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cheyarsen's review against another edition
4.0
It was kind of dark, but I really liked it. Just goes to show that true love always prevails and not even the coldest of hearts can change that.
the_sunken_library's review against another edition
5.0
"Where roses bloom so sweetly in the vale,
There you shall find the Christ Child, without fail."
The Snow Queen tells the tale of little Kay and Gerda, who in live in houses next to each, interlinked by a flower box filled with vegetables and roses.
One day little Kay has his heart and eye pierced by a shard of glass from the Devil's mirror and changes from a sweet, innocent little child, into a dispassionate and cruel boy. He is spotted by the cold-hearted Snow Queen and whisked to a far away land, chosen to be her play-thing for all eternity. Gerda misses him greatly and begins an epic journey of her own, battling magical women, robber girls and more in order to seek out and rescue her best friend.
There is cruelty and death as with all traditional fairy-tales, yet there is light, hope and power as well. The tale is enhanced greatly by the bold, graphic images produced by Sanna Annukka.
A beautiful version and a great story for Christmas.
There you shall find the Christ Child, without fail."
The Snow Queen tells the tale of little Kay and Gerda, who in live in houses next to each, interlinked by a flower box filled with vegetables and roses.
One day little Kay has his heart and eye pierced by a shard of glass from the Devil's mirror and changes from a sweet, innocent little child, into a dispassionate and cruel boy. He is spotted by the cold-hearted Snow Queen and whisked to a far away land, chosen to be her play-thing for all eternity. Gerda misses him greatly and begins an epic journey of her own, battling magical women, robber girls and more in order to seek out and rescue her best friend.
There is cruelty and death as with all traditional fairy-tales, yet there is light, hope and power as well. The tale is enhanced greatly by the bold, graphic images produced by Sanna Annukka.
A beautiful version and a great story for Christmas.
trin's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is the first time I've read a full translation of Hans Christian Andersen's original story, instead of a retelling. The middle is much longer and weirder, which I rather enjoyed -- especially the odd little stories told by all the flowers in the witch's garden. But the ending was rather preachy and anti-climatic. Maybe I simply built this story into something more than it was -- I've always loved the young girl going on a quest and rescuing the boy for once! -- but I certainly don't recall the Snow Queen just fucking off to visit some volcanoes (can't blame her though; that sounds cool) or Gerda saving Kai in part because of a Bible verse. Bah.
The illustrations in this edition are, to me, not very interesting, although the translation is rather quirky and fun -- I especially like the descriptions of the cackling goblins in the first chapter. Still, I feel like the best version of this story is a mishmash of all the adaptations I read as a child, and exists only in my head.
The illustrations in this edition are, to me, not very interesting, although the translation is rather quirky and fun -- I especially like the descriptions of the cackling goblins in the first chapter. Still, I feel like the best version of this story is a mishmash of all the adaptations I read as a child, and exists only in my head.
bookswithpat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
3.0
Anderson's writing style is beautiful but I couldn't bring myself to like the story. It inspired Frozen but later adopted only bits, while changing the entire story.
atnea's review against another edition
4.0
I read this when I was really little (more like I tried to read while my mother said the words to me).
Recently (for the moment), with the Frozen movie coming up, I was intrigued when I read it was mildly based in this book. So I said, well, I don't remember anything about it, so, why not? Besides, I read it Spanish when I was little, so it was even better to read it in English.
The story was fun, cute, kind of dark, typical childish ridiculousness that you can find in kids books, but with a major message behind it all, as always.
I've always though that good kids' books have this really big, dark, profound theme masked with cute things and not-so offensive villains. This story was no exception.
I did have a small disagreement with the my mother about the queen. I didn't actually though she was bad. I mean, she didn't exactly show any signs of it, she looked natural to me.
It was a really fun read, a little longer than what I expected, and easy to read. You should all read it at some point.
Recently (for the moment), with the Frozen movie coming up, I was intrigued when I read it was mildly based in this book. So I said, well, I don't remember anything about it, so, why not? Besides, I read it Spanish when I was little, so it was even better to read it in English.
The story was fun, cute, kind of dark, typical childish ridiculousness that you can find in kids books, but with a major message behind it all, as always.
I've always though that good kids' books have this really big, dark, profound theme masked with cute things and not-so offensive villains. This story was no exception.
I did have a small disagreement with the my mother about the queen. I didn't actually though she was bad. I mean, she didn't exactly show any signs of it, she looked natural to me.
It was a really fun read, a little longer than what I expected, and easy to read. You should all read it at some point.
korry_tza's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
cutenanya's review against another edition
4.0
The classic story on which Frozen is based, though Frozen has little in common with the original story. I liked this story because it depicts the innocence of children and how true love can thaw a frozen heart.
anna_w's review against another edition
3.0
3.5*
Not what I expected, but it was short and sweet all the same!
Not what I expected, but it was short and sweet all the same!
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
3.0
A simple fairy tale where good prevails over evil. Short and sweet.