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Read The Rumpelstiltskin Problem (2000)

The Rumpelstiltskin Problem (2000)

Online Book

Rating
3.82 of 5 Votes: 5
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ISBN
0618055231 (ISBN13: 9780618055234)
Language
English
Publisher
hmh books for young readers

The Rumpelstiltskin Problem (2000) - Plot & Excerpts

You probably already know the story of Rumpelstiltskin. Just in case you don't quite remember it, here are the details: A poor miller tells the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold. But she can't. The king then brings the daughter to the castle to spin some straw into gold. She is very highly motivated to do so since the king will kill her if she doesn't. So, the girl is in a bit of trouble, right? Luckily, a little man drops by and offers to spin the straw into gold for the girl. First in exchange for a (gold) ring, then a (gold) necklace. Then, the girl has to spin straw one last time--if she does the king will marry her--but she's out of gold (because Rumpelstiltskin obviously needs gold). So the little man asks for the daughter's first born child. She says okay. Time passes and Rumpelstiltskin comes to collect but the daughter balks, so Rumpelstiltskin gives her an out--guess his name and she can keep the child. Eventually she does and the little man is royally upset and stamps a crack in the castle and explodes.Weird story, right? Vivian Vande Velde certainly thought so. In an attempt to better justify some of the weird bits of Rumpelstiltskin, Vande Velde came up with her short story collection called, appropriately enough, The Rumpelstiltskin Problem. The book features six stories. Questions answered include: Why would Rumpelstiltskin spin gold in exchange for less gold? Why would he want a baby? Why is the miller telling people his daughter can spin straw into gold? Why can't anyone guess such a bizarre name? And more.These retellings have the tone of modern fairy tales. Each story begins something like this: "Once upon a time, before pizzerias or Taco Bells . . . " creating a nice contrast between our time and that elusive time that all of the good stories happened upon. The stories run, on average, ten pages. And every one is different--Vande Velde never covers the same ground twice.In some versions the miller and his daughter save themselves, in others Rumpelstiltskin (yes! the bad guy!) does. Sometimes the king is a creep, sometimes he isn't. Each story offers a slightly different take on the story by asking "what if?"The stories feature Vande Velde's usual ingenuity, in this case taking one of the oldest fairy tales in the book and making it her own (six times). My person favorites in the collection are "Straw into Gold," "The Domovoi," and "Papa Rumpelstiltskin" because Vande Velde takes the framework of the Rumpelstiltskin story and just runs with it bringing each of these stories into completely new territory. At times heartwarming, at times sad, this collection is a must read for anyone who likes a good fairy tale (with a twist) and, of course, for anyone who is already a fan of Vivian Vande Velde.The only difference between this collection and Vande Velde's novels, I'm thinking particularly of A Well-Timed Enchantment which also turns the whole fairy tale tradition on its head, is that the short stories don't have the same depth--because they're short. This isn't a bad thing, just if you're new to Vande Velde's work I'd recommend starting with one of her novels instead because they are more illustrative of her all-around awesomeness.

The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velede is a collection of stories all based on Rumpelstiltskin. One story is about a prince who goes and get's to know his people more so his enemy won't come in and win them over. When he is out he meets a miller who says his daughter can turn yarn into gold. The prince is like well I have to meet her one day. That night Cathleen, the miller's daughter, shows up saying she has been invited. They allow her to spend the night. She makes this big scene about how if she does not turn all the straw into gold, the prince will have her head. The prince had said no such thing but gave her a spinning wheel anyway. In the morning the wallpaper in her room has been peeled and straw is sticking out from under it. She hands the prince the doorknob and says she spun it from the straw. This happens several more times with her golden buttons and a wardrobe knob. When she is finally about to leave, Cathleen says the man who really spun the gold says she must marry the prince and give him her first born child. The prince sees a guard covered in mud and says he is the one who wants the baby. He says if they can guess his name he will not get the baby. The prince says Rumpelstiltskin and the confused guard goes along with it and says yes. He then tells Cathleen that when they are married, she will do nothing but turn straw into gold the rest of her life. She runs away after hearing that. A few months later the prince get's a letter from his former enemy, saying he is going to be wed to a foreign princess named Cathleen. The prince says he can't make it but sends them gifts, a doorknob, buttons, and a wardrobe knob.I know there is a moral in there somewhere but I just can't find it. I guess it's that everything happens for a reason. I loved all the stories in there and it was so good. Rumpelstiltskin does not get enough attention.

What do You think about The Rumpelstiltskin Problem (2000)?

This review is also posted at Pages Unbound Book Reviews.If you ask Vivian Vande Velde her feelings about “Rumpelstiltskin,” she would tell you the story does not make a lot of sense. If you read her preface to The Rumpelstiltskin Problem, you would probably begin to agree. Vande Velde summarizes the original tale step by step, outlining along the way where characters either do something without any explanation or do something that is explained, but illogically so. Why, indeed, would Rumpelstiltskin accept gold jewelry as payment for turning straw into gold? Apparently he can acquire all the precious metal he could ever want.Vande Velde attempts to explain the characters’ actions in six original retellings of “Rumpelstiltskin.”Each of the stories in this collection is fun, a little wild and weird. Vande Velde definitely reveals a quirky streak in this book, and her lighthearted tone is common to all six stories, even as the plots and characters change. All open with a line about how far in the past the story occurred, usually before something random like before sliced bread was sold in supermarkets. Some of the tales are bit more dismal than others, but they never get so depressing that Vande Velde cannot poke a little fun at herself or the characters.Interestingly enough, although Vande Velde’s retellings are supposed to make more sense than the original story, her characters do often merit a bit of mockery. Vande Velde’s stories are all internally consistent, and her characters always offer explanations for their actions—but their decisions are sometimes still a little crazy. For instance, in one version the miller is poor and is convinced he can tell the king his daughter can turn straw into gold if he gives her three gold coins, and then he and his daughter will simply take the money and run before she is given any straw. Vande Velde gives the miller a reason for telling the king a preposterous lie, but his plan is still ridiculous.Vande Velde also gives each character a chance to be the villain: the king, the miller, the miller’s daughter, and Rumpelstiltskin. While this does allow for variety in the retellings, it also means it is easy to catch on to the pattern, for readers to guess who will be the villain next. Of course no one expects fairy tale retellings to be overly surprising (especially ones that are only short stories, not novels), but it is a bit disappointing to be able to predict a large part of what will be “new” about a retelling you have not even started to read.The main problem with this book: After about two tales, the reader probably wants to be done with “Rumpelstiltskin.” The stories may be different, but in the end they all have the same basic plot. This will be a challenge for readers who like to read straight through a book and be finished, rather than patiently read a section or two and replace it on the shelf for another day.Nonetheless, The Rumpelstiltskin Problem is an imaginative and slightly quirky book, perfect for readers who want to see “Rumpelstiltskin” in a new light.
—Briana

I love this story because in author's notes she wrote something. For this thing, you won't think that it is true unless you really think it is. That statement is: The story Rumpelstiltskin does not really make sense although you might think it does make sense. But if you really think it over, you might think of some questions. That is what the author did and has thought of some question like: why did the king believe the miller who said that his daughter can spin gold? Why would Rumpelstiltskin want the baby and much more questions? When I read these questions, I had to agree because the author thought the story was incomplete. She made new stories that complete the story and that is why I loved this story so much. It is so creative. In one story, there was a mean Rumpelstiltskin. In another story there was a nice Rumpelstiltskin, and there is also a person who was named Rumpelstiltskin, and much more unique stories. I like this book because it's creative. Of course, that is just my opinion. Go to see it for yourself!
—Emily Y.

Now this is a brilliant idea. As Vande Velde points out in her brief prefatory Author's Note, "Rumpelstiltskin" is folklore, and sometimes folklore isn't good as far as stories go. Really, most fairy tales not only copy one another, but they don't make the slightest bit of sense. Writing stories is best left to writers, is what I'm saying.So, the core fairy tale is crap. Vande Velde then gives us six different stories based on the idea that all make more sense. The villain of the piece can be the spinner, the miller, the girl, or the king, as can the hero. "A Fairy Tale in Bad Taste" is a bit gross and funny. "Straw Into Gold" is sweetly romantic and oddly realistic for a fantasy. "The Domovoi" is set in Russia. "Papa Rumplestiltskin" is a braggart and a poor father. "Ms. Rumpelstilskin" is a feminist story with an utterly unsympathetic miller's daughter. "As Good as Gold" stars a charming and gracious king.I'd highly recommend this as a example of point-of-view, tone, characterization, and plotting. Vande Velde's exercise is a great example of how to write.
—Kaethe

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