stbyleth's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.75
I found this book while I was fishing around for my copy of Grimms fairytales in the back of my closet. It had been stained with some heavy perfume which was both aggravating and additive to the experience.
I think if you go into this <em>middle grade</em> book expecting Gregory Maguire's more in-depth writing and come out disappointed, that's on you. Luckily for me, I had never finished Wicked when I tried years ago, and I also did not realize it was the same author until halfway through. This is an enchanting, short tale that is entertaining and somewhat tense. It's rather wonderful, even for adults, in my opinion.
I'd argue that the depth of this book is just right. The tale is easy to figure out but also you only figure it out right before it's revealed, which is rather satisfying. There's a lot of things hidden <em>in between</em> the lines, which proves there's much to discover for adults and younger folks alike, and everyone will have a different experience.
It's only not a full 5 stars because I felt like Baba Yaga's portrayal was a bit perplexing. I feel like she could have been more than the Old Hag near the end. Maybe that's for a different tale, though.
I think if you go into this <em>middle grade</em> book expecting Gregory Maguire's more in-depth writing and come out disappointed, that's on you. Luckily for me, I had never finished Wicked when I tried years ago, and I also did not realize it was the same author until halfway through. This is an enchanting, short tale that is entertaining and somewhat tense. It's rather wonderful, even for adults, in my opinion.
I'd argue that the depth of this book is just right. The tale is easy to figure out but also you only figure it out right before it's revealed, which is rather satisfying. There's a lot of things hidden <em>in between</em> the lines, which proves there's much to discover for adults and younger folks alike, and everyone will have a different experience.
It's only not a full 5 stars because I felt like Baba Yaga's portrayal was a bit perplexing. I feel like she could have been more than the Old Hag near the end. Maybe that's for a different tale, though.
ceallaighsbooks's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“A spider goes back and forth, a thread, a thread, spinning a circular ladder that falls in on itself like a dream. A dream goes back and forth, a face, a gesture, and most of it is empty, unfilled air like the spaces of a web. Precious little information you get from either. But at the heart of each is the answer.”
TITLE—The Dream Stealer
AUTHOR—Gregory Maguire
PUBLISHED—2002 (orig. 1983)
PUBLISHER—Clarion Books (orig. Harper & Row)
GENRE—middle grade folktale
SETTING—the thousand-mile forest and the village of Miersk in Old Russia
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—dreams & omens, folktales & folk memory, matriarchal wisdom & protection, friendship, family, community, prejudice & distrust, Baba Yaga, the Firebird, gorgeous whimsical imagery (a village on a train, Baba Yaga’s hilarious house, Baba Yaga herself), beautiful writing, unique take on the quest trope, very cozy
“…so she told me: ‘Onya, don't be a fool. Believe in your imaginings, frightening as they are. They may give you the courage to fight a dozen bears.’”
My thoughts:
This was my first of Maguire’s books for children that I’ve read and I wasn’t sure what to expect but this book was just as beautiful and I loved it just as much as his works that I’ve read for adults. I loved the nuanced characters and how, even though the two children were the main characters, the other members of the community were equally developed so as to show how everyone has a place in the village. I also loved his take on Baba Yaga who was the perfect amount of grubby and powerful, deviant and generous, and wise and hilarious.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy wholesome and whimsical middle grade folk/fairy/fantasy stories. This book is best read while cozy.
Final note: Shocked to see that this book is out of print though so definitely going to start hunting down a copy for my shelves! 👀
“‘Oh, there's no end to the fun a simple soul can have if she's possessed of a clever mind,’ she said blithely to the skulls in the cauldron before crashing a heavy iron lid down upon them.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Season: Winter
CW // grief (Please feel free to DM me for more specifics!)
Further Reading—
- everything else by Gregory Maguire
- EGG & SPOON by Gregory Maguire (which sounds like it’s a sort of different version of this story)
mbondlamberty's review
3.0
Not super familiar with Russian folklore so this wasn't the usual experience of reading Gregory Maguire's tales which are familiar yet different.
Also a little darker than his usual fare.
Also a little darker than his usual fare.
mackle13's review
2.0
2.5
I picked this up because a conversation about fairy tale retelling came up in a group recently that didn't focus on the Big 20 in fairy tales, and I started looking around and came across this story about Baba Yaga. I've liked Maguire's other work, especially [b:Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West|37442|Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (The Wicked Years, #1)|Gregory Maguire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1437733293s/37442.jpg|1479280] and [b:Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister|18943|Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister|Gregory Maguire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1338457460s/18943.jpg|1758112], so I thought I'd give it a go.
Well - it's ok, thus the 2-star goodreads rating. It didn't have any of the depth of his other books - and some of that can be written off as it being more geared for kids, I guess, but some of it is just the writing and story were just sort of flat. I can deal with lack of depth as long as there's something of interest about the story... but it just was kinda meh, which is why it took me 3 days to get through a story barely over 100 pages.
Honestly, I'm not even sure I'd recommend it to kids, because it's kind of boring, really. It did get ok at the end, but it was a slog to get there.
Meh.
I picked this up because a conversation about fairy tale retelling came up in a group recently that didn't focus on the Big 20 in fairy tales, and I started looking around and came across this story about Baba Yaga. I've liked Maguire's other work, especially [b:Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West|37442|Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (The Wicked Years, #1)|Gregory Maguire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1437733293s/37442.jpg|1479280] and [b:Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister|18943|Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister|Gregory Maguire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1338457460s/18943.jpg|1758112], so I thought I'd give it a go.
Well - it's ok, thus the 2-star goodreads rating. It didn't have any of the depth of his other books - and some of that can be written off as it being more geared for kids, I guess, but some of it is just the writing and story were just sort of flat. I can deal with lack of depth as long as there's something of interest about the story... but it just was kinda meh, which is why it took me 3 days to get through a story barely over 100 pages.
Honestly, I'm not even sure I'd recommend it to kids, because it's kind of boring, really. It did get ok at the end, but it was a slog to get there.
Meh.
dylan_james's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
erine's review
3.0
I've enjoyed Russian folklore and fairy tales since I took a few language classes in college, and this does not disappoint. There's nothing like a dream-eating wolf, a witch in a hut on chicken legs, and a village of both skeptics and the superstitious. Of course, it's the children who ultimately discover how to save their village. It's exciting to me to see Russian legends take form in America.
Kids who like fairy tales and fantasy will enjoy this, especially if they get into the gorier elements. Think Hansel and Gretel and the Three Little Pigs. It's all about survival in this tale. This would mesh really well with some of the more traditional folktales about Vasilissa the Beautiful or Baba Yaga.
Some scary elements.
Kids who like fairy tales and fantasy will enjoy this, especially if they get into the gorier elements. Think Hansel and Gretel and the Three Little Pigs. It's all about survival in this tale. This would mesh really well with some of the more traditional folktales about Vasilissa the Beautiful or Baba Yaga.
Some scary elements.
booksandbosox's review
2.0
In Russia, the Blood Prince stalks a small town, hoping to steal its inhabitants dreams and eat their flesh.
I wanted to like this because it's Maguire, but I was just not into it. Most of the time I was bored out of my mind reading. I wanted it to be over. I can't really say much more; I really didn't enjoy it.
I wanted to like this because it's Maguire, but I was just not into it. Most of the time I was bored out of my mind reading. I wanted it to be over. I can't really say much more; I really didn't enjoy it.
qace90's review
4.0
Fairy tales are a patricular soft spot for me, especially revisited ones. Not to mention Gregory Maguire is one of my favorite authors. I especially enjoyed this book because its a Russian fairy tale and I have Russian heritage. Beautiful prose as always.