nottodaysatan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
herphoenixloves's review against another edition
3.0
Some of these tales are very strange. Some didn't make a whole lot of sense. We enjoyed this book but we're glad it's over.
patriciaabad's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
yungokssss's review against another edition
4.0
Some of these are really creepy... A job well done, but still... REALLY creepy...
alexlcriddle's review against another edition
5.0
These classic fairy tales are very entertaining and contain lessons to be learned and relearned. I would recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys fairy tales and wishes to visit the originals. There are many familiar stories, as well as little-known, less popular stories that will have you laughing at the ridiculous situations and characters.
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
2.0
I was quite curious as to who translated this version, and as it turns out, nobody knows! The book says, "This anonymous translation [...] was first published in 1869," with little else to go on. This particular edition of the mysterious translation was published in 2003.
Some of the translations are a bit... odd. Even taking into account that the translation was reputedly done in the latter half of the 19th century, there were still some very strange choices. One example is the title of the story Märchen von einem, der auszog das Fürchten zu lernen ("the story of the one who went forth to learn to fear"), which is here translated as A Tale of One Who Traveled To Learn What Shivering Meant. The story revolves around a young boy who, as the title suggests, tries to learn what being afraid means—he does indeed say something like, "I wish I knew how to shiver," but in the sense of shuddering or getting goosebumps etc., not literally shivering. There are various other small but confusing choices made throughout.
Some of the translations are a bit... odd. Even taking into account that the translation was reputedly done in the latter half of the 19th century, there were still some very strange choices. One example is the title of the story Märchen von einem, der auszog das Fürchten zu lernen ("the story of the one who went forth to learn to fear"), which is here translated as A Tale of One Who Traveled To Learn What Shivering Meant. The story revolves around a young boy who, as the title suggests, tries to learn what being afraid means—he does indeed say something like, "I wish I knew how to shiver," but in the sense of shuddering or getting goosebumps etc., not literally shivering. There are various other small but confusing choices made throughout.
_thngan_'s review against another edition
medium-paced
4.25
Actual rating: 4.25/5 stars
The very first one brought me to the magical fairy tale world, and reading this tppk me back to those happy, innocent time, my lovely childhood.
Someone might eventually said quite few times to me that I couldn't grow up if keeping reading fairy tales and children's books, I'd repeat to them time after time that there were plenty lessons to learn just by reading them all and Grimm's stories were the evidence for what I need. Maybe as a child or a full grown-up fairy tales somehow unrealistic because of their always-happy-endings but that what made them called fairy tales. And through all different characters, we found out that all those happy endings came to people who were kind, intelligent, having a warm heart and not ever underestimate anyone in your life, aren't those the lessons we told the children to learn and behave? And yet it was all shown just by stories who were called fairy tales.
Every story brought its own messages about life and I'm happy to be discovered more and more of those lessons hidden in every tiny detail. Except buiding such monotone personalities for their stories (which somehow annoyed me sometimes while reading this but also opportunities for other fairy tales retellings/insprirations to develop), this book is truely a healing and also bring hope to life.
The very first one brought me to the magical fairy tale world, and reading this tppk me back to those happy, innocent time, my lovely childhood.
Someone might eventually said quite few times to me that I couldn't grow up if keeping reading fairy tales and children's books, I'd repeat to them time after time that there were plenty lessons to learn just by reading them all and Grimm's stories were the evidence for what I need. Maybe as a child or a full grown-up fairy tales somehow unrealistic because of their always-happy-endings but that what made them called fairy tales. And through all different characters, we found out that all those happy endings came to people who were kind, intelligent, having a warm heart and not ever underestimate anyone in your life, aren't those the lessons we told the children to learn and behave? And yet it was all shown just by stories who were called fairy tales.
Every story brought its own messages about life and I'm happy to be discovered more and more of those lessons hidden in every tiny detail. Except buiding such monotone personalities for their stories (which somehow annoyed me sometimes while reading this but also opportunities for other fairy tales retellings/insprirations to develop), this book is truely a healing and also bring hope to life.
sweinmann14's review against another edition
2.0
I found the stories more informative as a comparison tool to modern versions than entertaining. It was amazing how brash and all-over-the-place many of the stories were. Few seemed to have a point (see The Golden Key as a fantastic example). It occurred to me about half way through reading that the stories weren't supposed to function like a story in a book - but as a verbal story you'd tell around a campfire. The narrator kept making appearances - especially in the last line or two - to wrap up the story: "I suppose they got married and were happy," or "and I guess they are still doing [action] to this day," or even "I don't know what became of [character]." Once I understood that these truly were folktales that were never intended to be on paper - and that the Grimm brothers didn't bother editing them in the transition - I found the tales slightly more enjoyable. But overall, I wouldn't read them again unless as a reference.
almapauline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0