Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Beautiful! And sad. And completely different from what I expected. And entirely enjoyable.
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is easily one of the weirdest books I've ever read. And to be honest, I want to shake Sheri Tepper and scream "What the hell was that?!"
The protagonist is Sleeping Beauty (who escapes her curse, narrowly) who is the mother of Cinderella, who is the mother of Snow White. There are a few other fairy tale/mythology characters thrown in there as well. It takes place in Medieval England, the 20th century, the 21st century, Faery, and imaginary land (Chinanga), and Hell.
This book is very eco-feminist, with warnings of how we're destroying the world's Beauty (get it?) and the dangers of overpopulation and overconsumption.
There's even a rape that kinda comes out from left field.
I just think that Tepper was trying to do too much in this book. It's like she was just spitballing on paper, threw in everything but the kitchen sink and then called it a novel.
The pacing is extraordinarily uneven, many plot/concepts seemed to die a premature death, and there were more than a few times I put down the book because I was bored.
I like Tepper's work - but I was disappointed in this one.
The protagonist is Sleeping Beauty (who escapes her curse, narrowly) who is the mother of Cinderella, who is the mother of Snow White. There are a few other fairy tale/mythology characters thrown in there as well. It takes place in Medieval England, the 20th century, the 21st century, Faery, and imaginary land (Chinanga), and Hell.
This book is very eco-feminist, with warnings of how we're destroying the world's Beauty (get it?) and the dangers of overpopulation and overconsumption.
There's even a rape that kinda comes out from left field.
I just think that Tepper was trying to do too much in this book. It's like she was just spitballing on paper, threw in everything but the kitchen sink and then called it a novel.
The pacing is extraordinarily uneven, many plot/concepts seemed to die a premature death, and there were more than a few times I put down the book because I was bored.
I like Tepper's work - but I was disappointed in this one.
Really the only reason that this book gets 3 stars is because I read it a decade ago and still remember it fairly well, especially Tepper's version of dystopia.
Interesting. The beginning was slow, but we'll woven by the end. Makes me sad. We are so destructive. Good reminder to care for nature. Mentioned as feminist, but I didn't see that.
This was not a book that I would normally pick up on my own. I read it as part of my book club.
Worth reading, interesting. A bit muddled and ambitious in its scope but not enough to detract from enjoying it.
Worth reading, interesting. A bit muddled and ambitious in its scope but not enough to detract from enjoying it.
I loved the first third, liked the second third, then kept reading to learn how it ended. But I enjoyed some parts so much that I'm giving it 4 stars. I wish Tepper could have maintained the feeling when she first jumped centuries.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This was a near perfect five star when I first read it in 2002.
I reread it twenty years after I read and loved it. For years I would tell people this was one of my top five favourite novels. But this reread was a disappointment. I don’t think this is as amazing as I did as a teenager. I enjoyed the parts with Puck esp from page 398 onwards.
I reread it twenty years after I read and loved it. For years I would tell people this was one of my top five favourite novels. But this reread was a disappointment. I don’t think this is as amazing as I did as a teenager. I enjoyed the parts with Puck esp from page 398 onwards.
I can’t help but notice the absence of BIPOC characters. I think this shows the age of when it was published (1991) and I hope good editors nowadays would notice how non western cultures are marginalised in the second half of the tale (when Beauty visits Faery and Baskarone, and when she and the Bogles act to preserve beauty on Earth).
I’m nonetheless grateful for the story and how ideas were presented. The book made me ponder many things, including the impact of inter generational traumas. As a teenager it galvanised my interest in protecting the environment and noticing the flaws in western fairy tales.
this book is no longer one I recommend in my top five favourite novels. But it still is one I’m glad to have read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Kidnapping, War