April’s Comments (group member since Dec 27, 2007)

April’s comments from the The Book Challenge group.

206. Tales from Earthsea & The Other Wind, by Ursula K. LeGuin. I suspect this was designed more for the hardcore Earthsea fans (I read A Wizard of Earthsea ages ago and don't recall much about it). The first two chapters of Tales especially went over my head. I almost gave up on this book, but the next chapter, Otter, was enjoyable and I slowly became drawn into the world of Earthsea. Really enjoyed The Other Wind, though. It has many great characters, a spooky tone and a good mystery going on. A man with a gift for mending about anything broken has unsettling dreams of the world of the dead, and he goes on a journey to find out why. The reason winds up impacting the entire world.

207. A Giraffe and a Half, by Shel Silverstein. This is a re-read, although it's been so long since I last read it, it was almost like reading it for the first time. I read this one to l'il niece, who really enjoyed the silliness. I had fun trying to read each part in one breath (I was mostly successful). Can't go wrong with this Silverstein classic.

208. The Rough-Face Girl, by Rafe Martin, with illustrations by David Shannon. My mom collects Cinderella-themed stories from various cultures, and this is from her collection. This one takes place near Lake Ontario, with the characters from an Algonquin tribe. Many elements will feel similar- the two cruel stepsisters who abuse the Rough-Face Girl, whose skin and hair have been burned and scarred from tending the fires. The girls in the village, including the two beautiful but mean and deceptive stepdaughters, all are seeking to become the wife of the powerful Invisible Being. However, his sister asks each suitor a question which they must answer- questions that stump most of the suitors. Also must give a nod to the illustrator, whose rich illustrations capture the era and the story beautifully.

209. Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella Story, by Robert D. San Souci, with illustrations by Brian Pinkney. This also came from my mom's collection of Cinderella stories from other countries. I have to say this is one of my favorite adaptations now. One interesting characteristic is this tale is told from the point of view of the godmother. I don't want to give away any big spoilers but I do like the agency Cendrillon takes at the end. Again- many typical Cinderella elements: the stepmother and her lazy daughter, the handsome young man (not a prince per se, but from a wealthy family). Not as typical is the father, who does not stand up against the stepmother's abusive behavior. Also love the vibrant illustrations that accompany the story.

204. News Hole, by Danny Hayes. I highly recommend this for anyone with an interest in the news industry and its importance to local communities. Much of the information I already knew: the loss of local news leads to less civic engagement, increased municipal costs and more corruption. That is spelled out in multiple books and studies, including The News Desert. What this book does exceptionally well is explaining its research process and methods, plus addressing possible challenges to its findings. Also really like the lists and charts with graphically illustrate what the chapters go over.

205. The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux. This is actually a re-read of one of my favorite horror stories. I've read it a few times, although the last time I read it was likely more than a decade ago. Glad I've picked it for my readings because I've been catching on to things I never picked up on or didn't understand in that time period. For example, Count Philippe, Raoul's older brother and his relationship with Sorelli, the prima ballerina. In actual history, the Paris theater's ballet girls made money for the theater by attracting the eye of wealthy patrons, who often came to rehearsals and warmups to check out their favorites. I'm sure you can put it together from here. Also, Christine is a surprisingly well-rounded character- fierce and independent, but someone who has a kind heart that is taken advantage. I can see this story being adapted for the modern day.

200. My Bloody Massacre. This is Twain's own account about an attempt at satire goes horribly awry. Here's an interesting article I ran across on this: The Alternative Facts of 1863: Mark Twain’s “A Bloody Massacre Near Carson” | Center for Mark Twain Studies. A commentary on companies and utilities cooking the books starts off with a story of a sensational murder- a heinous crime that was completely fabricated. The problem? Readers didn't go beyond the scintillating bloody rampage and miss the point of the article and the many hints that spell out that the murder was made up.

201. Mr. Bloke's Item. I think every journalist has been here. A man stops by with a news item and from his expression, it seems as if he has a heartbreaking narrative drafted up. But when the narrator (belatedly) reads the piece, he realizes that it...needed a bit of help in the rewriting and editing categories.

202. Luck. In this tale, the narrator is attending a ceremony honoring a prestigious war hero. However, the person he is sitting next to makes a startling confession: the honoree is not brilliant at all. In fact, he's rather dull-witted. Later, the narrator gets a more complete story about how the war hero's life was shaped by multiple occasions of incredible good luck. A hilarious and imaginative story.

203. Lionizing Murderers. The narrator goes to a well-known fortune-teller to see if his future can be seen. He gets a rather grim prognosis by the seer- but her story about his fate is suspiciously like a well-known case that had been in the newspapers. Again, Twain shows his mastery with descriptions (loved how he portrays the fortune teller) and turns of phrase. Artful and hilarious.

All were written by Mark Twain.

189. Is He Living or Is He Dead. A clever, funny and pointed story on the importance of acknowledging our artists while they are still alive. Four artists are down to their last centimes and face starvation and homelessness. However, one of them comes up with a scheme that, if they pull it off, will set them up for life. The trick? One of them has to die. A commentary on how artisans are ignored all too often while they are living but once they are dead, the accolades — and money for their works -- come pouring in.

190. Hunting the Deceitful Turkey. Here, the narrator shares his experiences about hunting, including his efforts in trying to capture a wily hen turkey. Funny story, with turns of phrase that brought more than a few laughs.

191. Honored as a Curiosity. The narrator goes into how to figure out who people are, only to fall victim to his own advice, which leads to some amusing moments.

192. Legend of Sagenfeld. This one felt like a Grimm Brother's fairy tale. Here, a young king lives under a prophecy: He must choose the creature with the most melodious voice for the kingdom to honor. If he chooses correctly, they will live in peace and harmony. But if he doesn't, disaster could strike. The story's ending is somewhat predictable but it's still a good lesson.

193. Italian Without a Master. As someone who knows a smattering of Italian (not fluent by any means), this short essay is both hilarious and spot-on. Here, the narrator (presumably Twain) explains how he manages to translate an Italian newspaper without a dictionary and without knowing much Italian. His translations are usually hilariously off. I have to think this is a commentary about American behavior abroad.

194. How the Author was Sold in Newark. An author on a lecture tour is asked a favor by a young man- and finds himself the victim of a practical joke. It's not hard to see the ending coming but it's still hilarious.

195. Italian with Grammar. The narrator is bound and determined to figure out the Italian language and how its grammar works. How he does this is amusing, and his observations, from my limited experience with the language, are accurate.

196. History Repeats Itself. The narrator, who sounds a lot like Twain here, compares the "similarities" of his life with the life of a recently deceased man lauded for his virtue. The little twists he makes in the comparisons earned a few chuckles from me, especially the references to his grandmother.

197. First Interview with Artemus Ward. The narrator meets a man, Artemus Ward, for the first time. Ward insists on drinks, which the narrator is reluctant to take. Ward then proceeds to ask the narrator about a topic, which the narrator struggles to understands. Twain's turns of phrase and descriptions are just wonderful here, and the ending had me cracking up laughing.

198. Experience of the McWilliamses with Membranous Croup. This is a hilarious story if you can ignore the somewhat misogynistic tones. A couple, on hearing their daughter cough, are worried that she may have membranous croup (also known as diphtheria or croup). This was a valid fear- historically, diphtheria was one of those killer diseases, especially for young children, and in the story it had been making its rounds in their community. While waiting for the doctor, the mother especially races around the house to try to keep her baby safe, her daughter comfortable and her husband at her beck and call.

199. English as She is Taught. Twain gives the reader a sampling of the hilarity of the book "English as She is Taught" by Caroline B. LeRow. LeRow compiled students' answers on a variety of different topics and subjects, and the results are hysterical.

All were written by Mark Twain.

184. Edward Mills and George Benton: A Tale. This was a rather dark and cynical take on both the prodigal son and the "benefits of morality" tropes, although there's more than a grain of truth in Twain's short tale. Here, two distant cousins are orphaned as infants and adopted by a loving couple. Edward is a well-behaved and helpful child, but George is a scapegrace. Guess who winds up with more and better life opportunities?

185. Does the Race of Man Love a Lord? Twain's essay on humanity's infatuation with royalty and nobility (or, as he puts it, with power and proximity) is funny and spot-on. He lampoons the "Dollar Princesses," and pokes fun at the near-universal impulse for sharing stories about any close brushes with the rich and famous- as well as some examples dealing with animals.

186. Dick Baker's Cat. A short story, told by a man who works as a miner reminiscing about his cat. It's a sweet and sometimes amusing story, if a bit slow in places.

187. Curing a Cold. Probably one of the funniest Mark Twain stories I've ever read. We've all been there: we've been subjected to upper respiratory infections, and equally subjected to tips, home remedies and "cures." The various treatments are attempted with hilarious results. A warning: this is a product of its time, and does use a word that is really not cool to use in this day and age.

188. Concerning the American Language. This short essay made me laugh out loud. Twain makes his astute observations regarding the English and American languages, which he insists are two different languages and then goes into all the reasons why. And he's not wrong.

Stories by Mark Twain unless otherwise noted:

176. Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker, by Jennifer Chiaverini. This was an interesting and quick read, told from the point of view of Elizabeth Keckley, a Black seamstress and dressmaker who served as Mary Todd Lincoln's modiste and confidante. Most of the story is told right before to through the end of the Civil War, although the book does get into Keckley's past as a slave who was able to buy not just her freedom but her son's liberty as well. I did like this book but not sure I loved it as much as did those who recommended it to me. One thing is a lot of that past felt sugar-coated. A part of this, I admit, is because we are looking at the life of a Black woman with an unusual amount of standing and prestige for that time period. She was a well-known and well-respected businesswoman with several people in her employ. While there were social mores she had to follow as a Black woman of this time, she had extraordinary freedom due to her prestigious clients — most notably the First Lady. Not to say Keckley did not experience hardships — she did for sure. The bulk of the story takes place during Keckley's most prominent days, so the fact that we don't see the uglier side of both the lives of Black people then and the horrors of the war are at least partially understandable.

The book also does go into how both Keckley and the widowed Mrs. Lincoln got taken in a few times by scam artists when the former First Lady, who struggled with spending, was trying to raise money to support herself. It also goes through Keckley's well-intentioned book that she wrote about Mary Todd Lincoln, a narration written with the mind to defend her. It backfired badly and ruined her relationship with the former First Lady and all but destroyed Keckley's business. Keckley would eventually find her footing again as a teacher at Wilberforce University in Ohio, teaching students how to sew.

177. Concerning Chambermaids. I have to wonder how much of this came from Mark Twain's bad experiences. Here, he waxes vitriolic against chamber maids, describing them as capricious creatures out to make his life miserable. A funny read, but I'd pity the maids in his employ after reading this.

178. Christian Science and the book of Mrs. Eddy. When Mark Twain wrote this, Christian Science would have been fairly new, so it was a fascinating view of someone considering the religion when it was in its infancy. Twain is a bit cynical but between the lines of sarcasm and pointing out certain inconsistencies and hypocrisies, he does give credit where he feels it is due (frequently with tongue planted firmly in cheek). This also was written in an era when treatments with conventional medicine for the time was, to put it kindly, hit or miss. Patients were as likely to die as be cured by conventional treatments of the time.

179. Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven. I really liked this short story. Indeed, I think it might be my favorite one that I've read by Twain this year to date. It has the Twain humor — tongue in cheek and sometimes surprising — but this narrative also is incredibly thoughtful and imaginative. In the story, Captain Stormfield is making his journey to heaven and finding the experiences not quite how he thought they would be — but not terrible, either. Indeed, much of what he was taught and had believed doesn't make sense now that he is actually there.

180. The Cannibalism in the Cars. A dark — and I do mean DARK — short story. Here, a young man finds himself traveling with another man, who shares a horrifying story about another journey he took when he was stranded in a train during a blizzard. The clue is in the title. There's a bit of a twist at the end but it's up to the reader whether they want to believe it.

181. Aurelia's Unfortunate Young Man. In this incredibly dark but darkly funny story, Aurelia is trying to marry her sweetheart. However, he keeps meeting up with serious misfortune right before the attempted walks down the aisle.

182. At the Appetite-Cure. The narrator in this amusing short is trying to restore his appetite and his health. He has gone to a sort of resort-style place with extremely unconventional treatments- remedies so bizarre they might actually work. Love Twain's turn of phrase and descriptions.

183. A Telephonic Conversation. A man listens to one part of a conversation between his wife and her friend while they try to talk over the telephone. It's an interesting perspective, given that the telephone would have been new when it was written, even still a bit of a novelty. It reminded me of one of my favorite short operas, The Telephone, by Menotti.

172. Stiff, by Mary Roach. I've previously read Bonk and Spook by Roach, and she's becoming one of my favorite nonfiction authors. She has a talent for taking unconventional, even risqué, topics and writing about them in a way that is engaging and oftentimes hilarious. Here, she goes into the world of cadavers — the history of medical research using them, the other types of research that use cadavers (forensics, safety tests, etc.). For a book that is 300 pages, she goes into a lot of topics, including information that I didn't know I didn't know. Fair warning: I typically like to read while eating lunch. I do NOT recommend doing that with Stiff. Still, if you are curious about medicine, about unusual history and aren't too faint of heart, give this one a try.

173. Answers to Correspondents. Here, Twain goes over the answers to several readers' questions, akin to an advice column format. Most sections don't include the original question but they can be gleaned from his responses — always sharp, always funny.

174. A Royal Compliment. This is hilarious. Twain goes over what he would do, and what he would require, if he is named the king of Spain- an honor he is expecting any time now.

175. A New Crime. Relevant for today's world. Twain goes over the latest trend, where (some) people who have committed murder plead insanity and their lives are spared. Of course, as you can read (and observe in real life) this doesn't work for everyone. Only the wealthy and well-connected.

All are by Mark Twain.

168. An Encounter with an Interviewer. The beauty of so many Mark Twain pieces is that much of his fiction feels so real you wonder if it really happened, or at least were inspired by real events. That is the case here. From what I gleaned from the intro here, this is fictional, but I can't help but wonder if Twain at least had dreams of answering a young and naive interviewer much like the narrator here. The story made me laugh because the interviewer walks away, probably thinking his famous quarry isn't as smart as believed, while the narrator and famous person has exposed the younger man's foolishness. It's masterful writing.

169. A Mysterious Visitor. This story made me laugh out loud. A reasonably well-off man encounters a stranger and, in trying to find out more about his work in the Internal Revenue Service, tells a bit about himself, exaggerating some things along the way. Including about his income. The rest of the story is fairly predictable but hilarious (and a great jab about how the wealthy get ahead).

170. A Monument to Adam. A proposal is circulating about creating a monument to Adam. Darwin's work Origin of Species has been published, so a monument is needed of the Father of Mankind so no one forgets about him. So the story goes. Pretty amusing narrative.

171. Among the Spirits. A humorous story, but respectful. The story takes place during a seance, where a group has gathered to try to communicate with the dead. In mid to late Victorian times, and even into the Edwardian era, Spiritualism was common and seances were popular. Civil Wars, the uprooting of many norms during the Industrial Revolution, plus the usual epidemics and disasters left people wondering more about the afterlife and wishing for a salve to their grief. Skepticism runs throughout, but the story ends on a rather sympathetic note.

All by Mark Twain.

161. A Memory. I read this one for my online series, and there were a couple of times when I almost cracked up laughing. Here, Twain relates a story (which may be true, not sure) where he writes his non-poetry loving father a poem based on the gift his half brother received. This was hilarious! I can see it adapted as a short 10-minute play.

162. A Medieval Romance. Mark Twain is such a tease. Here, he pens a slightly overwrought (in a comic way) romance story that reminds me a bit of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. The ending will either make you laugh, groan, or do a bit of both.

163. A Letter from Santa Claus. This was sweet (although I'm curious whether there's a story within a story here with who I think was the servant?) Twain pens a letter to his little girl, pretending it is from Santa Claus. I'm thinking it may have been used as a means to explain a tardy gift, but it was charming, regardless.

164. A Humane Word from Satan. Obviously a jab at the millionaire class of the day, including and especially Rockefeller. This letter from the chief devil (supposedly) basically outlines that the road to his place is paved by good intentions. Which may not be all that good.

165. A Helpless Situation. I have a feeling this story is likely true, or at least partially true. Twain talks about getting letters, using one as an example, from people who hope he can use his influence to get their books before a publisher. He goes into his response, which may or may not have been sent, in which he points out the flaws in the pleader's logic. A brutal but honest response, and a lesson for any prospective writer.

166. A Dog's Tale. An excellent short story, but a fair warning: it starts out humorous and light, but the ending is dark. I mean, really dark. It was rather abrupt. The first person narrator is, as expected, a family dog. She relates her days with her mother, and then later tells about her new family. The family pup tries to relate to the world around her with her limited comprehension, often with humorous results.

167. After-Dinner Speech. Curious if this is an actual speech, but here, the narrator goes into the improving relations between the United States and Great Britain, and the economic boom that has resulted. There's a bit of a twist at the end.

152. "After" Jenkins, by Mark Twain. Interesting snippet about a gala, and the observations on what the women were wearing. Not sure if this actually ran in a paper or if it's a parody of such (either is a possibility).

153. A Fashion Item, by Mark Twain. Not sure if this was an actual newspaper article or a parody, but Twain comments on (and occasionally mocks) the garb and accessories of a society woman at a recent event.

154. A Fable, by Mark Twain. This was hilarious. Twain talks, in newspaper column style, about a 104 year old man and his life, but with all the qualifiers it's hard to tell what is accurate and what is, well, fable.

155. Advice to Little Girls. Here, Twain plays the role of ornery uncle as he gives out his "wisdom" to young girls about how to treat their teachers, their brothers and their parents. This was quite funny!

156. The Wishing Table, The Gold Ass and the Cudgel in the Sack, by the Brothers Grimm. Three brothers go off to make their fortune and, as a reward for their hard work, are each given an enchanted item. One receives a table that fills itself with food, one gets a donkey which, on command, coughs up gold coins, and the third gets a cudgel which will beat anyone within an inch of their lives when directed. The brothers all encounter a dishonest innkeeper, who covets the items for his own use.

157. The Wolf and the Fox, by the Brothers Grimm. A greedy wolf forces a fox to do his bidding, so the fox tries to think of ways to use the wolf's avaricious nature against him.

158. The Wolf and the Man, by the Brothers Grimm. A fox tries to warn his friend the wolf about the strength of men. The wolf takes this as a challenge and demands to see a man for himself.

159. The Willow-Wren, by the Brothers Grimm. The birds decide to elect a ruler among their number, but are outraged when the tiny willow-wren defeats everyone in a flying contest due to trickery. The willow-wren is further challenged by the outraged birds.

144. A Curious Pleasure Excursion, by Mark Twain. This was hilarious and unexpected. Mark Twain takes a jab at products and experiences that promise far more than can be delivered. Here, he gives a pitch about a journey through the galaxy on the tail of a comet (which is fitting given his connection to comets). I have a feeling there were probably references I didn't pick up on, but there was plenty that had me laughing out loud.

145. About Smells, by Mark Twain. Twain here takes aim at houses of worship that have forgotten their main mission of helping people no matter how low their means (or how smelly they might be). He does not hold back on the sarcasm.

146. About Play-Acting, by Mark Twain. Twain has a wonderful turn of phrase, which kept me reading for about two-thirds of the way of the story. But it's a bit long for what the story is- about how good a play was, and my attention started to wane towards the end. I concede there might be a story behind this that I am not aware of but as it stands, wasn't as big a fan as other stories he has written.

147. About Barbers, by Mark Twain. I can easily see this adapted into a short play. Here, Twain describes a typical (and somewhat unlucky) stop at a local barbershop. The descriptions are vivid and funny as a man tries to get the shave and cut he wants, and has to fight to get his way.

148. Thumbling as Journeyman, by the Brothers Grimm. There are several Thumbling stories that tell similar stories. Here, a boy no bigger than a thumb decides to explore the world. His adventures include escapes, giving robbers a hand (this Thumbling is a bit of a rascal), getting trapped inside a cow, receiving help from a fox and eventually finding his way home.

149. Thumbling, by the Brothers Grimm. In this Thumbling tale, a couple without children wish for a child-- even if he's no bigger than a thumb. Thumbling comes along and helps his parents through various schemes become more prosperous through unconventional means.

150. The Wonderful Musician, by the Brothers Grimm. The titular musician is a talented with an instrument but a terrible human being. He seeks a companion but when various animals try to join them, he betrays them all in a mean way. Then, when the animals want to seek revenge, they are chased off by a woodcutter who s accompanying the musician. Didn't care for this one.

151. The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids. This tale reminded me a bit of The Three Little Pigs. Here, a mother goat tells her seven children that she is going to the forest for food, but they need to beware the wolf. The wolf comes by and tries to trick the kids, and eventually succeeds, capturing all but one of them. It ends happily (except for the fate of the greedy wolf, of course).

132. Burning Bright, by Tracy Chevalier. I had mixed feelings about this one. I loved her other books but this one didn't quite reach their level. Burning Bright did offer an interesting point of view of the French Revolution — the London citizenry, who, as can be imagined, were wondering if the same thing could happen in their country. We're introduced to two interesting historical figures that I'd never heard of before: William Blake, a poet and printer with Revolutionary sympathies, and Philip Astley and his circus. (You know the image of the circus showman? Top hat, red coat, shiny boots, etc.? I suspect from a few illustrations I saw of him that Astley is the inspiration for this illustration). The two main characters, Jim and Maggie, are likeable if a bit stereotypical: the somewhat naive country boy versus the street-smart lass with a sketchy family. Still, it just didn't hang together as well as past stories. Some of the characters' actions (I'm especially thinking the Butterworths) didn't follow logically, especially the father and the brother. And the ending was a bit anticlimactic. There was some excitement but no major fallout. The book is a quick read and fairly easy to follow, but if you start thinking about it some things just didn't hold together well.

133. The Willful Child. Ugh. The best thing about this story is it was only a few sentences. Didn't care for it, although I actually could see this being adapted in a short, farcical play (something like The Evil Dead- The Musical). Here, the titular willful child is stubborn, even in death(?) Now that I think about it, this is creepier than I first thought if you look at it from the angle that the child may have been buried alive. Yikes!

134. The Wise Servant. This short story is pretty funny. Here, a master has ordered his servant to find a lost cow but the servant, after some time, tells his master he has found something even better. I wonder if this was a contemporary commentary on something. At any rate, it made me chuckle.

135. The Willow-Wren and the Bear. An odd tale. I wonder if there's some story, or cultural significance, in where it originated. Here, a Willow-Wren and other flying creatures go to war with a Bear and other land-bound animals after Bear insults the Wren's children.

136. The White Snake. I think I've read a variation of this tale before. A faithful servant becomes curious about a special dish the king has every day, tries a bit of it, and can suddenly understand the speech of animals. Far from being punished for sampling the royal meal, a white snake, this winds up not only saving his life but earns him a royal bride. An enjoyable story, all in all.

137. The White Bride and the Black Bride. This one really did not age well. The title pretty much says everything you need to know- and yes, the white bride is the virtuous, sweet one and the black bride is the evil one.

138. The Water of Life. Three princes go off, one by one, to retrieve the Water of Life for their father, who is ailing. Only the polite youngest son succeeds, but then he has to overcome the trickery of his two conniving brothers. A good short story, even if it was a bit predictable. I enjoyed it.

139. The Ungrateful Son. A very short story with a very clear moral: don't be neglectful of your parents. Here, a son refuses to share his dinner with his father, who drops in unexpectedly. He learns a painful lesson for his stinginess.

140. The Water-Nix. Two children who fall down a well are kidnapped by a Water-Nix, a malevolent water spirit. However, one day when she is away (in a rather ironic place, given the creature's sinister nature), the children manage to escape. Has elements of a couple of Baba Yaga stories I've read.

141. The Wedding of Mrs. Fox. This one is actually two semi-related stories. In both cases, Mrs. Fox is seeking a new husband, but only someone who can match her first husband's qualities. This was different, although I preferred the second story.

142. The Two Travelers. I really liked this one, it's a bit different from many of the Grimm Brothers Tales. Here, two men, a young and handsome tailor and a miserly, sour shoemaker team up and travel together. The shoemaker becomes jealous of the comely tailor and his success, even though the tailor shares his wealth with his bitter travel mate. When the tailor makes a foolish decision due to his overweening optimism, the shoemaker takes cruel advantage. The tailor does suffer trials but eventually his fortunes return. However, he's forced to confront more duplicity from the shoemaker. While a bit dark, I can see this as a good story for older children to spark conversation on planning carefully and the importance of being generous while being wary of those without the same type of heart.

143. The Two Kings Children. This story is a mashup of a few other stories I've read by the Brothers Grimm. A prince has been led astray by a sorcerer-king (although a bit of a twist here is that the prince does not run foul of a prophecy made against him). He first must stay awake to answer three questions in a row, and when that is completed, he must fulfill three tasks in order to win the hand of the youngest princess. They flee and turn themselves into enchanted things (there's another twist in this section, too, though). Then the prince, upon nearing his kingdom, leaves his intended behind... and forgets all about her. Through three lovely dresses, the princess looks to win her prince back.

All of these are from the Brothers Grimm, unless otherwise noted.

124. Because I Said I Would, by Alex Sheen. I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs a boost (and honestly, who doesn't)? The author started an initiative that encourages people to write down a promise to themselves, give that card to someone, and then the card is returned when the promise is fulfilled. He said the idea came to him through his late father's steadfast insistence of always keeping his word. The inspiration has created numerous chapters — both for youth and for adults — where volunteers and staff count the cards and work together on how to build better communities. This book is a quick read, and full of stories from people who have shared their personal "because I said I would" missions. It's the shot in the arm for anyone depleted of hope and ideas. I can't say enough good things about it.

125. The Two Brothers. There are several elements from other Grimm Brothers tales in this one: two brothers are sent away from home after their uncle pressures their father to exile them. They are trained to be hunters, but spare the lives of several animals, whose cubs and kits go on to serve them. One brother rescues a princess but is cruelly killed by a man who wants to marry the princess himself. The young brother is saved and the truth comes out (eventually). But the brother, now the young king, falls under the spell of a witch, and his twin must come to his rescue. It's an amusing story for what it is. This tale is a good deal longer than most Brothers Grimm stories (around 8,000 words as opposed to the typical 2,000-3,000 words, or shorter).

126. The Twelve Idle Servants. An amusing tale of twelve lazy servants, who are trying to one-up each other on how lazy they can be. It has the feel of a group of friends at a bar telling tall tales. Made me chuckle.

127. The Twelve Huntsmen. This is another story in the category where a young man, here a prince, promises himself to one young lady, only to come thiiiiis close to marrying another. The tale has an interesting twist though: the maiden in question finds eleven other maidens who look like her and they all dress as huntsmen and join the prince — now king — in the hunt. It made me think a bit of Twelfth Night by Shakespeare.

128. The Twelve Brothers. Another tale in the "sister must save her enchanted brothers" story. Here, a king and queen have 12 sons but the king declares that if the next child the queen has is a daughter, the 12 boys must be slaughtered in favor of their sister. He even has coffins made for his sons in advance. The queen warns the youngest son of this, and he tells the others. They all run off, then later escape permanently when they find their mother as, indeed, had a princess. Years later, the princess finds her brothers, and then must rescue them.

129. The Twelve Apostles. An interesting origin story on the twelve Apostles, and how they were selected centuries before to become Apostles.

130. The True Sweethearts. A young woman is given impossible tasks by her cruel stepmother but an old woman helps the maid, fairy godmother style. The maiden eventually has her own castle and falls in love with a young king, but the king leaves and then forgets about her. So, she becomes a cowherd until she finds him. At the festivities, she has saved back three lovely dresses in hopes of getting his love again. There are many familiar elements to this story, but it comes together.

131. The Three Spinners. A young woman who detests spinning finds herself tasked with spinning an impossible amount of flax. However, she is assisted by three women who, together, have an especial talent for spinning. Their only request? Being invited to the wedding and treated like loved relatives. One of the lighter stories.

All are Brothers Grimm unless otherwise noted.

115. The Hard Way on Purpose, by David Giffels. Anyone with Akron roots should enjoy this collection of essays about growing up and living in Akron. Giffels captures the zeitgeist of this area, its highs, its many lows and everything in between. Akron, known in its heyday as the rubber capital of the world, has fallen on harder times and has struggled since with recapturing an identity outside of the image of perpetual loss. He covers the art scene, abandoned businesses, local figures and elections. This would be a good book to include in a local time capsule.

116. The Three Sons of Fortune. At first glance, this is an odd story, but it may be deeper than seen at first glance. Depends on how deep you want to read into this. Here, a dying father gives each of his three sons a gift: one receives a rooster, one a scythe and the third a cat. He tells each of his sons to make their fortune with these, and tells them to travel the world and find a place where the people are not familiar with the items they own. The sons, one by one, do this, and find places that have never seen a rooster for the first son, a scythe for the second or a cat for the third, and each son comes back with a small fortune. It did cross my mind that, rather than selling their inheritance outright they would have been better off renting out or helping bring the "gifts" to multiple residents (making more scythes, breeding chickens and cats) but I'm not sure that was the intent of the story. It's with the final segment, the cat, where the story gets a bit odd. The residents of the town the cat is in grow fearful of it. I guess a lesson can be taken there as well. I won't spoil what happens.

117. The Three Sluggards. This is one of the funnier, and more light-hearted, Brothers Grimm stories I've read. It's also short and sweet. Here, an aging king with three sons decides to give his kingdom to the laziest prince. The tale has the feel of one of those barroom one-upmanship tales.

118. The Three Snake-Leaves. One of the more original-feeling Brothers Grimm tales. There's a lot of elements at play. A young man from a poor background sees his fortunes change after he saves the day during a war. He is granted permission to wed the princess, who only wanted to marry someone who was willing to abide by her dearest wish — that her husband be confined to her tomb to die when she dies (and she would, supposedly, do the same for him.) She does die but the young man brings her back to life through a strange stroke of fortune. However, he also learns that she is not so honest and true as he is.

119. The Three Little Men in the Wood. A fairly typical Brothers Grimm story. Two stepsisters — a kind, pretty girl and an ugly, selfish girl — both have the opportunity to better themselves through three little men who have magical powers. Their actions are different and they meet different fates through their actions and the enchantments put on them, fairy godmother (or, here, fairy godfather) style.

120. The three little birds. There are a few elements from other Brothers Grimm tales in this one. Three sisters who watch cows attract the attention of a young kind and two of his advisors. However, the two sisters who married the ministers grow jealous of the third, and when she has two sons and a daughter, the wicked sisters throw the babies into the river in order to drown them. However, all three of them are rescued by a fisherman and raised by him and his wife, who have no other children. Of course, the king comes to find out what really happened to his children, good prevails, evil is punished, etc., through birds who tell the truth (hence, the title, I guess).

121. The Three Languages. I really liked this story. Here, a father tries to send his son to different masters to learn skills but is bitterly disappointed when his son "only" picks up the skill to learn how to talk to dogs, to frogs and to doves. However, the young man's talent with these other languages winds up coming in handy and even earns him a fortune and a higher standing. The lesson- the oddest skills can come in handy, and it never hurts to learn other forms of communication.

122. The Three Green Twigs. A hermit learns a hard lesson after he declares a prisoner who has been sent to the gallows deserves his fate. Having fallen from grace, the hermit is forced to beg for food and carry a piece of with him. He will know he has regained favor when the wood sprouts three green twigs. This story has a strong moral about passing judgement and forgiveness.

123. The Three Feathers. An odd if entertaining tale. A king must decide which of his three sons will inherit his crown, and sets out a series of tasks for them. The older two sons are described as clever, but the youngest is known as Simpleton. The king blows on three feathers, which will decide which route the princes must follow to fulfill their quests. One flies to the right, one to the left, and one just falls. Simpleton is given the feather that falls immediately to the ground. The two older brothers laugh at this seeming lack of luck but for Simpleton this winds up being fortuitous. I do find it amusing that, while the two older brothers are painted as being lazy as well as "clever," the youngest really doesn't do much to earn his fortune, he's just luckier (it can be implied it's because he has a kinder heart, perhaps. Or the fact that he is the youngest, and the youngest siblings I've noticed tend to be the victors in such tales.)

All of these are from the Grimm Brothers.

101. The Three Army-Surgeons. A rather gruesome if entertaining tale. I can almost see this as a Three Stooges skit. Three surgeons who are traveling together stop at an inn and show off their skill: one removes his heart, one his hand and one his eyes, with the promise that they will be able to make themselves whole the next morning. However, the innkeeper's daughter neglects her duties in making sure these parts come to no harm and is forced to improvise. The result is darkly humorous.

102. The Three Apprentices. I can see an adaptation made of this story. This is one of the more original tales I've heard from the Grimm Brothers. Here, three apprentices are trying to make their way in the world but are down on their luck. However, they meet the Devil, who has an interesting proposition for them. The Devil isn't even interested in their souls, just that they do him a favor, but without wavering. If they succeed, they will never want for money.

103. The Thief and His Master. A father decides to apprentice his son to a master thief after thinking he has heard the word of God on the subject. The son turns out to be an adept thief — even surpassing his master. I liked this tale, it had a couple of unexpected twists. The morals of learning to be a thief aside I can see this adapted into a children's picture book.

104. The Tailor in Heaven. Not sure I liked this one. I don't know why this point hit me so hard but I was struck with how heaven was portrayed in such a materialistic way. Also, it was odd how the gates to heaven were supposed to be shut as God and the angels took a tour of the heavenly gardens. At any rate, one person, a poor tailor, does win the pity of St. Peter, the only one not strolling through the flowers. However, the tailor lets his curiosity get the better of him, even after St. Peter's admonishment to stay behind the gate. The tailor finds God's throne and decides briefly to act like God. Needless to say, this doesn't end well.

105. The Straw, The Coal and the Bean. This is a tale with a few variations. Three beings — a stalk of straw, a hot coal and a bean escape their fate in being a part of making a soup and decide to venture off together. As most of these tales go, it doesn't end well for the party. It does give an interesting origin story on how and why some beans have a black "seam" on them. A cute story with a small twist at the end.

106. The Spirit in the Bottle. I liked this story, didn't expect how it would wrap up. A young man goes back home after spending some time in school, where he exceled. Alas, money ran out before he could complete his studies. While his father takes a break, the student finds a glass bottle and pulls out the cork. A spirit comes out and threatens the young man, who manages to trick the malevolent genie.

107. The Three Brothers. For a Grimm tale, this was surprisingly sweet. Didn't end how I thought it would, but it was a nice surprise. Here, a father decides he will give his home to the son who can give the best artistic presentation. Don't want to say too much more for fear of spoiling the ending.

108. The Three Black Princesses. First thing out of the way, the three princesses are called this because they are dressed in black and their decor in the enchanted castle is black. Part of the story does take place in East India. A father has his son kidnapped and drafted into an enemy army, but he is given money and his standing in his town is swiftly increases. Meanwhile, his son escapes and comes across a mountain which opens up to reveal an enchanted castle. Inside are three princesses who agree to help him, with conditions. The ending is unexpected and rather abrupt. This tale doesn't hang together well, too much is left unanswered. I can see an adaptation but it would have to be worked over a good deal.

109. The Spindle, the Shuttle and the Needle. A sweet girl is raised by her godmother, who teaches her how to spin and sew. After the godmother dies, the girl finds, through her skill and fortune, that she can make a good living spinning thread and sewing. One day, a prince comes along, seeking a girl who is neither rich nor poor. The godmother's old spindle, shuttle and needle have a few tricks, as the girl discovers. A straightforward fairy tale with a happy ending. I found it charming.

110. The Sole. Another short origin-type story, which explains why the sole's mouth is on the side of its face. Here, the fish decide to have a race to see who will lead them. The sole proves to be a sore loser.

111. The Star-Money. This one is weird. Here, a girl has been orphaned and has nothing save the clothes on her back. She gradually even gives these away. The stars fall from the sky nearby, turning into gold, which provides for her. Kind of made me uncomfortable. Giving away a coat or gloves is one thing but when I say the clothes on her back, it's all of her clothing. Yeesh.

112. The Sparrow and His Four Children. I really liked this one. It's short but layered. A father sparrow is in despair after his four children are blown away. He is ecstatic when he finds them, alive and unharmed, a year later. While he wasn't able to give them all the advice he had wanted, father sparrow discovers his children have done OK- and he can still give them some parting words of wisdom. Most surprising is his youngest, who the father feared for most but wound up coming out the best of all. It's a sweet story, and shows that children often do better than we can anticipate, but can still benefit from the words of the older and wiser.

113. The Skillful Huntsman. An interesting and winding tale. A young man decides to switch careers and become a huntsman. At the end of his training, he is given an airgun, which always hits his target. He encounters some giants, who recruit the hunter in helping them break the curse of an enchanted, sleeping princess. He agrees but then betrays the giants. The huntsman leaves the castle to tell his father the good news of all he had done, but shortly after he leaves, the enchantment on the castle is broken and everyone awakens. The king promises his daughter's hand in marriage to whomever had killed the giants and broken the spell. An old captain lies and takes credit for the deeds. The princess refuses to marry him and is instead charged to do menial labor. The story does have a happy ending.

114. The Six Swans. I remember reading a story similar to this this when I was younger. A lost king makes a bargain with a witch to marry her daughter, a beautiful but sinister woman. The king tries to protect his seven children — six sons and a daughter — from his previous marriage but his second wife finds the castle they are hidden in and change the sons into swans. She does not know about the daughter, who is bound and determined to break the enchantment, even at the risk to her own life.

All of them are from the Brothers Grimm unless otherwise noted.

97. The Poison Squad, by Deborah Blum. I read Blum's The Poisoner's Handbook and enjoyed it. This book is just as fascinating a read. Fair warning — make sure to have blood pressure medication, Pepto-Bismal or at the very least a comic chaser near at hand because the history she details is infuriating. What's even more aggravating is how many issues that come up in this well-researched book are still problems even today. The Poison Squad looks at the life of chemist Harvey Wiley and his decades-long effort in creating laws that would help ensure the safety, quality and honesty of food, drink and medicines. The amount of dishonesty outlined is staggering. I read books like this and wonder how the heck humanity survived the Industrial Age? The skullduggery businesses participated in went beyond adding fillers such as shells, chalk and other substances to more costly items such as flour and cinnamon to save money, or mixing dies and alcohol and slapping a "vanilla" label on the bottle (events which, unfortunately, still are a problem today). This included adding formaldehyde to meats, especially canned meats, that were going bad to stop the bacterial growth. I think one of the more horrifying stories is how milk plants would add formaldehyde to souring milk and then selling that milk to orphanages and poor families. What makes it worse is that formadehyde, while it smells terrible, gives substances a sweet taste, so children eagerly lapped up this poisoned milk. Also, let's not forget adding types of lead and arsenic to candies for the pretty colors.

Equally appalling is how much flak Wiley took, not just from businesses but people who should have been his allies. His work and careful research started the foundation of codefying food safety.

This should be in every school library and used in history and civics classes.

98. The Story of the Youth Who Went Forward to Learn What Fear Was. I found this story entertaining and even original in sections (although there is a bit where our hero is in a haunted castle that is similar to at least one other story I've read). Here, the younger of two sons, who is described as the duller son (so you know he's going to succeed in life), goes out into the world after an unfortunate incident in his home town. He is eager and even desperate to know what fear is, and what it's like to shudder at something. The ending is hilarious.

99. The Story of Schlauraffan Land. I really didn't care for this story. Indeed, I thought it read like a verbal acid trip that made no sense. However, I did find out that "Schlaraffia" is a German group known for its humor and satire. The story makes a little more sense in this context. Still, not to my taste. Could be a case of an inside joke that sailed over my head.

100. The Stolen Farthings. Really sad story highlighting a small act of dishonesty can haunt someone even after they have died. Here, a family has taken in a friend as a guest for a few nights. The friend sees a strange figure all in white who comes into the house and goes into a back room. The family doesn't see this unexpected guest so the friend works to solve the mystery on his own. One of the stronger narratives among the really short stories.

86. The Six Servants. I've read variations on this tale (which actually has elements of a couple of different stories). Here, a prince decides to try his luck in winning the hand of a lovely princess, despite the obstacles: three tasks set by the queen. On his way, he encounters six men with special talents — one for eating and drinking, one for exceptional hearing, one for extraordinary eyesight and so on. These six help the prince overcome all obstacles put to him. But the prince himself takes care of the final hurdle — the mind of the princess being poisoned against him. It's an entertaining tale but another story which makes me wonder if the Brothers started mixing and mashing stories together to create new tales for more coin.

87. The Singing, Springing Lark. This starts out as a variation of the Beauty and the Beast story. A wealthy merchant agrees to get gifts for his three daughters, the youngest of which asks for a singing, soaring lark. He finds one eventually — but it is owned by a lion, who makes the merchant promise him to send the first being that greets him. As it turns out, the first person is the man's youngest daughter. One interesting point here is the father even suspects this might happen but is convinced by his frightened servant to take the deal. The youngest daughter goes to the enchanted castle, and here is where the story starts to veer in its own direction. The ending is similar to a couple of other tales I've read earlier, with an enchantress princess placing a spell on the lion/prince.

88. The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces. I've read variations of this before. Here, there are 12 princesses whose shoes are mysteriously worn down and full of holes each morning, despite the king's best efforts to try to secure his daughters. Finally, a retired soldier figures out where the maidens are going each night, thanks to a bit of help from an old woman. Each night they have been going to an underground, enchanted kingdom and dancing the night away with 12 handsome princesses. In at least one variation, the princesses are under a spell and are dancing with demons instead of princes, which makes the ending a bit sour. The old soldier (in most variations this is a prince) asks for the hand of the eldest princess, and you get the impression none of the maids see their princes again (indeed, the young men are punished). Yikes. Didn't really like that.

89. The Shroud. A depressing story but an interesting one about dealing with grief. A woman has lost her young son and weeps continuously. Her little boy visits her and implores her to stop weeping because he cannot rest in his grave. She eventually is able to and moves in. I imagine there were all too many parents who could personally related at the time when this was written.

90. The Shepherd Boy. In this short tale, a king finds out about an unusually wise young shepherd boy. The boy is able to answer the three questions the monarch puts to him in a way that pleases the king, and the shepherd is adopted by the king. A nice little story about how intelligence and luck can elevate one's station. Also, I liked the riddles and the answers.

91. The Singing Bone. This story put me a bit in mind of the Bonny Swan song/tale. Here, two brothers go to hunt a terrifying boar that is plaguing the land. The younger brother, because he is kind, is given a special spear and succeeds in killing the monstrous beast. However, the elder brother becomes jealous and kills his brother, taking the dead boar and telling the king that he had slain the beast. So he weds the princess and lives contentedly for a few years. However, a shepherd finds a small bone and uses it as a mouthpiece for his trumpet — and the bone sings a sad tale on its own. This is a interesting story in that there's no real happy ending. The younger brother remains dead, the eldest brother does get his comeuppance, but you have to wonder about the poor princess.

92. The Seven Swabians. Didn't care for this one, and later, on reflection, I have to wonder if this story was meant to be a slur against an ethnic German group. Here, seven rather goofy men go on a series of adventures but ultimately things just don't end well since none of them are particularly bright.

93. The Sea-Hare. I've read at least one variation of this in the past. Here, a proud and independent princess challenges her suitors: they must be able to hide themselves from her sight. However, the princess has an advantage: a series of mirrors that reveals everything. She takes pride in being able to outwit and execute so many. However, of course this is a fairy tale and eventually her independence is reined in by a prince who, through his mercy, is assisted by three animals. One twist in this tale is that two of the animals later have cause to regret helping the prince. Only the fox is able to help the prince succeed, and in a rather clever way. My feelings are mixed on this one. While I like how the prince was able to avoid detection, the misogyny is unsavory, and I felt sorry for the two animals.

94. The Rose. A really odd story that reads like two stories with only a very loose connection. The first involves a young child who befriends... it's not clear who or what, but some magical being who one day gives the child a rosebud. The child dies the day the rose blooms. The second story concerns a prince who wants to know how to get to heaven and undertakes a journey of poverty to get there.

95. The Seven Ravens. I've read variations on this tale but what I liked here is there are really no evil entities involves — just a careless mistake made in anger. A king finally gets a daughter, but he gets frustrated with his sons when he sends them out to get water and they don't return. He makes a wish that they become ravens, which comes true. Later, the princess, when she finds out what has happened, goes off to find and rescue her brothers.

96. The Robber Bridegroom. A creepy tale. A father, eager to marry off his daughter, promises her hand in marriage to a seemingly nice man of some means. However, the young woman's instincts tell her that this man is not who he seems, and she is right. There's a particularly gruesome scene that illustrates how evil this man and his associates are (so... I wouldn't use this as a bedtime story for the littles). Also, there is an issue of having the young woman go off by herself to her betrothed's cabin by herself, unescorted (I know this is a fable but this just would never have happened because it would have been scandalous. Don't know why but that point really bothered me). However, I do like how the woman uncovered what an evil man the bridegroom is.

All three are by the Brothers Grimm.

83. The Riddle. This was an interesting variation on the "solve the riddle to win the hand of the princess" tale. Here, a young prince is traveling through the land and engages in several adventures that wind up connecting towards the end. His final adventure concerns a princess that will only wed someone who can give her a riddle she can't solve. The young prince gives his riddle — based on his own adventures. Naturally the princess can't solve this and tries underhanded means of solving the riddle. No surprise she fails. Interesting, though, that when a male protagonist tries something underhanded, he is usually rewarded. Here, the smart princess is roped into a marriage she probably doesn't want.

84. The Raven. This story opens with a sentiment from the queen whom I'm sure all exhausted mothers can relate to. However, her words to her tiny daughter — a wish that she would turn into a raven, fly away and never return — actually comes to pass. We never see her again so we don't see if she repents her hasty words or not. At any rate, a traveler encounters the raven (who has aged rapidly) and is told how he can set her free. This story is another example of how the protagonist doesn't succeed at first (in fact, he really screws up) but is given another chance and he finally wins.

85. The Queen Bee. Three princes go adventuring, hoping to seek their own fortunes. The two older brothers, described as much smarter (although really they are just much more cruel) barely put up with their "dumb" youngest brother. However, when they are given a chance to save three lovely princesses, the youngest brother (as is typical in Brothers Grimm stories) wins, mostly due to his kindness to a colony of ants, a flock of ducks and a hive of bees, who all come to assist at the opportune time.

74. The Poor Miller's Boy and the Cat. This tale has a bit of a twist- it's the princess here who, in a way, rescues her "prince." It's extraordinarily rare to see a story where the fair maiden isn't the one being rescued. In fact, this might be a first in my reading. Here, one of the three apprentices of the Miller, named Stupid Hans, is sent with the two others to find a fine horse for the miller, who wants to retire. Hans, after he is abandoned by the other two, encounters a talking cat, who takes him on as a servant. Mild spoiler- the cat winds up being a princess. Now, it's not clear whether she was under enchantment or if this was a voluntary state of being but I don't mind the ambiguity. In fact, a part of me hopes it was the latter. One interesting details is that the princess cat isn't perfect, either but I won't give away that spoiler. It made me laugh, though.

75. The Poor Man and the Rich Man. A variation of the old tale about how God (or, sometimes, gods) go to Earth to travel, and wind up seeking hospitality. As is true to form, the rich man turns God away, but the poor man and his wife greet God with open arms and hearts, providing meals to the best of their abilities and even giving Him their own bed while they sleep on straw. In return, God grants them three wishes. Their wishes are humble, and the Lord even has to prompt them into wishing for a nicer house. When the rich man realizes what is going on, he rues his decision- and his regrets don't stop.

76. The Poor Boy in the Grave. This is the second most disturbing Brothers Grimm story I've read. Here, a poor boy is beaten and abused ceaselessly after various misfortunes until he decides to take his life. That's pretty much the plot. Silver lining is his abusers get their comeuppance. Still, the only story I've read that is even more disturbing is Donkey Skin (it goes by a few names). This story gave me the creeps.

77. The Pink. A queen gives birth to a little prince who has the gift of wishing — whatever he wishes comes true. The castle's jealous old cook realizes this and orchestrates a kidnapping of the child, but then realizes this could get him into trouble. An interesting story with, at best, a bittersweet ending. I did have a bit of an issue with the prince taking a young woman with him in the form of a flower when she was reluctant to join him in a journey back to his kingdom.

78. The Peasant's Wise Daughter. A peasant's daughter has the occasion to meet the king, who gives her a riddle. She answers the complicated riddle and he marries her. He threatens to throw her out, however, after she helps a farmer outsmart him. She manages to outsmart the king though. Mixed feelings about this story. On one hand, I do like how she outsmarted him. On the other hand, the king was an idiot and didn't deserve her.

79. The Peasant in Heaven. A peasant and a rich man go into heaven. The rich man is greeted with song and accolades, while the reception for the peasant is more subdued. The reason will raise some eyebrows. Here, I wonder if this is an allegory for more earthly behavior.

80. The Peasant and the Devil. A devil tries to outsmart a peasant, but the man, known for being clever, outwits the evil being (who isn't all that smart) and receives some wealth. This is a funny tale.

81. The Pack of Ragamuffins. This was funny. A small group of animals and objects travel together and eventually seek shelter at an inn. But they wind up making a nuisance of themselves, causing the innkeeper no small amount of grief and regret.

82. The Old Woman in the Wood. One of the more complex Brothers Grimm tales. Here, a servant girl finds herself stranded when the family she works for is killed by robbers far from their home. A dove provides her with food and shelter, and in exchange asks the girl for a favor, which involves visiting the cottage of an old woman.

All are Brothers Grimm tales.

60. The Old Witch. This one is similar to Mother Hulda, albeit shorter. Here, there's no abusive stepmother and stepsister, and the "old witch," while not necessarily evil, is a bit darker. Here, one of the two sisters goes off in search of work after their father loses his job (doesn't go into why). She meets with an oven, a cow and an apple tree and assists them all. The sister finds the witch, who employs her. Unlike in Mother Hulda, the sister forgets a critical rule. The second sister's fate is similar to the tale of Mother Hulda.

61. The Owl. This is an interesting story if you read it as an allegory for the consequences of stupidity and misunderstanding. A large owl finds shelter in a large barn and decides to stay the day there. But the owner of the barn, and later the village, are terrified of the owl, having never seen a creature like this before, and think she is a monster.

62. The Old Beggar-Woman. A very short story with an odd ending- although the reader can piece together what probably happens. Here, an old woman seeks shelter on the invitation of a boy — who ignores her when she finds herself unexpectedly imperiled.

63. The Old Man and His Grandson. I've read variations of this before but few such incredibly short stories pack such a punch. Here, a grandfather has slowed down- he has a hard time feeding himself and his hands shake. His daughter and son-in-law are ashamed of him and force him to eat elsewhere. However, their young son inadvertently teaches them a lesson about kindness and compassion.

64. The Old Man Made Young Again. Didn't care for the ending of this one. Here, St. Peter and God have been walking the earth. They take shelter with a smith. While they are there, a poor beggar whose infirmities mean he can't work stop by. God instructs the smith how to work his forge so the beggar can be healed. However, after God and St. Peter leave, the smith tries to replicate what happened to the beggar to do the same with his mother-in-law. Obviously, it doesn't work. I guess it's open for interpretation as to whether the smith thought he would succeed... or knew he wouldn't. On reflection, I lean towards the latter.

65. The Nix of the Mill-Pond. A story in the style of "parent makes bargain and inadvertently must surrender their child." Here, a once prosperous man has fallen on hard times. He encounters a water spirit, who promises fortune as long as he gives her what has just been born at his house. The father agrees, thinking this will likely be a puppy or kitten. However, he finds out as he comes onto his property that his wife has just given birth to a son. I've read variations of this but this is still an interesting and winding tale that does have a couple of twists.

66. The Lord's Animals and the Devil's. Not crazy about this one. This is essentially a parable about why goats are associated with the devil and why their eyes look the way they do. At least it is very short.

67. The Little Folks' Presents. Did not like this one. Here, two men happen upon a fairy circle. The friends, after completing some challenges set out by the wee folks, are rewarded. However, one of the friends (who just happens to have a disability, unlike his fairer friend) greedily goes back to where he saw the fae in hopes of getting more riches. He pays a price for his greed. I would have been OK with this one had the story not made such a big deal about the second man's hunched back.

68. The Lambkin and the Little Fish. A brother and a sister are turned into a lamb and a fish by their wicked stepmother. The lamb is about to be slaughtered to feed incoming guests, so the brother fish must find a way to intervene.

69. The Lazy Spinner. A bit misogynistic but I couldn't help chuckling. A woman schemes her way out of getting out of spinning and collecting yarn in some creative ways.

70. The Knapsack The Hat and the Horn. A good tale — even if the ending is rather brutal — with a couple of twists. Three brothers go out to seek their fortune. The first two brothers are quickly satisfied after they find their riches, but the third brother continues on with the journey. Along the way, he manages to secure a worn knapsack, a battered hat and a horn. The brothers ridicule him but these items turn out to be more precious than they first appear, and the third brother teaches those who try to cross him some painful lessons.

71. The King's Son who Feared Nothing. This reads almost like two stories. The king's son decides to go venturing. He encounters a giant whom he winds up assisting. The giant seeks the love of a fair maiden, but she quickly figures out that the giant himself didn't complete the tasks he needed to do. The giant tries to double cross the king's son, but the prince wins out in the end due to his fearlessness and an unexpected ally. I can see this adapted for today.

72. The King of the Golden Mountain. This is one of the longer and more complex Grimm Brothers tales. The reader meets the protagonist as a younger child after his father makes a promise to an evil imp. The father manages to thwart the imp, but the boy sets off on a series of adventures, which includes rescuing an enchanted princess and besting a group of giants. This does have some passages that could be seen as racist.

73. The Juniper-Tree. The beginning threw me because it starts out so similarly to Snow White. However, instead of a white and red girl, this concerns a boy. The mother of this little boy dies shortly after he is born. The father remarries and the second wife has a daughter. Unlike most step-sibling relationships, the boy and girl actually are fond of each other. But, like in every story I've read in fairy tales, the stepmother despises the boy and eventually kills him. Eventually, the truth comes out through a beautiful bird with a lovely song and a sad story.