100 Things 六
May. 24th, 2012 07:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mildmaythecatWould you like a kickass, more realistic continuation of the original Cinderella story? Of course you would:
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix.
One-Sentence Review If You're Pressed For Time (Or Just Lazy): Ella's fairytale ending--becoming a princess and marrying the man of her dreams--turns out to be a nightmare; princess training is tedious and Prince Charming is more like Prince Boring, so she decides to make the second big escape of her life.
Why It's Awesome: I have a friend who loathes Cinderella. She hates that the so-called heroine is a spineless wuss willing to marry a guy she danced with for five minutes. If you are like my friend, you will find this book especially satisfying. This Ella (as she prefers to be known) does not take anyone's crap, least of all that of her stepmother, and her decision to marry the prince has real consequences.
While Cinderella is supposed to be a teenager, nobody ever thinks of her that way (kinda like Snow White being 14, but don't get me started on that)--except for Ms. Haddix. Ella is at heart cynical, rebellious and a lover of books like her father. She is swept off her feet by her first love but smart enough to realize when she's made a mistake, and strong enough to do something about it. It's perversely enjoyable to watch her slowly realize that infatuation-at-first-sight doesn't last, and that her royal fiance is a vapid boy without a thought in his head. Also fun is watching Ella's character growth, as her (adorkable) young tutor Jed educates her about social issues and she finds herself wanting to do something that really matters.
Of course, a princess breaking the news that she doesn't want to marry her prince isn't going to go over well--in the words of Cinderella II, it "simply isn't done." The prince and those behind him take it about as well as you'd expect; that is, Ella wakes up in a dungeon. From there it's a race against time to find a way out of prison before the wedding day. Even if she does manage to escape her cell, getting out of the prince's reach for good is going to be difficult when guards are stationed throughout the kingdom and everybody knows her name.
One fun little aspect of the book is the way the Cinderella fairytale itself is handled. Turns out her Fairy Godmother, helpful animal friends and even her famous moniker have less to do with the story than you'd think. (Ella's reaction to these medieval bits of celebrity gossip is priceless.) I found the origin of the glass slippers fascinating, myself.
Okay, Fine, Here's The Downside: None that I can think of (although admittedly this is another one I haven't read in awhile), except that the newer, "fresher" cover makes it look and sound like...I don't even know, it's just bad. Don't be fooled. Give this one a chance.
And Now For Something Completely Different:
Lilac Wine (Jeff Buckley)
I feel unsteady, where's my love? listen to me, I cannot see clearly...
https://www.box.com/shared/vvizvg8096
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix.
One-Sentence Review If You're Pressed For Time (Or Just Lazy): Ella's fairytale ending--becoming a princess and marrying the man of her dreams--turns out to be a nightmare; princess training is tedious and Prince Charming is more like Prince Boring, so she decides to make the second big escape of her life.
Why It's Awesome: I have a friend who loathes Cinderella. She hates that the so-called heroine is a spineless wuss willing to marry a guy she danced with for five minutes. If you are like my friend, you will find this book especially satisfying. This Ella (as she prefers to be known) does not take anyone's crap, least of all that of her stepmother, and her decision to marry the prince has real consequences.
While Cinderella is supposed to be a teenager, nobody ever thinks of her that way (kinda like Snow White being 14, but don't get me started on that)--except for Ms. Haddix. Ella is at heart cynical, rebellious and a lover of books like her father. She is swept off her feet by her first love but smart enough to realize when she's made a mistake, and strong enough to do something about it. It's perversely enjoyable to watch her slowly realize that infatuation-at-first-sight doesn't last, and that her royal fiance is a vapid boy without a thought in his head. Also fun is watching Ella's character growth, as her (adorkable) young tutor Jed educates her about social issues and she finds herself wanting to do something that really matters.
Of course, a princess breaking the news that she doesn't want to marry her prince isn't going to go over well--in the words of Cinderella II, it "simply isn't done." The prince and those behind him take it about as well as you'd expect; that is, Ella wakes up in a dungeon. From there it's a race against time to find a way out of prison before the wedding day. Even if she does manage to escape her cell, getting out of the prince's reach for good is going to be difficult when guards are stationed throughout the kingdom and everybody knows her name.
One fun little aspect of the book is the way the Cinderella fairytale itself is handled. Turns out her Fairy Godmother, helpful animal friends and even her famous moniker have less to do with the story than you'd think. (Ella's reaction to these medieval bits of celebrity gossip is priceless.) I found the origin of the glass slippers fascinating, myself.
Okay, Fine, Here's The Downside: None that I can think of (although admittedly this is another one I haven't read in awhile), except that the newer, "fresher" cover makes it look and sound like...I don't even know, it's just bad. Don't be fooled. Give this one a chance.
And Now For Something Completely Different:
Lilac Wine (Jeff Buckley)
I feel unsteady, where's my love? listen to me, I cannot see clearly...
https://www.box.com/shared/vvizvg8096
