Comments on: The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/ Maw Books - book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, online bookstore and more! Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:14:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Join in on the Bookworms Carnival http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-4909 Join in on the Bookworms Carnival Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:46:12 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-4909 [...] contributed post to this months carnival is my book review on The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel is a retelling of the classic tale but set in Poland during the [...] […] contributed post to this months carnival is my book review on The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel is a retelling of the classic tale but set in Poland during the […]

]]> By: tracy http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-4815 tracy Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:55:11 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-4815 I hadn't heard of this book before but I would still read it despite the comment. Very insightful review:) I hadn’t heard of this book before but I would still read it despite the comment. Very insightful review:)

]]> By: Amanda http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-4737 Amanda Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:49:22 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-4737 Wow. Great review! I've read about this book before and really want to read it. I love how you inserted the controversy of this book. I guess when I first read about it I didn't think it was a disrespectful at all. Although I haven't read the book I do think that she used the story of Hansel and Gretel because it's one that many of us are familiar with. But I disagree with the argument of Barbara Lipkin that only Germans, Jews, or Polish she can't write about the Holocaust. If only those with first-hand knowledge are able to write about the Holocaust, we will soon forget the atrocity happened as the generations who were there are no longer living. I'll have to read the book to see how I feel about the book though. Thank you for posting this interesting review! Wow. Great review! I’ve read about this book before and really want to read it. I love how you inserted the controversy of this book. I guess when I first read about it I didn’t think it was a disrespectful at all. Although I haven’t read the book I do think that she used the story of Hansel and Gretel because it’s one that many of us are familiar with.

But I disagree with the argument of Barbara Lipkin that only Germans, Jews, or Polish she can’t write about the Holocaust. If only those with first-hand knowledge are able to write about the Holocaust, we will soon forget the atrocity happened as the generations who were there are no longer living. I’ll have to read the book to see how I feel about the book though.

Thank you for posting this interesting review!

]]> By: Mrs S | Blue Archipelago http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-4642 Mrs S | Blue Archipelago Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:19:16 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-4642 Wow this sounds like some book given the amount of debate it's generated - I might have to check this one out. Wow this sounds like some book given the amount of debate it’s generated - I might have to check this one out.

]]> By: Lightheaded http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-3491 Lightheaded Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:38:34 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-3491 Lots of interesting things going on here! Like you I can see where the reviewer is coming from. The Holocaust is indeed real, it happened and it was indeed gruesome (an understatement to say the least). But to say that it was inappropriate for anyone for that matter to write a story, a fairy tale even, out of it is a narrow-minded point of view particularly because stories - be they fairy tale or otherwise - mirror something that's real and emotionally accessible to the reader. I haven't read the book but I could easily understand the setting used. I agree with you that the author was ingenious in using them (although hopefully I get to read the book soon). Hansel and Gretel are apt names, the themes on the original tale are equally applicable on the events during the Holocaust so I could say that it didn't trivialize in any way what people went through. As I was browsing through the other comments I felt that a handful already expressed things better than what I'm trying to say :) So I'll stop now and add this book to my wishlist. Lots of interesting things going on here!

Like you I can see where the reviewer is coming from. The Holocaust is indeed real, it happened and it was indeed gruesome (an understatement to say the least). But to say that it was inappropriate for anyone for that matter to write a story, a fairy tale even, out of it is a narrow-minded point of view particularly because stories - be they fairy tale or otherwise - mirror something that’s real and emotionally accessible to the reader.

I haven’t read the book but I could easily understand the setting used. I agree with you that the author was ingenious in using them (although hopefully I get to read the book soon). Hansel and Gretel are apt names, the themes on the original tale are equally applicable on the events during the Holocaust so I could say that it didn’t trivialize in any way what people went through.

As I was browsing through the other comments I felt that a handful already expressed things better than what I’m trying to say :) So I’ll stop now and add this book to my wishlist.

]]> By: Tasses http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-2925 Tasses Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:28:20 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-2925 I absolutely love this book, having read it years ago. I'm glad you posted the review from Amazon. I've often wondered why the book didn't get more 'buzz,' and perhaps this is the reason. Maybe reviewers/promoters felt that they might be jumping into a hot seat? I found absolutely nothing disrespectful about the story. I think some people get so caught up in the absolute horror of the holocaust, they forget there were individual stories playing out. In fact, by adding the misty shadow of fairy tale to the horrors of the holocaust, it created an ethereal world of fright so much more intensified. I, too, have read many holocaust stories and this is certainly one of the very best. (jumped over from Bookworms Carnival) I absolutely love this book, having read it years ago. I’m glad you posted the review from Amazon. I’ve often wondered why the book didn’t get more ‘buzz,’ and perhaps this is the reason. Maybe reviewers/promoters felt that they might be jumping into a hot seat?

I found absolutely nothing disrespectful about the story. I think some people get so caught up in the absolute horror of the holocaust, they forget there were individual stories playing out. In fact, by adding the misty shadow of fairy tale to the horrors of the holocaust, it created an ethereal world of fright so much more intensified. I, too, have read many holocaust stories and this is certainly one of the very best.

(jumped over from Bookworms Carnival)

]]> By: Alessandra http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-2919 Alessandra Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:07:30 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-2919 This book looks very interesting. Thanks for the great review! I've read a acouple of books about the Holocaust which were totally fictionalized, and I can't see why this would mean to "trivialize" real facts and so on. This book looks very interesting. Thanks for the great review!

I’ve read a acouple of books about the Holocaust which were totally fictionalized, and I can’t see why this would mean to “trivialize” real facts and so on.

]]> By: Becky http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-2918 Becky Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:39:56 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-2918 This one looks interesting. I am wondering how it compares to Briar Rose? Another fictionalized account that combines fairy tale elements with the Holocaust... This one looks interesting. I am wondering how it compares to Briar Rose? Another fictionalized account that combines fairy tale elements with the Holocaust…

]]> By: Natasha Maw http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-2426 Natasha Maw Wed, 28 May 2008 05:10:07 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-2426 I agree with all of the comments made thus far. It was an interesting read, harsh and brutal as all Holocaust books are. I love the discussion and opinions given! I really want to read Briar Rose. I'll be pushing that to the top of the pile. Oh and to Amy, this is not a children's or YA book. It's adult all the way. A lot of bad language and a few graphic scenes. I agree with all of the comments made thus far. It was an interesting read, harsh and brutal as all Holocaust books are. I love the discussion and opinions given!

I really want to read Briar Rose. I’ll be pushing that to the top of the pile.

Oh and to Amy, this is not a children’s or YA book. It’s adult all the way. A lot of bad language and a few graphic scenes.

]]> By: Kim L http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-2210 Kim L Wed, 21 May 2008 01:33:09 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/12/the-true-story-of-hansel-and-gretel-by-louise-murphy/#comment-2210 I have not read this book in particular, but that comment at the end brought to mind the book "Briar Rose" by Jane Yolen, which is a sort of retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but it is really a Holocaust novel. I see absolutely nothing wrong with intertwining the two, and if only Holocaust survivors could write Holocaust books, we would run out people to write eventually! I don't think we should put limits like that on a writer's creativity just because the topic at hand happens to be the Holocaust. I have not read this book in particular, but that comment at the end brought to mind the book “Briar Rose” by Jane Yolen, which is a sort of retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but it is really a Holocaust novel. I see absolutely nothing wrong with intertwining the two, and if only Holocaust survivors could write Holocaust books, we would run out people to write eventually!

I don’t think we should put limits like that on a writer’s creativity just because the topic at hand happens to be the Holocaust.

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