Jack and a GIVEAWAY

I was reading through The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang when I stumbled upon The History of Jack the Giant-Killer. I immediately thought of Jack and the Beanstalk. But this story had no beanstalk. It's a series of encounters that a certain Jack has with different giants or ogres. Clearly, he's a different Jack, like the different Snow White, yet he's still associated with giants.

I think the best known version of the Jack in the Beanstalk is probably the one in which Jack basically steals the giant's wealth and later kills the giant. But there's another version (well, a couple different versions. . .), wherein everything the giant has actually belonged to Jack's father. When Jack was young, the giant killed his father and stole everything. Jack's mother fled with her son and never spoke of it. So Jack must reclaim his family's property. You can read that version here. Also, you can find more Jack and the Beanstalk stories here.

source

Interestingly though, in both Jack and the Beanstalk and Jack the Giant Killer, sometimes there's a lady ogre or lady giant who's the wife to one of Jack's enemies. What's really different is that the wife usually helps Jack or at least tries to hide him from her husband to keep him from being eaten. In some versions, Jack is clearly playing on hers sympathies. But in other versions, the lady giant just takes it upon herself to protect him.

One of the reasons I like Jack the Giant Killer better than the Beanstalk tale is because there's more than one story in way. Depending on which version you read (some of them have been shortened), Jack encounters at least three different giants, sometimes five. Jack the Giant Killer is a little lengthy, but it's really interesting. Usually, he escapes or kills the giant by outsmarting them.

I particularly like this version of Jack the Giant Killer. In both the opening scene and the ending scene, Jack blows a horn. In the beginning, his horn arouses the anger of a giant and so it begins his adventures as a Giant-Killer. In the last one, the horn brings about the end of a giant and so ends Jack's giant killing days. It gives the story a sort of completeness.

So, the giveaway has nothing to do with Jack.

I shall be giving away these lovely books. (Sorry if the photos seem a bit bleary.)

I was trying to find some a nice collection of Andersen's tales, but nothing I found satisfied me, so how about some Grimm instead? It's blue; blue always wins.

Stars Above is a collection of short stories about our Lunar Chronicles friends. If you've not read the Lunar Chronicles, I highly recommend it. I love the twist Meyer takes on fairytales and it's fun to see how she weaves the tales together with such completeness. I'm currently reading Winter. I actually haven't read this book yet so I'm hoping it's good! But it's by Meyer so I believe you will be in good hands.

Now this. Haha. I have this weird belief that every avid reader needs to read The Princess Bride at least once in his or her life. Technically it is not a fairytale. Yet most people seem to miss the point that this book, and its movie, are satire. It questions and gives a cynical look at literary archetypes and elements that I think fairytales strongly influenced. But more on that later.

(Those are onion flowers by of way. I thought they'd go nicely since it's The Princess Bride.)

This specific book is actually, uh, my book. I could only find a second-hand Princess Bride and the one I found is in poorer condition than my own. I am not going to give someone a sad looking book. Mine has a little wear on the papercover but otherwise it's good. I rather cherish my copy of The Princess Bride simply for the stupid and illogical reason that it's my copy (yeah, so it's special, okay?). I guess I'm saying that whoever ends up with this book I hope they make a special place in their heart for it.

Great. Now I'm being sentimental over books.

But hey, if one is going to be sentimental, it might as well be about books, right?

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Giveaway, Link-up, and World Book Night

           Dear friends and fellow bloggers, I'm excited to announce the very first giveaway on [insert title here]! Exciting, yes?

           This giveaway is for World Book Night, April 23rd, so it is a book giveaway (what is better than a book?). Have you heard of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak? Recently made into a movie. I haven't seen the movie. But the book is amazing (here's a review). If you haven't read it then, I charge you, you must read. It's brilliant. Genius. World-shaking. I did have to order it (because they didn't have the right cover I wanted at Wal-Mart and one of the pitiful things about living in a small town is that Wal-Mart is the only place to buy books).

           Unfortunately, I was unable to start the giveaway as early as I wanted. So the winner will be announced on the 24th instead of the 23rd. To enter this giveaway, there will a link-up for you to participate in. Link-up rules are normal link-up rules. But here than are anyhow:

Rules
1. Create a post on your blog following the prompt.
2. In said post, provide a link back to this blog.
3. Sign the link-up at the bottom of this post.
4. Tell others about the giveaway.

The prompt?

5 of your favorite book characters

           I'll tell you mine for the fun of it. In no particular order because I'm scattered-brained like that. :P

1. Tris

           From Divergent by Veronica Roth, I can relate to Tris in a lot of ways (no, I'm not short). I like how she's quick-thinking. I like how she makes sacrifices (big sacrifices) in order to find the truth. She's brave and selfless, not all the time. But she acknowledges her flaws too. (the movie was meh, just saying.)

2. Elizabeth Bennet

           The heroine of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I love her wit. It's beautiful. Biting, yes, but she does learn about that, doesn't she? She probably says the things I only think. She too admits her faults when she finally sees how wrong she is. She likes going for walks and has said, "What are young men compared to rocks and trees?"

3. Cinna

           Katniss' fashion designer in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. But he is so much more than that. He's kind of like a father figure to Katniss in ways. He's one of the few stable things in her life (until he's martyred). He's not what you would first expect (and he's a genius). He's a rebel against the government and is willing to give the masses hope even if it means giving his life for merely designing a wedding dress that catches on fire. (if you haven't read the books, I charge you with reading that too, and Catching Fire was an amazing movie!)


4. Solvieg

           I can relate even more with Solveig from Matthew J. Kirby's Icefall. Solvieg learns about who she is, and that she doesn't have to be ashamed of who she is. She is very careful in her friendships and who she trusts. She's quiet, observant, little noticed, and sees people and things differently than others would. She is also rather brave, I think. She is Solvieg. (meaning, you must read the book).

5. Orma (from Rachel Hartman's Seraphina)

           Ah, Orma. He is so funny. The way he doesn't understand humans and yet understands them and their emotions more than he would ever let on. I love his fatherly relationship with the protagonist. He's kind of a mentor in a way. But not the all-knowing kind. Those are boring. Some of his advise. . . not always the kind you want to take, but I forgive him for that so long as he is himself.

           Who are your favorite book characters?

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