Gem ’s Comments (group member since Sep 12, 2022)

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

McAllister wrote: "I would love to read la morte d'arthur by Thomas Mallory"

I added it to our bookshelves, thank you.

1. Fairy Tale Foundations - How does this retelling of Snow White differ from both the Grimm original and the more familiar versions (like Disney’s)? Which fairy tale elements did you enjoy seeing reimagined, and which felt unnecessary or overused?

2. Princess Selena’s Character Arc - How does Selena grow throughout the novel? Did you find her inner transformation believable and satisfying? What qualities make Selena a compelling heroine—or not?

3. Themes of Beauty and Power - The story explores how appearances can affect power and perception. How does this theme play out with Selena and the queen? How do beauty, magic, and influence intersect in the royal court?

4. The Role of Magic - How is magic used in this world—both politically and personally? Do you think the magical system is consistent and well-developed? Did the magic serve the plot or distract from the character development?

5. Court Politics and Intrigue - How does the story portray political alliances and court manipulation? What commentary might the author be making about trust and deception? Were you surprised by any of the betrayals or plot twists?

6. Female Rivalry and Solidarity - Much of the story centers on the tension between Selena and her stepmother. How does this compare to traditional stepmother/stepdaughter dynamics in fairy tales? Are there other meaningful female relationships in the novel, positive or negative?

7. Romance and Agency - What did you think of the romance in the book? Did it feel earned and emotionally resonant? How does Selena’s agency in the romance compare to other fairy tale heroines?

8. The Dwarfs Reimagined - In this retelling, how are the traditional “seven dwarfs” motif and characters adapted? Did you enjoy the reinterpretation? Why or why not?

9. Moral Complexity - The antagonist(s) in this story have layers of motivation. Did you find any of them sympathetic? Do you think the story offers moral gray areas, or is it more black-and-white?

10. Faith, Hope, and Healing - Many of Melanie Cellier’s books include underlying themes of hope and emotional healing. How are those themes explored in this story? Was there a moment that particularly stood out to you as redemptive or inspiring?

11. Worldbuilding and Series Continuity - How well does this story stand on its own for those new to the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series? If you've read other books in the series, how does it connect and expand the world? Would you want to continue reading other books in the series based on this one?

12. The Ending and Its Impact - Were you satisfied with the ending? Did it wrap up the story and character arcs in a fulfilling way? What would you want to see happen next for these characters?

I'll be reading the story of LIttle Snow White from the original 1812 edition of the Grimm's Fairy Tales. Here is a link to that edition: https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/type0709...

If you are going to read the 1812 edition, I have some discussion questions. Feel free to answer any or all of them.

1. Tone and Violence - The 1812 version is darker and more violent than modern retellings. How did this affect your reading experience? What do you think this says about early 19th-century views on children and morality?

2. The Queen’s Vanity and Jealousy - What drives the Queen's obsession with being “the fairest of them all”? How does her insecurity reflect societal values—both then and now—about beauty and aging?

3. Symbolism of the Mirror - The mirror is central to the Queen's awareness of Snow White. What might the mirror symbolize in this tale? How does it function differently than a passive object?

4. Snow White as a Passive Heroine - Snow White often seems more acted upon than active. Do you view her as a passive victim, or does she have any agency in the story? How might this compare to modern portrayals of heroines?

5. Death and Resurrection - Snow White "dies" multiple times in the story, and finally ends up in a glass coffin. What do you make of this repeated death imagery? Is it symbolic of anything—innocence, transformation, or sexual maturity?

6. The Prince’s Role - The prince’s role is small but pivotal. He falls in love with Snow White while she’s in a glass coffin. What does this say about the nature of love and possession in fairy tales?

7. The Queen’s Punishment - In the original 1812 tale, the Queen is forced to dance in red-hot iron shoes until she dies. What purpose does this gruesome ending serve? Is it justice or cruelty?

8. Nature and the Wild - The forest plays a crucial role in Snow White’s survival. How is nature portrayed in the story? As a place of danger, refuge, or transformation?

9. Role of the Dwarfs - How do the dwarfs function in the story beyond sheltering Snow White? Do they represent community, labor, or something else?

10. Fairy Tale Morality - What moral lessons do you think is intended with this version of Snow White? Do those lessons still resonate today?

11. Gender Expectations - How are women portrayed in this tale—both the Queen and Snow White? What does this story say about female power, beauty, and aging?

12. Comparisons to Modern Retellings - How did reading the original version change your understanding of Snow White? How has the story been sanitized or altered in later versions (Disney, etc.), and what gets lost or gained?

Susan wrote: "Gem wrote: "I am not sure how true to the orig..."

There's no single original story of Circe; she's only a supporting character in the stories of Odysseus, Medea, and many others.

Madeline Mille..."

Thanks for the background. I wish I had known this before I read the book the first time. I'm bummed I wasn't able to read with the group, there is a months long wait for the book now.

Susan wrote: "I love it too, but I'm weird."

Me too! That's what makes people fun.

I got my book, it was in Spanish, don't ask me how I did that! I'm going to have to skip this one but I'm hoping to use the rest of the month to catchup with another book we've read as a group.

Lisa wrote: "Yes, for pleasure. As it stands now my husband and I will be leaving Friday to drive out to Yellowstone (we will be taking 5 days to get there since I can't do more than 7 hours a day at most) to m..."


I hope everything works out for them. I'm so jealous, Yellowstone is one of the parks that I absolutely want to see. In the summer and in the winter. I hope you have an amazing time. Take lots of pictures, when you get back you can send me some!

Susan wrote: "I'd love to hear what people think about how the original Barrie differs from the so-familiar Disney animation, and what people think of Barrie's narrator voice"

Disney rarely stays true to the stories as written, and that used to bother me, but I've decided to view their movies as retellings. That processes better in my brain. I haven't seen this movie in0 such a long time, I can't make the comparison. But that just means I'll have to watch it and come back with my thoughts.

Lisa wrote: "I will be travelling the entire month of June, but will take the book (and Peter Pan) with me to read on my downtime."

For pleasure, I hope. If so, where are you going?

I've read this one before and enjoyed it. I was unable to get a copy of the book, physical or ebook, but an audiobook was available... one copy, so I borrowed it. I am not sure how true to the original story of Circe this one is.

I could finally download the copy from the library I'd been waiting for. I adore most things written by Barrie, this is no exception. I adore the lost boys and I'd volunteer to be their mother if I could live in Neverland, but Pixie Hollow would be better. I hope I'll never lose the childlikeness that allows me to enjoy fairy tales and tales about fairies.

The fact that Jim Dale narrated just added the icing to the cake. HE DOES VOICES, and that just makes this even more enjoyable for me.

Lisa wrote: "Thanks for the suggestion, Gem! By the way, love the new profile pic for the group!"

You're very welcome. I will often listen to audiobooks if available, provided it's not a detailed book (like a mystery, I usually read those). That way I can do chores and "read" at the same time.

I thought Tink was appropriate for this month. I like to change the fairy each month to match the month (April Showers, May Flowers) and when I searched "fairy with flowers" that was one of the pictures that came up. Tinkerbell is one of my favorite characters (the newer one in the Disney movies vs. the one in Peter Pan... she can get annoying, lol).

Oh my, I could just squeeeee. My library has an audio version of this selection with Jim Dale as the narrator. He is my all-time favorite. There is a four-week hold time, but I'm going to wait because of Jim Dale.

I've got the book, I have not started reading it. I'm currently in the midst of a fibro flareup and the fibro fog is very real.

I have the book but I've got several I really want to finish before I start anything else. It will be later in the month before I can get to this one. It's been on my tbr list for such a long time, I'm excited to start it.

What I did when I was reading this was I read the original stories Angela Carter based her son. I had never read Blue Beard or Puss-in-boots, etc., so I really enjoyed that aspect.

Fiona wrote: "I feel a bit bad about recommending this one as I seem to have been the only reader who liked it. It seems I like things a bit on the darker side.
I'm looking forward to next month's read. It will..."

Don't feel bad, I don't mind darker. I just wasn't crazy about the sexuality incorporated into the stories. I'm glad I read it and was introduced to Angela Carter. Personally, I'd rather read something to be able to have the cultural reference than not.

I'm not sure what to make of Wolf-Alice. And with that I'm finished.

Overall, I didn't hate this book but I only really liked one or two stories. The author was descriptive and that part I enjoyed but I could have done without the sexual elements/references. She seemed to go out of her way to include that, which is not my cuppa. I had to read with the dictionary by my side and while I don't mind looking up the occasional word, reading, for me, shouldn't feel like work. I have mixed feelings about this selection.

The Werewolf is an interesting take on Little Red Riding Hood, unfortunately, the grandmother does not survive.

The Company of Wolves is also a retelling on Little Red Riding Hood and very different from The Werewolf.

"The Lady of the House of Love" is based loosely on Sleeping Beauty, very loosely if you ask me. I guess I can see elements of the original fairy tale but this had more elements of vampirism in it which I wouldn't have expected from Sleeping Beauty.

I found Sun, Moon, and Talia by Giambattista Basile which is the oldest telling of the Sleeping Beauty story. Sleeping Beauty is impregnated by a King while asleep under a spell. When I read things like that I wonder what in the world they were trying to teach children at the time. Strange.