nelia's review against another edition
4.75
There were one or two stories I couldn't instantly click with due to the unfamiliarity
kpezza's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eb00kie's review against another edition
4.0
There's a nostalgia factor, certainly; I didn't grow up with the Disney versions. However, what impressed me is that the anthology manages to easily convey mature concepts of stupidity, cunning, love, greed, forgiveness etc.
The sheer staggering originality of style, in a contemporary context, is remarkable. True, these stories are fairly common in some countries, but they haven't been assimilated, not really. We have hundreds of fairy tale clichés, but here they are buried under elements of death, incest, murder, abuse and hate that have not been edited out. True, there are elements of blatant unlikely chance, misogyny and patriarchal values, but it doesn't change the fact that this is raw and beautiful and striking.
The sheer staggering originality of style, in a contemporary context, is remarkable. True, these stories are fairly common in some countries, but they haven't been assimilated, not really. We have hundreds of fairy tale clichés, but here they are buried under elements of death, incest, murder, abuse and hate that have not been edited out. True, there are elements of blatant unlikely chance, misogyny and patriarchal values, but it doesn't change the fact that this is raw and beautiful and striking.
kayla_moerman's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
beaniedorman's review against another edition
5.0
This is a pre-Disney version of classic fairy tales, and I loved seeing the stories as they originally were. While I enjoyed all of the stories, my favorites were the ones that I know best, probably because it was the differences in these tales that I could pinpoint most easily. My favorites included "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood", "Cinderella", "Blue Beard", and "Beauty and the Beast". With the exception of "Blue Beard" (which was basically the same story I've read before, most likely because even Disney doesn't know how to make a story about a man who murders his wives appropriate for children,) each is different from the versions I've grown up with. It was refreshing to read Perrault's original version.
jasonfurman's review against another edition
5.0
I read about half of these to my children and the other half to myself (skipping the stories in verse). All of them were excellent--fully fleshed out stories, in many cases with a more realistic sense of terror than is found in other versions, although I prefer the Grimm's gory ending to Cinderella to Perrault's sappy one.
c1ementine's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
fizreads's review against another edition
4.0
Re-visiting Perrault’s fairy tales is like dipping into childhood and watching Disney movies back-to-back, and the Disney books box set of animated picture books, (distinctly remember having Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and funnily enough, Lady and the Tramp and 101 Dalmatians- which I know are not fairy tales, but I remember these side by side).
I was actually really surprised to find that the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty was re-written by the Brothers Grimm as Briar-Rose it was really interesting comparing and analysing them both seeing the similarities and differences. But also seeing how Disney take the fairy tale and adapt it.
I was also surprised reading Perrault had written Puss in Boots (I don’t know why I always used to think Hans Christian Anderson wrote it). I am actually so surprised at how Perrault’s fairy tales are gorier and scarier they are than the adaptions portray them. I actually (depending on which fairy tale) prefer them in their original form because it makes the ending that much more satisfying.
Overall, I loved it, and would highly recommend it.
I was actually really surprised to find that the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty was re-written by the Brothers Grimm as Briar-Rose it was really interesting comparing and analysing them both seeing the similarities and differences. But also seeing how Disney take the fairy tale and adapt it.
I was also surprised reading Perrault had written Puss in Boots (I don’t know why I always used to think Hans Christian Anderson wrote it). I am actually so surprised at how Perrault’s fairy tales are gorier and scarier they are than the adaptions portray them. I actually (depending on which fairy tale) prefer them in their original form because it makes the ending that much more satisfying.
Overall, I loved it, and would highly recommend it.