The Sleeper and the Spindle CD Audio CD – Audiobook, September 22, 2015

So this book is an incredibly fast reader. Finished it in under an hour. But damn, it's definitely a unique spin-off. The story itself ventures off into the journey of Snow White. Her wedding is about to take place and a few of the dwarves set off to collect some items pertaining to her celebration. While in town they hear word of a curse spreading throughout the country that sets those sticking around into a deep sleep. Once coming back, they pass off their new knowledge to Snow and she decided postpone the wedding to find the source of the curse in hopes of defeating it before it spreads even further. So unlike your typical Snow White, she pretty much changed herself into a Joan of Arc type figure and sets off fearlessly. Won't give anymore details, but clearly the sleeping curse is where the Sleeping Beauty comes into play and let's just say things are rather unexpected. If this was a full blown out novel, I can only imagine the details and story progression they could have played with. Even so, it's set out like your typical fairy tale. But it is very dark. The illustrations are beyond beautiful and really they contributed to my liking of this. If you're into fairytales or into the macabre, you will not be disappointed. Truly unique!

Gaiman never fails to craft a perfect tale. This fantastical mix of fairy tales spun into a Gaiman gem is marvelous. The illustrations are absolutely perfect. BUY THIS BOOK!

Neil Gaiman joined with illustrator Chris Riddell to produce this novelette. I would have opted for a bit more text, but the illustrations (mainly black and white) are quite interesting, and I couldn't help thinking this would make a great coloring book. The figures in the pictures are just begging to be colored in.In the original 'Snow White' story there are seven dwarfs, but here we have only three. Snow White is about to marry her prince and is having second thoughts while being fitted into her wedding dress, when her old friends show up and inform her of a plague that is rapidly approaching her kingdom (Snow White is now a queen). People are falling asleep while performing their everyday chores (milking cows, waiting on tables, etc.) and nothing seems to be able to wake them. The main sleeper is a princess who was cursed into sleep 70 years ago after she pricked her finger on a spindle, so the Queen postpones her wedding and chucks her disappointed princie under the chin. She armors-up and sets out with her three height-challenged companions to wake the sleeping princess.One very modern touch is the presence of, for lack of a better term, I'll call zombies. They attempt to prevent the companions from completing their journey to the rose-bound castle. Neil Gaiman also adds a few interesting twists to his fairy-tale-combo ending, which I am honor-bound not to reveal in this review. I liked them but fans of the Disney movies might experience a few qualms.

I have a soft spot for storybooks, and this edition satisfies all of the things I look for. It has a vellum slipcover and gorgeous black & gold illustrations throughout. The binding has stitches rather than glue.The story is one I would expect from Gaiman, who rarely disappoints. It’s a simple tale with a powerful message. I recommend for readers of all ages.

Good book needed it for class quality prints

Good story by Gaiman. Dust jacket had a 1” tear at the top.

The copy we received was really lovely and clean. The book is beautifully illustrated.

I just read Neil Gaiman’s short story / Fairy Tale, The Sleeper and the Spindle. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised. I like anything that can manage to surpass my expectations and surprise me. That’s the easiest way to make me like a story.I admit I figured out what was really going on a short while after a certain elderly character was introduced but it was a good twist and I think I was supposed to figure it out around that point anyway.Why is it no one can describe Neil Gaiman’s writing correctly to me? Almost every description I’ve read or been told of The Sleeper and the Spindle has been along the lines of “It’s a lesbian retelling of Sleeping Beauty.” That isn’t quite what it is. It is but it isn’t. Yes, the protagonist is very likely a lesbian or perhaps bisexual but there’s a lot more to her than her romantic inclinations. It isn’t really a love story as much as it’s a short adventure story with a warrior queen protagonist. There is no couple living happily ever after at the end and that’s okay. A queen has decided to take her life into her own hands and seek new adventures and that’s just as good.I feel bad for a certain other character but now that she can finally rest maybe her dreams will be kind to her.Something to note: I don’t know if people were just trying to protect me from spoilers (foolishly) or if people really didn’t know but no one had told me who this protagonist was. Don’t tell me adult readers of this story didn’t catch on! (I was particularly disappointed when I found out people my own age didn’t know who Rumplestiltskin was in Once Upon a Time…) The heroine of this story might as well have had a glowing neon sign over her head. Here are the hints. Her companions are dwarfish men who mine for jewels, she once spent a year under a sleep spell in a glass coffin, her beautiful but evil stepmother was tortured to death via hot iron slippers (Not covered in the Disney adaptation). She was set to marry a prince. Her lips are as red as blood and her hair is as black as ebony and in certain lighting her skin is as white as snow. If you don’t know who this protagonist is, you probably should be reading Grimm first, then Gaiman.Anyway, I liked the story more than I thought I would. If you like Once Upon a Time or the mini-series 10th Kingdom or just like fantasy and fairy tales you may enjoy it even if it reads a little bit like a children’s story. It’s a fun, easy read. And there are a few pleasant Easter Eggs.

I'm proud to have this book. It feels amazing when held in hand. The illustrations are beautiful. And the plot itself is interesting. Worth the purchase.

Versión: "Tapa blanda en inglés" !Libro muy bonito para un regalo, con ilustraciones encantadoras;desgraciadamente la Versión en español está agotada !Aconsejó regalar la "versión de tapa dura", en la que seguramente las paginas del libro se dejarán abrir mejor y se podrá disfruta mejor de las ilustraciones y del libro en sí !Atentamente un saludo

Chris Riddell und Neil Gaiman sind schon lange mein liebstes Duo, was gelungene illustrierte Geschichten angeht. "Coraline" oder zuletzt auch die illustrierte Ausgabe von "The Graveyard Book" haben mir sehr gut gefallen und zählen zu den schönsten Büchern, die ich in meinen Regalen stehen habe. Chris Riddell ist nun seit Jahren mein Lieblingsillustrator und über ihn habe ich auch glücklicherweise zu Neil Gaiman gefunden, weswegen ich sehr gespannt auf diese Zusammenarbeit war. Was soll ich sagen - ich bin erneut hin und weg!Zum Cover & den Illustrationen: eine schlafende Frau mit wallendem Haar, dazu an den Seiten gewundene Dornenranken - sofort assoziiert man diese Geschichte mit Dornröschen. Es passt wirklich sehr gut zur Handlung des Buches und zieht einen beinahe magisch an. Auch die restlichen Illustrationen sind (wie von Chris Riddel gewöhnt) ganz fantastisch geworden. Seine Menschen und Wesen haben einfach einen ganz eigenen Charakter, sprühen vor Charme und besonders seine Art Schatten zu setzten und zu Schraffieren bringt eine gewisse Dynamik mit, die ich selten bei Illustrator:innen sehe. Besonders der Mix aus "klassisch" schönen Elementen und Makabren hat mir hier besonders gut gefallen!Zur Handlung: in dieser Geschichte verfolgen wir eine mutige und emanzipierte Königin, die sich, zusammen mit einer Gruppe von Zwergen, auf den Weg macht, um den Fluch der Prinzessin zu brechen. Dabei werden die verschiedensten Märchenelemente von Dornröschen und Schneewittchen miteinander verwoben, sodass ein ganz eigenes Märchen erzählt wird. Die Geschichte ist nicht besonders lang, jedoch lässt sie einen beim Lesen zu keiner Zeit los und man fliegt nur durch die Seiten. Es ist ein Märchen mit vielen unerwarteten Wendungen, einer unabhängigen Protagonistin und Magie.Die Charaktere: durch die geringe Seitenanzahl war es schwierig, den Charakteren eine Entwicklung oder Tiefe zu ermöglichen, hier wurde sich wirklich eher auf die Handlung fokussiert. Jedoch hat mir unsere Protagonistin, die Königin, unheimlich gut gefallen. Ohne groß zu überlegen macht sie sich auf den Weg, um die Prinzessin zu retten, beweist unterwegs Mut und Stärke und bleibt sich dabei selbst treu. Zusammen mit den Zwergen hat sich dabei eine tolle Gruppe ergeben, die man gerne während der Reise begleitet hat.Ich kann wirklich nicht meckern. Das Buch hat mich von vorne bis hinten begeistern können und durch die wunderschöne Aufmachung einen Ehrenplatz im Regal gesichert. Von mir gibt es klare 5/5 Sternen und eine wirklich gut gemeinte Leseempfehlung! :)Besonders diese Deluxe Edition ist einfach nur eine Augenweide!

Esse livro é muito bonito. A história é uma releitura de "A Bela Adormecida" com alguns toques sombrios, o que a deixa mais divertida, a meu ver. A capa é dura e a jacket é um complemento dela, sem a jacket fica o desenho da adormecida na capa, que é muito bonito, como todas as ilustrações ao longo da história. Peguei numa promoção então valeu muito a pena. Não sei como é a edição brasileira, mas essa é linda. Recomendo.

Neil Gaiman writes in many genres. He has a special knack for telling fairy tales. For example, his version of Hansel and Gretel added more depth to a well-known tale. His re-telling is more frightening and compelling than versions I learned as a child. "I think if you are protected from dark things then you have no protection of, no knowledge of, or understanding of dark things when they show up." - Neil Gaiman in conversation with Francoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman.In The Sleeper and the Spindle, it is not exactly one fairy tale retold, but possibly two fairy tales meeting on these pages. It would be too much to give away which tales are referenced without plot spoilers. Borrowing from the jacket then, "no one is waiting for a noble prince to appear... a queen might just prove herself a hero, if a princess needs rescuing." Gaiman writes with such assurance for his often strong female characters. This makes it a treat to read to my young girls. The drawings by Chris Riddell, author and illustrator of the Ottoline stories, suit the story. This version is beautifully made, with a vellum cover that reveals a sleeping woman beneath the title and vines.Worth having on any bookshelf, regardless of age.