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sydneyraereads 's review for:
The Charmed Wife
by Olga Grushin
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was so disappointing. Retellings are some of my favorite stories to read and this really missed the mark for me.
What I did like: all of Part 1 where we were in the fairytale world and could draw the modern parallels of the Cinderella character's behavior on our own; the back-and-forth timeline of her in the wood with the witch and fairy godmother, then back with the prince as their marriage gets dull and begins to crumble; the commentary on empty gestures, saving face, sex after kids, substance abuse, and mental illness.
What I did not like: the fact that the entire fairytale world crumbled to reveal a rich white woman in an unhappy marriage with an unfeeling philanderer who blames her for her own mental illnesses. Also that we are supposed to sympathize with his perspective in their marriage rather than hers despite the fact that he never attempted any of the relationship-building he faults her for ignoring at the beginning of their marriage.
The non-spoiler version: the twists taken throughout the book lessened the impact of the story by using mental illness as a big plot reveal and garnering sympathy for the prince rather than our Cinderella.
What I did like: all of Part 1 where we were in the fairytale world and could draw the modern parallels of the Cinderella character's behavior on our own; the back-and-forth timeline of her in the wood with the witch and fairy godmother, then back with the prince as their marriage gets dull and begins to crumble; the commentary on empty gestures, saving face, sex after kids, substance abuse, and mental illness.
What I did not like:
The non-spoiler version: the twists taken throughout the book lessened the impact of the story by using mental illness as a big plot reveal and garnering sympathy for the prince rather than our Cinderella.