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43rd out of 299 books
—
475 voters
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem
Vivian Vande Velde is whimsically clever in her six recreations of the Rumpelstiltskin story. With divine humor, she reveals the absurdity of the fairy tale. The book is coy, innovative and alluring.
What was with that bizarre fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin? Why would a miller claim that his daughter can spin straw into gold? Why would the king believe him? And why would a odd...more
What was with that bizarre fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin? Why would a miller claim that his daughter can spin straw into gold? Why would the king believe him? And why would a odd...more
Paperback, 116 pages
Published
February 2002
by Scholastic Paperbacks
(first published August 28th 2000)
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Now this is a brilliant idea. As Vande Velde points out in her brief prefatory Author's Note, "Rumpelstiltskin" is folklore, and sometimes folklore isn't good as far as stories go. Really, most fairy tales not only copy one another, but they don't make the slightest bit of sense. Writing stories is best left to writers, is what I'm saying.
So, the core fairy tale is crap. Vande Velde then gives us six different stories based on the idea that all make more sense. The villain of the piece can be th...more
So, the core fairy tale is crap. Vande Velde then gives us six different stories based on the idea that all make more sense. The villain of the piece can be th...more
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Sep 09, 2007
Emma
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone who enjoys seeing fairy tales turned upside down, inside out, or sideways
You probably already know the story of Rumpelstiltskin. Just in case you don't quite remember it, here are the details: A poor miller tells the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold. But she can't. The king then brings the daughter to the castle to spin some straw into gold. She is very highly motivated to do so since the king will kill her if she doesn't. So, the girl is in a bit of trouble, right? Luckily, a little man drops by and offers to spin the straw into gold for the girl. Fir...more
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velede is a collection of stories all based on Rumpelstiltskin. One story is about a prince who goes and get's to know his people more so his enemy won't come in and win them over. When he is out he meets a miller who says his daughter can turn yarn into gold. The prince is like well I have to meet her one day. That night Cathleen, the miller's daughter, shows up saying she has been invited. They allow her to spend the night. She makes this big scene a...more
Vivian Vande Velde noticed a lot of holes in the story of Rumpelstiltskin. For example, why would a miller claim his daughter could spin straw into gold? Why would the king believe him—after all, if she could spin straw into gold, they wouldn’t be poor. Isn’t it a big coincidence that some strange man shows up at just the right time who just happens to know how to spin straw into gold? And if he had this power and could have all the gold he wanted, why would he perform the task for a small gold...more
I love this story because in author's notes she wrote something. For this thing, you won't think that it is true unless you really think it is. That statement is: The story Rumpelstiltskin does not really make sense although you might think it does make sense. But if you really think it over, you might think of some questions. That is what the author did and has thought of some question like: why did the king believe the miller who said that his daughter can spin gold? Why would Rumpelstiltskin...more
Sep 02, 2012
Hannah
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2012-reading-challenge
Having studied fairy tales as part of an English degree, I'm interested in how these stories are adapted and reworked over time and in different cultures. "The Rumpelstiltskin Problem" is just one author's re-imaginings of one single tale, but it truly highlights the many possibilities adaptation can have, as well as the effect on the reader.
Basically, this collection retells the "Rumpelstiltskin" story in six different ways, changing lead character, perspective, genders, species, roles, and all...more
Basically, this collection retells the "Rumpelstiltskin" story in six different ways, changing lead character, perspective, genders, species, roles, and all...more
This book excellently shows the versatility of fairy tales. It's a book of six short stories, all retellings of "Rumpelstiltskin," and all very different. Sometimes Rumpelstiltskin is well-meaning--sometimes the villian--once even a woman. We meet a host of different miller's daughters, clever and stupid and greedy. Some kings are nice and some are cruel. Some stories have magic, some don't. But all the stories follow the basic premise of "Rumpelstiltskin," and all are funny.
I think my favorite...more
I think my favorite...more
A fun little story about the ridiculous fairytale Rumpelstilskin.
In case for some reason, like you have lived under a rock for your entire life, you don't know the story of Rumpelstilskin, this paragraph will sum it up. Basically this girl, we do not know her name, has a father who for some bizzare reason decided to tell the king that his daughter could make gold out of straw. Of course such a feat is impossible for humans but the dimwitted king believes him, takes the daughter and locks her in...more
In case for some reason, like you have lived under a rock for your entire life, you don't know the story of Rumpelstilskin, this paragraph will sum it up. Basically this girl, we do not know her name, has a father who for some bizzare reason decided to tell the king that his daughter could make gold out of straw. Of course such a feat is impossible for humans but the dimwitted king believes him, takes the daughter and locks her in...more
Feb 09, 2010
MissDziura
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
traditional-literature
"In some cases, so many details have been lost that the story stops making sense. That's how I feel about the story of Rumpelstiltsking-it makes no sense," is Vivian Vande Velde's rationale for writing The Rumpelstiltskin Problem. The book begins with a very entertaining author's note where she questions the ins and outs of the popular fairy tale, pointing out things I have been thinking of as I have read through multiple versions of the story. Why does the miller tell the king his daughter can...more
1 like · like · see review
This is a fun little book of six short stories. Each one presents the Rumpelstiltskin tale in a different way as the author imagines answers to questions like "Who was Rumpelstiltskin and why did he want the baby anyway?" I enjoyed the author's skill in crafting stories with different points of view and such distinct voices. The stories were humorous and I could tell she'd had fun writing them. My favorites were the one where R. is an elf and the one told from the king's point of view.
1 like · like · see review
Dec 20, 2012
Rie_dominique
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
a-novel,
ada-di-rak-gw,
children-s-book,
dongeng,
ebook,
family,
fantasy,
favorites,
fiksi,
love-the-cover,
remaja
Pernah mendengar cerita mengenai Rumplestlitskin? Hmm... saya dulu pernah membacanya di majalah Bobo. Masih teringat gambaran sosok hijau yang menari-nari mengelilingi api unggun dengan huruf-huruf namanya yang melayang-layang diatas kepalanya.
Nah, buat yang belum pernah dengar, akan saya ringkas sedikit dongeng Rumplestiltskin ini.
Once upon a time (semua dongeng dibuku ini dimulai dengan kalimat ini), terdapatlah seorang pemilik penggilingan gandum yang memberitahukan kepada raja bahwa ia memil...more
Rumpelstiltskin is, in my opinion, one of the most bizarre popular fairy tales out there. Vivian Vande Velde makes a big deal of the logic of the story not making sense, and she’s right. But what I think is much more interesting is how it makes little sense as a fairy tale. Let’s face it; most fairy tales make little logical sense. They’re not meant to. If Vande Velde had wanted to, she could have written “The Snow-White Problem” or “The Jack and the Beanstalk Problem” or “The Thumbelina Problem...more
This is a charming series of stories, with several very clever twists on the story of Rumpelstiltskin. I think I would have enjoyed the book much more if I hadn't read the author's introduction. The tone in which she pointed out the flaws in the story's logic and its strange twists and turns was very abrasive and simplistic. Her six new versions of the story, however, showed a charming inventiveness and even a delicacy of touch in several of the stories.
Most of the stories could conceivably be t...more
Most of the stories could conceivably be t...more
Aug 31, 2009
Emily
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya-fiction,
fairy-tales
In an introduction that had me laughing out loud, author Vande Velde compares fairy tales to the game "telephone." Because fairy tales were strictly oral for so long, many elements naturally changed over the years. In some cases, details of the original story may be missing, and the result does not always make sense. This, says the author, may explain her trouble with Rumplestiltskin, a story she feels makes no sense whatsoever. She outlines all the holes in the story and offers six different ve...more
I love Vande Velde's introduction, in which she describes how stories passed down through the oral tradition can become so mutated and modified through constant retellings that much of the sense of the original story is lost. That's how I feel about the story of Rumpelstiltskin--it makes no sense, she writes. Then she deconstructs it humorously, pointing out all the little things about the current form of the story that bother her.
After that, Vande Velde offers 6 reinterpretations of the story....more
After that, Vande Velde offers 6 reinterpretations of the story....more
The “Rumplestiltskin Problem” is a very interesting take on the classic fairytale of “Rumplestiltskin.” The story opens up with a comical analysis of the original “Rumplestiltskin” fairytale. It then proceeds to add six relatively short and varying stories of the classic fairytale. All six stories have a humorous modern-day twist to them. From a story with the mill burning down, to a female Rumplestiltskin having to deal with becoming uglier and uglier as she ages, all of these stories will not...more
Jan 22, 2011
Creativity's Corner
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fairy-tale-retellings,
young-adult
The Rumplestiltskin Problem is the perfect novel for anyone who loves retellings of fairy tales. Split into 6 different retellings, it explores all the different ways in which the original Rumplestiltskin doesn't make any sense (hint: there are a lot of ways). I really loved all the different stories. The characters in each, even though they were all based on the same originals, are so different, and the explanations for all the strange things actually make sense.
This is a really short novel - I...more
This is a really short novel - I...more
I really like the concept of this book, as well as the book itself. I am always wondering, “Why?” and “What if?” about stories. Since fairytales and folktales are fairly flat by the very nature of the genre, I have a tendency to want to know more. Sometimes I am curious about the background of a character or his/ her motivation. I want to know things like, “Is that character just evil by nature or did something happen to that character to make him/her so evil?” Often the cynic in me wonders if t...more
Aug 13, 2009
Lisa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people with a good understanding of fairy tales
The author points out that the entire premise of the Rumpelstiltskin story in inheirantly flawed. I had never considered this before, but she is right. One example: Why would any father make such and obviously false statement about his daughter to a king?
The book then goes on to give several more logical versions of the story. Some are better than others, but overall they are very clever and fun to read.
This would b a great springboard for a creative writing project for either home or classroom....more
The book then goes on to give several more logical versions of the story. Some are better than others, but overall they are very clever and fun to read.
This would b a great springboard for a creative writing project for either home or classroom....more
I think that this book was a very goo variation on the rumpelstiltskin stories. In each story the point of view changes and there is a twist on the story which makes each story unique which I enjoyed very much. At first I thought the book might be boring because it would just be the same story over and over again but in the end I liked the book very much because in each story you got to start over. It was like reading a new book every time with new characters and character development. And in ea...more
A friend of mine picked this book up at a used bookstore and decided it would be something I would like! Well, I love children's literature, including fairy tales. I have a particular soft spot for fairy tale retellings so I can see what my friend saw I would see in this slim volume. Do you see what I mean?
Ok. Down to business. The six retellings in this book are all interesting twists on the original. I definitely preferred some over others and probably liked the last one the best. However, I m...more
Ok. Down to business. The six retellings in this book are all interesting twists on the original. I definitely preferred some over others and probably liked the last one the best. However, I m...more
Okay -- so the story of Rumpelstiltskin makes no sense. It's a fairy tale. Many (most?) fairy tales don't make sense, when you come right down to it. Vivian Vande Velde decided to try to make the fairy tale make sense. In this book she offers six different modifications of the fairy tale (rhapsodies on a theme?) that try to make the story coherent.
Unfortunately, there isn't much more in any of her stories than there is in the original. The book is short. A sixth of short is short-er. So what you...more
Unfortunately, there isn't much more in any of her stories than there is in the original. The book is short. A sixth of short is short-er. So what you...more
Feb 04, 2013
L13_brian_mihovilovich
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
traditional-lit
"The Rumpelstiltskin Problem" is an amazing twist to the traditional tale of Rumpelstiltskin. This book adds to the original story line by giving alternate endings to the story. This really plays off of the way that traditional literature was told and how stories have changed over time. In this book Vivian Velde gives different accounts of the story. In one story Rumpelstiltskin's own brother holds him accountable and denies him the human child that he wishes to eat and even kills him. This is a...more
I enjoyed this version of the story. It contained several different plays on the traditional story. Some were slightly off, but they still did a successful job of maintaining the quality of the story. They provided different backgrounds of how the girl got in this position. I also liked the few that spun the entire thing into a plot that Rumpelstiltskin planned the entire thing - playing the king and girl both.
This version did not have illustrations. I liked how you could use these stories sepa...more
This version did not have illustrations. I liked how you could use these stories sepa...more
Feb 20, 2010
Ch_jank-caporale
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
traditional-lit
Each chapter of this book is another version of the Rumplestitskin Tale. The author asks the reader to consider some of the problems with each version, for instance, why would a man (dwarf?ogre?troll?) who can spin rooms full of straw into gold be interested in a tiny gold ring as payment for doing so? And why would a young woman marry a king who threatened to cut off her head for not doing so? As you can see, there are many Rumpelstiltskin problems!
This collection challenges the reader to thin...more
This collection challenges the reader to thin...more
Jul 08, 2012
Jessie Quinn
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fairy tale lovers, short stories lovers
I have been fascinated with fairy tales and folklore for as long as I can remember. When I happened upon this little book at the library, I couldn't resist checking it out.
Velde's writes with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek as she presents six retellings of Rumpelstiltskin. She attempts to improve upon the original story, which, as she points out in the introduction, is rather nonsensical (even by fairy tale standards). The result is six very different, very humorous retellings. I enjoyed...more
Velde's writes with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek as she presents six retellings of Rumpelstiltskin. She attempts to improve upon the original story, which, as she points out in the introduction, is rather nonsensical (even by fairy tale standards). The result is six very different, very humorous retellings. I enjoyed...more
Feb 08, 2010
Heidi
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
traditional-literature
Ages 10-Adult
In six hilarious short stories, Vande Velde solves the Rumpelstiltskin problem--the many details of the story that do not make sense. She manipulates character flaws, motivations, and talents to explain the absurd details of the original story. The Rumpelstiltskin characters include a cannibalistic troll with a desire to taste human baby, a romantic elf, a disguised father, and a burrowing Russian “Domovoi.” Readers’ sympathies will shift with every innovative version. The collectio...more
In six hilarious short stories, Vande Velde solves the Rumpelstiltskin problem--the many details of the story that do not make sense. She manipulates character flaws, motivations, and talents to explain the absurd details of the original story. The Rumpelstiltskin characters include a cannibalistic troll with a desire to taste human baby, a romantic elf, a disguised father, and a burrowing Russian “Domovoi.” Readers’ sympathies will shift with every innovative version. The collectio...more
1 like · like · see review
I'm usually not that into fairy tales, but this is one of the most interesting books I've ever read. In each chapter, it tells the story of Rumpelstiltskin from a different perspective. Sometimes it told the story from the point of view of an obnoxious girl who's father is so proud he boasts she can spin straw into gold, sometimes the girl is really sweet and they're just poor. Sometimes Rumpelstiltskin is a child-hungry monster, sometimes he was just trying to help a desperate girl. Reading thi...more
Olivia Ambrose ~ Short Stories
“The Rumplestiltskin Problem” is six different versions the classic fairy tale that try to explain the plot points which in the original seem to make no sense whatsoever. Each version is innovative and different that the others and really fun to read. Rumplestiltskin varies from an elf, a troll, a Domoviye, the miller himself, and someone who was made up. Each version allows a deeper look into the characters and their motivations for the silly things they did. This...more
“The Rumplestiltskin Problem” is six different versions the classic fairy tale that try to explain the plot points which in the original seem to make no sense whatsoever. Each version is innovative and different that the others and really fun to read. Rumplestiltskin varies from an elf, a troll, a Domoviye, the miller himself, and someone who was made up. Each version allows a deeper look into the characters and their motivations for the silly things they did. This...more
Feb 07, 2012
L12 VANESSA PEOPLESMARTIN
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
traditional-lit
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde is a chapter book for upper grades/young adults. The book begins with an author's note that is hilarious. The book contains six different versions to the orginal story Rumpelstiltskin. Some of the stories are funny and some are scary. Rumpelstiltskin is a different character in each story. He is an ugly giant, a handsome elk like man, a small furry animal, and a an ugly old women. I didn't like this book much because it didn't have pictures, and...more
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