“In other words, being born with a certain ability does not mean we are obliged to use it, and in rare cases, we are obliged no to. All.”
Personal Rating:
Everyone with different abilities, maybe just a mundane possession or filled with peculiarity, could lead to different consequences. That’s why for every action we made, we’re accountable for it. So let’s think first about the situation before taking action because the more we talk and act recklessly, we’re making ourselves doomed at a dilatory pace.
Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs was originally published on September 3, 2016. This book consists of 190 pages with eleven different tales that can stop you from reading if it’s true or results of the undying imagination of the people behind it, even the writer. Though you might find it strange but I guess you will make it one of your favorites. Just imagine how these tales survived for how many years and were passed orally until we have it nowadays and continuously preserved its originality and beauty as one of the superb contributions in the history of literature.
The Splendid Cannibals
Few vital things may a mediocre when greediness took over
Anything comes in price in both wealth and power
If we could only choose to live simply
There will be no regrets on our way
This tale reminded us that pride, jealousy, and greed could make us people we could never imagine we can be. If we let ourselves be manipulated by these, we can easily lose everything and hard to regain it. So let’s learn to live simply, decently on our own without depending our fortune to other people. Fancy things are sometimes the root of evil and tragedy.
The Fork-Tongued Princess
A princess with an extraordinary beauty
Rejected by having such peculiarity
Easily deserted by her own father
Will she find her happily ever after?
It taught us the vitality of acceptance in our lives. No matter how weird a particular person or thing is, don’t use it to degrade, disrespect, and desert him. Keeping a secret will not solve your problem. Instead, embrace your flaws, and the universe will let you meet people who will treat you like a gem and not a value to trade to anybody alone.
The First Ymbryne
Accept who you are
Just like how the darkness embrace a star
Being unusual may cause danger
Do everything as long as it helps you to become better
It helped us realize how to defend our honor and family no matter how challenging the situation was. It’s about standing for your right and finding strength within you, including the people you belonged to. Sometimes, people will judge you, the abilities you possessed, and where you came from, but don’t let their words be a reason to stop you from pursuing your goals and responsibilities not only for yourself but for others.
The Woman who Befriended Ghosts
There’s nothing to be afraid of ghost
Be afraid of those people you interact the most
Ghost can help, care and scare you easily
Those people living can betray you without thinking twice secretly
It reminded us of the difficulty we experienced in getting out of our shells or letting go of what we used to be and have. But don’t forget the progress that happened can be serendipity in our lives that we haven’t yet seen coming and even valued.
Cocobolo
Cocobolo wasn’t only an island to be discover
To those aspiring sailor and discoverer
It was just like us sometimes
A nimrod by our own desire hoping to make it sublime
It taught us to pursue and never forget our goals yet be ready for any consequences of them.
In life, though we can’t fulfill our promises as always but at least try to fulfill one, no one knows what it can cause to you and to that person. By doing that, we choose to sacrifice for our own good and the common good of others.
Yet, your greatest enemy sometimes was yourself. Lurking treasures for worldly purposes and desires could either sabotage us or find our true selves at the end. Humans were incredulous and irrational in making decisions that cause downfall moments in our lives.
The Pigeons of St. Paul’s
Humans and animals can work together
Build a good relationship for the world to prosper
Learn to know your roles and worth to others
Never forget where you came from and people at your side in your worse
It reminded us that in life, misunderstanding and pride couldn’t make our lives productive. It only gave us the power to rule wickedly to others which can make our lives in vain. Let’s learn how to show kindness to every organism on Earth, maybe it was small or big, no matter what it looks like and how it acts.
The Girl who could tame Nightmares
Nightmares were awful scenes when we’re asleep
Their existence in our memories were deep
Preventing them wasn’t easy
Especially if we’re surrounded by peculiarity
It wasn’t far from reality. We all have nightmares, yet how do we get rid of them? Not with the help of a peculiar but having faith and taking care of ourselves. It wanted to remind us that disobeying our parents can sabotage our lives. There’s nothing wrong with helping those in need as long as you know the reasons for their difficulties well and they will not use you to run from their responsibilities.
The Locust
Learn to know the difference between dreams and love in your life
The world was cruel, you need to survive
Don’t blame innocent child in your chosen wrong decision
This will lead to others tragic situation
It portrayed how insensitivity and reckless decisions can turn into a lifetime of suffering for yourself and others. Decide with all our hearts and face those consequences. Those people who became part of your new milestone didn’t choose to be with you; they’re blessings from above with purpose. Be kind and accept others’ flaws and failures. Regret will always be at the end; once it was done, you can’t alter nor rewind what happened. It’s up to you how you will going to change your perspective next time.
The Boy who could hold back the Sea
Never trust anyone about your secrets
They can keep it or do the opposite
No matter how kind you are to everyone
You will be useless when you have nothing for someone
It reminded us to fulfill our promises significantly if it can endanger us. Never get fascinated by the temporary actions of mankind; people will forget your worth and kindness when you have nothing to serve on the table. Let’s learn that in life, those people that knew us and whom we help will be the first person who could drag us down, it was sad, but that’s a tragic truth.
The Tale of Cuthbert
Every creatures have roles in our lives
We can keep them to us if we choose to be nice
Love and friendship had no kind, height and weight
All we need is love, care, unity and avoid to discriminate
It portrayed the reality of life wherein we find ourselves alone, yet later on, we find some people who are the source of our strength and balm to our soul. These people accompanied us but not forever; people come and go, one bitter reality in life portrayed by this tale. But one thing we can do is to show our gratitude and give time if we can still show it to avoid regrets.
The Man who bottled the Sun
When you were capable of doing unusual things
Be meticulous because others may treat you like a puppet using those strings
Be humble and don’t be wicked
It’s hard to be a slave of evilness and get committed
It was about how to trust in ourselves and use our skills and talents but not to the extent wherein we turned into a monster because of greed and dissatisfaction with the abundance that we had.
Learn how to share with other people; wealth and power didn’t guarantee your security after all. Because there were plenty of eyes sneaking around you and finding the perfect timing of your downfall moments, for they will attack you in some instances. Never trust anyone in your life; most of them were just there because you have something to serve on the table, but when all those things have suddenly gone, you’re useless. Remember, simple and productive life was much more indispensable than a lavish temporary life and happiness.
The collection of tales written in the Tales of the Peculiar were significant for it portrayed different characters, values, and attitude of people from different walks of life.
Those tales reminded us we were once those characters in different times and situations. Something that we can’t deny and argue with. It explored our attitude of being greedy, lack of contentment, and ungrateful for the success of others.
In this world, being different means ugly and abnormal; that’s why if you’re peculiar, society might not understand and easily accept you. Pathetic reasons and attributes but sad to say, they were all true.
Tales of the Peculiar is for readers who loved fantasy and fictional stories. I think people who loved peculiarity in different things and existence might love this collection of tales in a single book. People who wanted to explore different realms which were somehow far from them yet the message and values being imparted were worth reading and can’t make you feel boring. A collection of stories that were not an example of jejune stories written in the history of tales. For these might be a variety of adventures yet worth reading.
Honestly, these collections of tales have strengths and drawbacks. Despite its flaws, I love how these tales took me to a realm wherein I loved the idea of being there, yet there were things that were disappointed at the same time.
Maybe that’s what stories really look like. Their purpose will take you to different places and meet people, being enthralled by its beauty and getting dumbfounded at the end, for it had an unexpected occurrence that even us readers didn’t expect, not our cup of tea. Still, we embraced it, for these were stories written to be appreciated and loved. Behind those poetry structure descriptions of tales, even though these tales were not made into poems, every time I was amazed by different written pieces, I included poems for it was my first love. That’s why I gave this book a 4/5 rating.
Charisse May B. Oberas is an introvert, phlegmatic, silent-type reader. You can find her hanging around on Facebook and Instagram.
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