lucrezi's review against another edition
5.0
"Beauty has consequence, but I’m ugly as sin, so I don’t care. Good-bye!"
The first time I read "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" I was fresh off reading the Wicked Years and, though I didn't understand Elphaba's story completely, I was entranced by Gregory Maguire's writing and storytelling. I picked up this novel (along with Lost and Mirror Mirror) and, same as Wicked, didn't quite get it. But I enjoyed it all the same.
I think learning to read academic writing in college has made reading for pleasure much easier, so reading this as an adult makes me realize that the writing, though descriptive, didn't slow down the pace as much as I thought, and actually serves a purpose in making you understand how Iris saw the world.
All the characters were interesting and had lives of their own. Margarethe, the "evil" stepmother, is more than that descriptive. Clara is trapped in a prison of her beauty, and Iris feels trapped by her "ugliness" by comparison - she is the only one who can't see that she has more to offer than her face.
I like that the conflicts among the characters set against the rise and fall of the tulip industry. I like the political machinations that these characters craft.
I didn't like the epilogue. Ending the final chapter the way it did was good, but the epilogue felt abrupt, and it was one of those epilogues that explains the final themes to the reader and I hated that. I felt that the messages weaved in throughout the story were more powerful because they provided different views on beauty and other things of consequence in dialogue and debate with other characters, rather than the epilogue which was in first-person and therefore directed at the audience, an "I think beauty is..." kind of thing.
I still hesitate to give it 4 stars though. The epilogue, though tacky, was short compared to everything else that was wonderful about the story. It's a 5 for me.
The first time I read "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" I was fresh off reading the Wicked Years and, though I didn't understand Elphaba's story completely, I was entranced by Gregory Maguire's writing and storytelling. I picked up this novel (along with Lost and Mirror Mirror) and, same as Wicked, didn't quite get it. But I enjoyed it all the same.
I think learning to read academic writing in college has made reading for pleasure much easier, so reading this as an adult makes me realize that the writing, though descriptive, didn't slow down the pace as much as I thought, and actually serves a purpose in making you understand how Iris saw the world.
All the characters were interesting and had lives of their own. Margarethe, the "evil" stepmother, is more than that descriptive. Clara is trapped in a prison of her beauty, and Iris feels trapped by her "ugliness" by comparison - she is the only one who can't see that she has more to offer than her face.
I like that the conflicts among the characters set against the rise and fall of the tulip industry. I like the political machinations that these characters craft.
I didn't like the epilogue. Ending the final chapter the way it did was good, but the epilogue felt abrupt, and it was one of those epilogues that explains the final themes to the reader and I hated that. I felt that the messages weaved in throughout the story were more powerful because they provided different views on beauty and other things of consequence in dialogue and debate with other characters, rather than the epilogue which was in first-person and therefore directed at the audience, an "I think beauty is..." kind of thing.
I still hesitate to give it 4 stars though. The epilogue, though tacky, was short compared to everything else that was wonderful about the story. It's a 5 for me.
worldofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A dark side of the story we all know
morganatic's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at around 60%
One of the worst books I have read this year... so dull, so boring. Truly, how can anyone ever think of writing, let alone publishing this??? The entire plot, storyline, and horrendously moronic characters make this go right in my top 5 worst reads of the year. Never picking up a work from this author again!
One of the worst books I have read this year... so dull, so boring. Truly, how can anyone ever think of writing, let alone publishing this??? The entire plot, storyline, and horrendously moronic characters make this go right in my top 5 worst reads of the year. Never picking up a work from this author again!
andthatsonliterature's review against another edition
3.0
Out of all the fairytales, Cinderella probably has the most adaptations from versions set in different countries to modernizations of the classic tale in both book and film. However, out of all the retellings/spin-offs of Cinderella this is the first one that I’ve read told from the ugly stepsister’s perspective and my view on the stepsisters are completely different after reading this version. They’re not the enemy and they were not the typical rude girls we get in most versions of Cinderella so that was good change to see.
In this retelling, Cinderella’s name is actually Clara and we get to see life where both of her parents are living. I thought the author took an interesting approach with his version of events. The only thing that is still very clear is that the stepmother is still public enemy #1, however she’s kind of painted as a woman that is doing what she has to do for the sake of her children.
All in all, I liked the new outlook on Cinderella’s story, especially since it shed light on some missing pieces in the original tale. Now I think I want to read one from the stepmother’s view because as of now she is not beating the allegations.
In this retelling, Cinderella’s name is actually Clara and we get to see life where both of her parents are living. I thought the author took an interesting approach with his version of events. The only thing that is still very clear is that the stepmother is still public enemy #1, however she’s kind of painted as a woman that is doing what she has to do for the sake of her children.
All in all, I liked the new outlook on Cinderella’s story, especially since it shed light on some missing pieces in the original tale. Now I think I want to read one from the stepmother’s view because as of now she is not beating the allegations.
lehine's review against another edition
4.0
This is by far my favorite of his books. His style of writing very much favors the pastoral and waxing lyrical about scenery. This is the book where that most makes sense, as it’s centered around artworks. You can practically smell the oil paints in his writing. I enjoyed that the girls were not put in competition with each other as much as other stories, and none ascribes to their usual archetype of good or evil. They’re just girls.
lilia123's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
yvonnelasha2's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully funny adaptation to the Cinderella story we all learned as children.
tiff_reads_plenty's review against another edition
4.0
I can't believe I didn't finish this book the first time I started it, it was a pretty good read. The interpretation of these tales from an alternative perspective are really interesting. I like that the stepsisters were given more dimension instead of the classic, evil and ugly characteristics. I also like that Cinderella was given more personality.