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From Gregory Maguire, the acclaimed author of Wicked, comes his much-anticipated second novel, a brilliant and provocative retelling of the timeless Cinderella tale. We all have heard the story of Cinderella, the beautiful child cast out to slave among the ashes. But what of her stepsisters, the homely pair exiled into ignominy by the fame of their lovely sibling? What fate befell those untouched by beauty ... and what curses accompanied Cinderella's exquisite looks? Set against the rich backdrop of seventeenth-century Holland, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister tells the story of Iris, an unlikely heroine who finds herself swept from the lowly streets of Haarlem to a strange world of wealth, artifice, and ambition. Iris's path quickly becomes intertwined with that of Clara, the mysterious and unnaturally beautiful girl destined to become her sister. While Clara retreats to the cinders of the family hearth, burning all memories of her past, Iris seeks out the shadowy secrets of her new household--and the treacherous truth of her former life. Far more than a mere fairy-tale, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is a novel of beauty and betrayal, illusion and understanding, reminding us that deception can be unearthed--and love unveiled--in the most unexpected of places.… (mer)
While I tagged this as "fantasy", it really is more in the historical novel category. In a complex (though overlong) re-working of the Cinderella tale, Maguire gives us complex characters that kept me reading/listening even though I technically knew what the ending would be. Well written, but somehow not satisfying in a way that I can't put my thumb on. [Audiobook note: a good, competent narrator. It is particularly difficult for female readers to do male voices well, and this lady does a fine job in that regard.] ( )
I picked up this book because it was another retelling of the famous Cinderella story, which I admit is a tale I enjoy in many of its revised forms. I was not expecting the sober and unromantic rendition this turned out to be. The characters in this story could easily have stepped out from our historical past, from the lives of those struggling to acquire basic human necessities to survive. This was not a magical, fairytale version of Cinderella but an attempt to tell the "real" story that, through years of retelling, eventually turned into a more gratifying and fortunate narrative. I found this version to be a dismal and sad story; not the happily ever after I was anticipating. ( )
I didn’t hate this book, but I didn’t love it, either. I liked the premise, but I’m not overly fond of books written in the present tense, and that bothered me a little. It was also...rather dark and melancholy and I’m not entirely sure I like all of the author’s choices. But it was definitely an interesting book, for better or for worse. ( )
Only Gregory Maguire could make you love the Ugly Stepsisters. I was impressed, though, because he doesn't do it at the expense of Cinderella. Without giving away too many spoilers . . . if you liked Wicked you'll like this. With bonus points for chronicling Tulip Mania! ( )
From Gregory Maguire, the acclaimed author of Wicked, comes his much-anticipated second novel, a brilliant and provocative retelling of the timeless Cinderella tale. We all have heard the story of Cinderella, the beautiful child cast out to slave among the ashes. But what of her stepsisters, the homely pair exiled into ignominy by the fame of their lovely sibling? What fate befell those untouched by beauty ... and what curses accompanied Cinderella's exquisite looks? Set against the rich backdrop of seventeenth-century Holland, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister tells the story of Iris, an unlikely heroine who finds herself swept from the lowly streets of Haarlem to a strange world of wealth, artifice, and ambition. Iris's path quickly becomes intertwined with that of Clara, the mysterious and unnaturally beautiful girl destined to become her sister. While Clara retreats to the cinders of the family hearth, burning all memories of her past, Iris seeks out the shadowy secrets of her new household--and the treacherous truth of her former life. Far more than a mere fairy-tale, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is a novel of beauty and betrayal, illusion and understanding, reminding us that deception can be unearthed--and love unveiled--in the most unexpected of places.
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