breadbummer's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars, I feel, would be more suitable.
I knew I was going to have some problems with this book, but I was not at all prepared for how uncomfortable it would be to read this. The vast majority of these stories were misogynistic, racist, and/or anti-semitic, some even with low-key implications of incest. Yes, I know when and where this was written, but that in no way makes it any better.
However, some narratives WERE entertaining, and the descriptions within them could serve as excellent art prompts.
I knew I was going to have some problems with this book, but I was not at all prepared for how uncomfortable it would be to read this. The vast majority of these stories were misogynistic, racist, and/or anti-semitic, some even with low-key implications of incest. Yes, I know when and where this was written, but that in no way makes it any better.
However, some narratives WERE entertaining, and the descriptions within them could serve as excellent art prompts.
chaeopteryx's review against another edition
4.0
I like this book, very long collection. It began to get repetitive about 400 pages in so it was difficult to finish. Would recommend reading this in several parts.
I would pull out my copy and list all my favorites but i’m lazy so my number one favorite is……
THE JUNIPER TREE! or the juniper one!! I don’t remeber the exact title fully honest but that ones my favorite.
Thank you grandma for the Christmas gift <3
I would pull out my copy and list all my favorites but i’m lazy so my number one favorite is……
THE JUNIPER TREE! or the juniper one!! I don’t remeber the exact title fully honest but that ones my favorite.
Thank you grandma for the Christmas gift <3
apalershadeofwhite's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This collection as a whole was pretty middle-of-the-road. There were some tales I really enjoyed, some I didn't like at all, and some that weren't bad but were pretty forgettable. It was especially a bit difficult to want to read in the middle, where a lot of the tales were pretty repetitive, but it did pick up a little towards the end.
So many of the tales in this collection were basically the same story but wrapped in a different package! There was an insane amount of repetition with the content within the tales and most often had the same ending, just with differently named characters and a different locale. It made the reading process a bit monotonous.
Don't get me wrong, though, there was still some good writing in here! They just felt a bit like finding a pearl in the sea haha. I specifically liked the focus on symbolism and metaphors as I'm a sucker for these in any narrative I read. Although, there were a lot of grim (ha) inclusions in the tales that sometimes were a bit odd. There was, on the other hand, quite a few really funny bits within this collection. I'm unsure if they were all intentional, but they made me laugh either way so it's a plus.
There were, however, massive racist undertones. The tales often talked of women being "black and ugly as sin" but other being "white and beautiful" which was awful to read, to be honest. And I felt like all of the messages to girls in these tales were to just sit and be pretty.
I found that the overarching morals throughout the tales were: honesty versus deceit, selfishness versus compassion, jealously, and equality and equity.
So many of the tales in this collection were basically the same story but wrapped in a different package! There was an insane amount of repetition with the content within the tales and most often had the same ending, just with differently named characters and a different locale. It made the reading process a bit monotonous.
Don't get me wrong, though, there was still some good writing in here! They just felt a bit like finding a pearl in the sea haha. I specifically liked the focus on symbolism and metaphors as I'm a sucker for these in any narrative I read. Although, there were a lot of grim (ha) inclusions in the tales that sometimes were a bit odd. There was, on the other hand, quite a few really funny bits within this collection. I'm unsure if they were all intentional, but they made me laugh either way so it's a plus.
There were, however, massive racist undertones. The tales often talked of women being "black and ugly as sin" but other being "white and beautiful" which was awful to read, to be honest. And I felt like all of the messages to girls in these tales were to just sit and be pretty.
I found that the overarching morals throughout the tales were: honesty versus deceit, selfishness versus compassion, jealously, and equality and equity.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Bullying, Abandonment, Blood, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Ableism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Classism, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Violence
vampyr's review against another edition
i simply didn't finish because i was beginning to get bored & thus was not retaining any information as i read on. but this is a book i want to revisit someday because i am still very interested in how people of the past told stories & want to continue to examine how common the themes & motifs are in these stories, & i just generally find fairytales to be interesting (the original fairytales, not whatever the fuck disney is up today) it's just not the right time right now.
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism and Rape
literadreams's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mccullah's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
caughtbetweenpages's review against another edition
4.0
Listen. Life may have been pretty crappy for German peasants way back in the day, but they really did know how to tell stories that would've kept their kids in line.
Seriously, any sort of adolescent nonsense you can think of, these guys have a scary answer for not doing it.
You're lazy? You'll lose all you hold dear.
You're not pious? God's gonna punish your eternal soul and it's gonna SUCK.
You're vindictive and prone to cheating? You're gonna get shoved into a barrel that has nails hammered into it and you'll be rolled down a hill (this happens so many times, guys.)
They didn't PLAY. But also like. The ratio of stories where virtuous guys won and the ones where crafty, kinda dickish people won is only like 2:1 so I guess take your chances living however you want to I guess?
1.25 stars off because misogyny (I'm more forgiving of it in historical contexts but it still rubs me wrong) and because the stories got a little repetitive (as I guess is the case with folk tales that were passed on orally 'till the Grimm Bros decided to compile them, but still.)
Seriously, any sort of adolescent nonsense you can think of, these guys have a scary answer for not doing it.
You're lazy? You'll lose all you hold dear.
You're not pious? God's gonna punish your eternal soul and it's gonna SUCK.
You're vindictive and prone to cheating? You're gonna get shoved into a barrel that has nails hammered into it and you'll be rolled down a hill (this happens so many times, guys.)
They didn't PLAY. But also like. The ratio of stories where virtuous guys won and the ones where crafty, kinda dickish people won is only like 2:1 so I guess take your chances living however you want to I guess?
1.25 stars off because misogyny (I'm more forgiving of it in historical contexts but it still rubs me wrong) and because the stories got a little repetitive (as I guess is the case with folk tales that were passed on orally 'till the Grimm Bros decided to compile them, but still.)