The Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tale ‘The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean'
One day, an old lady decides to make a pan of beans for herself. She prepares a coal fire to cook the beans, using straw to make the coal fire up quickly.
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Epoch Times
a day ago
- Epoch Times
The Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tale ‘The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean'
In their fairy tale, ' The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean,' the Brothers Grimm consider the lack of prudence and how imprudence leads to disaster and loss. One day, an old lady decides to make a pan of beans for herself. She prepares a coal fire to cook the beans, using straw to make the coal fire up quickly.
New York Times
3 days ago
- New York Times
In These Books, There Be Monsters
Can I tell you a secret? Sometimes, when I'm alone in my office, I'm struck by the urge to go to the closet and run a hand along its back wall, feeling around for a give in the Sheetrock. It's a silly impulse, born from the mind of an over-imaginative woman who was once an over-imaginative child and C.S. Lewis fan. I never actually give in to this curious compulsion, but I do wonder if, in the back of some wardrobe or closet, there lies a magical portal to the borderlands of Narnia — or another fantastic place to which I've yet to find the right key. For me, herein lies the true beauty of the fantasy genre. Readers are constantly invited to ask 'what if?' — and then, 'why not?' Beyond the mythical beasts, swashbuckling sword fights and enchanting kingdoms, these stories steeped in magic engage with important questions. What defines a hero? How does one become a villain? What does real monstrosity look like? Every book I've written to date engages with the idea of monstrosity. Simply put, I find monsters — in all their shapes and forms — fascinating. I love to read about the monsters we have enshrined in pop culture, like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and also the monsters we sometimes overlook, like the stepmother in 'Hansel and Gretel,' by the Brothers Grimm. Over the years, I've come to love some monstrous stories a little more than the rest. Here are a few of my favorites. Grendel Many people are familiar with the Old English epic poem 'Beowulf,' which recounts the exploits of the titular Germanic hero. Gardner's novel subverts the famed story, shifting the focus from the lauded warrior to the infamous monster he defeats. Rather than a barbaric agent of destruction and death, we find a being in existential crisis, grappling with his frustrations with a world that only sees him one way. For readers looking for a true classic in the monsters-and-retelling space, this 1971 book is one of my favorites. Read our review. Let Us Help You Find Your Next Book: Fantasy The Best Fantasy Novels of 2024 Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Screen Geek
19-06-2025
- Screen Geek
2025's Biggest Box Office Bomb Dominates Disney Plus
Streaming services are often a great place for films to have a second chance. After all, for whatever reason, a movie might not do well in theaters but still find an audience after its initial release. Now one such movie, which is so far 2025's biggest box office bomb, is dominating the charts at Disney Plus. This particular film was not only a financial failure but it was also critically panned. With a budget ranging between $240 million and $270 million, it only made $205.6 million at the box office. Of course, it was followed by plenty of controversy during its production, so many moviegoers were expecting low numbers. However, they might not have expected the film to blow up on Disney Plus, at the time of this writing, that the film is currently the number one movie globally on Disney Plus. This 2025 effort from director Marc Webb is none other than Snow White , an adaptation of the classic 1937 Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs , itself based on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale Snow White . Rachel Zegler stars as the titular character, with her ethnicity and comments about the original film prompting controversy during the movie's production. Other controversies broke out along the way, including debate regarding the film's iconic Seven Dwarfs, and whether or not they should be portrayed by little people. Ultimately the characters were created using digital animation. There were also previous reports that the film nearly replaced the dwarfs entirely with a band of thieves. Ultimately, it looks like Snow White is finding new viewership after being added to Disney Plus. Though whether or not people are watching to complain about the film without having to pay for theaters, or if it really is building an audience, all remains to be seen. As with any panned movie, there are fans of Snow White , so they'll no doubt be happy to see the film break these numbers. Snow White is now available to stream via Disney Plus. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding the latest Disney endeavors and trending titles on streaming.
