Hey there, pornies. How was your weekend? I hope great or even better, like mine, filled with books and readings. Today there's one I want to tell you about and that will be a delight to many: Breaking the Mother Goose Code: How a Fairy-Tale Character Fooled the World for 300 Years, by Jeri Studebaker. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!
- Print Length: 319 pages.
- Publisher: Moon Books (February 27, 2015)
- Publication Date: February 27, 2015.
- Topics: Fairy Tales, Foklore, Goddess, History, Mythology, Witchcraft.
- Rating: 4 / 5 stars.
Who was Mother Goose? Where did she come from, and when? Although she’s one of the most beloved characters in Western literature, Mother Goose’s origins have seemed lost in the mists of time. Several have tried to pin her down, claiming she was the mother of Charlemagne, the wife of Clovis (King of the Franks), the Queen of Sheba, or even Elizabeth Goose of Boston, Massachusetts. Others think she’s related to mysterious goose-footed statues in old French churches called “Queen Pedauque.” This book delves deeply into the surviving evidence for Mother Goose’s origins – from her nursery rhymes and fairy tales as well as from relevant historical, mythological, and anthropological data. Until now, no one has ever confidently identified this intriguing yet elusive literary figure. So who was the real Mother Goose? The answer might surprise you.
I was very curious about this book and decided to give it a try mostly because it is about fairy tales, but I need to clarify I wasn't familiar with Mother Goose before reading it, so my experience may not be the same as that of someone who grew up with her. However, it was fascinating, entertaining, and thought-provoking.
Jeri Studebaker explained in great detail her thought process, her analysis, and research as she tried to discover who Mother Goose was/is, the history behind this figure, her influence, historical background, and the messages that could be hidden in her rhymes. I would say my favorite part of Breaking the Mother Goose Code was the rituals, spells and incantations based on the tales, although those are inspired in the Grimm fairy tales.
I found it troublesome, however, that the book seemed to imply that male deities and figures tend to be negative whereas females are benevolent. There was an empowering feminist tone in many chapters which I was very enthusiastic about, but there was more than one paragraph, or entire pages, that were not positive about male influence. There was also an issue about citing the same authors several times, making me think there could be some kind of bias.
In short, I loved how descriptive and detailed Breaking the Mother Goose Code is, the theories and ideas it shares, and those chapters on spells and rituals, let me repeat, are pure gold. Although heavy at times, it will be a great reading for lovers of more academic readers. Fascinating from beginning to end!
About Jeri Studebaker:
Jeri Studebaker is the author of Switching to Goddess: Humanity’s Ticket to the Future and Still Starving After All These Years: The Hidden Origins of War, Oppression and Inequality. She has advanced degrees in anthropology, archaeology and education. Jeri spent much of her career in Maine in the U.S, helping resettle political refugees from Poland, Russia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries. She took an early retirement in 1999 and began writing and traveling, including taking a month-long trip to the Mediterranean islands of Crete and Santorini to study ancient Minoan art.
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