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Themes: Adult Fiction, Fairy Tale Retelling, A little bit of Christmas

This is a solid 3 star “Meh” read for me. It was my book club‘s December pick so I plowed ahead in it even though I didn‘t love it. I liked some parts (the last 80ish pages were my favorite), but I disliked other parts - so I guess it‘ll be a good discussion. I‘m just glad I can move onto my other Christmas reads!!!

This was another book club choice. I ended up liking the story of Herr Drosselmeyer. At least, the next time I see the Nutcracker Suite, I will have an origin story to noodle over 🙂

This is abou the Nutcracker and about who made the nutcracker, Godfather Dosselmeier but is not a retelling per se. It is more like a reflection? behind these characters and it‘s creation. The author also does a deconstruction of this tale. But it was so confused that I searched about the intention of this book. Even with the help of this information, I found the story no well integrated. 2⭐️

#HumbleHarvest

Since we are getting closer to the season, I thought this retelling of the nutcracker story would be a good match for today‘s #Nuts prompt.

I quite enjoyed the meandering tale of Dirk Drosselmeier and definitely preferred this to Wicked.
However, I would have preferred to actually see Hiddensee in the book, and have more than a glancing paragraph to cover the actual nutcracker narrative. It would have also been nice to have some closure about the lost forest rather than it being open to interpretation.
I had fun reading it anyway!

#FairytaleReadingChallenge #TheNutcracker #Doublespin

I was hoping for a festive Nutcracker retelling. It is technically that, but really only for the last 10%. The rest is a lengthy-- and meandering-- backstory for Drosselmeyer that isn't nearly as interesting or magical as I would've hoped. It kept me entertained on a long drive but that's about all I can say for it.

I didn‘t care for this one. I had a hard time concentrating on the audio, so maybe print would have been better. Kinda bummed because the premise of the story sounded delightful.
#pop22 ~a book set during a holiday

This didn‘t get the best reviews, but I enjoyed it. The slow meandering Nutcracker origin story was perfect for long afternoons of cookie baking. #FoodAndLit #Germany

2nd book in #BookSpinBingo
I found it a melancholy “what if the Nutcracker...” story hard to put down.
#WinterGames2021 #AVeryMerryBingo @Jadams1776

⭐️⭐️ Herr Drosselmeier‘s origin story - an interesting premise with underwhelming execution. It started strong, but quickly fizzled. Total slog. If this hadn‘t been for book club, I would‘ve bailed. Maguire can absolutely turn a phrase, but good writing can‘t save a dull story, unfortunately. I wasn‘t a great fan of Wicked either. He‘s just not for me. #bookclub

⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars. Sadly, this one wasn‘t as amazing as I wanted it to be. This is the story of Drosselmeir and how he came to carve the Nutcracker. It was a meandering read which made it seem slow and boggy at times. 10pts Impulse read 25pts holiday themed #wintergames2021 #mistletoemaniacs #wintercosy @Clwojick @PuddleJumper

Hi. 🐾

#audiopuzzling
#dogsoflitsy

Trying to grab a few chapters while my boys play at this very noisy birthday party, but it‘s not going well. 😅🙉😂

#booknerdproblems
#bookclub #decemberselection

May bail on the tagged book. It‘s just dry, slightly depressing, and uninteresting. After the Wicked books I had high hopes but the Litsy reviews are more accurate. Also paused Witch of Willow Hall- though I‘ll come back to this one- bc it‘s also depressing with unlikeable characters. This week‘s point total- 75. #merryreaders #wintergames

#12colorsofdecember #navyblue #wintergames2020 #merryreaders @Clwojick
21 pts.

Trying a new holiday read as the Nora Roberts I initially chose wasn‘t doing it for me. Getting some reading in while the hubs snuggles the baby and before our guilty pleasure is on 😂 #merryreaders #wintergames

What a slog! Ugh.

Oh my god is the main character in this ever insipid. I'd stop reading but it's the December pick for the book club I host at work. And I have no one to blame but myself since it was MY pick! 😞

I was really looking forward to this one, but ended up feeling very “meh” about it. The story is rambling and I almost bailed on it, but I‘m glad I didn‘t because Maguire does tie it all together (and finally gets around to Klara and the Mouse King) at the very end. 3/5 stars

I have been so busy that 5 hours is all I could squeeze in these past few days. This book is killing me—I am abandoning it until next holiday season. It is very dry, monotone and dark. Maybe 11months from now I will feel differently. It has been a fun #WinterGames and I loved being part of the #JingleBallers! Hope everyone had a beautiful holiday season. #24B42020 #HappyNewYear #holidaysareover

I found Hiddensee today at Giant Tiger, during some Boxing Day simple grocery shopping, while everywhere else in our small town is mostly closed. 🍁 This would have made a good pair with Susan Adrian's Nutcracked book; 🐭 I'd likely for another time, save it for next winter's mount TBR. 🏔

#ParticipationPost
#ReadNosedReindeer @StayCurious +1
#WinterGames @Clwojick ❄️

🎄My Sorting Hat Alex & Ani bracelet 🎄A hot shower, a good beverage (wine, tea, etc) and a good book. Sometimes a nice face mask. 🎄It‘s an Arctic Blast 🥶 and the high is going to be 30!!! But the sun is out, so that is good. #ThoughtfulThursday Hope the tagged Littens will play & share with others!

Hiddensee by Gregory Maguire is a really interesting anti fairy tale. Maguire deconstructs a well known supporting character into a vibrant and interesting man. I really loved the narrative style and the imagination Maguire used to craft a fascinating story. Even with so many amazing aspects, I couldn't get into the story. It was emotionally lackluster for me. Read the full review at https://onthebl.org/2019/12/12/hiddensee-by-gregory-maguire

This month‘s sci-fi and fantasy book club pick. It‘s all seasonally appropriate and such.

"All paths lead to the same place, and that place is whatever comes next."

#GratefulReads @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Retold fairytales are a favorite of mine. I saw this book around Christmas time and was so excited to start it. I imagined that I'd be transported to a magical world I'd never want to leave. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. After forcing myself to finish it, I was bored, lost, and confused because it seemed to have nothing to do with The Nutcracker.

Oh well, you can't love them all.

#BCCUNBOXING Received this today as well can‘t wait to read Everything I need to know I learned in the twilight zone 😍

This was an interesting story about Godfather Drosselmeier and how the Nutcracker came to be. It was steeped in both the real world and the world of dreams, myth, and imagination. I didn‘t have any expectations going in and enjoyed this back story even though I found it a bit confusing at times. This was my “book gifted to you” for #Booked2019. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I‘m reading this for my “book gifted to you” for #Booked2019. Thanks again, @Victoriahoperose !

I haven‘t done a picture challenge in a long time so I decided to try #LiteraryLuck . I almost forget to post for the first day! 😂 My March #TbrShelfie that isn‘t really on a shelf! This is just the start for March, I‘m hoping to read 17 books off my tbr shelf. Feeling some Agatha Christie right now. 🤔😎

By far the best Gregory maguire book I‘ve read. While I enjoyed this book, it was not what I was expecting. From the tag line on the cover, I expected a full on nutcracker retelling. This was actually Godfather Drosselmeier‘s story, with the bit about Klara and the Nutcracker and the Mouse King thrown in at the very end. So while on one level I was disappointed, I was still able to enjoy this book for what it actually was.

Unfortunately, I didn‘t get as much reading done over the weekend as I had wanted, so I only got a start on this. I‘m coming up on the halfway point and I‘m already enjoying this a million times more than Wicked or Mirror Mirror. It gives me hope for the other 2 books of his I still have on my shelf.

Well, I gave this book until nearly 50%. But it never grabbed me. It‘s a origin story for Herr Drosselmeier from The Nutcracker. For me, it held none of the magic of the fairy tale. Drosselmeier is a wandering kid who never pulled at my heartstrings. He‘s mostly a nincompoop. I give up.

p.s. I knew this #fairytaleretelling prompt for #booked2019 would be a challenge for me. It‘s just not my jam.

Happening at my house right now. We had a busy day, a super yummy dinner. Now it‘s football, naps, and trying to get some pages in on this not-so-good #fairytaleretelling.

I am so disappointed with this book. The beginning started really well and interesting and then it just got boring. I didn't care that much about any of the characters. It just dragged till the end. 2 out of 5 stars.

It‘s been about two years since I climbed in the tub. So I picked up a bath bomb to celebrate! And I‘ve got to spend some time with the book, for my #fairytaleretelling prompt.

#emptynestisagoodthing #missyadontmissya #bathsoflitsy #bathbombsoflitsy

Starting this one for my #booked2019 #fairytaleretelling prompt. Another book with mixed reviews, but so far I like it. And I have two in reserve just in case ...

@4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen

Where to even begin with this book. I went in thinking it was a retelling of The Nutcracker. This is more like a prequel to the Nutcracker, with some interpretation from the author towards the end. For me, this was not as good as The Wicked Years.

Writing 5/5
Characters 4.8/5 some of the more minor ones could be expanded upon.
Pace 4.5/5 at some points this story just dragged.
World Building 5/5 I enjoyed the world

Overall:19.3/30

My holiday festivities don‘t start until this evening, so using the time to get in so much needed relaxation and reading.

@Gissy - you are truly a sweet, thoughtful, amazing person. ❤️🖤 I just opened the #Nightmare4Christmas package, and everything was perfect! I love it all, and I basically squeed every time I opened something new. The artwork is absolutely stunning, and I‘m loving all the IT gifts. And, of course, the books! 😍 I‘m looking forward to drinking some PR coffee in the mug tomorrow morning!

You really did stalk me well. 😉

Thank you, thank you ❤️💚

He stayed in Meersburg another eight years, until the boys were more or less grown.

This was an odd, fascinating story. I‘ll definitely be thinking about it for a while! A “backstory” to The Nutcracker that tells the story of Godfather Drosselmeier and how he came to carve the nutcracker of fame. I might have enjoyed this more if I had more knowledge of The Nutcracker. That said this made me want to read more about it!

I‘m about 43 pages into this and while I‘m not sure if I like it or not this quote from it is just too relevant not to share.

Was music beautiful because it was full of mystery, Dirk wondered, or was it full of mystery because it was beautiful?

I‘m having difficulties rating this one. I found parts quite boring and skimmed, while certain passages were beautiful. I liked the exploration of the relationship between Dirk and Felix, and there was some fabulous dialogue and wit sprinkled throughout. Just wish it was a bit more engaging. Right time of year for the dark, melancholy mood though.

Please tell me I‘m not the only one who occasionally accidentally orders #largeprint from the library.

What a great ebook deal!