Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty

By: Charles Seddon Evans

Summary:

A Queen's dream to have a child comes true. While a kingdom celebrates and bestows gifts, a recluse brings a curse. Does the Princess die or fall asleep? Is she the only one? Read the story the Disney classic was based on. What was kept and what was kept out.

The story opens with the Queen longing for a child of her own. A magical frog appears during her bath and predicts that by the following year she will be holding her own baby. Sure enough, a beautiful girl is born. The Royal parents name her Briar Rose and celebrate her arrival with a christening a few weeks later. Lords and Ladies, Princes, Ambassadors from foreign countries all come bearing gifts for the beloved infant. While the kingdom's fairies all bestow gifts of virtues upon the infant, the lone recluse fairy shows her anger by giving the gift of death. she declares that on her 15th birthday, Briar Rose will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die immediately. During all this, one fairy has remained hidden, but comes forth to give her gift. She can't undo the horrible spell, but she does alter it: the Princess will sleep for 100 years, at which time a Prince will come to awaken her.

Sure enough, come her 15th birthday, the spell comes true despite burning every spinning wheel. However, it isn't just the Princess who falls asleep for 100 years, but everyone within the castle. 100 years later, and numerous failed attempts by other Princes, one Prince unfamiliar to the castle and it's spell asks about it. He sets out to be the one to break the spell and does.

I thoroughly loved reading this fairy tale. I thought Disney stayed pretty close to the story and what they did change made sense for the audience they were targeting. I thought I knew the story, but was pleasantly surprised to read the whole castle- with everyone & everything in it- fell asleep for 100 years as well. It was so interesting to read how the outer castle was taken over by plant and thorn growth, but only for so far. When the Prince tackles the thorns and plants he wasn't the only one surprised by the beautiful vegetation and castle found with in the growth- just there sleeping.

I look forward to sharing this fairy tale with my daughters once they get older. I have no doubt that I will read this one numerous times.

Rating: Buy It! Though it was a free ebook for the Kindle

Fairy Tale Reading

Like countless children before me, I loved fairy tales as I grew up. Thanks to Disney, many have been brought to life, with a new twist, and for generations to grow up with. But, what were the movies based on? I've often wondered and now I set out to find out. I recently found a handful of fairy tales to read. While I'm well aware of the fact that they may not be the original story, I am still curious to see how they were told.

I have decided to go on a little fairy tale adventure and I'm taking all of you with me. I've picked out 4 fairy tales to read, all of which I've seen the popular movie to. I'm going to read & compare the stories to what I grew up knowing of them. Here they are:

• Sleeping Beauty
• Beauty and the Beast
• Cinderella
• Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp

Here's to Once Upon A Time...

Reading Invitation- The Count Of Monte Cristo

Join Jen's Corner in reading:

The Count of Monte Cristo

By: Alexander Dumas

Oh how I have missed reading the classics! I've had a real itch to get back to them lately. I've never read The Count of Monte Cristo before, so I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone loves about it. My husband, Dave, has agreed to read it with me since it's his favorite book of all time. the latest installment of  my Journey Through The Classics reading list has been turned into a family reading. My Dad is even seriously thinking of reading it with us. I'm going to try and get my brother & sister in on it, too.

If you would like to read The Count of Monte Cristo feel free to join in! I would love to hear what people like or don't like about this classic. A summary of the book is below.

Dashing young Edmond Dantès has everything. He is engaged to a beautiful woman, is about to become the captain of a ship, and is well liked by almost everyone. But his perfect life is shattered when he is framed by a jealous rival and thrown into a dark prison cell for 14 years.

The greatest tale of betrayal, adventure, and revenge ever written, The Count of Monte Cristo continues to dazzle readers with its thrilling and memorable scenes, including Dantès’s miraculous escape from prison, his amazing discovery of a vast hidden treasure, and his transformation into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo—a man whose astonishing thirst for vengeance is as cruel as it is just.

 --bn.com



Mystery Month!!

Since I've been reading a lot of mysteries lately, I thought I'd embrace it. So I'm turning the month of June into Mystery Month. I'm going to be compiling my list so I can jump right in on the 1st. You are welcome to read the books along with me.