Lisa’s Comments (group member since Aug 16, 2014)

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

Shanna, I can totally understand that. It is a very bizarre dream. But as I read the original version, I came to understand that a lot of the dream was influenced by several factors. 1. A very active imagination. 2. A sick, overexcited girl with a fever. 3. A godfather that told bizarre stories to such a girl.

I think one of the things I love about The Nutcracker is that it varies slightly with different versions. Each illustrator adds their own perspective, which actually can change the story itself.

Hello to the new members! Cheryl, I loved Shelly Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre! It was so much fun.

How is everyone progressing? I have finished the original and am starting Hiddensee tomorrow. I think I enjoyed reading The Nutcracker with my grandson more several years ago than this time. The illustrations definitely add to the tale. However, reading the original version without illustrations really brought out how creepy Godfather Drosselmeir seems to be.

Adriel, that is a cool idea for advent. It's kind of dark and wordy, though, depending on the version you have. You should totally plan a vacation to Germany sometime.

Hi, everyone! I read several versions of The Nutcracker years ago with my grandson, but they were all the short illustrated ones and to be honest, I paid more attention to the beautiful drawings than the story itself. For that reason, I chose to read the original (naturally translated) version this time (the second one in the list shown above. It isn't long, only 112 pages, so it should be easy to read this as well as Hiddensee this month. I don't think it matters what version you choose to read, as the themes and general story should be the same. I am definitely noticing the style of language shows that it really is a very old tale.

Right now I am reading A Tropical Frontier: The Last Resort on my kindle. This is one of a series of books that I started when I won the first one from Goodreads and I fell in love with the series. I have been fortunate to win three of the titles in the series! I am reading Just So Stories to my grand-daughter in England with an app we use and will be finishing that soon. After I finish that I will be starting Half Magic by Edward Eager with her. I will be starting The Nutcracker today even though it isn't December yet (need to get a jump on that since I am discussion leader). For my audio book I am currently listening to The Hunger Between Us, which is a historical fiction about WWII Russia. The next audiobooks I will be listening to are The Last Ever After, which is the third book in the School for Good and Evil series, A Curious Beginning, and Curse Undone, which is the second of a Rumplestiltskin retelling. The first of that series was Gold Spun.

Gem, I totally get that because there are so many books I own, both ebooks and physical books, that I haven't gotten to yet. Often one of my daughters and I will be talking and I will remember that I still need to read a certain book, but already have three or four going and then just grab another one when I'm finished with one. I don't do a lot of physical books any more (and I really miss that) because even with my book pad, they are hard for my hands to handle. That is the main reason it took so long reading Once Upon a Dream.

Oh, I totally agree that she was self absorbed and a total brat a lot of times. Like you said, Gem, I kind of wanted to smack her too, but more wanted to just shake her and point out what was so obvious. She really treated Phillip horribly at times, and seemed very ungrateful for all the sacrifices every one else made for her. However, this is typical of a teenager, so seemed accurate. But I did appreciate that like all teens, as time goes on they mature and realize they aren't the most important thing in the universe.

Wow! Gem, some of those are "heavy" books. I admire that you choose what you are going to be reading in advance. That is something I rarely do. As I finish one book, I choose the next one I want to read. Occasionally, I will have audio books borrowed in advance from Hoopla because there is a limit of 6 per month and they are borrowed for 21 days, so if I am getting close to the end of the month and have loans still available (rare) I go ahead and look through my to be read list to try to find some. In fact, I have two loans left this month, so will be doing that this weekend.

Yes, I finished it and really enjoyed it. I loved that time moved so much faster in the dream world than in reality, so Aurora really had time to learn and mature. I do agree with Kyle that the book definitely could have been shorter. There were parts that were just too drawn out, especially the entire village with all the dancing.

Gem, I think some people are conservative with ratings too. I know I usually am. If I just enjoy and like a book it gets a 3, if I really like it then it will be a 4. It is rare that I will give a book a rating of 5.

I also found it somewhat fascinating how they brought in the aspect of depression.

I struggled with last month's book, but this one I am totally enjoying, even though I am only on page 340 now. It seems to get more interesting as it goes along too, which is a very good thing. I'm totally internally cheering on Aurora and Phillip.

I totally agree with Kyle. As said before, I am reading it kind of slowly, only on page 67 now, but the language isn't confusing or complex at all. The story itself is, but that is the point - it's fun to try to figure out just what is going on and who is good or evil, etc.

Those reviews are really harsh! I'm only on page 42 and it is kind of confusing trying to figure out exactly what is going on, but it's not a bad confusing - more intriguing.

Aww. That was one of the first animated movies I ever saw. It was released before I was born, but for some reason it was part of a double feature at a theater when I was a little kid. The other movie was about a Christmas Tree, but I have no idea what that was.

Right now I am only on page 25 and totally intrigued. All these questions running through my head. Who is actually asleep and who is awake? Who is good and who is evil? Definitely not a slog to read this one.

Kyle - which Disney movie? Malificent or Sleeping Beauty?

I generally have three or four books going at once, but one is always an audiobook. I just finished A Doomful of Sugar last night. That is a cozy mystery and was good, but not anything phenomenal. I am currently reading The Ugly Princess, which I was lucky enough to win from one of the giveaways here. I am loving it so far. The audiobook I will be starting next is The Slow March, a historical fiction about East and West Berlin. So far I am only on page 25 of Once Upon a Dream, but will be reading more in a bit. Heavy books are a bit of a chore for me to read, but it is intriguing and enjoyable so far. Fairy Tale was put on my to read list too, but that one will have to be audiobook for sure. Looking forward to see how Kyle likes Riddle Master. It sounds cool, so put it on my list too.