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marthagal's review against another edition
2.0
Loved Wicked, hated this one. See, Wicked wasn't always happy and uplifting, but the whole backstory of OZ makes it awesome. I do not care so much about the backstory of poor people in Holland, and the writing isn't good enough for me to like it. Blech.
beetree's review against another edition
5.0
Mmmmmm! This book was like a lovely spring day in a meadow full of tulips (which may I add feature in the book). I'd say that this was a simpler read than Wicked because the story was smaller, the subject matter easier to digest than the grand political landscape of Oz. Nevertheless, the messages are just as important, and while Wicked establishes its social commentaries through shrewd comparisons, Confessions offers its message through subtle metaphors.
My admiration for Gregory Maguire continues to grow, for both his message the way he crafs its delivery. Like Wicked this is no ordinary book (but then, is a book ever ordinary?); it is more like a painting with many moments that made me stand still.
My admiration for Gregory Maguire continues to grow, for both his message the way he crafs its delivery. Like Wicked this is no ordinary book (but then, is a book ever ordinary?); it is more like a painting with many moments that made me stand still.
kate_olsen'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Toooo long! And boring
jennyp0208's review against another edition
2.0
I think the idea is better than the execution in Maguire's interpretation of the ancient Cinderella tale.
First the good: The choice to set Cinderella in Holland during the tulip boom is smart. It's an interesting setting. The characters intrigue me - especially Iris. Margarethe is a study in the outworking of ambition. I appreciate Maguire's vision and concept and courage to experiment with the tale. I'm a sucker for retold fairy tales - I've read a shelf full over the years.
Then the bad: I just don't like this book. I'm left without hope. I feel like this novel shows the dirty side of humanity without any balance. With all the talk of beauty, I don't find it here. All the characters are conniving, selfish, and miserable. In addition, the frame story just doesn't make any sense with the bulk of what comes between - it doesn't fit at all with how this particular character is written (I can't say more without spoilers). And the present tense bugs me; while it serves its purpose particularly during the climax, it is clunky in the earlier chapters of rising action.
I won't be grabbing anything else by Maguire. I didn't like Wicked for similar reasons (so much ugliness, but told in a catching way) but wanted to give him one more shot. I'm done.
First the good: The choice to set Cinderella in Holland during the tulip boom is smart. It's an interesting setting. The characters intrigue me - especially Iris. Margarethe is a study in the outworking of ambition. I appreciate Maguire's vision and concept and courage to experiment with the tale. I'm a sucker for retold fairy tales - I've read a shelf full over the years.
Then the bad: I just don't like this book. I'm left without hope. I feel like this novel shows the dirty side of humanity without any balance. With all the talk of beauty, I don't find it here. All the characters are conniving, selfish, and miserable. In addition, the frame story just doesn't make any sense with the bulk of what comes between - it doesn't fit at all with how this particular character is written (I can't say more without spoilers). And the present tense bugs me; while it serves its purpose particularly during the climax, it is clunky in the earlier chapters of rising action.
I won't be grabbing anything else by Maguire. I didn't like Wicked for similar reasons (so much ugliness, but told in a catching way) but wanted to give him one more shot. I'm done.
bekahbea86's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this book on tape and I liked it. I don't know if I would have liked it as much if I had actually read it though. I just enjoyed listening to the narrators interpretations of the characters.
library_ann's review against another edition
3.0
Picked this up solely based on the title, thinking it would be satirical turning the fairy tale on its head kind of story; I was expecting something more like the Broadway show Into the Woods. Turned out to be serious imagining of a source of the myth. And even though I was wanting funny, and was quite put off by the Mother character, for some reason I kept reading, albeit in short bursts across several weeks, usually just a few pages before bed.
zareenj's review against another edition
dark
relaxing
slow-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
4.5
arsenic's review against another edition
4.0
Livre lu dans le cadre du challenge Popsugar 2019 pour la catégorie A retelling of a classic
Ce livre est une revue du conte de Cendrillon. J'avais déjà entendu parler de cet auteur qui a écrit le livre Wicked, inspiré du Magicien d'Oz. Je savais que son style n'était pas forcément facile mais ce livre n'existe qu'en anglais donc je l'ai lu dans cette langue.
Et effectivement, ça n'a pas été très évident ^^'
L'histoire se passe dans la Hollande du 17e siècle. On suit Iris, une des deux "méchantes belles-soeurs" du conte depuis avant sa rencontre avec Cendrillon jusqu'à la fin du conte.
Déjà, le fait que ça se passe en Hollande rend l'histoire assez différente du conte. Surtout qu'il y a toute une partie sur l'art et la peinture qui m'a bien plu. Le personnage du Master est assez sympa.
J'ai bien aimé Iris aussi qui est une fille décrite comme pas jolie mais qui a plutôt bon fond.
Le personnage de Clara en revanche plane complètement, elle m'a assez laissé de marbre.
L'histoire est familière en étant originale et je pense que c'est ce qui m'a plu dans cette lecture : je ne savais pas vraiment à quoi m'attendre. Une lecture pas si facile mais je ne regrette pas d'avoir un peu insisté.
Ce livre est une revue du conte de Cendrillon. J'avais déjà entendu parler de cet auteur qui a écrit le livre Wicked, inspiré du Magicien d'Oz. Je savais que son style n'était pas forcément facile mais ce livre n'existe qu'en anglais donc je l'ai lu dans cette langue.
Et effectivement, ça n'a pas été très évident ^^'
L'histoire se passe dans la Hollande du 17e siècle. On suit Iris, une des deux "méchantes belles-soeurs" du conte depuis avant sa rencontre avec Cendrillon jusqu'à la fin du conte.
Déjà, le fait que ça se passe en Hollande rend l'histoire assez différente du conte. Surtout qu'il y a toute une partie sur l'art et la peinture qui m'a bien plu. Le personnage du Master est assez sympa.
J'ai bien aimé Iris aussi qui est une fille décrite comme pas jolie mais qui a plutôt bon fond.
Le personnage de Clara en revanche plane complètement, elle m'a assez laissé de marbre.
L'histoire est familière en étant originale et je pense que c'est ce qui m'a plu dans cette lecture : je ne savais pas vraiment à quoi m'attendre. Une lecture pas si facile mais je ne regrette pas d'avoir un peu insisté.
kimberly_b's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a fun book and I really enjoyed reading it. It's one of the better ones by Gregory Maguire.