pietan's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ostrava's review against another edition
4.0
Didn't really care for Sleepy Hollow, LOVED Rip Van Winkle and The Spectre Bridegroom. Too bad the former brought the rating down. It's a nice collection, but I don't think I will be coming back to Irving unless it's to reread these stories.
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
So everyone knows the story of Rip Van Winkle, but I had never really read Washington Irving. Earlier this year, I read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and really enjoyed it, so I decided to delve deeper into the work of Washington Irving. I realized that while I remembered the highlights of the Rip Van Winkle tale, I had forgotten how horrible his wife was and Rip's reputation in his village before his adventure in the mountains. I enjoyed all of the stories in this book and realize that I need to fill in other gaps in the classics. That's a resolution for 2011.
little_raven's review against another edition
3.0
Se trata de versiones adaptadas para estudiantes de inglés, por lo que no se deben considerar de la misma manera que los originales. El libro cumple su función, y tanto las ilustraciones como las historias en sí son buenísimas.
leonkleinveld's review against another edition
3.0
The stories within this collection are decent but are thoroughly marked as a product of the time they were written in. There is a particular paragraph in Sleepy Hollow, that is designed to be judgment of a woman's promiscuous ways, but with today's standard about what is and what is not modest for a woman to wear, the passage only comes off as laughable, or an attempt at a bad joke.
These "anachronisms" (by lack of a better word) do not however lessen my enjoyment of the story, to the contrary, they enhance them in a way Washington Irving could never have accounted for.
These "anachronisms" (by lack of a better word) do not however lessen my enjoyment of the story, to the contrary, they enhance them in a way Washington Irving could never have accounted for.
kingfan30's review against another edition
1.0
I found it interesting the story that gives its name to this book was one of the shorter ones. I have to say I liked the idea behind the first few stories but I just couldn't get my head round the writing style, my just wanted to wonder. I read all the stories but feel maybe I should give them another chance at some point.
egajdosik's review against another edition
5.0
I just love Washington Irving's writing. I'm grateful to him for providing the United States with it's own folklore and fairytales.
annatheavid's review
I really enjoyed Washington Irving's writing style! I generally enjoy works from around this period because they are so eloquent and melodic without simply being verbose for the sake of being verbose. I actually read a horror story!! lol And there is a horror story that isn't a horror story!! Can it get better than that? And you come away finally knowing the story of Rip Van Winkle! Overall for me a very enjoyable read.
bwilhoite8's review against another edition
2.0
Wasn't a fan of the authors writing and too much detail.
carolsnotebook's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite part of this version is the illustrations by Gerry Embleton. There are so many little details in the picture - gnomes and elves in the clearing with the strange men, a wizard watching over Rip on his way home and a little gopher delivering bottles of milk to mushroom homes. Even thought the war is left out of the story, we do see a man in uniform listening to Rip's tale. Even the clothes the villagers wear change styles from "before" to "after."
I'll have to read the original one of these days, but this is the story I remember from when I was a kid.
I'll have to read the original one of these days, but this is the story I remember from when I was a kid.