Cheryl’s Comments (group member since Dec 04, 2022)

Cheryl’s comments from the Once Upon a Time... group.

I've started. I'm not sure whether to continue. I see that the author is about Dark and Horror, which are totally not my thing. And the MC is a kid, so, um, what. And Brom & Katrina are grandparents. Huh.

Susan wrote: "I'm on the waiting list at my library, but I'll refresh my memory of the original first."

Ditto.

I read this a few months ago. Oops! I'll post from my review later in the month.

I hope your son stays safe, wherever that may be!

Yeah, the fact that there's a sequel was the final straw for me. I did get halfway before the dnf and I think that's enough.

I can already say that it gets more interesting. Chess is annoying, but I do appreciate the way his nonsense is an homage to the original.

Ok, I finally got it, and have started. And... it's not grabbing me. I'll be patient, but, honestly, since I have now learned that it's mystery, and that it's first in a series, well, those are two strikes against it.

I'm still waiting for my copy to come in. :)

Susan, there are lots of variants on that web-page, too. I didn't read nearly all of them, but so far none have the stamping through the floor, much less 'split himself in two.' Fascinating.

I also have The Wild Girl out from the library and, since I had apparently forgotten to make of note of why, I wondered. Maybe it's because you mentioned it another time in group. :)

I have requested Gold Spun, thank you. It's not the book that I am hunting for, however.

I had to dnf it. I lasted twice as long as usual before making that decision (p. 110 instead of 50) but I just got exhausted by the unrelenting misery due to treatment of the women and the people who are Jewish and the children of the abusive drunken father. No good people? Just draining, such common themes, I won't read any more of that sort of thing. Also I didn't hear any distinct 'voices' of the characters. I had to read for context before knowing which point of view we'd just jumped to.

"Nearly every culture tells the story in one fashion or another - such cultural phenomena as The Fault in Our Stars and Me Before You are recent examples - and it is impossible to find one version that laid the foundation for the rest. From Cupid and Psyche, India's Snake Bride to South Africa's 'Story of Five Heads', ...."

From Beauty and the Beast: Classic Tales About Animal Brides and Grooms from Around the World ed. by Maria Tatar

I can see it in Me Before You, sort of. I do not remember Fault in Our Stars well enough, but I sure don't recall making the connection. I hope it mentions East of the Sun, West of the Moon. The only library that I have access to that owns this book is my mother's and I will not be visiting her for a couple of months at least, but I'll try to remember to report back.

I do recommend The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde.

I read Rump, too, and accd. to my review it was fine. I'm really looking for a telling that was also MG, also from the imp's pov, that gave a lot of attention to why the imp wanted a child so badly, why he had no chance of ever having one of his own. I have in my mind that I read it several years ago (not in my childhood) but I cannot find it.

I'm looking forward to it. I did like the author's Uprooted years ago.

Thanks for the lead on "The Original..." I've just placed a request. One often hears that the originals were bloodier, more explicit, not for children... I'd love to see for myself.

Yes. this is ripe for adaptations as it is so short, so much room to expand. I love the tales that take the imp's side, of course.

Oh, wow, I sure thank you for those 'shocking' tidbits! I also wish my copy would come in at the library....

Off to your website now!

I'm reading The Fire Rose right now. Don't like that the girl doesn't have glasses on the cover of my trade pb edition. Do like that the beast (view spoiler)[got that way because of hubris, casting the spell on himself (hide spoiler)]. Don't like Paul du Mond at all (skipped the chapter of his escapades in SF). Do like the setting, though I'm not sure but it seems a few bits are anachronistic (don't remember atm which bothered me the most, sorry).

Agreed, Kyle. That's part of how I never felt immersed in the world, because I never knew what the world actually was.

Rachel Louise Lawrence for Madame de Villeneuve's The Story of the Beauty and the Beast for the links. Thank you; I'm keen on giving good translators more credit!