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Review
"Hale's writing is beautiful, with a vivid eye for detail" Daily Telegraph
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Review
'In layer upon layer of detail a beautiful coming-of-age story emerges, a tale about learning to rescue yourself rather than falling accidentally into the happily-ever-after' New York Times 'Hale tells the goose girl's story with imagination and a tremendous devotion to the texture of the world in which the narrative unfolds' Guardian 'A masterpiece that will win a permanent place in children's hearts' Independent 'A sophisticated fairy story that will appeal to girls with a taste for adventure and romance' Financial Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The fact that 'The Goose Girl' is one of the lesser known tales by the Brothers Grimm makes this book all the more interesting (I doubt you could find many people who could tell you the basics of the story, unlike more well-known stories such as 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Snow White', 'Red Riding Hood' etc.). If you have read the original tale, however, this gives the story a deeper resonance, as you recognise certain characters who have been given a bigger role and more complexity.
Frankly, in the original story, the goose girl is a bit of a wimp, a real dumb blonde, but Hale gives her retiring nature a psychological background, so you sympathise with her instead of feeling irritated or uncaring about her fate. The relationship with the maid is particularly interesting, given that Ani believes this girl is her only friend. She feels like she's a failure as a princess, unable to live up to her mother's and other people's expectations: only her father and her horse Falada accept her as she is. But then her father dies, and Ani discovers that instead of inheriting the throne, she is to marry the prince of the neighbouring country, in order to avoid a war. Her mother gives her two gifts as she goes, in order to safeguard her, but she loses them, and so begins the real story of 'The Goose Girl', namely a girl finding herself and her feet in a strange country.
Ani's gradual development is realistic and interesting. Curdken's role and character are both expanded, and he becomes far more likeable in the process. The tragedy that happens to Falada is even more horrific in this story than it is in the original. The final three chapters of the story are really tense - even though you know things end happily ever after, you really do wonder how Hale will achieve this, and that is a mark of how good this book is. It's sad and scary sometimes, funny and sweet at others, and I'll certainly be reading it again.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have this book on CD & I enjoyed every moment of it.
What a breath of fresh air she is. Like Tamora Pierce, Hale paints her characters very well.
The Goose Girl is a retelling of an old fairy tale. It tells the story of Ani, a relectant princess who is sent by her mother to another country to marry a prince. On the way, some of her company of guards rebel and attempt to kill her and replace her with her lady in waiting. Ani is forced to run. With murderous guards searching for her, she has to learn how to survive. She gets a job in city herding the geese and, whilst doing so, learns about herself and world.
What makes this story so utterly fantastic is that Ani is so well drawn. She starts off being very insecure & ignorant but by the end, Ani grows into a confident, assured young woman who knows exactly who she is.
The icing on this cake was the excellent drama. I felt as if I was watching a film. All scenes, horrfic, sad, touching, were vividly painted. The action scenes were very tense, I caught myself biting my nails at one point. The death of Ani's horse was also handled well. Even the telepathic relationship between the two utterly convinced this irritable skeptic.
I have become a big Hale fan. I am really looking forward to what this talented author does next.
What a breath of fresh air she is. Like Tamora Pierce, Hale paints her characters very well.
The Goose Girl is a retelling of an old fairy tale. It tells the story of Ani, a relectant princess who is sent by her mother to another country to marry a prince. On the way, some of her company of guards rebel and attempt to kill her and replace her with her lady in waiting. Ani is forced to run. With murderous guards searching for her, she has to learn how to survive. She gets a job in city herding the geese and, whilst doing so, learns about herself and world.
What makes this story so utterly fantastic is that Ani is so well drawn. She starts off being very insecure & ignorant but by the end, Ani grows into a confident, assured young woman who knows exactly who she is.
The icing on this cake was the excellent drama. I felt as if I was watching a film. All scenes, horrfic, sad, touching, were vividly painted. The action scenes were very tense, I caught myself biting my nails at one point. The death of Ani's horse was also handled well. Even the telepathic relationship between the two utterly convinced this irritable skeptic.
I have become a big Hale fan. I am really looking forward to what this talented author does next.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've actually had this book sitting on the shelf for over a year but, as it came as a freebie, bundeled with a whole box of other novels,I'd ignored it. The beautiful cover hadn't enticed me and it was destined to stay in mint condition.
Well, obviously, I picked it up and, despite a slowish start, found it extremely difficult to put down. You see, it's one of those very rare stories where it's possible to fall in love with the characters. Maybe it's because the princess is the misunderstood under-dog in the story or maybe it's because her charm (and magical abilities) grow as you become more involved with her; seeing her living and breathing.
Shannon Hale doesn't pull her punches either. More than once the unthinkable happens, turning this into a bubbling pot of suspense and thrills.
You know I was almost disappointed that there are following tales in this 'series' due to its roundness, its total completion. Needless to say this disappointment lasted for as long as it took to order the Enna and River episode.
I am reccommending this book to everyone I meet (even strangers at the bus stop)! It would take a churlish individual indeed to not enjoy this book. Read it!
Well, obviously, I picked it up and, despite a slowish start, found it extremely difficult to put down. You see, it's one of those very rare stories where it's possible to fall in love with the characters. Maybe it's because the princess is the misunderstood under-dog in the story or maybe it's because her charm (and magical abilities) grow as you become more involved with her; seeing her living and breathing.
Shannon Hale doesn't pull her punches either. More than once the unthinkable happens, turning this into a bubbling pot of suspense and thrills.
You know I was almost disappointed that there are following tales in this 'series' due to its roundness, its total completion. Needless to say this disappointment lasted for as long as it took to order the Enna and River episode.
I am reccommending this book to everyone I meet (even strangers at the bus stop)! It would take a churlish individual indeed to not enjoy this book. Read it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
favorite heroine to date!
Oh how I love thee Shannon Hale. You never disappoint and always tell the best tales. The Goose Girl is a re-telling of the Grimm's fairytale and it is awesome. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mary-The Sweet Bookshelf
really enjoyable
My friend didn't like this book as 'The Goose Girl' is a Brothers Grimm story and so the basic plot wasn't original and recommended me not to read it. Read more
Published 18 months ago by GP
More than anyone can grasp, What the Goose Girl does for Body, Mind...
For many years there were only two books I would recommend to people as must reads: "Bambi: A Life in the Woods" by Felix Salten, and "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Jenny Lee Bates
LOVE THIS BOOK!
I LOVE this book! My sister, Becca & Katie, have been after for me for the longest time to read this wonderful fairytale. Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2009 by Mary Mitchell
B-O-R-I-N-G
My best friend recommended it and i read alot of pages like finished the half but all that happens is this girl passing forest and passing forest and it goes on and on and on and... Read more
Published on 18 July 2009
A very pleasant surprise
This is a great book which is not just for girls. My son is just finishing this book and has so far really enjoyed it. Read more
Published on 21 April 2009 by Robin Kendal
The Goose Girl
This book is PHENOMENAL!!! It is the best book I have ever read. I absolutely couldn't put it down- literally. I nearly fell down the stairs reading it! Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2006 by E. L. Johnson
an unputdown-able grown up fairy tale
When i first heard of Goose Girl, I didn't think it would be that special. I mean, a Princess goes to another kingdom to marry a Prince?...It didn't seem like much of a book! Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2005 by "guinea_fowl"
Fantastic
I loved this book
it has expanded a traditional and rather uneventful fairytale into a fantastic novel. Read more
it has expanded a traditional and rather uneventful fairytale into a fantastic novel. Read more
Published on 29 May 2005 by "schurova"
Must read!
I finished reading this story on the bus this evening. I absolutely loved it and was gutted that I had to keep putting it down at the end of my work breaks. Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2005
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