The Fir Tree

author: Hans Christian Andersen
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1844
rating: 4
read at: 2016/10/10
date added: 2016/10/10
shelves:
review:
'The Fir Tree' by Hans Christian Andersen gets a gorgeous new edition with illustrations by Sanna Annukka. They don't make the story any happier, but they add some beauty to the pages.

The story is of a fir tree living in the woods. At first he is not tall enough to be chosen and resents the rabbits who jump over him. He wants more and yearns for it. Eventually, he grows tall enough and is chosen as a Christmas tree and thinks his life will only get better and better. This is not what happens.

It's a story of dissatisfaction and realizing too late what is lost in the pursuit for what one wants. Hans Christian Andersen can write a sad story, and this one is no exception. I'm glad that this didn't get rewritten in the telling.

The illustrations that accompany this edition are really good. Sanna Annukka's style seems to be geometric shapes and interesting contrasting colors. There are trees in the forest, and fish swimming below a harbor. There are mice and ornaments and even the final pages of the book have beautiful images of the tree's final moments. I'm not sure it's a Christmas classic like I know them, but I love this edition of the story.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Ten Speed Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/2elGKMT