Book: Tales of Beedle the Bard

[x_greyflowers_x]

Title: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 111

Really, what makes the book is Dumbledore's commentary and breakdown of each tale. It's just so nice to hear that shrewd old voice again.

The tales themselves are exactly what I was expecting - short, simplistic, moral fables. I had read the summaries when Amazon bought the original last year, so the reading of the actual tales left little impact on me. Again, those moments of insight and added canon from Dumbledore's commentary is where the book really excels. I still find the fables to be charming little anecdotes that I could completely envision small wizarding children listening to, all gathered around in a circle with some animated storyteller creating magical theatrics to go along with the stories.


My favorite, the one that speaks of hope and the strength within yourself, is The Fountain of Fair Fortune. The real magic already exists inside you, you just need to find it. Something I have trouble accepting for myself. *nods* Plus, ya know, happy ending for everyone.

Quotes:

• "Don't forget to brush your teethy-pegs!" cried the pot.
• 'More recently, the self-help book The Hairy Heart: A Guide to Wizards Who Won't Commit has topped bestseller lists.'
  (Not to be confused with Hairy Snout, Human Heart, a heartrending account of one man's struggle with lycanthropy.)
• 'This frequently led to arguments with my younger brother, Aberforth, whose favorite story was "Grumble the Grubby Goat."' *snorts*

I have no idea why "teethy-pegs" amused me so much. I'd give Toadstool Tales a read, just for more words like that.

Words I Looked Up:
poulticea moist dressing, often heated, applied to painful and swollen parts of the body
benisona spoken blessing
bowera shady leafy shelter in a wood or garden
opprobriousexpressing offensive reproach
sagacitythe quality of being discerning, sound in judgment, and farsighted; wisdom