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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
A retailored fairy tale for the adult mind.
My Take
This story has elements of the Cinderella tale with chunks of the movie Girl with a Pearl Earring (for me, anyway!) amidst all the maneuvering and manipulation.
Maguire certainly knows how to write a mean book. He teases and tantalizes as we attempt to find the Cinderella within even as he sprinkles dribs and drabs of truth. Leaving us wondering at the end why we read this depressing book. Oh, yes, Maguire is quite clever in his writing, but after all the nastiness, why oh why must he put such a wicked twist on what could have been several happily ever afters?
The Story
Margarethe, Iris, and Ruth have fled persecution in England and hope to seek refuge with Margarethe's grandfather in Haarlem. Only nothing turns out as it should and the Fisher family begs their way across the city finally finding hope with the Master. His apprentice has left on a trip and the Master is hopeless. A trial period he will grant Margarethe until Caspar returns.
It's the sample portrait of Iris which the Master paints for Herr van den Meer that is the next step in the family's fortune. For Margarethe moves her and her children into Herr van den Meer's home to cook and keep house while Schoonmaker paints the desired portrait of Clara with van den Meer's exotic tulips. And Margarethe continues to move in and on. Rarely, if ever, nicely.
There are feasts to promote the incoming shipment of tulips. There are famines to moan the traumas. And it's the last minute, daring maneuver that provides the reprieve. For some.
The Characters
Iris is the not-so-ugly sister who wants to paint and have a life of her own while Ruth is the ugly and seemingly retarded sister who simply wants acceptance. Neither daughter will ever be wanted by their mother, Margarethe neé ten Broek Fisher, a conniving, nasty woman. Jack Fisher is...was...the father who was killed back in England.
Clara is the blonde changeling---suspicious---daughter of one of the wealthy families in town. Herr Cornelius van den Meer is a tulip speculator using his wife Henrika's money.
Luykas Schoonmaker is the Master, the artist, the Master of the Dordrecht Altarpiece. Caspar is his apprentice. Nicolaes van Stolk holds the notes on van der Meer's home and furnishings. And he's got his eye on Clara.
Marie de Medici is the Dowager Queen of France and is throwing a ball for her godson Prince Philippe de Marsillac in Haarlem.
The Cover
The cover has a woodcut quality to the pumpkin carriage with its rat footman bowing in his livery and another standing at the back of the coach. I loved the cutout window with a Cinderella smirking out at us even as her prince is leering at her.
It's true, this story is the Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, at least in her own eyes.
My Take
This story has elements of the Cinderella tale with chunks of the movie Girl with a Pearl Earring (for me, anyway!) amidst all the maneuvering and manipulation.
Maguire certainly knows how to write a mean book. He teases and tantalizes as we attempt to find the Cinderella within even as he sprinkles dribs and drabs of truth. Leaving us wondering at the end why we read this depressing book. Oh, yes, Maguire is quite clever in his writing, but after all the nastiness, why oh why must he put such a wicked twist on what could have been several happily ever afters?
The Story
Margarethe, Iris, and Ruth have fled persecution in England and hope to seek refuge with Margarethe's grandfather in Haarlem. Only nothing turns out as it should and the Fisher family begs their way across the city finally finding hope with the Master. His apprentice has left on a trip and the Master is hopeless. A trial period he will grant Margarethe until Caspar returns.
It's the sample portrait of Iris which the Master paints for Herr van den Meer that is the next step in the family's fortune. For Margarethe moves her and her children into Herr van den Meer's home to cook and keep house while Schoonmaker paints the desired portrait of Clara with van den Meer's exotic tulips. And Margarethe continues to move in and on. Rarely, if ever, nicely.
There are feasts to promote the incoming shipment of tulips. There are famines to moan the traumas. And it's the last minute, daring maneuver that provides the reprieve. For some.
The Characters
Iris is the not-so-ugly sister who wants to paint and have a life of her own while Ruth is the ugly and seemingly retarded sister who simply wants acceptance. Neither daughter will ever be wanted by their mother, Margarethe neé ten Broek Fisher, a conniving, nasty woman. Jack Fisher is...was...the father who was killed back in England.
Clara is the blonde changeling---suspicious---daughter of one of the wealthy families in town. Herr Cornelius van den Meer is a tulip speculator using his wife Henrika's money.
Luykas Schoonmaker is the Master, the artist, the Master of the Dordrecht Altarpiece. Caspar is his apprentice. Nicolaes van Stolk holds the notes on van der Meer's home and furnishings. And he's got his eye on Clara.
Marie de Medici is the Dowager Queen of France and is throwing a ball for her godson Prince Philippe de Marsillac in Haarlem.
The Cover
The cover has a woodcut quality to the pumpkin carriage with its rat footman bowing in his livery and another standing at the back of the coach. I loved the cutout window with a Cinderella smirking out at us even as her prince is leering at her.
It's true, this story is the Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, at least in her own eyes.
dtzypig's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. It was a little hard to get through towards the middle of the story, but the ending blew me away! A fantastic twist on a classic, and my favorite, fairytale :D
eggjen's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading this imaginative interpretation of Cinderella. Maguire's writing style is gritty, descriptive without being flowery. His story is somewhat dark in some regards, but humorous and enjoyable to read. I did not love this book. The writing style is unique but verges on tedious. The story was interesting though and overall I liked it.
seyda_neen's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
brinreadstowrite's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
No one and nothing is what it seems at first in this novel twist on "Cinderella." Yet the Master is constantly directing us to "look," to SEE.
Marguarethe is desperate but ultimately avaricious. Iris is plain, but the star of the group - talented and smart. Clara, while beautiful, is a recluse who marries to protect her father. And Ruth -
Marguarethe is desperate but ultimately avaricious. Iris is plain, but the star of the group - talented and smart. Clara, while beautiful, is a recluse who marries to protect her father. And Ruth -
Spoiler
silent, mute, oxen Ruth - turns out to be a scheming avenger.willbefunorelse's review against another edition
3.0
I could talk a lot about this book — and in true #Collaborators fashion, I can talk a lot more now that Erica and I have had our tweetversation. (That’s a word, right?) But since I haven’t read Erica’s review yet, I’m going to do what I do best – fly by the seat of my pants and talk about the things that interest me.
For the full review -- including a mid-depth discussion on the natures of beauty and art, plus highlights from my Tweetversation with Erica the NYC Bookworm) -- follow the link to That's What She Read (and check out Erica's blog, as well as #TheCollaborators on Twitter).
For the full review -- including a mid-depth discussion on the natures of beauty and art, plus highlights from my Tweetversation with Erica the NYC Bookworm) -- follow the link to That's What She Read (and check out Erica's blog, as well as #TheCollaborators on Twitter).
casspro's review against another edition
4.0
Of Maguire's novels that don't fall into the Oz series, this is my favorite. I love the play on the villain, turning them into the hero or heroine of their own story.
trippali's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it! I read Wicked around ten years ago and hated it so I was so surprised when I gave this author another chance. Easy read that is worth reading.