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wispy_reviews's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Misogyny
helena_kupers's review against another edition
4.0
This was a quick and fun read. Although some of the stories didn't really resonate with me, the overall collection was a great way to get a feel of true Irish folk tales. I believe it serves well as an introductory book on the topic. The cover also happens to be gorgeous, so that's a plus!
lauralina2345's review against another edition
4.0
Strange, random and without traditional plot, these stories and poems seem like faerie stories you would hear someone tell, of their own encounters.
bookish_manatee's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bioniclib's review
3.0
This was a very uneven collection. Some stories were great. For example: When a child killed a priest, at the priest’s request to prove he (the priest) was wrong that everyone did have a soul, “and this was the first butterfly that was ever seen in Ireland; and now all men know that the butterflies are the souls of the dead, waiting for the moment when they may enter Purgatory, and so pass through toture to purification and peace.” (239)
Some stories were ridiculous. For example: The Fate of Frank M’Kenna was that he died hunting wabbits…sorry hares. See, he liked to hunt hares on Sunday instead of going to church. His father got upset and cursed him. So the next time he went a-hunting, he got trapped in a snowstorm and died. Then he started haunting the daughter of the house nearest the site of his death. The lass drummed up the courage to find out what he wanted, since that will allow the ghost t go on his way. What he wanted? Make sure none of the friends that were with him before he died didn’t get his new pants. Seriously.
A couple of quotes and a note to end this review.
"It is said by those who ought to understand such things, that the good people, or the fairies, are some of the angels who were turned out of heaven and who landed on their feet in this world, while the rest of their companions, who had more sun to sink them, went down further to a worse place." (12)
“The lips, half closed and perfectly ashy, discovered just so much of the teeth as to give the features of death their most ghastly, but most impressive look.” (126)
Anyone who’s cow give more milk and makes better butter than everyone else is almost assuredly a witch
Some stories were ridiculous. For example: The Fate of Frank M’Kenna was that he died hunting wabbits…sorry hares. See, he liked to hunt hares on Sunday instead of going to church. His father got upset and cursed him. So the next time he went a-hunting, he got trapped in a snowstorm and died. Then he started haunting the daughter of the house nearest the site of his death. The lass drummed up the courage to find out what he wanted, since that will allow the ghost t go on his way. What he wanted? Make sure none of the friends that were with him before he died didn’t get his new pants. Seriously.
A couple of quotes and a note to end this review.
"It is said by those who ought to understand such things, that the good people, or the fairies, are some of the angels who were turned out of heaven and who landed on their feet in this world, while the rest of their companions, who had more sun to sink them, went down further to a worse place." (12)
“The lips, half closed and perfectly ashy, discovered just so much of the teeth as to give the features of death their most ghastly, but most impressive look.” (126)
Anyone who’s cow give more milk and makes better butter than everyone else is almost assuredly a witch
fivetilnoon's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
A fun read. My favorites: Teig O'Kane and the Corpse, The Legend of Knockgrafton, The Soul Cages, The Giant's Stairs, The Twelve Wild Geese, and the Story of Conn-eda. According to the story, Conn-eda is where the name 'Connacht' comes from.
drone232's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A very diverse set of stories from irish folklore. There are many nice ones but there are a few not as nice ones. Some of them have morals and some of them are just plain weird. A few of them are skipped because they were quite boring. A few I would like to memorize.
futurama1979's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so perfectly up my alley that there's no way I wouldn't love it. I've had it around the house forever growing up and have picked stories out to read, but this is the first time I committed to it and read the whole thing front to back and can I just say? Exceeded all expectations.
Published in 1888, it's so telling of its time and makes for such an interesting read now, when culture has shifted so far from folklore-ish suspicions and stories in everyday life. Yeats mentions the last true bards of Ireland having been around just before the collection of the stories, and the fact to think that something we think of as being so ancient was still present during the editing of the book is so cool.
And All the stories are so brilliant and so great to read!! Collected from a multitude of different folklorists in Yeats' time, it's a super comprehensive gathering from counties all over Ireland. They were all a joy to read but my favourites were: Teig O'Kane and the Corpse, the Soul Cages, the Three Wishes, and the Story of Conn-eda.
Published in 1888, it's so telling of its time and makes for such an interesting read now, when culture has shifted so far from folklore-ish suspicions and stories in everyday life. Yeats mentions the last true bards of Ireland having been around just before the collection of the stories, and the fact to think that something we think of as being so ancient was still present during the editing of the book is so cool.
And All the stories are so brilliant and so great to read!! Collected from a multitude of different folklorists in Yeats' time, it's a super comprehensive gathering from counties all over Ireland. They were all a joy to read but my favourites were: Teig O'Kane and the Corpse, the Soul Cages, the Three Wishes, and the Story of Conn-eda.
katierourke's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.0