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Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye
Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye | A S Byatt
8 posts | 16 read | 15 to read
Gillian Perholt, an independent and sensible scholar, no longer young, is given a bottle of beautiful 'nightingale's eye' glass by a Turkish friend. Inside it is trapped a huge (and very male) djinn, a magical genie who must grant her three wishes in return for his release. Gillian's use of her wishes -- she is an expert in fairy stories and in what can go wrong with wishes -- is careful and surprising. The story takes the professor and the djinn from Istanbul to Toronto and Madison Avenue. The two discover one another's worlds, with respect, and something more. 'The Glass Coffin' and 'Gode's Story' are included here, with three contemporary additions: 'The Story of the Eldest Princess, ' 'Dragons' Breath, ' and the incomparable novella-length title story. Byatt's inventive and enticing stories are both magical and very modern. They are fairy tales for adults, which retain the mystery and beauty of the world we imagine as children.
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review
Becker
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Mehso-so

I should have enjoyed this more than I did. I like the themes and liked the writing, but there were too many dry patches for me to say I truly enjoyed it. So I will just say it was not bad, it was just okay, or it was middle of the road. 🧞‍♀️

25 likes1 stack add
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BarbaraJean
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Mehso-so

I‘m not sure if this was a re-read or not. 😂 I could‘ve sworn I‘d read this. I remember listening to the audiobook—pre-Goodreads or annual reading lists, so I can‘t verify that! But I saw Three Thousand Years of Longing recently, discovered it was based on the title short story, picked the book off my shelf to glance through, and I had absolutely NO recollection of the story. So I read the whole book. And I didn‘t remember any of it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ ⤵️

BarbaraJean These are interesting little fairy tales, each with a slightly different take on the traditional tropes. They‘re beautifully written, but as with most short story collections, I liked some much more than others (“The Eldest Princess” was my favorite, and the title story was slow, but thought-provoking). Somewhere between a So-So and a pick for me. (edited) 2y
29 likes1 comment
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dainarmb
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Book with a green cover for March Bookish Bingo! 💚🍀

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Centique
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Pickpick

Second book of the holidays 😊 This is five fairytales - 4 are very short, intense and magical, subverting common fairytale tropes in a traditional fairytale setting. The last one is longer and merges a modern woman in a modern setting with a fairytale. Beautifully written and very interesting, but for me, who is used to novels, not quite long enough to let me dig in to them.

Cathythoughts I like the sound of “ intense & magical” ✨✨✨ 7y
Centique @Cathythoughts I think ‘intense and magical‘ is one of my favourite genres really! 😂 7y
Velvetfur Oohh I love fairytales of all types, this book sounds great, thanks for your review 😊 7y
51 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Bookbeez
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"Once upon a time...." fairytales for tonight's #nightlightreads I probably have about 15 more minutes before I hear the patter of little feet and a "can I sleep in your bed?" Fortunately, he's used to mommy' book light. #booklight #fairytales #library

22 likes3 stack adds
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Jas16
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This collection of fairy tales by Byatt includes one about a #genieinabottle. #augustgrrrl

Cinfhen I'm fascinated by the setting of these stories! I've always wanted to travel to Turkey 🇹🇷 7y
51 likes1 stack add1 comment
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CarolynOliver
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So stressed by what is happening right now. After I made my calls I started this book, a collection of fairy stories by A.S. Byatt.

CherylDeFranceschi I loved these stories. It's like a bookish jewelry box. 8y
Dolly Thanks for the reminder. Time to make my calls. 8y
32 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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silentrequiem
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Cleaning the shelves at my MD condo and found this gem.

12 likes1 stack add