Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
Thank you everybody who told me to read Briar Rose by Jane Yolen. I can’t give just one person credit because so many people told me about this wonderful book.
Jane Yolen is not a author that’s new to me, in fact I read and reviewed The Devil’s Arithmetic (my book review here) earlier this year. So I found it quite interesting that she wrote not one, but two Holocaust books. But Briar Rose is not like most Holocaust books, it’s the retold story of Sleeping Beauty. Sleeping Beauty and the Holocaust?! What a interesting combination. And I say, not like most Holocaust books, because funny enough I read The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy (my book review here) earlier last month, which is also a retold fairy tale set during the Holocaust. What are the odds?
Briar Rose is the story of Becca and her grandmother Gemma, who told and retold the Briar Rose fairy tale constantly. Becca knew the story from heart, she’d heard it so often. It isn’t until Gemma is on her deathbed that she reveals that she really is Briar Rose, awakened by the kiss of a prince. Gemma’s life is shrouded in mystery. Not even her own family knows anything about her personal history. Using a single wooden box engraved with briars and roses with random scraps of paper and clippings inside as her only guide, she takes off for Poland determined to find out the meaning of her grandmother’s last words.
It is there that Becca learns of castles, princesses, deep sleep, and being awakened with a kiss. But this is no fairy tale. This is horror, sadness, death, and cruelty. Our fairy tale has turned into death camps, Nazi’s, Jews, gas chambers and mass graves.
I thought that Jane Yolen did an amazing job weaving the two stories into a coherent whole. Briar Rose was a page turner that I could not put down. The only critical thing that I could mention is that the love interest in this story was completely unnecessary and I wonder why it was even there. But that aside, I’d highly recommend this one.
I thought that it was interesting to note that this book was published for adults and then republished as Young Adult. So a good one across the board.
In my book review of The True Story of Hansel and Gretel, I asked the question: is it appropriate to contrive the facts of the Holocaust to fit into a fairy tale story? I couldn’t help but think of that question while reading Briar Rose. I felt that it was perfectly appropriate, very well done, in good taste, and in no way trivialized the Holocaust. In fact, it made me think about it in ways that I haven’t before.
And because I can see the search terms coming in already “Why did Jane Yolen write Briar Rose?” I’d thought I’d include the answer that I found on Jane Yolen’s website:
The idea for an adult novel on the subject of the Holocaust came to me when I was watching the documentary “Shoah” in which the concentration camp Chelmno was described. It was a camp in a castle. Castle, barbed wire, and the gassing of innocent folk. It suggested the fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty” in a horrible way. Yet I had recently done a YA novel about the Holocaust–”The Devil’s Arithmetic”–and wasn’t eager to visit that awful research again. But when I had lunch with Terri Windling, the editor of a series of adult novels all based around folk tales, I told her about this camp. She urged me to write the book.
So far, I’ve enjoyed Jane Yolen who is quite the varied and prolific author. Thanks everybody for turning me on to Briar Rose.
Sounds great–I’m adding it to my list!
on June 12th, 2008 at 4:57 am“I felt that it was perfectly appropriate, very well done, in good taste, and in no way trivialized the Holocaust.”
I completely agree. I absolutely adore this book and I’m so glad that you enjoyed it too!
on June 12th, 2008 at 5:25 amI’m adding it to my list, too. My parents had a large collection of young adult Holocaust literature that I read when I was little, but I haven’t had a chance to read any published in the last few years. The concept sounds intriguing, and I look forward to reading it (along with a couple others you mentioned there).
on June 12th, 2008 at 6:09 amThanks Natasha! I’ve heard of this book, but really had no idea what it was about. Definitely going on the wish list.
on June 12th, 2008 at 7:43 amI’m adding it to my list too. Thanks for an intrigueing review.
on June 12th, 2008 at 2:24 pmBriar Rose has been on my wishlist for a while now but your review has renewed my interest in reading it. Thanks.
on June 12th, 2008 at 4:24 pmI’ve this book in my pile! Can’t wait to read it…
on June 12th, 2008 at 7:07 pmAnother for my TBR pile. Sleeping Beauty and the Holocaust… that has to be an interesting read. ****Also thank you so much for that surprise in the mail!!! Such a wonderful thing to find waiting for me :)****
on June 12th, 2008 at 11:47 pmHi Natasha - nice to *meet* you! You’ve got a great book review site and I was interested to see that you live in Utah. My hubby and I are both alumni of BYU. Love that school!
on June 13th, 2008 at 9:47 amI’m going to add your site to my Bloglines so I can keep up with your reviews.
I also read a ton of Holocaust books when I was growing up, but have never read this one. Bad me!It’s on my list now.
Have a good one,
Kimberley
I love your site! It’s great! After your review of this book I’m going to add it to my TBR list. Sounds good.
on June 13th, 2008 at 6:05 pmThis little book impressed me a lot. I think there’s much to be said about how the Holocaust is more accessible indirectly, in fictional and mythical ways than it is in “truth”. The documentary she refers to, Shoah, gets into that, too.
In case you’re tempted, I’d skip Tam Lin from the same series. Much longer, and less effective.
on June 14th, 2008 at 6:13 amSmallWorld - Great!
Nymeth - Oh good. I’m going to have to go read your review.
Little Miao - There is so much Holocaust literature out there that it’s hard to keep track of them.
Debi - You’re welcome! I’m glad you’re going to read it.
CB James - You’re welcome!
Sarah - Yes, move it up. It was a quick read too.
Melody - I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
Kathleen - You’re so very welcome. Yours was the package that for some odd reason took me forever to get out. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Kimberley - I’m a BYU alumn as well! Yay! Thanks for stopping by, I love “new” people!
Darlene - Thanks so much for leaving a comment as well! I hope you stop by often. I’ll make sure your blog is in my reader.
Girl Detective - Thanks for the warning on Tam Lin and I shall have to look into Shoah.
on June 14th, 2008 at 4:28 pmI’ve just added this book to my reading list. Thanks for posting about it!
on June 19th, 2008 at 11:34 amThe cover of this one is what attracted me. It’s so intriguing! However, I’m not sure I would like the fairy tale theme, so I’m a bit hesitant.
on June 29th, 2008 at 11:53 amThanks for the recommendation. My review is here:
on July 14th, 2008 at 5:17 pmhttp://smallworldreads.blogspot.com/2008/07/book-review-briar-rose.html
hi i love the name and cover not yet have i read this book but soon will i have to lead myself to it i totally adore knowing my name is briar i have heard i this rose but not seen it
on August 26th, 2008 at 9:53 pm