‘Tis the Season

I am so sorry for my prolonged absence.  Sometimes my actual life gets in the way.  This December I’ll be (of course) offering some seasonal reviews.  To get the ball rolling, here’s a brief Nutcracker recap from last year,  I know many ballet-goers are wondering which version of the Nutcracker is the best!

Recommended:

The Nutcracker by Anthea Bell.  This well-written version is like reading a Christmas fairy tale. It’s not a quick before bedtime read and has some violence, so it’s best for school age children. Read the full review.

The Nutcracker by Vladimir Vagin. A huge winner if you’re headed to the ballet. The illustrations that resemble stained glass are a lovely complement to a story that is faithful to the ballet and allow the Clara and the Nutcracker story to evolve without it having any whisper of a romantic relationship. Full review here.

The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers. One of my favorite versions, this is a lovely mix of the original story and the ballet. Complimented by Jeffers’ exquisite illustrations this is perfect for anyone who wants an accompaniment without needing to stick to an exact match. More of me being delighted here.

Not recommended:

The Nutcracker by Geraldine McCaughrean. McCaughrean’s version is fairly true the ballet, but is marred by sickly sweet writing that may set adult teeth on edge. Read more.

Nutcracker illustrated by Scott Gustafson. A book of last resort, just about everything else I read was better. More here.

Completely different:
The Harlem Nutcracker by Susan Kuklin. A very nontraditional and adult look at the Nutcracker story, this book is meant to accompany the ballet by the same name, which was inspired by Duke Ellington’s jazz version of the ballet. Read about the history behind this alternate interpretation.