Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

Grade: B+

Profanity: Nothing bad that I can recall

Graphic content (sex, murder,etc.): Some violence and sex-related themes, but nothing terribly graphic

This was June's Book Club pick. I had never heard of it, but being a lover of all things fairy tale, I felt sure I would like it. : )  Here is the synopsis on the back of my copy:

     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.

     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 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.

A lot of the girls at Book Club said they weren't that fond of the book, but I enjoyed it... I was a little worried at first, because Cinderella comes across as a total spoiled brat in the beginning, and I didn't want to end up hating her character in other versions of her story because of reading Confessions. But I warmed up to her a little throughout the story...

I felt the plot flowed pretty well, but I definitely think those already familiar with the "Cinderella" story would get more out of the book than those who weren't... It's much, much darker than the normal fairy tale, so if you're looking for a "happily ever after," you should pass this book up.

One of the main themes of the novel is beauty, and whether having it is a good thing or a bad thing. The book really makes you question that...

There's an interesting twist at the ending of Confessions as well. It doesn't really affect the story at all, but it did make me think back over the story to see if I should have caught something...

All-in-all, I would recommend reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. It's not the most cheerful thing, but a little melancholy won't hurt you. ; )