Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel by Gregory Maguire
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Book Reviews of Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel
Book Review: Great read with great characters!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book on vacation and it was one of the best parts. While the present tense may annoy some people, this is simply and purely a great re-telling of a classic story. Maguire uses the conventions but strips the story of the magical elements and turns the tale into a historical drama, romance, and even a bit of a mystery.
The characters in this book are absolutely wonderful. Heroine Iris is smart although ugly. She has an eye for art, but somehow misses a large detail which becomes clear in the end. Clara is beautiful but fearful of the world, yet as the story goes on she begins to possess a strong will. Margerethe is strong, but dark, and more treacherous than she seems. The Van de Meers are loving, but unlike the perfect parents in Cinderella, their love in some ways hurts Clara. And then there's stupid Ruth, who is much more than she seems.
The plot is full of twists and turns and the ending completely unexpected. Entertaining and much more accessible than Wicked, I give Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister a high recommendation.
Book Review: Another amazing novel
Summary: 5 Stars
I read "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" shortly after finishing "Wicked." I was originally hoping for another cleverly constructed fairy world, and was at first disappointed when I read on the back of the book that it is set in 17th-century Holland. Luckily, my fears were not justified. The characters and setting of "Confessions" are just as amazingly complex, multi-faceted, easy to relate to, and believable as "Wicked." What most strikes me about Maguire's works is that he begins with an opening setting that has nothing whatsoever to do with the story he is reinterpreting and develops that world into a rich, detailed setting for the story with parallels that the reader never saw coming. I was awed by "Wicked," and equally so by "Confessions." The characters in "Confessions" are equally wonderful. When taken at face value, they are just as stereotypical as their Cinderella counterparts, but when considered with regard to what else is revealed about them throughout the novel, they are as realistic as any friend or aquaintance. I remain impressed by Maguire.Book Review: Beautiful, disturbing, heartbreaking.
Summary: 5 Stars
A convincing, sobering reinterpretation of the story of Cinderella. Who exactly was Cinderella? How did she come to live with two ugly stepsisters and a domineering stepmother? Was her beauty a blessing or a curse? And what exactly did transpire the night of that fateful ball, when she was suddenly "freed" from her bondage? And what of the morning after?This book is not for children; it's for adults. Its portrayal of human nature approaches that found in "Peyton Place." To quote from the text: "In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings. When we grow up, we learn that it's far more common for human beings to turn into rats."
The import of this story, and the lives of its characters, will stay with you long after you turn the last page. And if you should happen upon a brave little tulip on a blustery Spring day, you will remember Clara, Iris, and Ruth . . . and perhaps shed a tear.
Book Review: Another Hit!
Summary: 5 Stars
I did love "Confessions of an Ugly Step-Sister". The story was told well, and there was more closure to this story than there was to "Wicked" (not as many unanswered questions).
However, I have noticed a trend with ALL Maguire books and that is the painfully slow beginings. It took me several days to get through the first 80 pages, and I nearly put the book down and gave up. HOwever, around page 80 or so, I was unable to put the book down and read it in 2 days. I also felt "Wicked" was slow to start for the first 50 pages or so, and then -the same thing the story took off and I read it in a day or 2.
The beginings of Maguire's books are necessary because he gives you so much background information right off the bat. It is just hard to read. But I assure you - get yourself through the begining and you will be happy you did!
Also, if you're expecting the Disney Fairytale stay away from this book. It is Pleasantly unlike any Cinderella tale I have ever read!
Book Review: A great twist on the Cinderella story
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read books and seen movies that retell this story in many different ways; however, this one is my favorite. I enjoyed seeing a more realistic portrayal of the stepsisters, instead in of most stories, where they are depicted as being evil. Also, the ending of this book is more convincing than the fairy-tale idea that the characters will live happily ever after once they get married. But, the book isn't completely harsh and realistic. There are some parts that seem almost magical, but not in a way that seems implausible. Another aspect of this book that I liked was the illustrations at the beginning of every chapter-it's always easier on my imagination when there are pictures to look at. Overall, I liked this book a lot better than Wicked, the other novel by Maguire that I read. This is mainly because the characters were easier to sympathize and relate to. This is one of my favorite books and I would recommend it to everyone.