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

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

Never underestimate the good in those you expect to be evil, or the bad in those you perceive to be good.

I just finished last night and found it delightful. I loved how the dwarfs were not actually dwarfs at all, but changed in a way that totally added to instead of taking away from the tale. I also appreciated how the items used to kill Snow were the same as the original (laces, comb, apple) but with different results.
In this retelling Snow is the age that we usually expect her to be, 16 instead of a child like in the original. I much prefer her as a teen or young adult. I really like the way that she doubts her own strengths and wisdom, but still insists on learning ways to overcome those weaknesses.

I read the Grimm version illustrated by Charles Santore. I'm not necessarily going to answer each of the study questions, but will make some observations here. It had been a good while since I had read the original tale and some things struck me this time that I don't remember noticing before.
Snow White was clearly a child. The story says that she was seven when the mirror first told the queen that Snow White was fairer than the queen. Very shortly after that she commanded the huntsman to "take the child into the woods". He spared Snow White because she was so young and innocent. Most of the rest of the story seems to take place shortly afterwards. The queen trying to kill Snow White multiple times in various ways probably didn't take more than two more years. Her being a child makes the fact that she was so gullible much more understandable. So Snow White was still a child when placed in the glass coffin.
The fact that the prince immediately fell in love with her when he saw Snow White in the coffin leads me to believe that she must have continued to grow and age while in the coffin. I know they married young back then, but not usually at nine years old. Also, on that note, I have always found the "love at first sight" theme in many fairy tales ludicrous. Falling in love with someone you see while they are asleep/dead and then magically waking or reviving them and living happily ever after would never happen in real life.
As far as her multiple deaths, I found that laughable too. She must have some cat in her. The Grimm brothers were obviously not very medically factual.

I'm about half way through now and am finding the way Circe is portrayed pretty interesting. I like that she has grown into her strengths, but fully sees her own faults and that it irritates her.
Susan, that concept of a play sounds delightful.

I thought I had it on my kindle, but seems I don't, so this one will have to be an audiobook on Hoopla. Won't be listening to that until next week for sure.

Susan, we did have a great trip! Wonderful sights both in the park and the drive back and forth (5 days out, 6 back). Drove through a few states we had not visited before too.
I was able to start the book on Sunday and am enjoying it so far. I always like getting the viewpoint of characters that have been secondary in other tales.

Well, my library copy traveled all across country with me and never got opened at all. Hoping to get a start this weekend, but might have to resort to listening to the audiobook of it after the first of the month when I can get it.

I personally love Barrie's writing style. I think his tongue in cheek comments about the characters make the book even more entertaining. It's kind of like listening to a favorite uncle tell you a bedtime story.

Well, they got my grand-daughter's passport handled today and since it only took them an hour, which was much less than expected, they all had a nice day out in London. So, my daughter might have to wait a bit and reschedule her flight, but the others will fly in as planned, which means that my husband and I will be leaving on Friday as planned. Circe is going to be travelling cross country.

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 meet my daughter, grand-daughter, son-in-law, and his sister who are flying in from England. However, right now it's kind of up in the air since my daughter and grand-daughter are having some passport issues due to dual citizenship and new regulations.

I totally agree with you about Disney, Gem - I enjoy them as retellings, not true to the originals. I have started reading my illustrated version and am enjoying immensely. I too haven't seen the Disney movie in a very long time, but from what I remember of the movie beginning and the book a lot is on target. Nana being tied outside and unable to get to the children is right, although I seem to remember some pixie dust being sprinkled on her and her floating in the movie - that isn't in the book. Tink's sassy attitude is kept in the movie and that was always one thing I loved.

I just reserved my copy from the library and will be picking it up next week. I will be travelling the entire month of June, but will take the book (and Peter Pan) with me to read on my downtime.

I didn't listen to the audiobook after all because I really do want to read the illustrated version that I have. I will be travelling the month of June and will be taking it with me to read in my downtime.

This was a fun, quick read. I really enjoyed how the history of the dislike of Hook for Pan was explained. The twist at the end of the book was quite unexpected and intriguing.

By the way, love the new profile pic for the group!

I hadn't even thought of audiobook for this! I naturally have read Peter Pan (as I told Gem the whole Neverland/Pan genre is a family favorite), but it has been decades now. I do have the illustrated/interactive version (second on the list above) that Adriel got for my grandson that I was going to read, but don't think I will have time to actually read it this month. I just checked and I can get both the Jim Dale narrated audiobook and the one narrated by Christopher Casanove, who I prefer. I put a hold on that, which is supposedly a two week wait. I can listen to it while doing other things and look at the illustrations in the book at my leisure. Thanks for the suggestion, Gem!

I really liked this tale. I definitely would like to read the rest of the series, but as it is only available to me for purchase on kindle, I will wait. It isn't one that I feel I must finish immediately.

I'm enjoying this book. This is a very different take on the Cinderella tale than I have ever came across before. I like that the tale actually started with her childhood and progressed from there. I am loving how the author is blending in multiple fairy tales or at least references to them.

Mary, I agree that a scullery maid would not be pleasant, but she was already doing that job plus more as well as being verbally abused by her step family, which is why I personally would prefer to work elsewhere.
Agreed, Cheryl. I hate the original tale, but have enjoyed most of the retellings I have read because they usually give her some backbone.
I have started the other book and am finding it interesting so far.

Cinderella has always been my least favorite fairy tale. I dislike the idea that she would just blithely accept going from a pampered daughter of a rich man to a servant of her stepmother and stepsisters. I've always thought that if she were going to have to be a servant, then she should at least get a job in another household where she would at least be provided with a bed in the servant's quarters.
In some of the original translations I have read her father has died, but in this one he was still alive. I found that appalling - what father would allow his daughter to be treated like that?!
I also can not understand the concept of not doing anything to improve your situation for yourself. She is all "woe is me", and relies on her fairy godmother and the prince to save her.
I completely agree with Cheryl - the whole meet the prince and fall in love in one evening thing is ridiculous.