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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
I guess I'm just a sucker for retellings of Cinderella. This wasn't really what I was expecting, though. It is an interesting retelling, with a not-charming Prince Charming and a last-minute evil stepsister bride stand-in (does that make sense to anyone but me?). It was a really fast read, and I thought it ended too soon. I don't like it when I think I am getting a complete story only to find out that I have to read another book (and probably another and another) to find out if there is a happy ending. So if I had known that from the beginning I might have liked this more. In any case, it was captivating enough to get me in that semi-obsessed-must-keep-reading state. Or maybe I was just really bored. I don't like the cover, by the way. It makes the story look too modern.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I remember really loving this book growing up, so I'm certainly nostalgic for it and its young-feminism coming-of-age overtones.
Just Ella is basically an earlier, less terrifying and graphic version of [b:Damsel|36260155|Damsel|Elana K. Arnold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518818837l/36260155._SY75_.jpg|57912874]. Similar premise of the "after" portion of the Disney fairy tale setup not being so 'happily ever' and controlling of women's bodies and minds is prevalent theme throughout. The writing is crisp and well-paced. And Ella is a formidable, simple heroine who saves herself, with some help, to discover her purpose in life. The side characters, however, are one dimensional and serve very specific, one note purposes, so I think they could have been more fleshed out.
Also, a lot of people don't like Ella and cite that as their reason for not liking the book in some of these other Goodreads reviews, so I'll point them to the Roxane Gay essay "Not Here to Make Friends" from [b:Bad Feminist|18813642|Bad Feminist|Roxane Gay|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421292744l/18813642._SY75_.jpg|26563816]. The relevant takeaway from the essay is: a character, especially a female one, written by a female author, does not need to be likable to be well-written or makes the writing or plot less in any way. Repeat: YOU DO NOT NEED TO LIKE A CHARACTER FOR IT TO BE A WELL-WRITTEN CHARACTER OR PLOT. Yes, maybe you won't enjoy reading it. That's fine. I sure as hell hate [b:The Catcher in the Rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398034300l/5107._SY75_.jpg|3036731] because Holden is a little annoying shit, but is he a fleshed out character? Up for debate, but most people say yes. Is it because he's a man written by a man, idk. But his flaws as a character do not detract from the book's literary merit. Not calling this book worthy of the same literary merit either, just something that annoyed me when reading reviews...Ella grows and learns over the course of the book, changing her entire circumstances not once, but twice. What else do you need from her?
book 2 of read your irl bookshelf 2020 challenge
(quarantine reads; 2020 pandemic book 5)
Just Ella is basically an earlier, less terrifying and graphic version of [b:Damsel|36260155|Damsel|Elana K. Arnold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518818837l/36260155._SY75_.jpg|57912874]. Similar premise of the "after" portion of the Disney fairy tale setup not being so 'happily ever' and controlling of women's bodies and minds is prevalent theme throughout. The writing is crisp and well-paced. And Ella is a formidable, simple heroine who saves herself, with some help, to discover her purpose in life. The side characters, however, are one dimensional and serve very specific, one note purposes, so I think they could have been more fleshed out.
Also, a lot of people don't like Ella and cite that as their reason for not liking the book in some of these other Goodreads reviews, so I'll point them to the Roxane Gay essay "Not Here to Make Friends" from [b:Bad Feminist|18813642|Bad Feminist|Roxane Gay|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421292744l/18813642._SY75_.jpg|26563816]. The relevant takeaway from the essay is: a character, especially a female one, written by a female author, does not need to be likable to be well-written or makes the writing or plot less in any way. Repeat: YOU DO NOT NEED TO LIKE A CHARACTER FOR IT TO BE A WELL-WRITTEN CHARACTER OR PLOT. Yes, maybe you won't enjoy reading it. That's fine. I sure as hell hate [b:The Catcher in the Rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398034300l/5107._SY75_.jpg|3036731] because Holden is a little annoying shit, but is he a fleshed out character? Up for debate, but most people say yes. Is it because he's a man written by a man, idk. But his flaws as a character do not detract from the book's literary merit. Not calling this book worthy of the same literary merit either, just something that annoyed me when reading reviews...Ella grows and learns over the course of the book, changing her entire circumstances not once, but twice. What else do you need from her?
book 2 of read your irl bookshelf 2020 challenge
(quarantine reads; 2020 pandemic book 5)
It was an okay book, but I'm not interested enough to read more.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Enjoyable, quick read and a fun twist of the Cinderella story!
Cinderella and the Prince lived happily ever after - not! What happens when Cinderella discovers Prince Charming isn't all that charming? Haddix reworks the famous fairy tale in a much more realistic, if brutal, fashion. There is still a happy ending, of sorts. A fun read. Very mild profanity.
My first Haddix book! I'm happily surprised at how much I liked this Cinderella retelling after the happily ever after. I do hope that she uses her head and take things slow. I hope we learn more about Mary and the other land's side of the war.