metaphorosis's review
3.0
3 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
A collection of folk tales or fairy stories compiled and edited by Alan Garner, including stories from around the world, along with a handful of Garner's own poetry.
Review
I very much liked Alan Garner’s own books when I was young, and in the search for modern, e-versions, turned up this collection. Not Garner’s own work, of course (though that turns out to be only mostly true), but I still thought it would be interesting to see what stories he liked.
The result, unfortunately, is only mildly interesting. The stories are (with the exception of one taken from the Ramayana) generally short and easily digested, and they range fairly broadly around the world (though with a focus on Europe). Their brevity, unfortunately, works against them for adult or adolescent reading, but they might, especially with their frequent use of dialect, be fun reading for or to younger children.
A surprising inclusion is a number of speculative poems by Garner himself. I tend not to be a big fan of such poems, but these weren’t bad. I wouldn’t seek them out, but I thought they fit the collection well. According to the copyright page, the book itself draws heavily from the Garner-edited Hamish Hamilton Book of Goblins, taking roughly half the stories from there, along with new material.
If you’re looking for quick, lightly scary stories for young children, this book might suit you well. If you’re looking for stories more than bite-sized, look elsewhere.
Summary
A collection of folk tales or fairy stories compiled and edited by Alan Garner, including stories from around the world, along with a handful of Garner's own poetry.
Review
I very much liked Alan Garner’s own books when I was young, and in the search for modern, e-versions, turned up this collection. Not Garner’s own work, of course (though that turns out to be only mostly true), but I still thought it would be interesting to see what stories he liked.
The result, unfortunately, is only mildly interesting. The stories are (with the exception of one taken from the Ramayana) generally short and easily digested, and they range fairly broadly around the world (though with a focus on Europe). Their brevity, unfortunately, works against them for adult or adolescent reading, but they might, especially with their frequent use of dialect, be fun reading for or to younger children.
A surprising inclusion is a number of speculative poems by Garner himself. I tend not to be a big fan of such poems, but these weren’t bad. I wouldn’t seek them out, but I thought they fit the collection well. According to the copyright page, the book itself draws heavily from the Garner-edited Hamish Hamilton Book of Goblins, taking roughly half the stories from there, along with new material.
If you’re looking for quick, lightly scary stories for young children, this book might suit you well. If you’re looking for stories more than bite-sized, look elsewhere.
mariatsosaa's review
4.0
No matter how hard one may try, it is extremely difficult to express that particular feeling in dreams when the fantastical is immediately accepted as ordinary. Alan Garner’s prose is woven with that indescribable feeling. Without a wasted word, he manages to convince readers instantly that there is nothing random about blood tinted, or the fact that April can be tasted. Each story, passed on by generations, teaches the human mind's incredible capability of making the incredible acceptable and understanding.
sheldrake's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
ngizmo's review
3.0
Un popurrí de leyendas populares, cuentos de viejas y mitos fundantes de diversas partes del mundo que, como su composición, presenta una variedad de calidades diversas. Entre demiurgos africanos y relatos de fantasmas ingleses contemporáneos hay algunos que valen la pena.
bodinelouise's review
3.0
I expected bedtime stories but that's not quite what I got! Most stories are pretty dark.
trish204's review
5.0
I started this book last night as many others over the past few days ... my problem is that I can't seem to finish them (I'm in a funk) so I thought short fairy tales would cure me. And they did - in fact, I got more than I ever imagined I would!
I had never heard of Alan Garner before but apparently he is a very well-known British author for children's fantasy books,all with mythological roots, and even Neil Gaiman has praised him a couple of times (no actual surprise since he loves mythology too).
Not to mention this nice comment by Philip Pullman on the back of my edition:
I quite agree.
Too few kids are still told about the old fairy tales (a topic Brad and I discussed only last night when we were talking about the Kalevala - I bet many here don't know what that is - and how most myths are somehow either descended from one another or at least make us see how related different languages and cultures are) and not many books are still telling the tales of old. Sure, some survive in popular works by Tolkien, Gaiman and Garner or even thanks to comicbook adaptations for the big screen. But most are completely lost; often also due to the fact that they were oral histories, only rarely recorded in written form. Books like this one are trying to help these stories survive.
This book contains 18 to me previously unknown stories and poems (some retold by Garner, some penned by the man himself). I always like discovering tales I've never known before because it is exciting; like standing before a cave in the dark, not knowing what to expect inside (a sense of adventure overcomes me every time I open such a book). :D
Some of the stories and poems are about well-known characters such as Loki and Baldur while others are about obscure ones like "rabbit" and "Shick-Shack"; some are from British folklore while there even is a Mayan legend (Vukub-Cakix) in it. Some at least have recognizable themes (one story, for example, is about the flood and vanishing/re-creation of land), but all are fantastic and let the imagination soar and one can feel the author's enthusiasm for fairy tales.
Thus, I was thrilled to discover so many new stories and was thoroughly entertained - not to mention the enchantment of the writing style that matched the magical theme of the book!
I had never heard of Alan Garner before but apparently he is a very well-known British author for children's fantasy books,all with mythological roots, and even Neil Gaiman has praised him a couple of times (no actual surprise since he loves mythology too).
Not to mention this nice comment by Philip Pullman on the back of my edition:
The great collections of British folk tales, such as this one, should be treated in two ways: first, they should be bound in gold and brought out on ceremonial occasions as national treasures; and second, they should be printed in editions of hundreds of thousands, at the public espense, and given away free to every young teacher and every new parent.
I quite agree.
Too few kids are still told about the old fairy tales (a topic Brad and I discussed only last night when we were talking about the Kalevala - I bet many here don't know what that is - and how most myths are somehow either descended from one another or at least make us see how related different languages and cultures are) and not many books are still telling the tales of old. Sure, some survive in popular works by Tolkien, Gaiman and Garner or even thanks to comicbook adaptations for the big screen. But most are completely lost; often also due to the fact that they were oral histories, only rarely recorded in written form. Books like this one are trying to help these stories survive.
This book contains 18 to me previously unknown stories and poems (some retold by Garner, some penned by the man himself). I always like discovering tales I've never known before because it is exciting; like standing before a cave in the dark, not knowing what to expect inside (a sense of adventure overcomes me every time I open such a book). :D
Some of the stories and poems are about well-known characters such as Loki and Baldur while others are about obscure ones like "rabbit" and "Shick-Shack"; some are from British folklore while there even is a Mayan legend (Vukub-Cakix) in it. Some at least have recognizable themes (one story, for example, is about the flood and vanishing/re-creation of land), but all are fantastic and let the imagination soar and one can feel the author's enthusiasm for fairy tales.
Thus, I was thrilled to discover so many new stories and was thoroughly entertained - not to mention the enchantment of the writing style that matched the magical theme of the book!
tricky's review
5.0
Now I have to be honest here I love fairy tales and origin stories. Two of most cherished books are a plain red cover hardback of Grimm’s fairy tales and the other is called ‘The Dreamtime’ which is Australian Indigenous stories. I have probably read both a couple hundred times and I am not kidding there. So when it comes to fairy tales I am a bit of a devotee and thus somewhat biased.
Alan Garner has collected a really interesting group of fairy tales from around the world.Garner’s collection is wonderful, the stories vary in length and complexity. I really enjoyed the ‘Goblin Spider’, Tarm Wethelan’. ‘Asari’, ‘Hoichi – The Fearless’, Assipattle and the Mester Stoorworm’, ‘Loki’ and ‘Baldur the Bright’.
I found the story ‘Barguest of Nidderdale’ quite tongue in cheek as you have this very scary beast that will not heed to anyone but scampers when the wife opens the front door.
I like with Assipattle how the tongue of the Stoorworm cloving the earth and makes a length of sea that now divides Denmark from Swedeland and Narroway. I love those origin stories that tell you how things commenced.
Tarm Wethelan is a story featuring King Arthur. As part of his quest King Arthur has to discover what a woman’s greatest desire is and the correct answer will surprise you for is pure simplicity and absolute correctness.
The Norse stories of Loki and Baldur the Bright were wonderful and the humour was just fantastic.
Read this book, escape into a world where right and wrong can be blurred, good and evil is mixed and the worlds created are surreal, magical and familiar. It is a great collection of stories and I really enjoyed the book.
Alan Garner has collected a really interesting group of fairy tales from around the world.Garner’s collection is wonderful, the stories vary in length and complexity. I really enjoyed the ‘Goblin Spider’, Tarm Wethelan’. ‘Asari’, ‘Hoichi – The Fearless’, Assipattle and the Mester Stoorworm’, ‘Loki’ and ‘Baldur the Bright’.
I found the story ‘Barguest of Nidderdale’ quite tongue in cheek as you have this very scary beast that will not heed to anyone but scampers when the wife opens the front door.
I like with Assipattle how the tongue of the Stoorworm cloving the earth and makes a length of sea that now divides Denmark from Swedeland and Narroway. I love those origin stories that tell you how things commenced.
Tarm Wethelan is a story featuring King Arthur. As part of his quest King Arthur has to discover what a woman’s greatest desire is and the correct answer will surprise you for is pure simplicity and absolute correctness.
The Norse stories of Loki and Baldur the Bright were wonderful and the humour was just fantastic.
Read this book, escape into a world where right and wrong can be blurred, good and evil is mixed and the worlds created are surreal, magical and familiar. It is a great collection of stories and I really enjoyed the book.
claudia_is_reading's review
3.0
It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, but that's on me, not on the book. It's interesting, but, as it's said on the introduction, it's meant to be hear more than read.
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