Gem ’s Comments (group member since Sep 12, 2022)

Gem ’s comments from the Once Upon a Time... group.

Cheryl wrote: "I look forward to reading it as soon as I can get my old eyes under bright sunlight to see the small font and the detailed paintings.."
Preach! I have a pair of magnifying glasses that clip onto my regular glasses for needlework. I have used those to read on occasion. I can't see instructions on pill bottles and such anymore. I used to laugh at my mother, now I am my mother.

I finished! Took me long enough, lol. The Librivox narrator was excellent.

I enjoyed the story, it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland given both girls fell asleep and have wild, crazy dreams. The very end of the story took me by surprise.

I am really glad I read this as it gives me some background on the Ballet. Tchaikovsky absolutely took liberties with the story but I think he did so masterfully. I don't think the original story would have lent itself to the Ballet if he didn't make some adjustments.

I used to take my girls to see The Nutcracker every year when they still lived at home. Now they are grown one is 37 with two kids of her own, the other is 27 and engaged.

I'm going to go back and read through the discussion as I've only been skimming to date, I didn't want to read any spoilers.

Lisa wrote: "Gem, I hope you get to feeling better!
I didn't know The Nutcracker itself was available on audiobook, and if so, which version might be interesting.
I do know that Hiddensee is on Hoopla.
The pas..."

Thanks. I use LibriVox for the classics. It takes a bit to get used to... in some books one or two chapters might be read by one person and the next couple by someone different. They often have more than one version so I always look at the ratings from other users, they are pretty much spot on when they say one is preferable over another. You can listen online or download.

I still haven't finished the story, I haven't read in days (which I hate) I'm struggling with a headache I don't want to become a migraine. I might download an audiobook to finish it.

Cheryl wrote: "Sure, I'd be glad to get a thread started for 'critical' and 'meta' works. Just let me know which folder, or if you want it to be a folder of its own. I can say a few things to lead it off, and pos..."

Put it in the Welcome folder. I'll probably create a new folder but I'll do that tomorrow. Thanks

Shanna wrote: "Honestly, the majority of Gregory Maguires books have underlying if not overt sexual connotations or content. It’s one of the reasons I like his stories but don’t enjoy actually reading them."

Funny you mentioned Gregory Maquire, we stopped at the thrift store on our walk this morning and my husband saw Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister for 1.00 and said, "This looks like it's right up your alley." Neither of us has read Maguire before but who could resist a story told from Cinderella's step sister's perspective.

Shanna wrote: "Honestly, the majority of Gregory Maguires books have underlying if not overt sexual connotations or content. It’s one of the reasons I like his stories but don’t enjoy actually reading them.

Gem..."

I'm right there with you. Teens being curious and exploring is normal/natural but I think aside from being inappropriate (for obvious reasons) they also give teens the wrong idea about what to expect. Romance novels/Bodice Rippers are the same, all the swooning and "riding away into the sunset together/forever" gives teen girls the mistaken impression that relationships are 1) based on sex and 2) if the sex is good that's all they need. As adults we know better and can read those books with a grain of salt.

Lisa wrote: "I am only on page 60 or so of Hiddensee, but feel that I must issue a warning to you. At first I was quite intrigued, thinking it would be a very interesting read as it drew me in with the introduc..."

I'm hoping to start Hideensee over the weekend. Sexual content won't bother me but like you I find it completely unnecessary. I recently read A Court of Thorns and Roses. I thoroughly enjoyed it but felt the same about a couple of chapters. I think what bothers me about the sexual content is that book was labeled "teen." You can write a book indicating sexual activity but not be explicit about it. I guess I'm old-fashioned.

Hi Julie and Cheryl! Glad you are here.

Julie wrote: "Hi, my name is Julie and I love fairytales. I have loved fairytales ever since I was young. I also have been exploring classic literature and have enjoyed the fantasy genre for quite a while."

Be sure to make have some downtime so you don't burn out.

I'm a baker too, I bake all kinds of things, two years ago I started baking bread. There is a bit of a learning curve to bread but I've had a lot of success.

Cheryl wrote: "Hi, my favorite sub-genre that applies to this group would probably be fractured fairy tales that are funny. Generally those are picture-books. But I'm excited to expand my reading in the direction..."

I have a copy of Jack Zipes' Grimm Fairy tales that are translated from the early versions before they started to sanitize the stories for kids. I don't know Alison Lurie but I'm up for just about anything Fairy Tale related.

If you'd either of you would like to make a selection and lead a discussion, let me know.

Lisa wrote: "So sad that you library is lacking, Gem! We also have the ability to borrow from libraries throughout our state, especially bordering counties which get the books here within two days, so I adore m..."

I am jealous. When we move back east one of my requirements is a good library. The only complaint I have about this system is that the classics are hard to come by. Sometimes only a couple of physical copies and few ebooks. Hoopla has been a savior, they have a lot of classics. Also Project Gutenberg.

Lisa wrote: "I look up words when I don't know them too, Gem. I'm surprised you couldn't find a copy from your library. The variety at my library is kind of astounding. Everything from short very juvenile pictu..."

So far only two children, Fred and Maria. My library has a real shortage of the classics, it's kind of frustrating.

Cheryl wrote: "I can't tell if yours is abridged, sorry. But I see that the edition on google books is even shorter. And I don't remember one of the details on the last page, and the translation is more old-fashi..."

How do you determine if a book is abridged? Generally, Goodreads doesn't list that information, I'm not sure why they don't. The book I'm reading is actually 76 pages even though Goodreads shows it's 50.

It's definitely an older translation that uses more archaic words. I'm having to look words up pretty regularly. I won't read past a word I don't know, it slows down my slow reading even more but I learn things.

Lisa wrote: "Enjoy your trip, Cheryl!
Gem, just curious as to which version you chose. There are so many! It still amazes me that even though the core story is the same, each version is slightly different due t..."

I was only able to get a copy (sans illustrated/children's edition) through hoopla. Not a choice but rather the only option. I guess I could have bought a copy but I generally won't do that unless I have read the book and know I enjoy it and would read it again. If we bought every book I was reading we wouldn't eat, lol. And he reads a lot too, he's a literature teacher. Hmmm, reading vs. eating... I might could loose some weight that way! lol

Cheryl wrote: "Gem, the unabridged is usually at least 100 pages. What is your ISBN?"

9781443431941

Oh yes, enjoy your trip. I hope you find it relaxing and refreshing. We're going to take a 15-day trip in January/beginning of February.

I just started The Nutcracker I need to get a move on. Will start Hiddensee as soon as I finish it. I am going to try to knock out The Nutcracker tomorrow. My edition is only about 50 pages... does that seem about right?

I download this book last night. I wanted to up my hoopla slots before the month turned over. I plan on starting on this one soon.

Katelyn wrote: "Hello I have just recently come across this post I have the whole series of the twisted tales and would love it if we were to do another one of the books if anyone is interested in it I think the C..."

Would you like to select one of the books and lead a discussion? The next month we need a discussion for is March.

Lisa wrote: "Wow! Gem, some of those are "heavy" books. I admire that you choose what you are going to be reading in advance. That is something I rarely do. As I finish one book, I choose the next one I want to..."

I find if I don't have a plan then I don't get through the books I want to read. I love to read and having a plan helps.

Shanna wrote: "I’ve always found the majority of typical princesses selfish and self absorbed. Especially those that are based on the earlier Disney princesses. Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty. It’s one r..."
I enjoyed it too, I just wanted to smack her a few times, lol.

I'm still reading Crime and Punishment and will be through the end of December, I'm leading the discussion in another group.

I finished Eight Perfect Murders and Winnie-the-Pooh. What a joy Winnie-the Pooh was, so many memories. I started reading The Satanic Verses but abandoned it... maybe too soon but I didn't understand what I was reading. Maybe it was due to cultural differences but I couldn't make sense of it and to stop and look things up would have taken far too long. Maybe another time.

I'm halfway through Take My Hand and it's really ticking me off. Being young, black, and poor should not be a reason for others to slap the label "feeble-minded" on you or for them to make decisions about your reproductive abilities/rights. I was completely unaware of these injustices prior to beginning this book. That said the book is well written and I'll likely read more written by the author.

I started reading Catch-22 but I'm going to switch to audio when I finish A Court of Thorns and Roses which I'm currently listening to and really enjoying.

Additionally I've checked out The Once and Future King which has been on my TBR list forever. I've picked up some of the books for my group reads in December, the rest are on order: Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker, The Bell Jar, Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery, and Suttree. Another personal selection is Emily of the New Moon. I hope to get the rest of my December selections within the next week or so.