Shannon's Review - Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti

Title: Goblin Market

Series: N/A

Author: Christina Rossetti

Genre: Fiction, Short Story, Poem, Fantasy,

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Received: Paperback Swap

Release Date: 1862

Pages: 70

Rating:

Author Christina Rossetti’s Official Websites:

Website:

N/A

Blog:

N/A

Facebook:

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Twitter:

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Shannon’s Thoughts:

The Goblin Market is a short story/ poem that reads like a fairy tale.  The message of the poem is about sexuality the desires we have but should not necessarily give into those desire without dire consequences.

I was very intrigued by this short story as I heard it read on the podcast CraftLit.  The podcaster read it before the beginning of getting into The Picture Of Dorian Grey.  Both stories talk about people giving into desires and what happens as a result. The Goblin Market is similar to fairy tales because there is an innocence to the prose, not unlike a children’s book.  But there is a darkness as well...which is not unlike Neil Gaiman short stories.

I would like to see a completely illustrated version of the Goblin Market. Even though the story is beautifully described I longed to see a visual to just give it a little more creepiness.

I am glad I found this little gem.  I am curious about what else author Christina Rossetti has written during this time she had on this earth. One day maybe I will read more of her work.

Shannon's Review - The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen

Title:  The Ugly Duckling

Series: N/A

Author: Hans Christian Andersen

Genre: Children, Picture Book, Fairy Tale

Publisher:  Ripple Digital Publishing

Received:  Purchased

Release Date:  March 2011

Pages: 40

Rating:  

Author’s Websites:

N/A

Shannon’s Thoughts:

The Ugly Duckling use to be my favorite of the fairy tales.  A strange looking “duckling” hatches out of a egg next to actual duckling chicks.  All the chicks and the mother can tell the strange “duckling” is not their kind so the ugly duckling goes off to find a place to fit in.

I do not know if this particular book was actually written by the Hans Christian Andersen because some book sites say it was written by the publisher, Ripple Digital Publishing.  It has decent art although I wished there was more of it.

I found this telling of The Ugly Duckling was a little boring.  Usually there is a heartwarming feeling towards the duckling.  I also felt where the ugly duckling was searching for his place in the bird world was short. We did not have time to root for the ugly duckling.  

I feel like there was something missing in this telling. I still enjoy this fairy tale but the way it has been written by others has been better.

Review - Between In Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samatha van Leer

Title: Between The Lines
Series: N/A
Authors: Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher:  Simon Pulse
Received: Purchased
Release Date: June 2012
Pages: 358
Rating:


What is it About?

Young Delilah is a avid reader.  She comes across a fairy tale that she can’t put down even though she has read it many times.  One day the prince charming of the  book starts to talk to her.

My Thoughts:

I love books about retelling of fairy tales and ones that tell new tales.  I have never read anything by Jodi Picoult and I know this not one of her usual stories.  This story was brought to life by her daughter Samantha van Leer.

The character Delilah reminds me much of a younger version of myself.  Being addicted to books and letting them take over to the point I forget other including friends or family.  I imagine if one of the characters started talking to me like Olivier did to Delilah I would be even more secluded.   Delilah falls for the images and her conversations with Olivier.  Olivier doesn’t want to be in the fairy tale world anymore he want to be in Delilah’s world.  They try many things to bring him into the real world and they fail.

I was not expecting the ending.   I am not sure if I liked the ending but I did enjoy the story and the way it jumps to Delilah and Olivier in the different chapters.   It was also fun to see the characters talk to each other when the book was closed.  I do wonder what is going to happen to Delilah and Olivier.

Website:

Jodi Picoult Official Site
http://www.jodipicoult.com/

The Last Golden Egg by Odette B. Lezama Rodriguez

 




Title: The Last Golden Egg
Series: N/A
Author: Odette B. Lezama Rodriguez
Genre: Children’s Book, Fairy Tale
Publisher:  Outskirt Press
Received: From author for Review
Release Date: January 2011   
Pages: 34
Rating:



What is it About?
A King that keeps a golden egg that holds the hope of the Kingdom needs a new caregiver for the egg.  Figuring that the most trustworthy would be a young child a caretaker is picked but only to be set up by a swindler that steals the egg.  The young boy must prove his innocence.


My Thoughts:

Having a very fairy tale feel the story is told in a lengthy format with much description.   A Kingdom with a Golden Egg of Hope is a interesting concept that loses something in the telling of the story.

A young peasant boy is asked to be caretaker of the egg but is set up by a thief who steals the egg and the blame goes on the boy.  The boy pleads his innocence and his animal friends help him to prove what is right.

The story doesn’t flow that smoothly and at times can be confusing.  In the beginning the animals friends are mentioned only in name but you don’t know that they are animals until later.   It does have a hopeful feel to it but lacks direction in some places and some editing.

I think it to be a original tale that should have been a wonderful tale of hope throughout the kingdom not tale a of trustworthiness.  It just seems that it would be right if you have a tale of a Golden Egg of Hope that you make your about the hope through out the kingdom and I just did not feel that this story did that.

Website:

http://outskirtspress.com/thelastgoldenegg/