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Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister Gregory Maguire 9780060987527 Books

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Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister Gregory Maguire 9780060987527 Books

This novel is a believable take on the Cinderella story, complete with step-family, ashes and a prince. Maguire sets the story with 17th century Holland as the backdrop. Dutch painting, tulip speculation, superstition and 17th century society/manners/customs feature largely in the plot.
The main character is actually Iris, one of the step-sisters, with the Cinderella figure, Clara, as a supporting role. The characters of Iris, Ruth, Clara and the step-mother were complex, realistic and very individual. The complexity of Ruth's character was beautiful and sad, and I cared a great deal for her.
The end of the story, with ball and prince, wasn't quite as good as the rest of the story--in fact, the conclusion wasn't completely satisfying to me for some reason. He tied up the loose ends too neatly, I think. But then, the fairy tale element had to be present in some aspect other than just the superstitions of the day, so I suppose the "happy ending" can be justified.
On the whole, I enjoyed it tremendously. It was well written, blending history and fiction and a bit of fantasy into an deep, compelling story. I highly recommend it and will be reading the rest of his novels as soon as I can!


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Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister Gregory Maguire 9780060987527 Books Reviews

"Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" is Gregory Maguire's twisted take on the classic Cinderella fairytale. The novel is set in seventeenth-century Holland, where two homely-looking sisters, Iris and Ruth, have fled from England with their mother, Margarethe. Told from the younger sister's perspective, the story focuses on the Fisher women's struggle to survive. Margarethe eventually marries a wealthy man who has a beautiful daughter, Clara, a self-proclaimed changeling who is extremely difficult and refuses to leave her home. When the family ends up on the verge of bankruptcy, Margarethe devises a plan to introduce her daughters to the Prince of Marsillac at a ball being held in his honor. By this time, Clara has willingly transformed herself into the familiar Cinderella character, and at first she has no plans to attend the ball. Eventually Clara and her sisters devise a secret plan, and the fairy tale (complete with a pumpkin carriage) finally comes to life.

This is a very interesting novel. Although it does follow the basic Cinderella outline, it is so much more than a fairytale. Iris is by far the most interesting character in the book, and her constant observations about women's roles and beauty are the best parts of the book. "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" forces readers to reconsider the traditional roles of heroes and villains, good vs. evil, beauty and art, and the power of the family dynamic. If you're in the mood for a very untraditional novel, this is the one for you.
Have you ever read a well written book that you just couldn’t like? The characters, the subject matter, the plot. There are a few gems in here that I did like, but for the most part this was a struggle for me to finish and a depressing story all around. However, as I said, it is well written, so I’m sure many people do enjoy it.
A quick but very interesting read. I'm still getting used to reading books digitally but this was one of the first and totally turns around the Cinderella story in a most interesting and socially-conscious fashion. What would happen if beauty was more of a curse than a blessing? What would happen if poverty turned a desperate mother into an evil manipulator and simultaneously enabled her daughter into thinking for herself in old world Europe? While still demonstrating that kindness and generousity of spirit are vital attributes for anyone to nurture.

Fascinating, indeed!
This is not your fairy tale Cinderella. The characters are complex and have multiple motives. The setting in Holland at the time of the tulip "bubble" allows us to see the characters in both prosperity and adversity. As with the Oz series, the female characters are more strongly written and carry the story. I suspect that some of the disappointment expressed in reviews arises from an expectation of magic or at least magical realism that does not exist in the novel. However, since its absence means that the characters must solve their problems themselves, it should not be seen as detracting from the truth of the story.
Compared to Wicked, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is a slow, complicated read. The writing is somewhat difficult and I found myself skimming a lot of the pages.
The story is similar to the original Cinderella story; however, the characters personas (for the most part) are all together different. One of the stepsisters is the "hero" in the story, while Cinderella is a spoiled, selfish brat. When she is reduced the ashes, I almost felt like cheering, she was such an annoying character.
The stepmother is pure evil. She is probably the best written character in this book as she is such a horrible person. I found myself wanting to know more and more about her... why was she such a horrid character. She gets her due in the end.
The story does improve near the end; however then the last few pages (or the epilogue) are so abrupt, I found myself asking.. "so that's it???"

It is an interesting read... just be ready to take some time to get through it.
When Maguire rewrites familiar takes like this, I'm often left feeling that his is the true original and the others are just pale reflections.
In Confessions, the characters are well fleshed out, the scenery set so divinely, and the pacing precise. Maguire's impeccable use of language draws you fully into the story, hanging on every word.
I was quite startled by the ending, and felt it a little abrupt, but how could I be disappointed after such a magical book! Having a daughter with a disability, I found myself cheering for Ruth. I wish we could find out even more about her. I liked the art slant to the story. Iris held my heart, and Clara , my pity.
I wish the story could have gone on and on, as Wicked has. These are great characters that feel alive.
This novel is a believable take on the Cinderella story, complete with step-family, ashes and a prince. Maguire sets the story with 17th century Holland as the backdrop. Dutch painting, tulip speculation, superstition and 17th century society/manners/customs feature largely in the plot.
The main character is actually Iris, one of the step-sisters, with the Cinderella figure, Clara, as a supporting role. The characters of Iris, Ruth, Clara and the step-mother were complex, realistic and very individual. The complexity of Ruth's character was beautiful and sad, and I cared a great deal for her.
The end of the story, with ball and prince, wasn't quite as good as the rest of the story--in fact, the conclusion wasn't completely satisfying to me for some reason. He tied up the loose ends too neatly, I think. But then, the fairy tale element had to be present in some aspect other than just the superstitions of the day, so I suppose the "happy ending" can be justified.
On the whole, I enjoyed it tremendously. It was well written, blending history and fiction and a bit of fantasy into an deep, compelling story. I highly recommend it and will be reading the rest of his novels as soon as I can!