I Don't Want to Ruin Anyone's Childhood

I just (like ten minutes ago) finished reading Laboulaye's Fairy Book Laboulaye's Fairy Book: Fairy Tales of All Nations (1867) Fairy Tales of All Nations, and, honestly, I didn't like it all that much.

Well, I liked it, I just didn't LOVE IT, OMSQUEE. Which is usually how people feel about the fairy tale books they read as a kid. And that's why I'm blogging my horrible opinions about these books instead of putting them in reviews where anyone might read them; I don't want to insult a cherished part of anyone's childhood.

As for the book, I LOVED the first story, but felt that most of the tales in the middle were...not all that great. Certainly the second one was terrible, far too long, and far too unsubtle about it's Christian message. The third-to-last tale started well, but then went off on a limb about a rather monstrous Negress who killed the main princess. Not exactly my favorite sort of tale.

Then last story was good, but rather obvious in most things, and a bit too long. Also, it was kind of strange with the gender-roles. Hard to put my finger on what was so strange about it, so I won't bore you trying to explain, especially since I'm not even sure if I didn't like it.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this volume, but...not quite all of it.