into the woods by lyn gardner
see, i told you i would finish into the woods tonight. even when i'm not in the mood, i just can't not read. seriously, i've tried. it just doesn't last. especially when you're having one of those days when you don't feel like putting clothes on and leaving the house (although, in a good, cozy way, not in a depressive, antisocial and unbalanced way). because seriously? there is only so much time you can spend on the internet, no matter how much you try.
so, the book. i sort of feel like it's one of those stories that i would maybe have really liked if i had been a different mood. big, thick book by an english writer, based on fairy tales and full of sly references to please both children (the target audience) and adults? with spunky girl heroines and awesome illustrations? um, yes, totally, sign me up already. even if you do bite the sondheim title. and yet. i'm just not feeling it. i actually skimmed pages at a time, and let me tell you, i am so not a skimmer. but i just couldn't get into this story of storm (spunky, techy, heroine type) and her sisters aurora (older, domestic, princess type) and any (preternaturally gifted baby type). there mother - rapunzel - dies early on, bequeathing with her last breath a beat up old tin pipe, which we come to learn was once in the hands of ye olde pied piper. who happens to be working evil under a new identity and is very keen to get it back.
yes, there is misfortune and adventures through the titular woods and encounters with fairy tale characters you probably recognize, even if they aren't always portrayed in the familiar way. it's appealing and sometimes funny and i'm confident that it will find a lot of enthusiastic readers (i'm guessing 4th & 5th grade girls). as such, i don't think it particularly matters that i wasn't bowled over by it. i'm thinking that, even when i do go into avid reader mode again, i should probably stay away from reimagined fairy tales for a little while, just because i'm burning out on them.
so, the book. i sort of feel like it's one of those stories that i would maybe have really liked if i had been a different mood. big, thick book by an english writer, based on fairy tales and full of sly references to please both children (the target audience) and adults? with spunky girl heroines and awesome illustrations? um, yes, totally, sign me up already. even if you do bite the sondheim title. and yet. i'm just not feeling it. i actually skimmed pages at a time, and let me tell you, i am so not a skimmer. but i just couldn't get into this story of storm (spunky, techy, heroine type) and her sisters aurora (older, domestic, princess type) and any (preternaturally gifted baby type). there mother - rapunzel - dies early on, bequeathing with her last breath a beat up old tin pipe, which we come to learn was once in the hands of ye olde pied piper. who happens to be working evil under a new identity and is very keen to get it back.
yes, there is misfortune and adventures through the titular woods and encounters with fairy tale characters you probably recognize, even if they aren't always portrayed in the familiar way. it's appealing and sometimes funny and i'm confident that it will find a lot of enthusiastic readers (i'm guessing 4th & 5th grade girls). as such, i don't think it particularly matters that i wasn't bowled over by it. i'm thinking that, even when i do go into avid reader mode again, i should probably stay away from reimagined fairy tales for a little while, just because i'm burning out on them.