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

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

BTW I was able to get for my kindle for $.99. Because of this, after I read The Fire Rose, I'm probably reading some of the other original tales as well.

I finished the Bardot de Villeneuve version this morning and you are right, Heidi - it was fascinating. Supposedly it is the earliest version of the tale. I kept thinking that I had reached the end and then they would throw in another aspect. I must apologize - I counted the siblings wrong, there are 5 sisters, not including Beauty, and 6 brothers. Beauty is given two months, not two weeks to visit her family. Beast used the mirror to see into Beauty's dreams, which is an interesting twist. The most interesting difference from any other version I have read so far is the multiple fairies involved in the tale. The only criticism I have at all is that this seemed to be translated from the French, but not very well edited. Due to this fact it was very "wordy" at times and occasionally the sentence syntax was strange. All in all, it was a good read! Now, on to The Fire Rose.

Rachmi, I hope you get to feeling better soon.

I just picked up The Fire Rose from the library today, but it will be several days before I will start reading that one. I have chosen to read the earliest original version I could find, which was Gabrielle Suzanne Bardot de Villeneuve's Beauty and the Beast. It is a bit meandering, but I have been enjoying it immensely. I thought I was pretty much at the end, but find I am only about 2/3 through as the Beast turned back into a prince is now going to explain to Beauty the entire story of how he was turned into a beast! As for the list, many elements are the same or close. 1.Of course there is the curse by the bad fairy, but there is also a good fairy in this version. 2.Reversal of fortunes - yes, it's there and Beauty has three brothers and three sisters. 3,4,5,6,7 - spot on with no variations. 8. I honestly don't remember, but she has nightly dreams while she is in the castle. 9.She does find a magic mirror, but this one activates windows that allow her to watch theatre plays or operas in different cities. 10.Yes, although she is given two weeks. 11.Actually, her sisters can't wait for her to return to the beast and encourage her to leave. 12.Yes. 13.I think so - have to keep reading to make sure. One difference that I have found from other versions I have read are the animal/bird companions and servants this Beauty has.

I do find it interesting that Kate Forsyth seems to write books about female authors.

Thanks for understanding.

Well, here it is the beginning of a new month and I haven't finished Bitter Greens yet. Due to that fact, and the knowledge of how much I am looking forward to reading some early renditions of Beauty and the Beast and The Fire Rose, I am deciding to not finish the last third of Bitter Greens. I apologize, but I honestly just want to read something I enjoy right now. I have tried my best to push through it, and much of it was interesting. I really like that it's a story, within a story, within yet another story. However, none of the characters, other than the nun telling the Rapunzel tale have hardly any redeeming features at all. The title is very apt, as all of these women are extremely bitter about their life situations. Each woman seems to only be able to resort to trickery, sorcery, or violence to improve their situation. Shanna says she has a deep appreciation for the author. I actually feel sorry for her, for if this book is any indication of her outlook on life, it is very sorrowful indeed.

Yes, Heidi, you are entirely correct in the statement that reading this book is work. It's interesting, but not fun interesting. Due to the lack of fun, for the most part, although as you promised I have came upon some much lighter episodes, it doesn't pull me back to read more on a daily basis. That, combined with the business of getting ready for Christmas, has me wondering if I will actually get it completed before the end of the month. I honestly didn't read a single page this weekend! I kept telling myself I needed to read some, and would find something else to do instead. That's not good.

Yay! I'll keep on going. It takes a lot for me to give up on a book.

I'm honestly not sure if I will finish it or not. I'm not at the point of saying "forget this!" yet. It is holding my interest, but at the same time, I keep wishing for some glimmer of light.

Haven't gotten too far yet, but to be honest, so far it's just depressing for the most part.

Tangled is about Rapunzel, but I don't recall any vegetables being mentioned in the movie. He just knows that greens are vegetables since we had talked about leafy green vegetables and the fact that many of them could taste bitter.

Not reading the Bitter Greens spoilers yet - I'm finally starting that book tonight. Thought some of you might find what my grandson said about it entertaining. I asked him to put the book I just finished in the bookbag and get the other thick book and put it on the table near by chair. We have been studying vegetables for health class, and he had heard Shanna and I saying it was about Rapunzel, so his question was, "You mean the vegetable (bitter greens)one about Tangled?"

Yes, I did really enjoy them. I would actually skim over most of the erotic parts to get to the actual content of the story. I do remember that I was never able to complete the entire series because I couldn't find them all from the library at the time, and didn't have the funds to buy them myself.

Haven't starting reading it yet, but I do remember an Angelique series that I read a long time ago. It was somewhat risqué. Wonder if that is the same series? I'll have to look it up.

Thank you, Heidi, for info on how to insert spoilers!

Just picked it up today, but need to finish another book first (I don't like to read two at a time) so won't start for a few more days.