Reviews

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

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hb_bookworm's review against another edition

5.0

this was just as charming and enchanting on the adult reread as it was on the many, many times I read this book as a I kid. I found myself knowing what specific turns of phrase would be used as I was reading because I used to have them memorized. the story is so well crafted and the characters are so endearing (or you love to hate them!). I absolutely love the world Levine created - I'm eager to reread Fairest next to keep exploring! I'm always aware rereading books I loved as a kid won't necessarily be the same, but for this one it definitely, definitely was.

mrfroggy's review against another edition

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5.0

Still one of my fav books of all time!!! Bawled my eyes out as i reflected on how different i am since the last time i read this and how despite leaving childhood i feel more trapped than ever.... i really love the audio production for this edition, i genuinely love when audio adaptations add their own unique features to make it stand apart from plain text.

Reflecting on my exp running parallel and hidden to the pandemic and the desire to connect with others through a different medium like letters or calls but being unable to meet irl bc of the risk that would put me through......being manipulated,,,,stomping on boundaries,,,,,but being unable to explain what's "wrong" w you.......

chelseacounsell's review against another edition

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4.0

Read this for the second time just now because I wanted a cozy read and my childhood self remembered this book as being good. It’s really weird because I distinctly remember being SO MAD as a child that the movie was different than the book (specifically the end conflict), but I could not tell you how the book or movie went as a 31 year old prior to reading. I just had vague good vibes. Anyway, uh, this book is pretty good. Seems to kind of have a meandering plot which is interesting. Ella’s curse hits WAY HARDER as an adult who’s been sexually coerced/abused. RIP me.
More interestingly, even though this book is cozy and whimsical, it definitely doesn’t have the “anglophilic” vibe I associate with writers like Diana Wynne Jones or Terry Pratchett. Obviously, the author Levine is American, but she didn’t seem to be narratively leaning into these preexisting structures.
Ella Enchanted is a Cinderella retelling that has been turned on it’s head. The titular character has been cursed from birth to be always obedient, which gets her into many a pickle. The romance between her and the prince is drawn out throughout the book as an attraction and appreciation that grows over time rather than one founded in the space of one night. Though the worldbuilding is really swell (I much enjoyed attending the Giant’s wedding and spending time with the Elves), the real joy in the work is in Ella, who is a sweet and kind underdog who uses her wits and her gift with languages (a rare and interesting talent for middle grade protagonists!) to get herself out of a pinch. Also I like that the prince just takes Ella as herself and is enamored with everything she does. That’s really sweet.
Ah, but I did read the audiobook, and I felt that the musical bits in it were distracting.

k3depro's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

larkwater's review against another edition

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5.0

SO much better than the movie. The movie is NOTHING like the book. At all. Don't even bother watching the movie, and if you already have (I feel sorry for you) don't let it scare you away from this fantastic book! I read it 3 times and listened to it hundreds more times when I was younger!