Rating: 
Summary: A Thin Line Between Idea and Execution
Review: We all have great ideas, but few of us even attempt to bring them to life. And even when we do, the reality of our dream often pales in comparison to our imagining of it. This is certainly the case with Jane Yolen's entry in the fairy tale series, Briar Rose. The basic premise of the book is a fasicinating one: a young woman investigates why her recently deceased grandmother was fascinated with the story of Sleeping Beauty and discovers that it was her unconscious way (in a Freudian sense) of dealing with her experiences in an extermination camp during the Holocaust. Again, as I said, fascinating. Unfortunately, regardless of how well-intentioned Yolen is, she isn't able to pull it off. The grandmother's fascination with the story as well and the granddaughter's search is really just a means to an end--a discussion of certainly one of the most despicable places on the Holocaust landscape. And even while that aspect of the book is harrowing, not much of the credit really can go to Yolen--how could it not be harrowing? Yolen should be commended for making the character who relates the Holocaust part of the story gay--it allows her to focus on a part of the Holocaust that isn't often discussed. Ultimately, though, an A for effort, but a C+ for results.
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Summary: A Startling Hybrid of *Sleeping Beauty* and the Holocaust
Review: I haven't seen many of Jane Yolen's adult novels (for this is what "Briar Rose" is) and I'm rather quite impressed. She makes an easy transition between the usual kid books and something more appreciated by an adult."Briar Rose" is the story of Becca, a young journalist whose grandmother passes away. Gemma, the grandmother, had always had a bit of an obsession with the story of Sleepin Beauty, and would entertain Becca and her sisters with it as they grew up. But as Becca matures, she realizes that Gemma seriously thinks the story is about her. The strange thing is that no one in Becca's family knows about Gemma's past. So, armed with a few photos and Gemma's story, Becca sets out for Europe, where she unravels a story about the Holocaust and the truth about her grandmother. It seems like a good idea, but it comes off as rather weak. The novel is not, as it seems, a fairy tale in the sense of fantasy. Yet Yolen tries to pass it off as a realistic fairy tale, which is kind of weird and corny. She also presses in a bunch of *politically correct* stuff that, good in its own mean, just doesn't fit well. The story line runs too much in a straight line, with alternating chapters rushing back in time to Gemma's story telling days. Though fairly interesting, some of the story tends to drag. Still, Yolen's heart was in the right place, and the Sleeping Beauty symbolism of the Holocaust was rather brilliant. All in all, "Briar Rose" is good light reading, something you can sit down for an afternoon, enjoy, and maybe get an education out of.
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Summary: Hardcover was merely a rebinding of softcover edition
Review: I was very disappointed to discover that my "Hardcover" volume of Briar Rose was the paperback version rebound as a hardcover. The library-bound format did not even have a legible cover due to the copy process. Since it has the same low-grade paper, this is not a format for archiving or collecting. I assume it has the same great contents as the softcover. But caveat emptor.
Rating: 
Summary: briar rose
Review: i thought this book was fantastic. I am studying it in english for my hsc and at the same time researching the holocaust in mdern history for the hsc, so this book has been a great help and because i knew the background of the holocaust, i found it very easy to relate the information to. I found it very difficult to put the book down once i had started it and loved it to the very last page. For anyone thinking of reading it, i suggest you do.
Rating: 
Summary: An enchanting story...
Review: "Briar Rose" ia a well written, enchanting book. Yolen combined the famous fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty and the sad story of the Holocaust together into a moving narritive. Although all of the characters in this book are fictional, Yolen created such vivid descriptions of them you feel as if you know each individual personally. The book's only weakness was the description of Josef Potocki's experience of the Holocaust. This was probably the most important part of the book so Yolen could have elaborated more on his life. "Briar Rose" is a book I would reccomend to people from about seventh grade on up. It is a book younger children may not understand. Overall, I think "Briar Rose" is a book many young adults will love just as I did.
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Summary: I will never buy this book...
Review: This was one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read. It made a highly emotional impact on me. I was, quite literally, unable to put the book down, and when I was finished I cried for a long time. There is tragedy here, sheer, horrifying tragedy, and Patrica Wrede does an excellent job of condensing the horror and terror of the Holocaust into 200-odd pages. This is not for young children. It is a story that will stay in your mind and color facets of your life you never knew existed. I re-read many books again and again, but I will never read this one again. It is indelibly printed on my mind.
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Summary: Amazing Book
Review: Jane Yolen is an absolutly incredible author and this book is an excellent example of her talent. I would recomend this book to anyone who is interested in the Holocaust or who enjoys very adult retellings of fairy tales. This is a very creative and enchanting retelling of Sleeping Beauty, entwined with mystery and horror.
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Summary: Truly magnificent!
Review: I was introduced to Jane Yolen by her short story in After the King: A Tribute to J.R.R. Tolkien (another great read...highly recommended!). On a recent trip to the library I looked for a book by her on a whim. Briar Rose caught my eye. Last summer I took a trip to Poland, and during my stay visited Auschwitz. Since then I have been very interested in Holocaust stories. Briar Rose, though not a true account, is still a very moving story. It is very well-written and the pace is good, but make sure you have tissues nearby! (Unless I'm just the overly-sensitive type, which I doubt.) I've had to order a copy for my personal library, and I plan to read it again as soon as UPS delivers it.
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Summary: An Intense Experience
Review: This book is truly great. Yes, the ending may be "told entirely by a third party", but how else could it have been told? If you read the book, there is no other way for Becca to have found out her grandmother's roots. I am wondering if the Kirkus reviewer even read the book. This book is so great. I am in awe of Ms. Yolen. She pulled off an extremely difficult task, intertwining the happy-go-lucky, fantasy story of Sleeping Beauty with the monstrous, bloody, horrific reality of World War II and the Nazi Holocaust. This book is masterfully done and I highly recommend it.
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Summary: Loved It!
Review: I love fairy tales and I love Jane Yolen, so I can't think of a more fitting combination. A grandmother's mysterious past in World War II Europe prompts her granddaughter to search for her own history. The grandmother's strange rendition of the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty (Briar Rose) provides some clues, and the granddaughter goes to Europe to search. As she pieces together fragments of her grandmother's past, the reader is gripped with the tale. I told a friend not to start reading this book unless she had a few hours to finish it. She didn't heed my warning, and was up until 2 a.m. Be warned, the same thing will happen to you. I recently re-read it, so there wasn't the same sense of urgency, but it just gets better with time. This is definitely one of my favorite books.
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