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Puiden Tarinoita #1
Tales by Trees: The Carpenter
The emperor’s chief master cabinetmaker is given an order to make whatever his own heart most desires. He knows immediately what he needs to build. But the challenge that he faces has serious consequences on his life and the people he loves.
"It was said that in his hands wood ceased to be wood. In his hands it turned to gold, to beautiful dreams and works of philosophy." - The Carpenter
The Carpenter is a self-contained story within the Tales by Trees series. It is a one hour read, but a lifetime experience.
Tales by Trees is a series of illustrated fairy tales for grown-ups. The exceptionally illustrated stories combine fantasy, nature, wisdom, wonder and folklore into an inspiring reading experience.
The Authors:
Iiro Küttner is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright and author currently serving as the professor of screenwriting at the Aalto University in Helsinki.
Ville Tietäväinen is an award-winning graphic novelist and visual artist. His works have been published internationally.
“Each reading is like peeling an onion, always uncovering new thoughts or revelations about life.” / Värikäs päivä
“Within the framework of a fairy tale, Küttner writes a story with multiple interpretations, a philosophical lesson and a riddle about the nature of humanity.” / Etelä-Suomen Sanomat
“The Carpenter is a melancholy but wise story, which makes the reader ponder what is ultimately important.” / Anna magazine
“Küttner’s narration shows old-fashioned restraint and unrestrained beauty, as does the whole of Tietäväinen’s graphic design.” / Parnasso
"It was said that in his hands wood ceased to be wood. In his hands it turned to gold, to beautiful dreams and works of philosophy." - The Carpenter
The Carpenter is a self-contained story within the Tales by Trees series. It is a one hour read, but a lifetime experience.
Tales by Trees is a series of illustrated fairy tales for grown-ups. The exceptionally illustrated stories combine fantasy, nature, wisdom, wonder and folklore into an inspiring reading experience.
The Authors:
Iiro Küttner is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright and author currently serving as the professor of screenwriting at the Aalto University in Helsinki.
Ville Tietäväinen is an award-winning graphic novelist and visual artist. His works have been published internationally.
“Each reading is like peeling an onion, always uncovering new thoughts or revelations about life.” / Värikäs päivä
“Within the framework of a fairy tale, Küttner writes a story with multiple interpretations, a philosophical lesson and a riddle about the nature of humanity.” / Etelä-Suomen Sanomat
“The Carpenter is a melancholy but wise story, which makes the reader ponder what is ultimately important.” / Anna magazine
“Küttner’s narration shows old-fashioned restraint and unrestrained beauty, as does the whole of Tietäväinen’s graphic design.” / Parnasso
41 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2014
About the author
Iiro Küttner
7 books5 followersIiro Küttner is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright and author currently serving as the professor of screenwriting at the Aalto University in Helsinki. He is the author of the Tales by Trees series of illustrated fairy tales for grown-ups.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 2, 2023
Unfortunately the beginning was far to similar to an original story.
However as the book continued an amazing tale emerged.
Beautiful illustrations and paintings, a great book for reading as a bedtime story. Especially for late primary age children. There is a dark part.
Thank you voracious readers for the copy.
However as the book continued an amazing tale emerged.
Beautiful illustrations and paintings, a great book for reading as a bedtime story. Especially for late primary age children. There is a dark part.
Thank you voracious readers for the copy.
January 15, 2016
Ihanan vanhan oloinen tarina. Pari kertaa jopa nuuhkaisin kirjaa, vaikka tiesin sen olevan uusi. Kuvat toimivat hyvin yhteen tarinan kanssa, vaikka eivät olekkaan kauhean kauniita.
June 20, 2020
Laittaa ajattelemaan. En ymmärrä onko tarinassa joku pahis tai opetus ja siksi juuri käytän kirjan ajattelemiseen enemmänkin aikaa kun sen lukemiseen kului. Kuvitukset olivat kauniit ja toivatkin tarinaan selvästi jotain lisää.
September 3, 2016
Which is better: the enchantment of childhood or the rueful wisdom of age?
This is the first in a series of short stores written in the style of classic Finnish fairy tales. If they're all as good as this one, I'll be a steady customer. They combine the two loves of my life - trees and reading.
This story is about a carpenter. A brilliant, artistic carpenter whose creations grace the palaces of a mighty Emperor. His work consumes him and he has little time for his family. The extravagant praise of the emperor is more important than the prattling of his little son, but one of the boy's remarks hits home in a way that changes all of their lives.
It's a story about human frailty and arrogance and it looks at the place of man in the world of nature. We believe that we have subjugated the planet and bent the forces of nature to conform to our will. But have we succeeded as well as we thought? Are there still things which are beyond our powers and which will ALWAYS be beyond our powers?
This is a beautifully written story that can be read with pleasure by every age. It's not a picture book (although the few illustrations are lovely and evocative) but a school-age child would respond to the poignant story. Even very young children understand tragedy and the hurt that people do to themselves and each other. Sadly, most children are familiar with the all-too-common story of a man who looks so high for achievement that he fails to see the small treasures at his feet.
I read on a basic Kindle. The print of this book is tiny and I wasn't able to change the font size. Suffice to say that I squinted my way through it and I have to knock off a star for that formatting problem. When I tried to read it on my lap-top, it was the same situation. I notice that none of the other reviewers mention this, so maybe the snag is in my devices. I hope so. I would hate to see readers discouraged from buying this wonderful book. I've already bought the second book in the series.
This is the first in a series of short stores written in the style of classic Finnish fairy tales. If they're all as good as this one, I'll be a steady customer. They combine the two loves of my life - trees and reading.
This story is about a carpenter. A brilliant, artistic carpenter whose creations grace the palaces of a mighty Emperor. His work consumes him and he has little time for his family. The extravagant praise of the emperor is more important than the prattling of his little son, but one of the boy's remarks hits home in a way that changes all of their lives.
It's a story about human frailty and arrogance and it looks at the place of man in the world of nature. We believe that we have subjugated the planet and bent the forces of nature to conform to our will. But have we succeeded as well as we thought? Are there still things which are beyond our powers and which will ALWAYS be beyond our powers?
This is a beautifully written story that can be read with pleasure by every age. It's not a picture book (although the few illustrations are lovely and evocative) but a school-age child would respond to the poignant story. Even very young children understand tragedy and the hurt that people do to themselves and each other. Sadly, most children are familiar with the all-too-common story of a man who looks so high for achievement that he fails to see the small treasures at his feet.
I read on a basic Kindle. The print of this book is tiny and I wasn't able to change the font size. Suffice to say that I squinted my way through it and I have to knock off a star for that formatting problem. When I tried to read it on my lap-top, it was the same situation. I notice that none of the other reviewers mention this, so maybe the snag is in my devices. I hope so. I would hate to see readers discouraged from buying this wonderful book. I've already bought the second book in the series.
August 8, 2016
Kaunis ja haikea.
January 16, 2021
I got a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
This is a combined review for an interesting series of short stories. I'll admit I have a soft spot for fairytale and their retellings. These stories are well crafted and feel just like the traditional Grimm tales or Aesop fables. The Tales by Trees series are stand-alone fables that will appeal to an adult reader. Trees are incorporated as a central plot point in each story and serve as a theme to tie the series together. As an added bonus, according to the Amazon listing, each purchased copy will result in seven trees being planted.
While they may not appeal to every audience, these short stories feel impressively close to classic fairytales. Fans of this genre will feel a certain sense of nostalgia with the familiar cadence of the tales. Readers will likely anticipate the trajectory of the plots, if not the actual endings, but the environmental emphasis and tone of the messages give a new spin to the predictable arc of the fable format.
The only big criticism I have about this series is that it appears to only be available as individual stories. If there were four or five of these stories compiled into an anthology, it would make for a really special collection. Overall, I haven't read anything quite like these little gems. They were pleasant deviations from regular novels.
This is a combined review for an interesting series of short stories. I'll admit I have a soft spot for fairytale and their retellings. These stories are well crafted and feel just like the traditional Grimm tales or Aesop fables. The Tales by Trees series are stand-alone fables that will appeal to an adult reader. Trees are incorporated as a central plot point in each story and serve as a theme to tie the series together. As an added bonus, according to the Amazon listing, each purchased copy will result in seven trees being planted.
While they may not appeal to every audience, these short stories feel impressively close to classic fairytales. Fans of this genre will feel a certain sense of nostalgia with the familiar cadence of the tales. Readers will likely anticipate the trajectory of the plots, if not the actual endings, but the environmental emphasis and tone of the messages give a new spin to the predictable arc of the fable format.
The only big criticism I have about this series is that it appears to only be available as individual stories. If there were four or five of these stories compiled into an anthology, it would make for a really special collection. Overall, I haven't read anything quite like these little gems. They were pleasant deviations from regular novels.
August 6, 2021
I bought the book series, The Carpenter, The Seafarer and The Knight, not realizing they were short, fable-like stories. My disappointment didn't last long as the tales are really lovely, illustrated well and hold deep meaning to our current situation here on earth. The bonus is the fact that for each book purchased, 7 trees are planted. It is well worth the price to know that you are enriching your mind with reading and helping to heal the earth in the process.
December 7, 2020
I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I was entranced from the beginning of this tale. From front to back it's full of loneliness, sorrow, love, and life and I wish I could share it with everyone. It holds a lesson worth remembering and worth rereading.
I was entranced from the beginning of this tale. From front to back it's full of loneliness, sorrow, love, and life and I wish I could share it with everyone. It holds a lesson worth remembering and worth rereading.
September 28, 2017
A nice little story that has a melancholy undertone (which I enjoyed). The illustrations are delightfully dark, creating an ominous ambiance. In the end, though, the story offered nothing particularly special, so my rating is 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
October 11, 2020
Such a sad but lovely story, nice short story and quite thought provoking too. Really enjoyed reading, I had finished before I even realised how much I had read. Definitely recommend it, perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon read
October 19, 2020
This was a breathtaking story! It was so sad and beautiful at the same time. The illustrations are amazing and lovely. I simply loved it. The moral of the story was heartwarming and with a touch of sadness. I enjoyed it very much!
October 22, 2020
I received a copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
A bitter sweet tale, reminding us of what we are given but take for granted. Beautifully illustrated. A gently told story, if very short.
A bitter sweet tale, reminding us of what we are given but take for granted. Beautifully illustrated. A gently told story, if very short.
November 30, 2020
Enjoyable quick read. Read it on my Kindle Fire and the illustrations brought the fairy tale to life.
I want to thank the author and Voracious Readers Only for providing me a copy of this book for my review.
I want to thank the author and Voracious Readers Only for providing me a copy of this book for my review.
November 3, 2021
A beautiful tale
A tale told to inspire, to be told by the fire and read out loud. It tells of life and death, of things to preserve, common things to worship and to love, things to pursuit and to let go. A lesson in the end that will stay with us.
A tale told to inspire, to be told by the fire and read out loud. It tells of life and death, of things to preserve, common things to worship and to love, things to pursuit and to let go. A lesson in the end that will stay with us.
December 27, 2017
In the traditional sense of a Fable, this was a solidly good short story.
November 5, 2020
Very quick read and a cute, but sad little tale. I would definitely read more short stories by this author!
February 2, 2019
Finlandia Junior ehdokkuus 2014
December 31, 2024
Tytti Yli-Viikari-lukupiirin kirja 5! Tämäpä oli jännittävä kirja, kauniisti rakennettu ja odottamaton. Nautin, eikä ollut yhtään liian lyhyt. Ensimmäistä kertaa lukupiirissä tuli todella ihmeteltyä, että miksi Tytti Yli-Viikari on valinnut kyseisen kirjan, mitä hän haluaa sillä viestittää? Kyseessä ei kuitenkaan ollut ensimmäinen kirja jonka hän olisi ottanut mukaan, tai edes toinen, eikä mikään suuri klassikko, vaan melko uusi ja suurelle yleisölle tuntematon kirja.
August 31, 2016
This is a small story that defies being pigeon-holed into any one genre. It is certainly a fairy tale and redolent of folklore and traditional story-telling, but it is written in the beautiful lyrical language of a poem. An example of this can be found in the introduction to the story: “In the slow and steady life of trees, the life of man is but a moment….For this reason the tales that trees tell, most of them, are too long, too slow, too uneventful for us to understand….. Fortunately, the trees also have some tales short enough for our patience to abide. These stories snake like cold sap through their root in the winter and quicken in summer to race through their thickening foliage.” It is not a long story and, once picked up, deserves to be finished in one sitting. I was completely swept up by it and felt that I had escaped from real life. The beauty and sophistication of the language has even survived translation. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the subtlety and nuance of the written word. This is only one of several Tales by Trees and I will certainly be reading the others.
September 1, 2016
Iiro Küttner’s, “The Carpenter (Tales by Trees Book 1),” is a book made specifically for adults in mind. All we ever get to see are children’s fairy tales and plots that cater to their ideas, but this series of books lends the idea that adults enjoy and appreciate short stories and the beautiful artistry that comes along with them. This first story isn’t terribly long and for the average person, could probably be finished in an hour or so. My favorite aspect about this short story is the illustrations because they are almost like paintings in a sense, in the way that they are composed.
The story as a whole was very well written and provided great detail to further expand upon the setting that the carpenter is in. As you read further, the moral of the story becomes more and more clear as the carpenter experiences love and lack thereof towards his work. Having a theme was a very important aspect in this short story and if it continues in future stories, I will be happy to read them!
The story as a whole was very well written and provided great detail to further expand upon the setting that the carpenter is in. As you read further, the moral of the story becomes more and more clear as the carpenter experiences love and lack thereof towards his work. Having a theme was a very important aspect in this short story and if it continues in future stories, I will be happy to read them!
September 6, 2016
This isn’t really a happy story, instead it is incredibly sad. It is a story that explains how special trees came to be in a forest, trees that are seemingly magical. This tale is about a carpenter that had been making beautiful things and enjoying going home to his family at night after his work was done. Then in a moment, he feels like his whole life doesn’t make sense anymore and changes how he does things. I understand the sentiment behind the tale, but if he would have had more confidence, he could have spent his days with his wife and family, instead of laboring over something that no one would truly be able to understand. I appreciate that the ending turns out okay, but it seems like his prideful spirit made him forget what was really important, which is heartbreaking. At the same time, this book is good for younger readers, and has some beautiful illustrations.
September 4, 2016
A charming fairy tale for adults
This short story is just one of the Tales by Trees series. This one is the tale of the Carpenter.
Having worked on commissions for the king all his life, the carpenter is given the opportunity to make whatever he desires. His skills are such that, “It was said that in his hands wood ceased to be wood. In his hands it turned to gold, to beautiful dreams and works of philosophy.”
The carpenter closets himself away for years as he builds his creation. The king naturally becomes impatient and regrets allowing his employee such leeway. When the noise of building finally stops and the door to the carpenter’s room is forced open, they find…. I can’t possibly tell you! You must read this charming story for yourself and enjoy the wonderful illustrations which accompany the text. Fittingly, they seem to be carved in wood.
This short story is just one of the Tales by Trees series. This one is the tale of the Carpenter.
Having worked on commissions for the king all his life, the carpenter is given the opportunity to make whatever he desires. His skills are such that, “It was said that in his hands wood ceased to be wood. In his hands it turned to gold, to beautiful dreams and works of philosophy.”
The carpenter closets himself away for years as he builds his creation. The king naturally becomes impatient and regrets allowing his employee such leeway. When the noise of building finally stops and the door to the carpenter’s room is forced open, they find…. I can’t possibly tell you! You must read this charming story for yourself and enjoy the wonderful illustrations which accompany the text. Fittingly, they seem to be carved in wood.
August 23, 2014
Yhden sadun satukirja, lähes kuvakirjamainen. Haikean surullinen tarina, jossa on lähes onnellinen loppu. Ei ihan pärjää nykysatujen kilpasarjassa Sari Peltoniemen saduille (jotka tosin oli tarkoitettu aikuisille, tämä on ainakin periaatteessa suunnattu lapsille). Mielellään tämän luki, kuitenkin. Kirja on myös kauniisti paketoitu: taitto ja kuvitus, kirjan muoto jne. Lukunauhan tarpeellisuutta kylläkin mietin, minusta se on turha näin ohuessa kirjassa.
June 1, 2014
Puuseppä on kaunis ja surumielinen satu, joka tuntuu klassisen vanhanaikaiselta vaikka onkin aivan uusi. Puiden maailmassa liikutaan verkkaan. Puuseppä-satu osuu ja uppoaa varmasti myös, ellei jopa enemmän, aikuiseen lukijaan teemoillaan ja opetuksellaan. Ville Tietäväisen kuvitus tuo kirjaan paljon lisää, kuvia on ilo katsella.
March 31, 2014
Kaunis, ajatuksia herättävä satu. Lapset eivät innostuneet, mutta minä pidin; ehkä tämä on vähän tällainen tarina aikuisempaan makuun? No, pitää yrittää joskus uudemman kerran, nyt oli vastassa Ella-tarinat, jotka vain vetivät puoleensa enemmän...
January 16, 2016
This story was truly enchanting. It reminded me of the old fairy tales and fables wit a gentle message. It's eco friendly undertone and important subtext is presented well and I look forward to sharing it with the young people in my life.
September 16, 2016
A beautiful tale
A tale told to inspire, to be told by the fire and read out loud. It tells of life and death, of things to preserve, common things to worship and to love, things to pursuit and to let go. A lesson in the end that will stay with us.
A tale told to inspire, to be told by the fire and read out loud. It tells of life and death, of things to preserve, common things to worship and to love, things to pursuit and to let go. A lesson in the end that will stay with us.
May 1, 2014
Upeasti kuvitettu ja kauniisti kirjoitettu nopealukuinen tarina keisarin puusepästä, joka lapsensa lausahduksne jälkeen haluaa tehdä elämässään jotain muuta kuin mihin on tottunut.
March 20, 2015
Ihan uskomattoman kaunista tekstiä ja ennen kaikkea kuvaa. Puusepän lopullinen taideteos puhuttelee - toivottavasti myös lapsia.
June 10, 2016
Annoin kirjalle vain yhden tähden, sillä en kerta kaikkiaan voinut sietää puusepän toimintaa, joka oli mielestäni uskomattoman typerää ja itsekästä. Saman sarjan Ritari on huomattavasti parempi.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews