Tag Archives: Brothers Grimm

110 Grimmer Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for 110 grimmer fairy tales word cloud classics book cover

Title: 110 Grimmer Fairy Tales
Author: Brothers Grimm
Series: Word Cloud Classics
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Classics, Easy reading, Fairy tales, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Collection
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1819
5th sentence, 74th page: So she did the old woman’s bidding, placed herself at the window and looked on the distant country, as if she were very sorrowful.

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Synopsis

We all know the stories — or do we? We know who Snow White is, but what about Rose Red? And what happens to an all-too willful child? Learn more intriguing stories about “Wise Folks,” “The King’s Son Who Feared Nothing,” and . . . well . . . “Donkey Cabbages”–to name a few. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were well-known nineteenth-century German storytellers, academics, linguists, and cultural researchers who did not hold back when telling terrifying tales, including parables and fables designed to teach and entertain readers of all ages.

The Brothers Grimm Volume 2: 110 Grimmer Fairy Tales is perfect for the short story lover, and offers many entertaining tales to delight–and fright–literature lovers.

Thoughts

There seems to be a lot of stupid Hans’ in this collection. Or at least a patch towards the later middle that has a lot of stories that feature a dumb young man named Hans. And the recurrent theme seemed to be honesty, truth and fairness. Give to others. The typical ideas of fairy tales that I grew up with. Just with a far more twisted take and journey.

It’s a little difficult for me to seriously review a collection of traditional fairy tales. The things which normally trigger me and make me frustrated are rife throughout (stories of women beating, princess needing saving, etc.). But it is a different time, and I don’t really believe in rampaging about ideals of different times and places. The fact that the underlying message and themes are all about integrity and honesty. Not taking others for granted. Treating people as you wish to be treated. The kinds of things that I love to see perpetuated through tales, stories and journeys.

<- 101 Fairy TalesBulfinch’s Mythology ->

Image source: Amazon

101 Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
101 Fairy Tales

Title: 101 Fairy Tales
Author: Brothers Grimm
Series: Word Cloud Classics
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Classics, Easy reading, Fairy tales, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Collection
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1812
5th sentence, 74th page: All the people grieved for the handsome youth; then they went away, leaving him alone by the sea.

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Synopsis

There was once upon a time a fisherman… and everyday he went out fishing. And once as he was sitting with his rod, looking at the clear water, his line suddenly went down, far down below, and when he drew it up again he brought out a large flounder. Then the flounder said to him, “Listen you fisherman… I am no flounder really, but an enchanted prince.”

Thoughts

This was a fantastic collection. I’ve always wanted to read the Brothers Grimm stories, and although I have no idea whether these are close to the original versions or not. I will probably never truly know since they were originally German tales. Plus, there have been so many rewrites of these tales that I have no idea where the beginning really is….

Some of the fairy tales in this collection were just downright weird. Not just the endings or beginnings, but the middles too. A sausage, mouse and bird all living together? Yeah, that’s weird and not even remotely what I had expected from the story. But then there’s the slightly more recognisable tales, like Cinderella. It definitely doesn’t have the Disney version that we’re all used to, but I loved the more vindictive, vengeful ending to this tale anyway. (I’m not entirely sure what that says about me…)

Although it is an odd choice, reading the Grimm fairy tales before bed every night for the past month or so has been thoroughly enjoyable. I’ve had some slightly abnormal dreams, but not only has this helped to give me an insight into the world as it was for the Brothers Grimm. It also gave me a fun and enjoyable story series that made me smile with every turn of the page.

<- Wuthering Heights110 Grimmer Fairy Tales ->

Image source: Goodreads