The moral of the story (according to Andrew Lang in his Blue Fairy Book): Children, especially attractive, well bred young ladies, should never talk tThe moral of the story (according to Andrew Lang in his Blue Fairy Book): Children, especially attractive, well bred young ladies, should never talk to strangers, for if they should do so, they may well provide dinner for a wolf. I say "wolf," but there are various kinds of wolves. There are also those who are charming, quiet, polite, unassuming, complacent, and sweet, who pursue young women at home and in the streets. And unfortunately, it is these gentle wolves who are the most dangerous ones of all.
I was more familiar with the Grimm brothers' edition of this story where a Huntsmen rescued the little girl and her grandmother. That isn't the case in the Charles Perrault story....more
I was able to find a translation of this story which is the original "Sleeping Beauty." It is short but sweet with all the usual motifs of a great faiI was able to find a translation of this story which is the original "Sleeping Beauty." It is short but sweet with all the usual motifs of a great fairy tale: good vs. evil, king and queen, evil gets their in the end, and the rest live happily ever after. I think my biggest issue with this story is that Talia was impregnated while she was asleep, not just asleep but under a spell. I find this kind of element strange in stories for children. ...more
I've never read this fairy tale before. I knew the character but not the story behind it. It was short and sweet. Poor boy inherits a cat, cat helps tI've never read this fairy tale before. I knew the character but not the story behind it. It was short and sweet. Poor boy inherits a cat, cat helps the boy gain the hand of a princess and becomes rich and live happily ever after....more
A bit of background regarding this story... "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box" was not published in the first British edition of The Memoirs of SherA bit of background regarding this story... "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box" was not published in the first British edition of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, but it was published in the first American edition, though it was quickly removed because of its controversial subject matter (adultery). The story was later published again in 1917 in His Last Bow. Even today, most American editions of the canon include it with His Last Bow, while most British editions keep the story in its original place, within the Memoirs....more
This book is the second collection of short stories about the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. I liked some of the stories more than others. Doyle iThis book is the second collection of short stories about the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. I liked some of the stories more than others. Doyle is a good writer and is able to show Holmes' intelligence and savvy without giving away the "whodunnit" and for me that is enjoyable. Holmes is generally one step ahead of the criminal.
The more I read the short stories the more I'm convinced that at some point I will read the cannon a second time from start to finish....more
This was an unfamiliar story to me. I think it says a lot about human nature and I think Blue Beard had that understanding. I'm glad about the way theThis was an unfamiliar story to me. I think it says a lot about human nature and I think Blue Beard had that understanding. I'm glad about the way the story ended....more
While I am well aware my vocabulary is not what it should be I had to have a dictionary close at hand to get through tI struggled with this selection.
While I am well aware my vocabulary is not what it should be I had to have a dictionary close at hand to get through these stories, reading shouldn't be that much work.
I found the sexual elements, both alluded to and actual scenes (in one case the rape of the corpse of a child) completely unnecessary. I understand this author was lauded as a feminist but to me, that kind of sexuality is simply pornography and has zero to do with feminism.
I will say the writing was descriptive and I always appreciate that.
Overall I would be hard pressed to read this one a second time....more
This book is the first collection of short stories about the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. I liked some of the stories more than others. Doyle isThis book is the first collection of short stories about the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. I liked some of the stories more than others. Doyle is a good writer and is able to show Holmes' intelligence and savvy without giving away the "whodunnit" and for me that is enjoyable. Holmes is generally one step ahead of the criminal.
Previously I had never read any of the Sherlock Holmes short stories. I feel as if these stories were as well constructed with regard to the plot, mystery, suspects, etc., as any full-length novel. I'm looking forward to The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes which I will begin presently....more
The second installment of Sherlock Holmes. This story has a lot going for it with multiple storylines that all come together at the end. I hesitate toThe second installment of Sherlock Holmes. This story has a lot going for it with multiple storylines that all come together at the end. I hesitate to say anything about the story itself. I enjoyed this story more the second time I read it. ...more
This was a cute story and refreshing to read a story with a princess that does not need to be rescued. Princess Cimorene has no use for societal normsThis was a cute story and refreshing to read a story with a princess that does not need to be rescued. Princess Cimorene has no use for societal norms and all she hears is, "It just isn't done." So she leaves home and finds a dragon to belong to. There is some humorous writing that will probably go over the heads of young ones but a fun story for them to read. ...more
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