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The Wicker Husband
an ugly girl who was short and dumpy, had one leg a bit shorter than the other, and her eyebrows met in the middle wanted to marry. Who will marry her while all the people made fun of her?
Then, she married the wicker husband. what happened when she married him? What was the people's reaction?
Then, she married the wicker husband. what happened when she married him? What was the people's reaction?
14 pages, ebook
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 8, 2017
In this short story, author depicted the very problem of our society, which is Jealousy. We can't see others' happiness. We are just soooo envious! =__=
CHARACTERS
Ugly girl (protagonist)
She guts fish for living. She is small and ugly.
Wicker Husband
Made by a basket maker for the ugly girl to marry. He is everything a girl can wish for. He is good at every thing and he is polite in behaviour.
OVERVIEW
Ugly girl earns money but doesn't use it for herself. She is ugly and no man wants to marry her. One day she goes to the basket maker and orders him to make her a HUSBAND out of wickers. He does it for her. The wicker Husband and she marries and spend a happy life together. The wicker Husband is very useful for her as he does many works of the house while she is gone to work.
Before marrying, ugly girl doesn't make herself up. But after she does. By this all the people of the village envy ugly girl and wicker Husband. Wives want their husbands to be like wicker Husband and husbands want their wives to be like ugly girl.
People of the village decide to break the love between wicker Husband and ugly girl because they are jealous with them. They do many bad things for that.
THINGS I LIKED
♡ Characters
♡ Story (almost)
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
♢ The Ending, that was little UNCLEAR.
Overall, this is one of the best stories I have ever read. It deserves to be read at least once.
Thanks for your attention! ^__^
November 29, 2016
CHARACTERS
Ugly girl (protagonist)
She guts fish for living. She is small and ugly.
Wicker Husband
Made by a basket maker for the ugly girl to marry. He is everything a girl can wish for. He is good at every thing and he is polite in behaviour.
OVERVIEW
Ugly girl earns money but doesn't use it for herself. She is ugly and no man wants to marry her. One day she goes to the basket maker and orders him to make her a HUSBAND out of wickers. He does it for her. The wicker Husband and she marries and spend a happy life together. The wicker Husband is very useful for her as he does many works of the house while she is gone to work.
Before marrying, ugly girl doesn't make herself up. But after she does. By this all the people of the village envy ugly girl and wicker Husband. Wives want their husbands to be like wicker Husband and husbands want their wives to be like ugly girl.
People of the village decide to break the love between wicker Husband and ugly girl because they are jealous with them. They do many bad things for that.
THINGS I LIKED
♡ Characters
♡ Story (almost)
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
♢ The Ending, that was little UNCLEAR.
Overall, this is one of the best stories I have ever read. It deserves to be read at least once.
Thanks for your attention! ^__^
November 29, 2016
August 7, 2024
Never tire of hearing sage wisdom on humanity. Cruelty outcomes. Just desserts. And, happy endings with a wicked twist.
Difficult to find story. No clue why. Well worth a read. Find a free copy below. Less than an hour for an average reader. For me, converted to audio using Speechify with Emma a British speaking reader.
Here’s a link to the Speechify app👇🏼
https://share.speechify.com/mzry4sj
Attachment of the book from previous review is a broken link, now. Including two ways to read as of this update 👇🏼
https://www.merakipatrika.com/2015/01...
http://mail.eastoftheweb.com/short-st...
/\ update 2024
Wow, is this an epic short story or what?
Ursala Wills-Jones The Wicker Husband made me laugh in this woven prolific metaphor with revenge and a riveting revival ending.
Reminds me of the joy felt after the killer's life ended in The Lovely Bones. Either print or movie version.
Preferring the book while discovering I was living in the town of the ghost narrator's murder drew deeper shock. About a half dozen years later watched the movie recently. Where I saw outside my imagination the film version of the man at the bottom of the cliff mangled. Smiled.
The Wicker Husband gave me similar satisfaction.
Elements of the Emperor’s new clothes and the Dalai Lama’s wisdom creep in for me including the harsh judgment of Sophia in The Shack. Portrayed as God’s spirit for justice given to the man who’s daughter was brutally murdered.
First laughing point, the husbands over and over ‘run out’, but the wives respond to The Wicker Husband’s requests.
This Pinocchio type tail, except the people are the liars and the creation of wood innocent of sin, is really a lot of fun to convert to audio to be read to on the Speechity app.
https://short-stories.co/stories/the-...
Here's a copy where I got the story since neither the library, Amazon, or Abebooks have a copy.
One of the best quotes, although there are a few:
“The ugly girl came to understand that there are some things you can not ask men to do, even if he is very kind.”
You’ll have to read the story to vibe why this is such a great truth. Wowza on the Ugly Girl’s wisdom.
I think as a follower of Christianity in the kindest of senses find this story hosts the best of us and the worst of humanity.
Toward the end beside the whole Emperors new clothes vibe thought the cruelty of the villagers felt Frankenstein pitch forky with a evil twist.
This twist lead to one of the best endings of any story giving me reflection on psalm’s and proverbs of the Bible. Even scripture-filled stories. Though, these villagers didn’t get kind justice and a happy ending from their point of view.
The suffering lead to a deeper love for the new found family. This, too, reminds me of my relationship with faith, the trinity, and how my life has unfolded over time.
I think people who have been through challenges as a child or adult can find their vulnerability in aspects of this story. Locate empathy for the trials of life we don’t deserve. Hope in the Basket-makers wisdom for justice.
Overall, this short story is one of the best I’ve read. Inspires me to think in new ways as a writer and maybe I can create enjoyable works for readers like we are on Goodreads.
I can certainly do my best and keep improving until I get there for the reader like us, too 😁
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💯
PS- Have you ever read the very short story, The Tiger and the Strawberry?
You're in for a treat. About a 30 second read.
Below is just the short story and next, a summary of meaning.
Enjoy 🐅&🍓
https://storiesfirst.org/greatstoryre...
https://www.feelingoodfeelingreat.com...
This gets five stars, also 😁
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💯
Difficult to find story. No clue why. Well worth a read. Find a free copy below. Less than an hour for an average reader. For me, converted to audio using Speechify with Emma a British speaking reader.
Here’s a link to the Speechify app👇🏼
https://share.speechify.com/mzry4sj
Attachment of the book from previous review is a broken link, now. Including two ways to read as of this update 👇🏼
https://www.merakipatrika.com/2015/01...
http://mail.eastoftheweb.com/short-st...
/\ update 2024
Wow, is this an epic short story or what?
Ursala Wills-Jones The Wicker Husband made me laugh in this woven prolific metaphor with revenge and a riveting revival ending.
Reminds me of the joy felt after the killer's life ended in The Lovely Bones. Either print or movie version.
Preferring the book while discovering I was living in the town of the ghost narrator's murder drew deeper shock. About a half dozen years later watched the movie recently. Where I saw outside my imagination the film version of the man at the bottom of the cliff mangled. Smiled.
The Wicker Husband gave me similar satisfaction.
Elements of the Emperor’s new clothes and the Dalai Lama’s wisdom creep in for me including the harsh judgment of Sophia in The Shack. Portrayed as God’s spirit for justice given to the man who’s daughter was brutally murdered.
First laughing point, the husbands over and over ‘run out’, but the wives respond to The Wicker Husband’s requests.
This Pinocchio type tail, except the people are the liars and the creation of wood innocent of sin, is really a lot of fun to convert to audio to be read to on the Speechity app.
https://short-stories.co/stories/the-...
Here's a copy where I got the story since neither the library, Amazon, or Abebooks have a copy.
One of the best quotes, although there are a few:
“The ugly girl came to understand that there are some things you can not ask men to do, even if he is very kind.”
You’ll have to read the story to vibe why this is such a great truth. Wowza on the Ugly Girl’s wisdom.
I think as a follower of Christianity in the kindest of senses find this story hosts the best of us and the worst of humanity.
Toward the end beside the whole Emperors new clothes vibe thought the cruelty of the villagers felt Frankenstein pitch forky with a evil twist.
This twist lead to one of the best endings of any story giving me reflection on psalm’s and proverbs of the Bible. Even scripture-filled stories. Though, these villagers didn’t get kind justice and a happy ending from their point of view.
The suffering lead to a deeper love for the new found family. This, too, reminds me of my relationship with faith, the trinity, and how my life has unfolded over time.
I think people who have been through challenges as a child or adult can find their vulnerability in aspects of this story. Locate empathy for the trials of life we don’t deserve. Hope in the Basket-makers wisdom for justice.
Overall, this short story is one of the best I’ve read. Inspires me to think in new ways as a writer and maybe I can create enjoyable works for readers like we are on Goodreads.
I can certainly do my best and keep improving until I get there for the reader like us, too 😁
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💯
PS- Have you ever read the very short story, The Tiger and the Strawberry?
You're in for a treat. About a 30 second read.
Below is just the short story and next, a summary of meaning.
Enjoy 🐅&🍓
https://storiesfirst.org/greatstoryre...
https://www.feelingoodfeelingreat.com...
This gets five stars, also 😁
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💯
August 6, 2021
This short story reminds us of how dangerous JEALOUSY is! This is about an ugly girl, the old basket-maker, hope, cruelty, and vengeance: Seorang gadis buruk rupa tinggal sendirian di gubuk bobrok di desa. Dikucilkan, digunjingkan. Pekerjaannya adalah membersihkan perut ikan. Di desa itu satu per satu gadis-gadis menikah.
Gadis buruk rupa lalu mendatangi seorang pengrajin anyaman, the old basket-maker, minta untuk dibuatkan suami. Sebulan kemudian suami anyaman jadi. Mereka berdua menikah. Namun para warga desa iri sebab suami anyaman itu mesra sama istrinya dan serba bisa bekerja apa saja; tak seperti kebanyakan para lelaki di desa itu.
Maka para warga baik perempuan maupun laki-laki semakin iri pada pasangan itu. Para warga datang ke pengrajin anyaman dan minta untuk dibuatkan bayi anyaman. Setelah bayi itu jadi, mereka pergi ke rumah perempuan buruk rupa itu. Memberitahunya bahwa suaminya telah main serong dan bayi itulah hasilnya.
Si buruk rupa marah dan membakar suaminya hingga membuatnya lari ke sungai guna padam apinya. Sementara para warga puas terkeheh-kekeh, membuang bayi itu di selokan, dan pulang ke rumah masing-masing.
Si buruk rupa menemukan bayi anyaman itu dan merawatnya. Butuh beberapa lama bagi pengrajin anyaman sebelum ia mendapati suami anyaman itu tergolek tak berdaya dan gosong di hutan.
Ia lalu memperbaiki ciptaannya itu dan mendatangi gadis buruk rupa dan menanyakan padanya bagaimana bisa ia membakar suami anyaman itu. Gadis itu menjawab bahwa ia main serong. Bayi itulah buktinya. Lalu pengrajin anyaman membentaknya dan mengatakan bahwa dialah yang membuat bayi itu atas permintaan warga. Maka si pengrajin anyaman mempertemukan mereka berdua kembali di tempal tinggalnya dan bikin rencana balas dendam pada warga: Bahwa dia akan membuat wanita anyaman.
Warga yang memberi hadiah paling bernilai untuk pengrajin itu akan mendapatkan wanita anyaman. Para warga heboh. Mereka mempersembahkan hadiah mereka yang paling baik, keju, padi, sapi, domba, dsb. Tukang daging mempersiapkan hadiah paling banyak setelah dia mengunci istrinya di gudang bawah tanah. Setelah diumumkan bahwa dialah pemenangnya maka giranglah dia!
Namun semua hadiah dari warga diangkut ke kuda-kuda milik pengrajin anyaman itu --meski mereka menggerutu!
Wanita anyaman diturunkan oleh pengrajin. Tapi wanita itu hitam dan banyak duri-durinya. Saat tukang daging protes, pengrajin anyaman berkata. Katanya,
"Sang suami anyaman dulu terbuat dari pohon willow. Willow adalah pohon yang paling bagus; tinggi, elegan, dan lunak, sangat membantu dalam meredakan rasa sakit. Tapi kulihat kau tidak menyukainya. Oleh karena itu aku membuatkanmu wanita anyaman dari pohon blackthorn. Blackthorn itu dingin, keras, dan berduri –tidak akan bisa dibunuh, tidak dengan api ataupun membekukannya."
Tukang daging kaget dan menghindar dan wanita anyaman itu menciumnya dengan durinya dan dalam pada itu istrinya keluar dari gudang dan berlari ke arahnya dan mereka bergulat dan para warga mengejar pengrajin anyaman itu dan kegelapan menyelimuti mereka.
Saat hari terang mereka tiba di rumah pengrajin itu; namun barang-barang warga, pengrajin anyaman, suami anyaman, gadis buruk rupa dan bayinya sudah lenyap.
-A.S.
Gadis buruk rupa lalu mendatangi seorang pengrajin anyaman, the old basket-maker, minta untuk dibuatkan suami. Sebulan kemudian suami anyaman jadi. Mereka berdua menikah. Namun para warga desa iri sebab suami anyaman itu mesra sama istrinya dan serba bisa bekerja apa saja; tak seperti kebanyakan para lelaki di desa itu.
Maka para warga baik perempuan maupun laki-laki semakin iri pada pasangan itu. Para warga datang ke pengrajin anyaman dan minta untuk dibuatkan bayi anyaman. Setelah bayi itu jadi, mereka pergi ke rumah perempuan buruk rupa itu. Memberitahunya bahwa suaminya telah main serong dan bayi itulah hasilnya.
Si buruk rupa marah dan membakar suaminya hingga membuatnya lari ke sungai guna padam apinya. Sementara para warga puas terkeheh-kekeh, membuang bayi itu di selokan, dan pulang ke rumah masing-masing.
Si buruk rupa menemukan bayi anyaman itu dan merawatnya. Butuh beberapa lama bagi pengrajin anyaman sebelum ia mendapati suami anyaman itu tergolek tak berdaya dan gosong di hutan.
Ia lalu memperbaiki ciptaannya itu dan mendatangi gadis buruk rupa dan menanyakan padanya bagaimana bisa ia membakar suami anyaman itu. Gadis itu menjawab bahwa ia main serong. Bayi itulah buktinya. Lalu pengrajin anyaman membentaknya dan mengatakan bahwa dialah yang membuat bayi itu atas permintaan warga. Maka si pengrajin anyaman mempertemukan mereka berdua kembali di tempal tinggalnya dan bikin rencana balas dendam pada warga: Bahwa dia akan membuat wanita anyaman.
Warga yang memberi hadiah paling bernilai untuk pengrajin itu akan mendapatkan wanita anyaman. Para warga heboh. Mereka mempersembahkan hadiah mereka yang paling baik, keju, padi, sapi, domba, dsb. Tukang daging mempersiapkan hadiah paling banyak setelah dia mengunci istrinya di gudang bawah tanah. Setelah diumumkan bahwa dialah pemenangnya maka giranglah dia!
Namun semua hadiah dari warga diangkut ke kuda-kuda milik pengrajin anyaman itu --meski mereka menggerutu!
Wanita anyaman diturunkan oleh pengrajin. Tapi wanita itu hitam dan banyak duri-durinya. Saat tukang daging protes, pengrajin anyaman berkata. Katanya,
"Sang suami anyaman dulu terbuat dari pohon willow. Willow adalah pohon yang paling bagus; tinggi, elegan, dan lunak, sangat membantu dalam meredakan rasa sakit. Tapi kulihat kau tidak menyukainya. Oleh karena itu aku membuatkanmu wanita anyaman dari pohon blackthorn. Blackthorn itu dingin, keras, dan berduri –tidak akan bisa dibunuh, tidak dengan api ataupun membekukannya."
Tukang daging kaget dan menghindar dan wanita anyaman itu menciumnya dengan durinya dan dalam pada itu istrinya keluar dari gudang dan berlari ke arahnya dan mereka bergulat dan para warga mengejar pengrajin anyaman itu dan kegelapan menyelimuti mereka.
Saat hari terang mereka tiba di rumah pengrajin itu; namun barang-barang warga, pengrajin anyaman, suami anyaman, gadis buruk rupa dan bayinya sudah lenyap.
-A.S.
December 10, 2016
Everyone should read this. It's a short story, so it won't take up much of anyone's time, yet it'll still leave you feeling like you read something great. Go read this, people.
December 1, 2016
OFTEN jealousy gets the best of us and makes us into the most devilish of people. Remember how a valiant and loving Moor called Othello was turned into a green-eyed monster by the machinations of a wily man called Iago?
In this beautiful short story titled "The Wicker Husband" an entire village starts feeling jealous of an ugly girl called "The Ugly Girl". Yes, jealous of an ugly girl! And her wicker husband who is made of what else but wicker.
All the villagers conspire to destroy the lives of the happily-married couple. And they succeed in doing just that.
But Providence has other plans in store for them. A wicker woman will come into the lives of the village men. Each -- whether a butcher or a tailor -- would like to marry her even though each and everyone of them is already married. Anyone can marry her for the best gift to her creator: the basket maker.
There is a wicker baby too in the story. And how she comes about in it and where she leads to, then you will have to read Ursula-Wills Jones' stupendous fantasy tale yourself.
In this beautiful short story titled "The Wicker Husband" an entire village starts feeling jealous of an ugly girl called "The Ugly Girl". Yes, jealous of an ugly girl! And her wicker husband who is made of what else but wicker.
All the villagers conspire to destroy the lives of the happily-married couple. And they succeed in doing just that.
But Providence has other plans in store for them. A wicker woman will come into the lives of the village men. Each -- whether a butcher or a tailor -- would like to marry her even though each and everyone of them is already married. Anyone can marry her for the best gift to her creator: the basket maker.
There is a wicker baby too in the story. And how she comes about in it and where she leads to, then you will have to read Ursula-Wills Jones' stupendous fantasy tale yourself.
December 16, 2016
Nice story. Jealousy is the thing most of us face. People will do whatever it needs to let you down. Also trust is an important element of any relation. Relations that don't have trust make it easy for the haters to do their trick. People who are are not competent for some thing will start hating you and creating mess for you rather than trying to pave their own unique ways.
Best Line: "there are some things you cannot ask a man to do, even if he is very kind." (Everyone has his own limitations that should be respected)
Best Line: "there are some things you cannot ask a man to do, even if he is very kind." (Everyone has his own limitations that should be respected)
December 6, 2016
Why? Oh why are we never happy to see others happy?
Why are we never satisfied with our fate?
Why do we think that others are much happier than us & are leading a life of contentment?
Can't we just mind our own business? Why do we have to keep on poking others & get jealous to see them happy & feel that we are the only miserable beings?
We never appreciate what fate has planned for us but only want what others have got! Humans need to learn to stop ruining & interfering in others' lives & concentrate on their lives alone! Be thankful to what you have now until its too late, otherwise fate has its own way of teaching a lesson to such ungrateful people. This short story is the perfect example of those people, who just cannot mind their own business & likes to ruin theirs & others happiness but soon gets the taste of their own medicines for stealing away the ugly girl (the protagonist)'s happy life!
Read it to know how. . .
Why are we never satisfied with our fate?
Why do we think that others are much happier than us & are leading a life of contentment?
Can't we just mind our own business? Why do we have to keep on poking others & get jealous to see them happy & feel that we are the only miserable beings?
We never appreciate what fate has planned for us but only want what others have got! Humans need to learn to stop ruining & interfering in others' lives & concentrate on their lives alone! Be thankful to what you have now until its too late, otherwise fate has its own way of teaching a lesson to such ungrateful people. This short story is the perfect example of those people, who just cannot mind their own business & likes to ruin theirs & others happiness but soon gets the taste of their own medicines for stealing away the ugly girl (the protagonist)'s happy life!
Read it to know how. . .
October 30, 2023
I loved this as a quick tea break read.
However it sets unrealistic lifestyles for women. Where am I going to find an old basket weaver these days?
However it sets unrealistic lifestyles for women. Where am I going to find an old basket weaver these days?
Read
October 29, 2023unbelievably excited to see the film adaptation confirm that dev patel is in fact the ideal man
March 8, 2024
WHERE TF IS THIS BASKET MAKER???
January 22, 2024
This short story is apparently the basis for an upcoming movie staring Dev Patel and Olivia Coleman. It hasn’t started production yet to my knowledge, but I wanted to read it in preparation for that. And I honestly just don’t see enough substance here to make anything interesting or impactful so I assume any movie will need to add copiously to its interpretation of the source material.
October 25, 2023
i too would be jealous of this wicker husband
October 30, 2023
2.5 -- not bad, but really nothing special
November 21, 2023
Short, beautiful morning read. Looking forward to the movie adaptation.
December 10, 2023
Short but full of impact
June 1, 2024
waiting for the film adaptation
June 6, 2024
Delightful
March 2, 2014
A beautiful story with traces of Tolstoy's "The Imp and the Crust"....
June 20, 2014
A beautiful good-vs-evil story.
January 12, 2015
Really nice short story. I came across it today while browsing eastoftheweb and I really loved it.
November 6, 2024
Fantastic idea but I disliked the ending. It had the potential to be amazing. Though I guess it goes to show that we do not know how to repalce our bad vices.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews