Thoughts about reading fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, new and old
I loved the Bookworms Carnival on fairy tales, and I put so many books on my TBR list. After reading through HTR&W’s prologue all about irony and metaphor, I’ve turned to some of these great fairy tales this week for an escape to the world of imagination.
My community library only has a few of the ones I wanted to read and books cost twice as much here in Australia than in the USA, so I was limited in which ones I read this week. Anyway, here’s what I read, with my six-word reviews.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson LevineThis is a Newbery Honor, young adult, fantasy novel. I saw the movie and let me tell you it’s nothing like the book. Recommended by Maw Books.
Cinderella beautifully retold; better than movie.
Fairest by Gail Carson LevineThis is another young adult, fantasy novel. A different book by this author was reviewed by Book Nut via Bookworms Carnival; this one was at my library, so it’s the one I read.
“Ugly” Snow White sings, eats apple.
Short stories by A.S. ByattRecommended by A Striped Armchair via Bookworms Carnival. I liked “The Story of the Eldest Princess” the best, although I liked them all. They were all somewhat odd fairy tales, which was refreshing.
Seeking adventure, not riches, tailor awakens princess.
(I know that is seven words, but I couldn’t get it to six.)
Sailor betrays girl; now he’s haunted.
Blue sky’s green; eldest princess quests.
Djinn grants modern-day “narratologist” three wishes.
(I’m counting the hyphenated word as one…)
This story is available online here, so I didn’t have rely on my library to actually have a book for me to read. “The Day Boy and the Night Girl” was recommended by In the Louvre via Bookworms Carnival. I just read the one story and I really loved it.
Night scares boy; day scares girl.
I want to read just about every other book from the carnival, but only two others are at my library and they are checked out. Yes, only two others are at the library. I will be the last person on earth to read The Goose Girl, among others.
If you’ve also reviewed one of these and I haven’t linked to your review, leave a comment and I’ll add your link to this post!
Related Posts on Rebecca Reads:<< Previous Post What is a Reader?
HTR&W: What Is a Short Story? Next Post >>
This blog is a collection of my thoughts about books and reading and reviews of books I've read. I'd love to hear your thoughts, too. Please share!
From October 2008-July 2009, I'm hosting the Really Old Classics Challenge.
Also, as an ongoing personal challenge, I'm reading all the works on the How to Read and Why reading list compiled by Harold Bloom. I'd love for you to either join me in this challenge or to follow along with me as I try to learn to read well.
Eva
Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 11:39 am
The Eldest Princess was my favourite of the short stories too!
Nymeth
Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 6:11 pm
…and mine! I really love the whole collection, though. And isn’t The Day Boy and the Night Girl great? I read that one last year and I was so impressed with it.
I still have to read some Gail Carson Levin.
Natasha @ Maw Books
Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 6:23 pm
You won’t be the last to read The Goose Girl because while I do have it I haven’t found the time to actually bump it to the top of the list yet. And Ella Enchanted . . . yes, it’s much better than the movie!
Rebecca Reid
Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 6:19 am
@Nymeth and Natasha @ Maw Books: It’s hard to find time for light-hearted YA sometimes–I just “splurged” this week and moved Gail Carson Levine up my list because my son and I were sick and I felt like I needed something lighter than my other reads! A fun escape….
Susan
Monday, June 30, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Thanks for leaving a message and a link to your review of A Wrinkle in Time! I’ve added it to my post, and you to my blog
as for The Goose Girl - I think it’s a contest to see which one of us will read it last, since I have at least 30 more books to read this year for the other challenges I am in !!!!! Goose Girl is not one of them….now I really want to read Ella Enchanted!
Rebecca Reid
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 12:53 pm
@Susan: I think that’s the hardest thing about book blogging: so many books to read!