Book Description
The origins of Disney's masterpieces and the works the studio in turn inspired are the subject of this lavishly illustrated book.
While the works of Walt Disney rank among the icons of American mass culture, it is easy to forget that Disney's characters and stories were inspired by original works of art. Now the sources that motivated Disney's imagination--and the artists that his studio in turn influenced--are brought to light. From the launching of the Walt Disney Company until the founder's death in 1967, this book includes more than 300 original works selected from the Disney archives and from private collections, together with paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and film stills.
Here Disney fans will discover the fairy tales behind Sleeping Beauty and Snow White; they'll learn that Pinocchio's village was modeled on the mediaeval city of Rothenburg in Bavaria; that Bambi's forest took its inspiration from fifteenth-century Chinese painting; that Dumbo's bird's-eye views drew on the work of Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton. One chapter is devoted to the mutually admiring relationship between Salvador Dali and Disney. Finally, the book looks at the myriad ways in which Disney's products became source materials for modern and contemporary artists, including Prokofiev and Leopold Stokowski as well as Christian Boltanski, Bertrand Lavier, Peter Saul, and Gary Baseman. A wonderful sourcebook for Disney enthusiasts, this colorful volume offers a unique perspective on the often-overlooked links between highbrow and popular culture.
Customer Reviews:
Hard to nail this one down..........2007-10-18
Here at Denny Magic Studios we make a point of acquiring anything and everything Disney, it's part of our ongoing education by being in the theme park design business. This passion surrounding the Disney brothers also dictated that we attend the traveling museum show on Walt which we found mesmerizing. However, although this book delivers some wonderful color plates and some good information all rolled into a beautiful coffee table presentation, and without chastising it in any way...we found that we were not too excited about it. There are several colored plates that seem to be rather rare, and the information seems well researched, but there was something that we could not put our finger on that kept it from being an exciting acquisition. Therefore we feel that if you are a die hard fan of Disney... then yes, you are going to want this book. If you are interested in Disney but not "fanatical" then you might want to wait until this one goes on sale.
Chicken and Egg.......2007-08-23
Great book to see the images the Disney artists drew from for inspiration and design. Today the Disney images are considered the icons but to see their source material allows for an introduction to the original work, which is wonderful, and therefore have a deeper appreciation of each art form, both fine and animated. A worthwhile catalogue if you were unable to see the exhibit.
A cool cultural collage.......2007-05-03
Wow! Whether you're an art lover, Disney fan, or simply fascinated by Western culture, you owe it to yourself to add this remarkable book to your collection. Much thicker than a typical coffee-table tome, this big, heavy art anthology was published as a companion to an art exhibition of the same name, which collected works from both the Disney archive as well as 50 museums worldwide. The exhibit was shown in Paris last fall and is currently (spring 2007) on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. It was compiled by Bruno Girveau, a principal curator at the National School of Fine Arts in Paris.
A delight to browse through, the book reproduces hundreds of original Disney pen-and-ink sketches, conceptual watercolors and actual production pieces for films from 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" to 1967's "Jungle Book"; as well as many of the historic art pieces and other cultural material that inspired Walt Disney and his artists. For example, a section on the Evil Queen from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is brilliantly illustrated with a Gothic column statue from Naumburg, an 1898 French oil ("Woman in a Black Hat," George de Feure), a 1937 Disney production celluloid and a 1940 publicity shot of film actress Joan Crawford -- all of which appear to show the same person. (The text is good, too. This section includes a short essay pondering the effects of Walt Disney's hard-luck childhood.)
A chapter on pop art includes two interpretations of Donald Duck by Roy Lichtenstein and another by Andy Warhol -- and those are the dullest pieces! My favorite is David Mach's Matchstick Mickey, a real Mickey doll being eaten by a giant purple head made of nothing but purple matchsticks and glue. Other highlights in the book include more than a dozen gorgeous conceptual watercolors for "Alice in Wonderland" by Disney artists David Hall and Mary Blair, and a discussion that the Blue Fairy from "Pinocchio" is actually an animated homage to Hollywood's original blond bombshell, Jean Harlow.
My only gripe is the book's organization and index. The chapters are grouped not by film, but rather the exhibit's themes of "Disney's European Sources," "Walt Disney and Literature and Cinema," "Disney and Pop Art," etc.; and the index is only by artist. Still, what a find!
-- By Julie Neal, author of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World.
Book Description
Once Upon A Time is a game in which the players create a story together, using cards that show typical elements from fairy tales. One player is the Storyteller, and creates a story using the ingredients on her cards. She tries to guide the plot towards her own ending. The other players try to use cards to interrupt her and become the new Storyteller. The winner is the first player to play out all her cards and end with her Happy Ever After card.
The second edition of Once Upon a Time is available now. It features a full-color format, beautiful new art, an extended card set, high-quality linen-finish cards, and blank cards to script your own endings.
Customer Reviews:
Good game for creative individuals or a classroom setting.......2007-10-06
This game is for 2 to 6 players and is recommended for ages 8 and up, although all you need to play are basic reading skills and a healthy imagination. The game consists of a 16 page rulebook, 112 "Once Upon A Time" storytelling cards, and 56 "Happy Ever After" ending cards. Blank cards are included, so players can add their own ideas if desired. The object of the game is to use up all your storytelling cards, and end up by playing your ending card. All the other players are trying to direct the story towards their own ending. There are two ways to interrupt the current "storyteller" and take over the direction of the story.
The "One Upon A Time" cards are divided into five different groups as follows: Characters, Items, Places, Aspects, and Events.
Examples of ending or "Happy Ever After" cards include: "And there they sit to this very day", "As dawn broke they could see it was perfect" - and my own personal favorite - "And he listened to his mother's advice from then on."
Could be educational as well when used in a classroom setting (such as literature, theatre arts, etc.) to explore the different elements of a good story and how they are woven together.
Love it.......2007-05-12
I love this game and recommend it if you have a large group of people over a lot and want to find a way to entertain.
The play of History.......2007-01-10
Once Upon a Time is the play of history. This game IS to tell a history with you comrades and you'll have realy goodtimes with this game.
A favorite for all.......2006-08-18
A friend introduced me to this game and after only playing it once, I knew I had to get it for myself. The very day I bought it, my family and I spent hours playing it. It really helps your storytelling abilities and it teaches you how to think quickly. I believe that children and adults of all ages would enjoy playing this game. The artwork is fantastic and I love that they provide blank cards for you to come up with your own story elements. As a writer, I also find the storytelling helpful in exercising my own creative talents. Everyone should at least play it once. I warn you, its very easy to get hooked after only one time!
Fun, but not for everybody.......2006-02-09
In this game, you have to get rid of your cards by telling a story in which the elements on the cards are used. As you use the elements, then you can discard your cards. The aim is to tell the story in such a way that you reach the ending on your card. Other players may interrupt at certain times, so everyone has a chance to join in the storytelling fun.
The downside of this game is that it isn't for everybody. Those who don't start the game with the right attitude, won't have any fun with this game and will drag it down. This game would probably work best with children or with adults who are into roleplaying. Definitely not for those who aren't creative.
Book Description
Increasingly heralded for his influence, Slim Aarons has established his place in the pantheon of great postwar photographers. It was Aarons who perfected, if not invented, the environmental portrait while photographing the international elite in their exclusive playgrounds during the jet-set decades of the '50s, '60s, and '70s, carrying out his self-described mission: to document "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places."
This luxurious book is the ultimate insider's view of the lifestyles of the wealthy, privileged, and powerful. Aarons's first book in nearly 30 years (his long-out-of-print A Wonderful Time is a collector's item fetching more than $1,000 a copy) is an eagerly anticipated publishing event. Presenting Hollywood royalty, European aristocracy, the grande dames of high society, captains of industry, media moguls, statesmen, and luminaries of various stripes, across a vast geography of opulent and glamorous settings, Slim Aarons's photographs-some 250 of which are included here-define the Beautiful People and document a lost era of style, grace, and grandeur.
Customer Reviews:
Reveries.......2006-02-10
ONCE UPON A TIME is an apropos title for this photomontage of a book. Slim Aarons has the enviable job as a photographer of capturing the rich and famous in their haunts around the world. Now that doesn't seem like a worthy topic for a book, especially now that the factions between the rich and not rich are taking a lot of space in the media. But taking this book as a memento of a time lost, a time when leisure meant beautiful places, elegant food and drink and fashion, passages to spas such as Portofino just for the beauty of the views, turning the pages of this book with that state of mind results in some lovely reveries of how things used to be.
Slim Aarons followed the genteel folk around the globe and while his 'portraits' are not the usual stiff and staid formats, his glimpses of people within the environs is unparalleled. For many the views of the scenery, landscapes, seascapes, wondrous architecture, the concert halls, all captured in alluring light, will be the highlight of this volume. The overall feeling of browsing through Aarons' memoir-like photographs is one of traveling back in time, almost with a fairytale like imagery.
For armchair historians, sociologists, and lovers of foreign places this book will satisfy. Though the locales depicted herein still exist (for the most part) they were never as romantically inclined as Aarons makes them. Grady Harp, February 06
Rehash of previous work.......2006-01-04
I was so disappointed. This book is about 80% material that was previously published in a much classier book, A Wonderful Time. Readers lucky enough to have the earlier book should not waste their money on this rehash.
slim aarons: once upon a time.......2005-09-02
Enjoyable reprint which gives a look at the charms, lifestyle, beauties and characters of about a half century ago..looks as if some of the photos from the original edition were not included, but not sure. Aarons is a bold and creative photographer, that's for sure. Thanks.
a WASPs nest of photos!.......2005-05-18
Very nice, a bit WASP heavy but what do you expect for the time? A fun look into a world gone by.
Wow! Was I born too late?.......2004-05-12
Mr. Aarons...what a treasure! I won't bother with many words...just...wow is enough!
Book Description
"ONCE UPON A TIME"
IS TIMELESS
Etienne de Brabant is brokenhearted. His wife has died in childbirth, leaving him alone with an infant daughter he cannot bear to name. But before he abandons her for king and court, he brings a second child to be raised alongside her, a boy whose identity he does not reveal.
The girl, La Cendrillon, and the boy, Raoul, pass sixteen years in the servants' care until one day a very fine lady arrives with her two daughters. The lady has married La Cendrillon's father, and her arrival changes their lives.
When an invitation to a great ball reaches the family, La Cendrillon's new stepmother will make a decision with far-reaching effects. Her choice will lead La Cendrillon and Raoul toward their destiny -- a choice that will challenge their understanding of family, test their loyalty and courage, and, ultimately, teach them who they are.
Customer Reviews:
before midnight.......2007-10-09
Before Midnight
Before Midnight is a wonderful retelling of Cinderella. Constanze or Cendrillon was born at midnight and her mother, Constanze died. Her father was away and when he found that his wife was dead. He was very sad.When he got to the big stone house he had a baby boy with him the same age as Cendrillon. He was so sad he didn't come back for a long time.
I found this a very good book! The ending you would never expect but if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise. READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!!
Entaining, just a little slow to get pulled in.......2007-09-28
I am a huge Cinderella fan, and so this book seemed a perfect fit. But the first part of the book was slow reading, and it could have lost slower less dedicated readers. In the end it was worthwhile as a retelling of the classic fairytale, I just doubt that this will become a classic on its own.
before minight.......2007-08-30
i am currently almost finished with this book and love every page! this is kind of a new twist on "Cinderella". the stepmother and stepsisters, upon realizing who she really is, welcome her with open arms. Cendrillon (main chacter) is as gorgous as her mother was. her mother died in childbirth and her father cannot bear to look at her, let alone name her. her real name is Constaze, after her mother, but she was named Cindrillon "child of cinders" by Mathilde, the woman who delievered her.
this book was awsome and i couldn't put it down, which is pretty much the way with all of cameron dokey's other books, although i have to go back and re-read some due to the fact that i could not even get 1/3 of the way through them due to school and work. i am looking forward to her next release.
Dokey's Best in the Once Upon a Time Series.......2007-04-17
I definitely enjoyed reading this book. The descriptions are very elegant, and the entire feeling is moody. The way the author choose to retell Cinderella I have never seen done before, and it was an interesting take. The characters are likable and believable, and you even come to like the evil stepsister. On the down side, the heroin's relationship with the prince is unrealistic and shallow, but I will say that is somewhat typical of this series. In my opinion Snow by Tracy Lynn was better.
Cinderella as we have never seen her before.......2007-03-26
This tale has always been one of my favorite fairy tales and I have loved some of the different renditions of it like "Ever After" and "Diary of an Ugly Stepsister". "Before Midnight" is another great addition to the retellings of Cinderella. In this revision, Constanze de Brabant, or Cendrillion has been abandoned by her father Etienne because of the death of her mother. She is raised in obscurity with a mysterious boy Raoul by Old Mathilde until a noblewoman, Chantal de Saint-Andre, with her two daughters Amelie and Anastasia arrive. Chantal has married Etienne and she is now Cendrillion's stepmother, but Chantal is never told until secrets are discovered. I love the scene where they open Cendrillion's mother's room and see her portrait. Here Chantal exclaims it is so wicked of Etienne to throw away the most precious gift of all, Love. It is also in this scene that Cendrillion gets her wish of having a family at last.
I will not add too many spoilers and explain who Raoul really is and what happens at the "ball" but this tale which emphasizes the importance of embracing love and all the other feelings that come with it; is so lovingly rendered that both young and old romantics will love it.
Book Description
From the photographer of the bestselling I Spy books, Can You See What I See? Once Upon a Time is a rhyming, search-and-find picture book--especially for preschoolers! Twelve fascinating compositions depict favorite fairy tales, folk tales, and classic stories where readers can use the picture clues to search for dozens of intriguing hidden objects in a far, faraway land filled with toys!
Customer Reviews:
Great for kids and adults.......2007-09-16
My 6 year old daughter and I loved this book. We had a lot of fun looking for the list of hidden objects in the pictures and identifying other everyday objects in the pictures. The pictures are amazing. My husband and I even found it challenging to find some of the objects, but it was a lot of fun.
Terrific books.......2007-04-06
I love this author and illustrator. Wonderful series of books. Very vivid pictures; the manner in which it's written allows the books to be enjoyed by a wide age range. I bought all books by this author!
Yet another wonderful Walter Wick creation!!.......2007-01-20
Whether you choose to go with his 'I Spy' collection or this 'Can You See What I See' collection (or both!), you simply can not go wrong!! I have yet to see anyone (from my three year old niece to my 73 year old father!) not become engrossed in Walter Wick's works. We currently have ALL of the two collections, and I continue to buy more as gifts! Simply wonderful books for quality time with the kids, or quiet time for the adults as the children devour the beautiful pages on their own.
*Just a note--if your kids are 'pre-readers' they will need help with knowing what to look for--but you can give them three or four items at a time and then sit back and read something else for yourself! So, these books help with their learning to read, their observational skills, AND their memory skills--lol--not to mention YOUR memory skills when they ask, 'what was the third thing you said to look for?' Oops.... :-) 'Uh, let mommy see the page one more time..... lol....'
My children's all-time favorite books.......2007-01-19
If you want to spend some quiet time with your children at the end of the day, you can't go wrong here. The idea is to search for hidden items in each picture. The depth of detail in each scene is just amazing, and the pictures themselves are fascinating in their own right. There are plenty of easy finds to amuse a toddler, yet a wealth of subtle puzzles to challenge the older kids and adults. You have to see them to appreciate the rich detail that goes into each page. You can search for hidden items from the list on each page, or better yet, explore the pictures yourselves to find much more. Take turns and challenge each other.
We have all the "Can You See..." and "I Spy" books (also photographed by Walter Wick). These classic books never grow old, we find yet more hidden details each time we open them. Definitely keepers.
Not for those of us with OCD..........2007-01-10
This book overall is a lot of fun. However the last puzzle asks you to find "two witches" and try as we might we have only found one. Now for most kids this would not be an issue , but for my VERY thorough five-year-old it has become quite a problem (as it is the ONLY item in the book we can't find). So, if you have one of those kids who has to finish everything they start...beware!
Average customer rating:
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Adoption: Once upon a time : a history of the Ohio Children's Society, 1951 to 1971
Frances Cady
Manufacturer: The Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: B0006CJS00 |
Book Description
This violent and introspective memoir reveals not only 50 Cent's story but also the story of a generation of youth faced with hard choices and very few options. It is a tale of sacrifice, transformation, and redemption, but also one of hope, determination, and the power of self. Told in 50's unique voice, the narrative drips with the raw insight, street wisdom, and his struggle to survive at all costs -- and behold the riches of the American Dream.
Download Description
"GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' That's what this book is about--the good times and the bad times. I wrote this book to explain the world I come from. To a lot of people, I may be too young to reflect on life. And they may be right. But I'd be wasting my blessings if I didn't use the attention I'm getting to shed light on the experiences that have caused me to say the things I say and make the kind of music I make. I want to explain my environment to those who don't come any closer to it than the records they buy or the images they see on television. People want the truth. Even if they can't handle it, they want it. I let you know that I survived nine bullets not to sell records, but because it's the truth. Every time I sit down for an interview, I'm asked, ""Well, 50, how did it feel to get shot nine times?"" But those stories don't hold the weight, the pain, or the hope of my experience. It just can't. This is my mindset and these are the things that go on. This is why I say the rhymes that I say. This is what happened when I was trying to get rich before I died in Southside Queens. So begins From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside Queens, a violent and introspective memoir that reveals not only 50's story but the story of a generation of youth faced with hard choices and very little options. A tale of sacrifice, transformation and redemption, but it is also one of hope, determination and the power of self. Told in 50's own unique voice, the narrative drips with the raw insight, street wisdom, and his struggle to survive at all costs...and behold the riches of the American Dream. 50 Cent has sold over 20 million records worldwide. His record-breaking debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' has sold over 12 million units worldwide, with the largest debut in SoundScan history. While his sophomore effort, The Massacre, sold over 1.14 million copies in its fi rst four days of release, he has since become the fi rst artist to have four songs in the top ten of Billboard's Hot 100 since The Beatles in 1964. His business empire includes: a record label (G-Unit Records, a division of Interscope Records), apparel/footwear ventures (G-Unit Clothing and footwear, joint ventures through the Ecko Clothing Company and Reebok, respectively), vitamin water (Formula 50, through Glacéau's Vitamin Water), watch line (G-Unit Watches, through Jacob & Co), and a video game (50 Cent: Bulletproof, through Vivendi Games). His future plans are to dominate the film and television worlds through two new G-Unit ventures in film and television...and his most prized project: the nonprofit organization The G-Unity Foundation, which aims to better the life of urban youth. "
Customer Reviews:
Harsh, thrilling, and scary. This book its great!.......2007-04-17
From Pieces To Weight was a great book and I gave it five stars because of the writer's vivid descriptions of the harsh things that he experienced in his life. 50 Cent had to go through a really rough life. His mom died when he was a kid and he never new who his father was. 50 Cent knew he was going to be a drug dealer because everyone in his family sold drugs. I'm not going to give away the rest of the book but I suggest you read this book, it is really good.
Decent book for 50 Cent fans.......2007-03-22
I recently purchased this book for my fiance, who, obviously, loves 50 Cent. He read the first 50 pages the day it arrived, and I must tell you, he is NOT the type of person to sit down and read a book. It's about 50's life in Southside Queens and his experiences as a child up until his fame. While my fiance finds this book inspirational and exciting, I find the writing style to be fairly simple with 50 reiterating well-known facts (ex. You can't have life without death) and also presenting himself as an arrogant, almost martyr-type of character. Why do I say that? He talks about himself and his experiences in life (which may or may not be exaggerated) and repeatedly states that what he has gone through should be used as an example to others. He blames the media for his portrayal as a "bullet riddled rapper" but obviously, 50 uses it to his advantage without much complaint. He tries to come off as a mentor and inspiration, but I really did find him irritating at times. I think their are better role models for others to look up to. I'd rather read Sidney Poitier's memoirs than idolize 50 Cent. But that's just my view. For 50 Cent lovers, they'll be inspired and amazed.
From Pieces to Weights .......2007-01-13
I read the book From Pieces to Weights, by 50 cent. This book showed me how the streets are a hard place. There are a lot of people that think the streets are a horrible place and that there dangerous. Well they are dangerous, but there not horrible and many people think that there are horrible people that live in the area. This book showed me that many people on the streets hustling are really trying to find themselves. This book also showed me not to judge the people that are selling the drugs.
This book really touched me with what 50 cent was going though. His mom was killed for selling drugs and then he went and started to sell drugs. I really think he didn't have a choice because it's what he saw everyday. He watched his aunts and uncles and everyone else on the streets, and he probably thought that it was the right thing to do. This book was very well writing and I got hooked to it. I think 50 cent did a great job at telling his story.
I would recommend this book to anyone, I think mostly people who don't really know about the streets because it tells you a lot. I wouldn't recommend this book to people that do not like bad language used a lot. This book was very entertaining. I suggest you read it.
his book is the best.......2007-01-10
when I read his book he had some facts that I didn't know about. his book should reach the #1 spot on the book list.
Much better than I thought it would be.......2006-12-31
Pieces to Weight is really good. It is a straightforward and interesting read and gives you a glimpse into the forces that created 50 Cent and sustain his own continuing evolution of his image. It answers a lot of the street questions you may have about him, puts you in on street drug deals with him, and pulls you through a lot of his painful, sometimes scary and frustrated life. You rehabilitate with him though his excruciatingly painful injuries while the people around him go in and out of his life, sometimes supporting him and sometimes betraying him.
If you are curious about the forces that forged the man, and you enjoyed works like Pimp, the Story of my Life by Iceberg Slim or the Donald Goines series of books, this one will be a great read for you. Careful, your friends will "borrow" it and you won't ever see it again.
50 defers to Eminem, but he is the world-wide poster child for hard core, gangsta rap. One of the attributes (besides the "glamour" of being shot five times and surviving) that separates him from the rest is his attention to the details of his work, his professionalism, and the quality of his product. 50's music (from Dr. Dre and the other elite of the industry), plus his own growth as a musician, producer and hook writer has the unmistakable stamp of realism, talent and hard work. Some people, like me, think this equals genius. No wonder everything he touched turned to gold (platinum).
Love him or hate him, 50 is a mirror image of our society which is prudish about sex but glorifies violence, that sometimes treats our fellow citizens in the inner city like foreigners to either ignore or oppress. He literally is our creation. Facinating read.
Book Description
This haunting first collection of Annabelle's memories are filled with frightening stories and dark fairy tales about her various owners . Featuring the first 6 issues, as well as some other spookirific surprises, including an introduction by Tommy Kovac (Skelebunnies, Stitch and Autumn) as well as a guest page by Jhonen Vasquez and other SLG creators.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting story...okay illlustrations.......2007-10-07
The front cover was what made me buy the book, but once I got it and started reading it, the story was good but the illustrations were hard to make out. Sometimes all I could guess of what was going on was a couple of think black lines and some text. The story is what you should really buy it for, with the all the darkly funny, twisted fairy tales, but if you're more into the illustrations, it'd be best to look elsewhere.
Hoe Hum.........2006-12-22
It's not a bad book the imageries good, the stories somewhat interesting. But something is missing. It's worth buying but you may need both volumes to feel fully satisfied. If you like her artist style it's worth it for the pictures, but there is something lacking in the over all completed product that makes it hard for me to give it a higher rating.
Fairy Tales Back to Their Dark Roots.......2006-01-30
Before Disney changed things and made everyone think Fairy Tales are all about Bambis and fuzzy bunnies, Fairy Tales were dark, disturbing, and always had a meaning. Serena Valentino attempts to bring those fairy tales back to their dark roots, with art by FSc. And, for the most part, she succeeds. Each tale is dark and disturbing, and the each story is told with decieving simplicity. The dialogue is also simple; so simple that it feels juvenile, like something a high schooler might write during study hall (ok, perhaps that's a bit too severe...). Also, Valentino's original stories, such as the first story with the lesbian vampires, are simply not as strong as her own twists on such well known Fairy Tales as Cinderella and Snow White. And lastly, even though I feel FSc's art is strong and vivid, there are a few moments where the drawings are very sketchy, as if the artist simply forget to put the finishing touches on those frames. All in all though, Nightmares & Fairytales is more hit than miss, and is a good read for anyone in the mood for a dark comic.
Cute evil.......2006-01-19
I read the first comic when it was first released, and I fell in love with the artwork almost immediately. The writing is very lovely, some of the stories--especially in volume 2--are brilliant, but it can also fall a little flat at times. But the art, however, is what draws me to this series over and over again. FSc is a fabulous artist, she incorporates a vague anime sensibility couples with swirling, magical images. The characters--especially Gwen--are adorable, the worlds are filled with beauty, and there is an overabundance of cuteness.
I wish ALL fairy tales were like this.......2006-01-14
This is not a funny book. Er, not not-funny as in poor humor, but not funny as in it's not supposed to be a gut-buster. Not funny as in not bought to make you laugh, like Squee or Lenore would be. It is also drawn in a more manga-ish style than Dirge or Vasquez' stuff. It has some very cool stories, most are gorey spin-offs from fairy tales. It is told through the eyes of a little doll. Again, it's not supposed to be funny but it is fascinating. The drawings are sometimes vague and hard to follow, and the characters all look a bit too similar to easily disifer, the first few storues were a bit too confusing, and I had to carefully re-read certain part to get what was happening, but it's a good book. Definately worth figuring out.
The back also has trade art from Vasquez and Dirge, which I found a very pleasant suprise.
Average customer rating:
- Wow!
- The Magic Flute, made more magical
- "The Magic Flute" Retold
- Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan...
- Poorly Done
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Sunlight and Shadow (Once Upon a Time)
Cameron Dokey
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Similar Items:
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The Night Dance (Once Upon a Time)
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Scarlet Moon
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Water Song: A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" (Once Upon a Time)
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Before Midnight: A Retelling of "Cinderella" (Once Upon a Time)
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Golden (Once Upon A Time)
ASIN: 0689869991 |
Book Description
A new spin on "The Magic Flute" by an acclaimed author!
In a time when the world was young and many things were quite commonplace that are now entirely forgotten, Sarastro, Mage of the Day, wed Pamina, the Queen of the Night. And in this way was the world complete, for light was joined to dark. For all time would they be joined together. Only the ending of the world could tear them apart. In other words, in the days in which my parents married, there was no such thing as divorce....
Thus begins the tale of Mina, a girl-child born on the longest night of the darkest month of the year. When her father looked at her, all he saw was what he feared: By birth, by name, by nature, she belonged to the Dark. So when Mina turned sixteen, her father took her away from shadow and brought her into sunlight.
In retaliation, her mother lured a handsome prince into a deadly agreement: If he frees Mina, he can claim her as his bride.
Now Mina and her prince must endure deadly trials -- of love and fate and family -- before they can truly live happily ever after....
Customer Reviews:
Wow!.......2007-09-02
I have to admit, I was skeptical when I picked up this book. I don't really like romances, and I wondered if I'd be bored. I figured I'd read a chapter and put it down. I was sure wrong about that.
Cameron Dokey's got an amazing way with words and how she weaves them together: It's magical and the story flows together brilliantly. I just couldn't get over how likable she made the characters: ALL of them, not just the "good guys." The "bad guys" are not all bad, nor are they hopeless, and problems are resolved in interesting ways. I couldn't tell you who my favorite character is (though I lean toward Lapin, who is Mina's best friend and defender, player of the bells.) They have depth and their feelings are interesting, not dull or run-of-the-mill, and these characters do not have any yawn-ish conversations, either.
The story is fun and easy to follow, but it's not simple, as in predictible. In order to prove his love, Prince Tern (how cool of a name is that?) agrees to "Boss of the Day" Sarastro's conditions of a very interesting set of trials: And Sarastro's daughter, Mina goes with him. Ever wonder how mourning doves came to be? Clever Cameron Dokey tucks this into the trials that Tern and Mina endure.
I won't give away anything about the ending other than to say it is very satisfying, on more than one level. I will definitely pick up another Once Upon a Time book by Cameron Dokey!
The Magic Flute, made more magical.......2007-08-13
The Magic Flute isn't one of the classic Grimms' fairytales, so I wasn't at all familiar with it and failed to recognise it in the blurb. The story looked intriguing nonetheless: Sarastro, "Mage of the Day", and Pamina, "Queen of the Night", have a daughter who spends her life with her mother until she is 16 - whereupon she must leave to live with her father. The blurb then promises treachery and betrayal when Pamina lures a prince into a deadly agreement to win Mina as his bride.
Cameron Dokey puts a new spin on this story with first-person accounts from different - and very likeable - characters - mainly Mina, but also an orphaned girl who is brought up by Sarastro, Gayna; Lapin, a boy who owns a magical set of bells (not a flute), and Tern, the prince. Through their voices you get a glimpse of how they think and of how fate unfolds.
This is also a story of opposites. Night against day. Mina against Gayna. Mina with Statos and Tern. Gayna with Statos and Lapin. Love against hate and treachery. And of course, good against evil.
While everything seems quite separate at first, all the threads do wind together in the end quite satisfyingly. Everything that Sarastro does is based on trying to outwit a prophecy about Mina. The only problem is that, careful as he is, he may not have all the cards in his hands.
The tone of the book was refreshingly modern even though it is set in "a time that was young and many things were commonplace that are now forgotten". Sarastro and Pamina don't speak to each other, so Mina grows up wondering what her father is like. Sarastro tears her from her mother when she is just shy of 16, breaking the original agreement and causing a great deal of defiance on Mina's part. Gayna is hopelessly in love with Sarastro's guard Statos, but he's not interested in her. It makes absorbing reading.
And in the background there is Lapin, whom I count as my favourite character. He inherits a set of magical bells which can call your true love to you. While he practices listening to the music of his heart, he ends up calling birds instead. Lots of birds.
What Lapin and Pamina do after Mina has been stolen away by Sarastro is ingenious, and entirely within the rules of the game. I felt the blurb was totally misleading when it claimed that Pamina had lured Tern into a set of deadly trials. Sarastro set those trials, and Tern agreed to rescue Mina of his own free will.
Of course everything ends well and all live happily ever after. The story is shorter than I would have liked but it's very easy reading but sticks with you for a long while after. That's the best kind of story to own.
"The Magic Flute" Retold.......2007-07-09
"Sunlight and Shadow" was the first book in the "Once Upon a Time" series that I read. It wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed it.
The story is a retelling of Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute", but it still manages to be original. The author puts some nice twists on an old story that was interesting and pretty original to begin with. It can be a little confusing because there are several narrators who switch without much notice, but it's not too hard to figure out. The plot has nice pacing, and the book is just the right length.
Best of all, she gives life to characters who were previously flat and stereotypical. The characterizations are nothing really special by themselves (still better than the stereotypes, but they're pretty typical of this kind of book), but it's interesting to get insight in the the characters' thoughts about events.
The writing was well-done. The romance was all right, but it seemed a bit shallow. But it was good for love at first sight, which was what it was in the opera. The author did a good job with it considering her resources. She does include a few themes about life in general, but they were nothing we haven't seen before.
I was not familiar with "The Magic Flute" before reading this, but it was a good way to introduce myself to it. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was still worth my time.
Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan..........2007-04-11
I was excited about this book because "Magic Flute" is one of my favorite stories. However while I did find myself enjoying it, I am not sure if I really appreciated this particular feminist take on it. Sometimes I think that a feminist take on an old beloved tale is great, however there are other times where it just distorts the story. I think that Nights Daughter by Marion Zimmer Bradley probably has a better attempt at having a feminst take on the story. And for an even better treat, score a copy of the Ingmar Bergman production of Magic Flute through netflix or your local library.
Poorly Done.......2007-03-11
The good side of this book is the writing style. It is moody, and the descriptions are interesting. On the other hand, the characters are shallow and not rememberable. The story is confusing, unbelievable, and jarring. The author attempted to tell the story from five different points of view without clarifying when this switch between people was made. The character's voices are not distinguishable from one another. The author draws you out of the main story line several times to tell you pointless back stories on other characters. Dokey's novel Beauty Sleep has the same flaws. Her best in the Once Upon A Time series is The Storyteller's Daughter and Golden.
Customer Reviews:
Fairytale lacking conflict...........2007-10-07
I love reading retelling of fairytales...but this was all 'tell' and very little 'show'. It was a cute story, if you don't have anything better to read. I kept waiting for some sort of climax or real conflict, but the climax was more of a molehill rather than a mountain.
A feel-good novel........2007-09-26
Sweet but with enough tension between the characters to avoid being gooy. Interesting twist on the fairy tale.
Golden, another beautiful book by Dokey.......2007-09-19
After not being able to belong in her mothers heart, Rapunzel is taken in by Melisande, a sorceress that Rapunzel's dad took rapunzel from. Having no hair, Rapunzel must always wear a kerchief to hide herself from everyone so they do not make fun of her. The town starts to believe that there is a bad omen and want to run Melisande and Rapunzel from the town. There do we start to find out the secrets that Melisande holds in her heart and to see if Rapunzel's is as strong as Melisande believes it is... for Rapunzel's sake.
This is a beautiful retelling of Rapunzel. It doesn't show Melisande as the evil sorceress but as a caring one. The one that we "hear about" in books is actually a wizard, not a witch. Nice twist there. There are several twists and turns that I enjoy in this book.
I must disagree with the first reviewer. The ending isn't all that predictable for in other stories in this series you think one thing will happen (When it comes to relationships) and something else happens (Before Midnight anyone?) So I was going to throw the book across the room if what I thought was going to happen happened.. But it did not. This is another fine work by Dokey.
repunzal.......2007-08-30
loved this verson of the classic fairy tale! repunzal is actually born bold and raised by a witch who has a beautiful dauther locked in a tower. the girls quarrel and fight over how repunal will free the daughter, but in the end, repunzal gives her name up and chooses a new name for herself. this is one of the best books about retold fariytales that i have ever read.
Rapunzel.......2007-07-25
In this unusual retelling of the story of "Rapunzel", Rapunzel is a girl who was born completely bald. Her mother, upon seeing this, decides that she cannot love her daughter, and so Rapunzel grows up with the sourceress, Melisande. Everything is well until Melisande tells Rapunzel that she has a daughter, Rue, who is under a curse, and asks Rapunzel to free her . . .
I really enjoyed the creative spins Dokey put on the story. You're not quite sure what to expect. The characters are interesting and realistic. And I especially liked the romance. The themes of the nature of love and magic are fresh and make you think. The pacing is good, except I thought that everything wrapped up a little too quickly. It's not a long book so you won't get bored with it, but it still has depth.
I've read six books in the "Once Upon a Time" series, and "Golden" is one of the best. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
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