Spinners

I obviously think this is a wonderful book (note the stars) and am sorely disappointed by those of you who could not appreciate this tale for the brilliant piece of work that it is. There are two main arguments that I have seen portraying this book as one of small literary merit. The first and largest is the general disliking of the depressing ending. If you have ever had an English class that was worth anything at all then you would realize that happy go lucky stories are rarely thought provoking. If you wanted a no brainier easy read then you should have picked up a different book. The other reason people did not like this book was because of its hinted at mature content. This is why it is a young adult book. If you have a problem with hinted at sex and birth control then don't read young adult books. You should probably not let your eleven year old read the book either (even though they probably have heard worse at school).

Napoli and Tchen weave a beautiful and bitter-sweet tale that takes this fairy tale to a new level. Based on the age old story of Rumpelstiltskin, Spinners delves into the story behind the story. The Spinner is a tailor who loves a woman so desperatly that he would do anything for her, even spin straw into gold. When he promises her father to clothe his love in gold he has to make good on his word. But his ever faithful love marries the drunken old miller instead. But she is with the Spinner's child. Fifteen years later, the spinner returns to his village and saves his daughter, who likewise has a gift for spinning, from the fate imposed upon her by the king. Beautiful retelling of the classic fairy tale, poignant and moving. I was unused to the tense in which the story was written, but it soon became natural to read as if it were just happening. If you have ever read Napoli's other books, such as Zel you will love this one!

Spinners was one of the best books I've ever read. When I first picked it up, I had no idea what it was about. After the first few pages, I was enthralled. I had no idea what was going to happen to the spinner, especially after he lost his girl. I could not believe it when he said his name. I picked up the book again not long ago, and I had almost forgotten what it was about. When I finished it, I was in love with it, and had fallen in love all over again. It was one of the best books I've ever read, and I will read it all over and over and over again.

Napoli's fine amplified tellings of fairy tales reach deep down into the reader's soul, where you are most afraid that your life IS like a fairy tale. This one has the "classic" ending where poor old Rumplestiltskin bangs his leg through the floor and that's the end of him and his story. Most people who are conditioned by Hollywood studios to expect everything to end happily ever after will not like this one. It sure won't sell any lunchboxes, so I know Disney will never option it. Great for teens, or older elementary kids who are past the "bibbidy bobbedy boo" stage and still have a sense of wonder.Great read aloud for high schoolers, too. Even grownups (fans of Anne Sexton for instance) will love it.