Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

This is another amazing reworking of a fairy tale we all know and love. I appreciate the author's ability to make me think twice about the childhood stories I've grown to love. In this one, o do believe it was slow to begin but once it picked up pace I was glad to read it. I enjoyed the twist at the end. I was actually surprised by that and it added some more depth to the theme of seeing/looking that permeated the book. A really great and enjoyable read.

So far, this is easily my favorite of Maguire's books that I've read. He gives the tale a historical setting (still weaving in some fantasy elements) that works very well. I love how the historical themes of trends in artwork, famous painters, and even tulip mania underscore the meditations on beauty throughout the story. It makes for a great and very thoughtful twist on Cinderella!

Very good twist on the classic Cinderella tale: the familiar elements are there, set in a new way, and told from the viewpoint of one of the ugly stepsisters. A fascinating story about beauty, seeing things and doing what needs to be done. I'm glad I finally read this – I've had this book for almost ten years now.