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I absolutely adore Hans and i was just wondering what Andersen story was your favorite?

(sigh) so glad to see so many Andersen fans out there....

Fine i'll start.
The first story i read of his was The Little Mermaid and i have to say i fell in love with it.
No where near the resemblance to Walt Disney's version... actually after reading the story i was rather disappointed in the Disney version, even though it is a classic that i grew with.
The Little Mermaid has this crazy saddened darkness to it that just makes it unbelievably unforgettable.
I've read all of his other stories and loved each, but i can truely say that, on my death bed, this will be the book that saddens me that i didnt read more times.

Anyone else? Anyone?

I love his stories. I'm not sure which of his stories I read first but I think it was Thumbelina or The Emperor's New Clothes. One of the first books i read contained 4 of his stories. I remember I didn't want to read it because it looked too big to me but my mother made me. These were one of the most interesting stories I've read. One of them was The Little Match Girl. hmm now I want to read more of his stories. I hope I'll have enough time soon.

B-fly wrote:I love his stories. I'm not sure which of his stories I read first but I think it was Thumbelina or The Emperor's New Clothes. One of the first books i read contained 4 of his stories. I remember I didn't want to read it because it looked too big to me but my mother made me. These were one of the most interesting stories I've read. One of them was The Little Match Girl. hmm now I want to read more of his stories. I hope I'll have enough time soon.

Now do you accept 'Mother knows best'?
Beautiful children's stories ... I hate the modern day fad for reading all sorts of psychological mumbo jumbo into them.

Agreed Fran... i cant stand it when they always add more into it than they should...

B-fly- Little Match Girl was also amazing... i think i cried through that entire story..
Luckily i have a book of His entire stories and i've reread them so many times that they're starting to look old.
I think i'll need to give in and have an Andersen week.

laci_baby wrote:Agreed Fran... i cant stand it when they always add more into it than they should...

B-fly- Little Match Girl was also amazing... i think i cried through that entire story..
Luckily i have a book of His entire stories and i've reread them so many times that they're starting to look old.
I think i'll need to give in and have an Andersen week.

I cried too. next time I go to my parent's house I'll borrow Andersen's stories.

I'm not sure what 'Mother knows best' is

' Mother Knows Best' is a saying that mother's always know what's best for their children, even if the children disagree at the beginning.

laci_baby wrote:' Mother Knows Best' is a saying that mother's always know what's best for their children, even if the children disagree at the beginning.

I wonder is it true?

did he write Water Babies, and The Silver Skates?

B-fly i think to a certain extent it's true, but no one really wants to admit it. haha.

Wheelbaron- Neither of those ring a bell to me. But i Googled it for you.

Water Babies was by Reverend Charles Kingsley.

The Silver Skates... i found a "Hans Brinker; Or The Silver Skates: A story of life in Holland" By Mary Mapes Dodge. I dont know if it's the same one, but that's what i found.

Hopefully that helps you.

The Little Match Girl is my favourite of the Christian's. The Red Shoes is horrific though.

I think it's rather ironic that for these to be in fact fairytales and intended for children each of the stories had a little depression point to them. The Ugly Duckling, The Little Match Girl, The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen... ect ect. Each of them had a dark twisted depression about them that you never really see as dark while your reading them because of the way Hans wrote the characters. He wrote them as loveable and relateable as possible and yet if you think about it each of them were really very sad in atleast one point. I think it shows that Hans had an amazing ability to not only think as a child but to be able to relate to them and turn it for the elders to feel the same pain. It taught you morals and kept you in a child mind frame yet extremely entertained. At least thats my opinion...

There is nothing like the Devil to bring out the very worst in a Christian. Nonetheless, Philip Pullman seems to like his dark materials also.

Ooohhh... Pullman is amazing as well. I think his writing's actually pretty drab but the things he comes up with are out of this world (literally... i might add.)

Little Match Girl is one of my favorites.