Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (LibriVox) Part B

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (LibriVox) Part B

The second half, or part B, would be the stories I did not know well. The stories were a little longer than part A. With that being said it was more descriptive and had dialogue to get you engaged in the stories. This is good for readers who are not familiar with these stories. It keeps the same pattern as before and keeps to the dark stories that I am a fan of and write in that style as well.

 Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm, an audiobook recording available at LibriVox based on a Project Gutenberg publication. Part B.

Deutsch: Doppelporträt der Brüder Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm / Die Brüder Grimm, Oil on canvas.
Artist Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann 1855 . Source.

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (LibriVox) Part A

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (LibriVox) Part A

The description about what stories to expect was a little off for me. I knew most of the stories, at least in part A. I have not read the Grimm versions though. Going in I was happy with the style that these were written. It was not lighthearted as what I was told and read growing up. The stories were humorous but also dark. This kept me engaged. I think I have a thing for darker stories.

 Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm, an audiobook recording available at LibriVox based on a Project Gutenberg publication. Part A.

Double page illustration from a book of fairy tales.Grimm's Household Tales,
Author Robert Anning Bell . Source.

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman) Part B

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman) Part B

Part B of Ashliman's translation is full of the darker tales. My favorite was the version of Adam and Eve. The thing about the writing though is that it seemed like it still had to do with the haves and have-nots. I know that it is from tales told long ago but I am not a fan of that style. Closes down an audience.

 The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales translated by D. L. Ashliman (1998-2013). Part B.

"Presents of the Little Folk" by Anne Anderson, Source: Wikimedia.

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman) Part A

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman) Part A

These fairy tales are pretty close to what I remember growing up. Minor differences and a little more violent but nothing that a child couldn't read. Little Red Cap instead of Little Red Riding Hood is what I was told growing up and in my opinion was better. Ashliman does a great job with the retelling of these classic fairy tales that is short and a fast read.

 The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales translated by D. L. Ashliman (1998-2013). Part A.

Illustration of Rumpelstiltskin from Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm, translated by Lucy Crane, illustrated by Walter Crane, first published by Macmillan and Company in 1886. Source.

Reading Notes: Celtic Fairy Tales Part A

Celtic Fairy Tales Part A

Part A of these fairy tales was very enjoyable. I was wanting to do a story about fairies and the first story had exactly all of the information I was needing. The Celtic version of Snow White was better than the original in my opinion as the prince ended up with two wives instead of the one. The reading was easy enough and understanding a lot of the basic principles of the characters helped someone visualize. 

Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892). Part A.

A portrait of a fairy, by Sophie Gengembre Anderson (1869). Source: Wikipedia.

Reading Notes: Beowulf Part B

Reading Notes: Beowulf Part B

Part B of Beowulf has the epic battle with Grendel. The detail of all of the fights is so well done that you can close your eyes and feel like you are there. Part B is more action and can grab your attention quick. For this story to be told from a poem, Pitz makes it more appealing to a broader audience.

The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs, with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933). Part B.

An illustration of the ogre Grendel from Beowulf. Marshall, Henrietta Elizabeth (1908) 

Stories of Beowulf. Source Wikimedia.

Reading Notes: Beowulf Part A

Reading Notes: Beowulf Part A

The story of Beowulf is one of my favorites from English mythology. Reading it again is a joy as Pitz is very descriptive about the events that are happening. This version, compared to the poem I normally read is very easy to understand. With that being said a reader can engage more with the story than having to figure out how to read it. 

The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs, with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933). Part A.

An illustration of Beowulf sailing to Daneland, Marshall, Henrietta Elizabeth (1908) 

Stories of Beowulf. Source Wikimedia.

Reading Notes: Pacific Northwest Part B

Reading Notes: Pacific Northwest Part B

Part B followed the same writing style as Part A. Most of the stories were a little longer with more dialogue. The short stories of the Thunderbird were a standout. Coyote also made a bigger appearance in the second set of stories. Great way of presenting the subjects to the reader and easy to imagine the settings of the stories.


Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910). Part B.

Photo taken by Steve #781 March 16, 2015, Source: Pexels.

Reading Notes: Pacific Northwest Part A

Reading Notes: Pacific Northwest Part A

I liked these stories more compared to the southwestern stories I read last week. Although it is the same author the style is different. It could be also that I did not know much about the pacific northwest as well. These stories were all lengthed perfectly to go with the subject. Grey Fox, Kemush and Ashish really stood out. The origin stories of how the world and things like fire were made did a good job at revolving around the region.

Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910). Part A.

Image taken by Eric Kilby, July 31, 2016. Source: Flickr

Reading Notes: Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes Part A

Reading Notes: Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes Part A

This collection of stories focused a lot towards the Fire Goddess Pele. These stories taught me more about Pele then I could remember and also helped to bring some stories back from memory. Adding descriptions to Hawaiian words helps the reader understand the meaning of them. I should look into using more of the Hawaiian language in my stories as Westervelt has done. It might make people more interested in the culture as a whole.

Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes by W. D. Westervelt Part A

Photo taken by Prayitno, September 18, 2014

Volcano Goddess Pele, Source: Flickr.

Reading Notes: Southwestern and California Legends Part B

Reading Notes: Southwestern and California Legends Part B

Part B was more about the origins of certain forms of weather. I enjoyed reading these stories a lot more. Still short and written to where they were easy to read. Not a lot of detail but gave enough for you to visualize the surrounding areas. The writing style also makes you envision a narrator telling the stories. I really liked the story about how a child that was considered weird ended up becoming a god.

Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest by Katharine Berry Judson (1912). Part B

Image taken by ForestWander, 9 February 2011 Source: Wikimedia

Reading Notes: Southwestern and California Legends Part A

Reading Notes: Southwestern and California Legends Part A

The trend between the stories for the first half of the unit appear to be animals. The only real mention of men is in that they were created by animals from the earth or some other form from an animal's body. The collection of stories are mostly creation stories. They are simple and to the point, not a lot of detail. Could work for an audience that is just trying to power through. 

Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest by Katharine Berry Judson (1912). Part A

Image taken by ForestWander, 9 February 2011 Source: Wikimedia

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki) Part A

The writing in the first 3 stories of the unit was done well. It kept me engaged in the story and made me want to continue through to the end. The first story gave a feeling of excitement when the centipede was coming down the mountain and there was only one arrow left. The second story gave great descriptions of visuals and had a perfect ending to a tragic start, a lot of depth. The third made you really think about life, the reflection was amazing. I am looking forward to Part B and I am going to use some of these influences in my upcoming stories.

 Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908). Part A

Rodtico21, 3 March 2013

Reading Notes: West African Folktales Part B

Reading Notes: West African Folktales Part A

Reading Part B was a delightful change of stories from Part A. These stories focused more on the animals than just Anansi. A lot of the stories were humorous or tried to give a life lesson. The writing style was still the same though. You could visualize the animals going through the tasks in each story and felt for them if something did happen.

West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair, with drawings by Cecilia Sinclair (1917). Part B

Max Pixel Source

Reading Notes: West African Folktales Part A

Reading Notes: West African Folktales Part A

The collection of stories for Anansi seem to follow a similar trend revolving around food for the most part. Anansi is always looking at how to get everything for himself and in the end seems to always lose. These stories so far have been humorous seeing something put so much effort into the tricks, lies and deceit to gain an advantage to only fail in the end. If Anansi had a little more patience and actually thought things through a little more carefully he could have been a lot worse of a threat than he was.

West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair, with drawings by Cecilia Sinclair (1917). Part A

Image by Philipp Ruch, Dec. 17, 2013 Source Pixabay

Reading Notes: The Romance of Old Japan part A

Reading Notes: The Romance of Old Japan part A

The Romance of Japan is a creation story told from the perspective of the different God's with a narrator filling in the blanks and describing the actions and scenes as they are happening. E. W. Champney and F. Champney do a marvelous job of making the mind see the creation of the world with each sentence that is said.

The Romance of Old Japan Part A

Kobayashi Eitaku, Izanagi and Izanami, c. 1885. Source

Reading Notes: The Life of Buddha Part A

The Life of Buddha is an interesting story to read. From the moment the story begins you get the feeling that all of the emotions expressed in the story are somewhat exaggerated. For the first portion of part A it seems as it is all glamour and riches, the perfect lifestyle. I am a person who disconnects with that type of writing. 

Andre Ferdinand Herold's style shows that King Suddhodana apparently is so caught up with all the shiny and upscale things that he is out of touch with what his son truly is.

The Life of Buddha Part A

Birth of Buddha at Lumbini

 Source Wikimedia

Reading Notes: The Voyages of Sindbad Part B

Reading Notes: The Voyages of Sindbad

A story from the main character seems to appeal to a lot of people. This story is not as long as it could be. The author gives a view of the surroundings, the scenario and a pretty short and sweet description of what happens during that time. Most stories could spend an entire chapter on one scenario. The author spends a little over a paragraph on the major plot point.

The Voyages of Sindbad Part B

5th voyage of Sinbad the Sailor in the "One Thousand and One Nights". 

Illustration from "Les Mille et une nuits", par Galland - Paris, 1865.  Source: Wikimedia

Reading Notes: The Voyages of Sindbad Part A

Reading Notes: The Voyages of Sindbad

Sindbad is a great story teller. Getting a first person perspective of his many adventures gives it a more personal view. He always seems to get away from every predicament and wealthier than he was going into each adventure.

The great thing about these tales is that they could be told in any time and any type of religion, not necessarily the same as the source. Sinbad could also be a woman, family or just group of friends searching for wealth.

The Voyages of Sindbad Part A

5th voyage of Sinbad the Sailor in the "One Thousand and One Nights". 

Illustration from "Les Mille et une nuits", par Galland - Paris, 1865.  Source: Wikimedia

Reading Notes Homer's Iliad (retold by A.J. Church) Part B

Reading Notes Homer's Iliad (retold by A.J. Church) Part A

Part B focuses on the battle of Troy. Achilles and his part in the battle are the main focal point. Shortening the actual original text is a good way to keep a reader interested. 

I am still thinking an alternate futuristic approach with this one. 

Homer's Iliad (retold by A.J. Church) Part B

Achilles Slays Hector

Peter Paul Rubens, circa 1630-1635. Source