Children's Corner
  • Home
  • Writers
    • Overcoming Writer's Block
    • Writing Tips
    • Writing References
    • Helpful Websites
  • Readers
    • Reading Time
    • Where to Buy?
    • For Parents
  • Media
  • Blog
  • Craft Corner
    • Where to buy?
    • Craft and DIY Websites
  • About
    • Contact

Retelling Review of Rump

7/16/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Rump, written by Liesl Shurtliff, is a retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin. 

Let’s start off with what’s not revealed in the original Grimm’s version of Rumpelstiltskin:
  1. How did Rumpelstiltskin get his ability of turning straw to gold?
  2. How did Rumpelstiltskin know that the miller’s daughter needed help?
  3. Why does Rumpelstiltskin want the queen’s first child?
  4. Where did the name Rumpelstiltskin come from?

With this interesting retelling, Shurtliff answers all these questions and puts a spin on the information we do know.

When the book opens, Rump's mother dies in child birth only giving Rump half is name. In the story, a name is a powerful thing and can signify what you are meant to do in life. Only having half a name, Rump feels a little cheated in life. That is until he discovers he can spin straw into gold.

Answer 1) In the story, spinning straw into gold is a family trait. Rump's mother could do it and he later learns that his mother's sisters (his aunts) can do it as well. Though they choose to spin straw into other forms. But spinning gold comes with a price. Because of the amount of magic needed to spin straw to gold, it drains the spinner of strength making them unable to negotiate a price for the gold. As Rump sells the gold to the local miller, he discovers that no matter how much he wants to fetch a higher price, he is bound to take whatever the miller offers him. Yes, Rump and the miller, along with his daughter (Opal), know each other. Which is how Rump knew the miller's daughter was in trouble.

Answer 2) Because of the gold the miller was collecting from Rump and the fact the the King gets a percentage of all the gold produced, it was no surprise that Rump's gold caught the attention of the King. But when the King comes to town, just as with the original tale, the miller says it's his daughter, Opal, that can spin the gold. This puts the daughter in danger, now having to produce large quantities of gold for the king. Rump, being a good person, feels guilty for putting Opal in jeopardy and goes to save her, thus spinning the straw into gold at whatever price Opal gives him: her necklace, her ring, and her first born child.

Answer 3) In this story, Rump doesn't want Opal's first born. When Opal realizes she has nothing left to give, Rump makes a joke about the first born and without thinking Opal say yes. Because of the magic behind the spinning of straw to gold, Rump had no choice but to accept the payment even though the child was the last thing he wanted. In fact, he moves far away from the castle in hopes of never finding out that Opal, the now queen, has bore a child.

Answer 4) With no free will in the matter, Rump goes to collect his payment when he hears word that Opal has bore a child. As with the original story, Opal tries to get out of the deal and as a last resort Rump tells her to guess his name. Why three days? With Opal no longer with child, the King wants Opal to spin more straw to gold and has three days to complete the enormous task. Rump uses this time frame as he spins the gold for her. So, how did Rumpelstiltskin come to be?

Let's start with Rumple. In this story, Rumple means wrapped or trapped in magic. This was how Rump felt at times, having no control over the spinning of gold. Then there's Stiltskin, which in the story is pure magic, more powerful than any enchantment or spell or . . . curse. And that was what Rump's situation was considered, a curse. And so with the full name of Rumpelstiltskin, Rump could control his magic, control the spinning of straw to gold in a way that his mother never could.

And that is just the story in the context of Rumpelstiltskin. But there are little gems in the book as well:
  1. Rump's best friend is Red as in Little Red Riding Hood.
  2. Red's grandmother is The Witch In The Woods.
  3. Red's grandmother gives Rump a bean which he absentmindedly throws on the ground. One guess as to what the bean will sprout.


I have to say, I enjoyed this retelling. I'm going to check out Liesl Shurtliff next book called Jack. That is a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. I wonder if Rump's bean is the stalk?

0 Comments

Kaleidoscope from Simon and Schuster

7/10/2015

0 Comments

 
I love the concept of Kaleidoscope. Before I talk about why, take a look at their YouTube video about it and see why I am loving this idea.
Do you see what I mean? As a Puerto Rican woman, I appreciate this focus on diversity. You don't see many of it in the book stores and those that are there get overlooked because of the Harry Potter and Hunger Games of the world. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED Harry Potter and Hunger Games, but I also love to read stories that aren't as well known. Some of my favorite books are ones I've randomly found in the clearance section of Barnes and Noble.

This spotlighting of diverse books will help brings these not-so-well-known books to light. It'll also bring some more culture to the books stores. As far as I am concerned, this is a good thing. I just purchased two of the books on their Latin American list, I am so excited about this venture.

Are you excited with me?
0 Comments
    Blogs are whatever we make them. Defining ‘Blog’ is a fool’s errand.

    - ​Michael Conniff

    Categories

    All
    Article Response
    Book Club
    Book Club Review
    Book Diversity
    Book Obsessed
    Book Recommendations
    Book Review
    Bookstore
    Books Vs. Movies
    Cafe
    Celebrity Book Deals
    Commuting
    Conventions
    Creative Corner
    Glasses And All
    Goodbye Letter
    Harry Potter
    Lent Challenge
    Middle Grade
    Movie Adaptations
    Nanowrimo
    New Years Resolution
    Reading List
    Retelling Review
    RPG
    Series And Trilogies
    Social Media
    TBT
    Theater Review
    Themes
    Updates
    Whyiwrite
    Writers Block
    Writing Conference
    Writing Ideas
    Writing Routine
    Writing Techniques
    Writing Tip
    Yasaves
    Young Adult


    Archives

    June 2020
    April 2020
    January 2016
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Writers
    • Overcoming Writer's Block
    • Writing Tips
    • Writing References
    • Helpful Websites
  • Readers
    • Reading Time
    • Where to Buy?
    • For Parents
  • Media
  • Blog
  • Craft Corner
    • Where to buy?
    • Craft and DIY Websites
  • About
    • Contact