A review by benvedou
Tamamo the Fox Maiden and Other Asian Stories by Kel McDonald
4.0
Easing my way into 2020.
This is a good collection of stories. A number of artists and writers joined forces to update (and, in some cases modernize) these Asian folk tales. My deepest wish is that the source material was treated with respect, but frankly I don’t know and can’t comment on anything other than my own enjoyment of reading through this book.
The art and storytelling style for each story differs slightly. Some are truly stunning aesthetically. Others are a bit ugly or don’t flow well. The entire book is a mixed bag, but if you don’t like a given story here, you still get to admire some art and listen to the lessons of another culture, and then move on with your life.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway here, as a western reader, is that Japan should not have a monopoly on the continent’s folk tales and mythology. I wish more collections like this were made.
This is a good collection of stories. A number of artists and writers joined forces to update (and, in some cases modernize) these Asian folk tales. My deepest wish is that the source material was treated with respect, but frankly I don’t know and can’t comment on anything other than my own enjoyment of reading through this book.
The art and storytelling style for each story differs slightly. Some are truly stunning aesthetically. Others are a bit ugly or don’t flow well. The entire book is a mixed bag, but if you don’t like a given story here, you still get to admire some art and listen to the lessons of another culture, and then move on with your life.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway here, as a western reader, is that Japan should not have a monopoly on the continent’s folk tales and mythology. I wish more collections like this were made.