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

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

The Light Princess is by George MacDonald, probably my favorite 19th century author because he also wrote The Princess and the Goblin which I read and reread when I was a girl.

*The Light Princess* is more concise, and the female character has no real personality, but it's worth the read, imo, if only for the word-play and puns. And the metaphoric themes about people who are light vs. people who have gravity... good themes for children to think about while they're still young, innocent, and supposedly free to play and simply enjoy life.

*The King of the Golden River* is by John Ruskin. Apparently he didn't feel like his messages were getting out to adults, and tried to reach children. It's well-written, but not particularly adventurous,,, or subtle. And yet I've seen it in other anthologies, too. What did you think of it?

I, personally, don't know much about him. But his views are made clear in the one book I did read (this year, as it happens), Traffic (which also includes *The Roots of Honour.* There's so much we could still learn, going on two centuries later, from his insights... I think he's fighting human nature on too deep of a level.

The next selection, *The Story of Fairyfoot,* by Frances Browne, didn't do much for me; I've not much to say. I could say that it's fairly progressive for its time, as in that it's not terribly didactic. Did any of you have a reaction to it?

I've been trying to read more Hawthorne (for example A Wonder Book and Tanglewood Tales since the first time I read this years ago! I love the satire, the exploration of the theme that people are so easily taken in by "fine feathers."

I also wonder if Baum wasn't a fan of Hawthorne. This scarecrow
"simulacrum" has a heart, and "sensibilities" ... doesn't seem particularly lacking in brains. But maybe Pinocchio is a more direct ancestor of The Scarecrow and The Tin Woodman. And maybe Carlo Collodi got his inspiration from Hawthorne.

Or maybe mechanical men etc. are a trope ancient and universal? After all, consider the Jewish Golem: 'The oldest stories of golems date to early Judaism. In the Talmud (Tractate Sanhedrin 38b), Adam was initially created as a golem (גולם) when his dust was "kneaded into a shapeless husk".'

Tbh, I have no interest. I've tried several times and cannot get into LotR at all. But don't defer on my account!

Ok!

E-books are hard for me, too!

Yes, I think that's a good idea for all of us. A few at a time will make it easier to discuss individual stories and to look for patterns etc., I think.

Balin did stand out as more supportive. Oh, and it was Dori who carried Bilbo piggy-back in one episode, iirc. But yeah, Thorin, well, what would his illustrious ancestors thought of him, I wonder.

I read the intro. and the first few stories already last night. It seems to have less scholarly commentary and more stories than I remembered, so it should be mostly a *fun* read.

I won't continue until more of you have a chance to actually start, though.

I agree, Smaug got exactly the amount of page time as was apt for this story.

I am so glad y'all gave me an excuse to read this yet again. I find more reasons to give it 5 stars each time, even though I find flaws and things I find disagreeable each time, too.

For example, on this read I noticed how particularly abusive the dwarves are to Bilbo whenever they get frustrated. Blaming him for awakening Smaug when he took just one cup, for example. (Not to mention how their lust for gold & gems clouds their judgement.) And yet they are portrayed as among the good guys, and Bilbo thinks of them as friends ever after.

Is he a doormat? Or a saint? Or is this what friends normally do? (I've never had any friends so I sincerely don't know.)

My review is just a teeny bit spoilery, but also possibly helpful to give us ideas for discussion. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have no academic background in literature, but love reading different versions of wonder fales, and love seeing what more modern writers, especially those writing for adults, do with the themes and tropes. And so, when I discovered this anthology, and realized that Lurie and I have much the same taste, I knew it would be a book I'd want to keep and reread every so often... and share!

I hope you-all are half as charmed as I. ;)

OpenLibrary.org has archived a copy for us to read free online.

(I'll have to come back later. I forgot to request a copy! :(

I have no ear or training, so no idea how it would be sung, but I always try anyway, wishing I could come up with something reasonable. Is there a youtube channel or somesuch?

Oh my. I'd somehow forgotten that there's going to be too many references to food in the book. Get out the stretch pants!

The retellings might 'fix' the problem. I'd love to read and find out.

I read this several times as a young teen and look forward to a reread, assuming I can get it (I'm traveling).

Oh dear; feel better soon!

Speaking of themes, what do we think are some of the ones intended here?

In retellings by other authors, I don't remember the episode of the princess who chose among suitors. In my opinion, that would make a good stand-alone story. It's not relevant to the main story as far as I can tell, but it's got a great theme and worth reading somehow.