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lileuw's review against another edition
3.0
This is such a beautiful book. Andersen's fairytales are truly my favourites among all of them.
supermegahomers's review against another edition
4.0
A collection of fantastic, imaginative and beautiful tales - that not always had a happy ending. The creative effort of Hans Christian Andersen shifts from fairytale-like, sweet stories, to dark and obscure themes.
The tales that stood out the most to me were:
“The Little Mermaid” - an eternally favourite Disney movie of mine, that gained a new twist after finally reading the original story that inspired it, and delving into the cruel side that was not shown on the big picture;
“The Ugly Duckling” - a heartwarming tale that was most probably part of everyone’s childhood;
“The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf” - a tale that went on an unexpectedly dark path, touching on the most obscure and cruel side of Andersen’s writings;
“The Marsh King’s Daughter” - a beautiful story, filled with pleasant imagery and interesting twists and turns.
Despite it being a long read, it’s a book that I most certainly recommend, if only to feel a little bit of the magic that these stories are able to transmit to the reader.
The tales that stood out the most to me were:
“The Little Mermaid” - an eternally favourite Disney movie of mine, that gained a new twist after finally reading the original story that inspired it, and delving into the cruel side that was not shown on the big picture;
“The Ugly Duckling” - a heartwarming tale that was most probably part of everyone’s childhood;
“The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf” - a tale that went on an unexpectedly dark path, touching on the most obscure and cruel side of Andersen’s writings;
“The Marsh King’s Daughter” - a beautiful story, filled with pleasant imagery and interesting twists and turns.
Despite it being a long read, it’s a book that I most certainly recommend, if only to feel a little bit of the magic that these stories are able to transmit to the reader.
zenithharpink's review
2.0
Any book that takes me YEARS to finish is not going to get a high rating from me, and all I can really say is that I'm glad I finished it. I am glad that I read this, but given my excitement for this book and the enjoyment I got out of it, there's really no way to put into words my disappointment I felt as I read this.
While a very few stories were interesting and had interesting plot, morals, characters, etc-the majority didn't. There was virtually no point to many and while Mr. Andersen's imagination is certainly impressive, this at times felt like musings or even journal entries rather than actual stories.
I recommend this to people who are interested in fairy tales or specifically Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, but I certainly recommend that you pace yourself.
While a very few stories were interesting and had interesting plot, morals, characters, etc-the majority didn't. There was virtually no point to many and while Mr. Andersen's imagination is certainly impressive, this at times felt like musings or even journal entries rather than actual stories.
I recommend this to people who are interested in fairy tales or specifically Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, but I certainly recommend that you pace yourself.
alex_blackveil's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lamusadelils's review against another edition
5.0
Aunque soy muy fan de los cuentos de hadas creo que nunca había leído todos los de Andersen, a lo mucho unos 15 o 20. Son simples pero con pequeños detalles que convierten historias obvias en cosas ligeramente más retorcidas. Si bien muchos de los elementos parecen mucho más oscuros en las historias de los hermanos Grimm, creo que la retribución personal que obtienen los personajes está mucho más aterrizada y no solo dejada al azar.
Cómo todo cuento, estas historias son más caóticas a lo que está uno acostumbrado al solo conocer una o dos versiones populares.
La edición es físicamente hermosa y un magnífico complemento a la que ya tengo de los hermanos Grimm.
Cómo todo cuento, estas historias son más caóticas a lo que está uno acostumbrado al solo conocer una o dos versiones populares.
La edición es físicamente hermosa y un magnífico complemento a la que ya tengo de los hermanos Grimm.
blueyorkie's review against another edition
5.0
Andersen's Tales are not tales. The proof is that sometimes it ends badly. Those who know the Walt Disney version, a cartoon for popcorn eaters, have not had access to the universe of this Danish storyteller who flirts with the unconscious of his readers by dragging them into his dreams and nightmares.
Populated by street children, fabulous animals, and hideous or evil creatures, his tales are closer to Edgar Poe than to the world of Care Bears.
Andersen talks about our anxieties, desires, and difficult path to beauty and truth, pure souls who struggle against discouragement, fear, darkness, stupidity and contempt.
He does it as a poet, not as a moralist or a philosopher; he does it with humour, irony, tenderness or melancholy. He speaks to the hearts and the imagination with shepherdesses, tin soldiers, nightingales, and swallows.
Eye Ole Farm Week or Little Ida's Flowers are my favourites.
They open the door to the imagination for those who want to make themselves small enough and enter it.
Populated by street children, fabulous animals, and hideous or evil creatures, his tales are closer to Edgar Poe than to the world of Care Bears.
Andersen talks about our anxieties, desires, and difficult path to beauty and truth, pure souls who struggle against discouragement, fear, darkness, stupidity and contempt.
He does it as a poet, not as a moralist or a philosopher; he does it with humour, irony, tenderness or melancholy. He speaks to the hearts and the imagination with shepherdesses, tin soldiers, nightingales, and swallows.
Eye Ole Farm Week or Little Ida's Flowers are my favourites.
They open the door to the imagination for those who want to make themselves small enough and enter it.
goldsundrops's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tyrariley's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 ✨
While some of these stories were exactly how I expected them to be, others were totally not at all (Big Claus and Little Claus, for example.) I had expected them to be dark, but not nearly as nonchalantly dark as they actually were. But I also did really have fun reading these tales, despite how long it took me.
While some of these stories were exactly how I expected them to be, others were totally not at all (Big Claus and Little Claus, for example.) I had expected them to be dark, but not nearly as nonchalantly dark as they actually were. But I also did really have fun reading these tales, despite how long it took me.