Status Updates From Hans Christian Andersen: Be...

Shadow: really compelling except I'm not sure of the point
Bottle-Neck: kind of bittersweet, but I liked it; so good at anthropomorphizing
Children's Prattle: short and cute
Old House: like this one; good messaging
Farm-Yard Cock and the Weather-Cock: 3/5

Traveling Companion: definitely some bizarre parts, but I liked this one overall - kindness will be repaid
Last Pearl: hard to argue with the idea that affliction makes us appreciate the good things more, even if I really, really want to
In the Duck-Yard: what. And also why.

Wild Swans: liked this one; Elise is a boss
Snail and the Rose-Tree: another one that doesn't leave much of an impression
She Was Good for Nothing: liked this; HCA does well with showing "the other side" of those we judge

Jewish Girl: 0/5 how dare
Lovers: seriously who hurt you, HCA?
Picture from the Rampart: back to nature, thankfully
Leaf from Heaven: liked it till the end
Princess & the Pea: HCA at his best
Old Church Bell: research for historic context
Silver Shilling: kind of fun
Girl Who Trod on a Loaf: 3/5
Two Brothers: short and sweet
Old Tombstone: like the idea behind this one
Snowman: Frosty is the only happy snowman story

Twelve by the Mail: timely read! Love this concept and this line: "When a year is gone, I shall tell you what the twelve passengers have brought you, myself, and all of us. At present I do not know it, and perhaps they do not know it themselves; for it is a strange time we live in."
Metal Pig: that was abrupt and depressing
Bond of Friendship: interesting, LGBTQ+ slant
Red Shoes: 0/10
Rose from Homer's Grave: eh

Ugly Duckling: classic; I kind of like that there isn't a comeuppance for those who mocked him in the original (not that they don't deserve it); the satisfaction comes from recognizing his own value
Under the Willow-Tree: love the gingerbread story, but death by exposure is becoming a running theme here
Ib and Christine: in fact, becoming convinced Andersen was severely burnt by some woman

Soup from a Sausage-Peg: this was strangely boring
Beetle: just what you'd expect from a beetle!
Garden of Paradise: history doomed to repeat itself
Story: LOVE this one
Dumb Book: didn't leave much of an impression; not sure what the takeaway is

Cheerful Temper: who knew Andersen came up with Dexter? (I jest)
Little Match Girl: his most famously sad story is (gasp) sad; he tries to make it bittersweet, but I actually take umbrage with this; knowing the dead are with God or a relative can be comforting, but this feels more like glorifying
Story of the Year: beautiful nature depictions here
There Is No Doubt About It: hilarious
Ole Luk-Oie: fun little story

Bell: I like this one; strong descriptions of nature, the takeaway being (for me) that reconnecting with the natural world is a spiritual and healing thing
Thumbelina: my apologies to the movie for thinking it was bonkers; it was just taking its cue here; still a cute story, though I always feel bad/wonder about the woman from the beginning
Little Tuk: fun little idea!

Shepherdess and the Sweep: misogyny strikes again, a very silly porcelain girl, but at least it's happier?
Wicked Prince: hashtag wish fulfillment
Galoshes of Fortune: love this one, both a fun and fascinating concept - this line = painful accuracy
"Their heads were the most difficult to be brought through, and therefore here, as in other things in this world, those who had the smallest heads were the best off."

Little Mermaid: gets a bad rap because Disney and it IS sad, but more bittersweet than depressing, good messaging about selflessness
Old Street Lamp: talent=making you want to hug a lamp
Little Elder-Tree Mother: charming, reminds me of Princess Bride in grandpa to grandson storytelling
Neighboring Families: much as I like the roses, I don't like this in total; Andersen had serious insight into needless cruelty

Notes as I go:
Holger Danske: must look up these Danish heroes!
Flying Trunk: felt like a little bit of an acid trip
Fir-Tree: serious talent at personifying plants, even if they are all sad
Darning Needle: not bad at inanimate objects, either
Big Claus and Little Claus: dark but also so silly it's hard to take it seriously enough to get upset
Last Dream of the Old Oak: another sad tree

Notes as I go:
Emperor's New Clothes: more to this than the emperor is stupid
Rose Elf: DARK
Storks: good but strange end
Daisy: sad
Buckwheat: preach
Nightingale: 10/10
Elfin Hill: fun but don't get the lesson
Saucy Boy: this one's funny
Steadfast Tin Soldier: this never gets less sad!
Flax: like the concept
Swineherd: yikes the misogyny (how dare she "debase" herself by doing what I want her to do??)