Just like in most fairytales they stay somehow archetypes, but they have an inner motivation, something that moves them, something that made them who they are. And although our sense of good and bad forces us to pick sides, even the villain became very interesting.
I of course can't compare the book to the movie, but the book is very atmospheric, etheric and really has this dark fairytale twist and it's possible to read it in multiple ways. I'm sure that during the discussion, there will be a lot to think and talk about and I'm really looking forward to that!
But this book was the perfect opportunity to discover this story for the very first time. I've made sure not to look anything up that I didn't know yet. I didn't read summaries, didn't listen to the music, didn't see movie clips. I started this book completely fresh and as a blank slate. And the story for sure didn't disappoint.
The story has a very unique feel. It has a lot of fairytale elements, fairies, fauns, magical labyrinths, a missing princess, magical items, witches. But it also has a lot of realistic dramatic elements that keep the story very grounded. I hadn't expected so much historical elements in this story. Because both the Underworld elements and the Upperworld elements played such an important part, the story somehow did feel realistic. Especially because a lot of the problems were real.
The writing style enhances this. It has both a fairytale vibe and a very realistic vibe. It's hard to pinpoint it. On one hand I wanted to read it quickly to devour the story, but I also wanted to take it slowly, to take in each word, the rhythm, the style and the atmosphere of all those kind of treats that was so carefully crafted.
Because of the different point of views all characters get layers and a little depth. Just like in most fairytales they stay somehow archetypes, but they have an inner motivation, something that moves them, something that made them who they are. And although our sense of good and bad forces us to pick sides, even the villain became very interesting.
I of course can't compare the book to the movie, but the book is very atmospheric, etheric and really has this dark fairytale twist and it's possible to read it in multiple ways. I'm sure that during the discussion, there will be a lot to think and talk about and I'm really looking forward to that!