Fairy Tale Retellings! discussion

Hi everyone! Hope you had a lovely June. This July's book is The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson. Even if it's been a while since you've read it, feel free to drop by to see what others have to say or to comment about what you remember. Happy reading!

Here's some questions:

Who's your favorite character?
Did you enjoy the different perspective of the story?
What is your favorite part about Rapunzel?
What's your favorite part of the book?

My favorite characters are Rapunzel and Sir Gerek.

I really enjoyed the different perspective! We got to see how this story was developing through a noble's eyes and now we get a servant's perceptive. Yet, the story is still new and breathtakingly exciting. I was extremely surprised because I thought I knew what would happen, but nope.

My favorite part about Rapunzel was her spine. She's kind, but she's also realistic and not afraid to stand up for herself. She always makes sure to protect herself, but still takes joy in simple pleasures.

I have to say the ending. The ending was so sweet I got a tooth ache of jealousy. But it was also unexpected. I read The Princess Spy so many times that I thought I knew everything about the story. But nope. There were so many new elements that wove perfectly together in this story with the first. It was the old and the new and it was amazing.

I’ve listened to the audio book and even though I’ve done so quite a few times (because I love this book) I still feel I need to read it in order to answer the questions properly. But I’ll give it ago anyway.

Who is your favorite character?
Rapunzel, Lady Rose and Gerek.

Did you enjoy the different perspective of the story?
Loved getting an insight in more than one character in a story which we got here. Although I found Gerek a bit silly hanging himself up on that he had to marry...what was it, I forget, a noble? Something like that. But that was just a part of the story and I was ok with that.

What is your favorite part of Rapunzel?
Rapunzel is curious and eager to learn knew things which makes her a quick learner. She doesn’t seem to be one that gives up easily either. And like Tissa said, she’s got spine. Even though Rapunzel’s been under mother Gothel’s control her whole life, she was still independent and found a way to support herself in an era or society where women got married in order to survive.

My favorite part of the book:
I agree, the ending of course! How could I not swoon over Rapunzel and Gerek finally confessing their love for each to other. Yup, I can’t help myself, lol. (Go ahead roll your eyes if you like, lol!)

Haven't read this one in a long time! I don't remember a whole lot, but I do remember enjoying the twist on the classic Rapunzel story. I liked her spunk and liveliness. I also remember Gerek being a grump or something? I like those characters XD.

I finally finished reading The Golden Braid and judge it the best of the Rapunzel retellings I've read.

What I liked best was the smart twist on the classic story, and a satisfying reason for Mother Gothel's obsession with protecting Rapunzel. I also liked the fast-moving and perilous forest adventures at beginning and end. Finally, the slower than slow burn romance was at exactly the level I like best--sweet, but not naive.

In other threads, I've complained a bit about how very occasionally some contemporary thinking and contemporary language was ascribed to these medieval characters. It's impossible for living authors to avoid some of that, as we all see life and society and morals through our own lenses, and authors need to balance historical verity with having to explain history at boring length.

Overall, the occasional little historical bump were peripheral to the story and never spoiled my interest.