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steveatwaywords's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.25
Tatar's straightforward examination of Grimm's tales (and those related to them) seems at first to be mostly exposition and explication of the tales and their history with some interesting thematic oddities along the way. As the book progresses, however, Tatar begins to reveal some of the larger archetypal patterns which suggest our historical and contemporary prejudices along with some concerns for what these tales have represented ideologically for our culture. While she has little patience for the broader field of literary criticism (especially post-structuralists) as it applies itself to the tales, she at least acknowledges the misogyny and problematic behaviors of families while recognizing the metaphorical roles of monsters and magical solutions.
If I have any concerns for her approach, it is in this more conservative analysis, that she, perhaps heeding her own Bluebeard warning, walks right up to the doors of meaning and fails to enter. By opting for an overview of the tales, she excuses herself from a close or thorough examination of any.
If I have any concerns for her approach, it is in this more conservative analysis, that she, perhaps heeding her own Bluebeard warning, walks right up to the doors of meaning and fails to enter. By opting for an overview of the tales, she excuses herself from a close or thorough examination of any.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Minor: Gore, Rape, and Body shaming
While the book crosses into subjects more grim than the Grimms do, nothing ever leaves what has traditionally been found in fairy tales across history, and it is all treated in a context of scholarship rather than for its lurid sensationalism.sarahmcsarah's review against another edition
2.0
Skipped around a lot through this book because it was just waaaayyyy too much useless information. She spent more time telling the fairy tales than actually talking about the history behind them; at least, that's how it felt to me.
stephvt's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great book for any one interested in the psychology of fairy tales. Putting aside the subject matter, this book was just absurdly well written. Maria Tatar, evil genius.
beckyg1016's review against another edition
4.0
an interesting look at the history of the editorial changes made by the Grimm Brothers, especially in terms of sex and violence towards women and in gender roles
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