Ella Enchanted

 Another retelling of Cinderella. 

Ella was "blessed," more like cursed, when she was a baby by a fairy named Lucinda to be Obedient, therefore she must do everything someone, anyone, tells her to do. She tries to fight against the curse going at it slowly or obnoxiously, but eventually she has to give in to whatever someone says. After her beloved mother dies, she is forced to go to finishing school with two nasty girls (who'd eventually become her step sister). On her way there, Hattie figures out that Ella has to be obedient and starts making her life miserable. She runs away, trying to find Lucinda to take the curse away (with the help of her own fairly godmother) but things don't go as planned. 

A simple, very fanciful retelling of the traditional story, it "fixes" a few of the things that modern audiences have problems with. Why didn't Cinderella leave? Why does she have to do what she's told? Why would the Prince marry her at the end without even knowing her? Historically, those questions wouldn't have mattered. Arranged marriages happened all the time and not being able to leave your home or position was obvious. But it gives our modern eyes reasons and explanations. 

I enjoy Ella and Char as a characters. I like the way their relationship is friendly and develops over the course of the story. Often we don't get that in a Cinderella story (which is why I think it is retold so much and why we get so many versions of it, the romance is open ended). I think their relationship is what makes this story. Yes, Ella goes on an adventure, but them together or their letters to each other is what really draws us through the story. 

Jane Eyre

 Apparently it has been quite a few years since I've read or listened to Jane Eyre, and I'm glad I made this journey again. 

Young, plain Jane is orphaned. Forced to live with her uncles wife and children, she is abused and neglected. Her strong will and temperament are then bridled at Lowood Academy. There she makes friends with the teachers and other pupils. Death pays a visit on a large scale at the Academy, which brings sorrow and a heightening of the presence of God into Jane's life. Fully grown and educated, Jane decides to take her academic learning into a career as a governess. She finds a position at Thornfield Hall and enjoys the small society there. With only the master of the house, her pupil, and the servants in attendance, she begins to find a home at Thornfield and has found a friendship with the master of the house, Mr. Rochester. Their relationship starts to become more than simply governess and master, and he eventually proposes marriage. She begins to let her bridled passions and true character unwind. But fate has a strange turn and all is not as it seems at Thornfield Hall. 

There are reasons why this book has been well loved for nearly 180 years. The characters with their foils, the gothic mystery, the fairytale, the love story, view of God, and symbolism are amazingly well done. 

Jane has probably become my favorite character, almost ever. She is bold and brash where and with whom she finds it appropriate. She has her fault of probably being too easily led, by those who mean well and those who are manipulating a situation -- though part of me wonders how much of that was do to the time and what was expected of women 180 years ago and how much was her character, I don't have an answer yet on that. I love how she is religious and learns, as we all should, about forgiveness and charity and service to others. Those aren't often what is written about now without seeming pompous or prudish. I love how she stands up for what she believes to be right even though it hurts her greatly. She chose not to stay with Mr. Rochester for important reasons. She holds her ground with Mr. Rivers and, though she comes close, she doesn't recant her opinions and holds her ground. She knows what she wants, especially in the long term, and doesn't let herself be trodden on or manipulated by others feelings and wants. She is and has a strong character! I mean, come on! She says, "Oh, I will give my heart to God. You do not want it!" Bold as brass! <3 Love it. 

Mr. Rochester is an interesting character too. Similar to Jane, he's not handsome (which is cool because how many characters are often portrayed as the most beautiful person ever in the whole world or time? It's unrelatable for a large portion of society.) He's loud, has strong opinions, and is rather grumpy (though given his circumstances, it's understandable), sometimes I think he talks more than Jane -- which does make the relationship they have in the beginning a little hard to believe, though that might just be because I need to pay better attention -- but he sees that she is smart and thoughtful. He is proud, which is his biggest fault, but throughout the course of the story he finds himself extremely humbled. I love the way Charlotte Bronte words his devotion for Jane. His love is palpable on the page. It is beautiful, kind, and honest. 

The Gothic and supernatural elements of this book are the best thing for it. It gives the ghosts the prowl the Hall so much more life and vivacity than I think could have been done in any other setting. It gives strong tones of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen -- though Austen was a satire of Gothic literature in her time. This Gothic atmosphere only ever lends itself to the story and bolsters it up. 

I think the mystery of Thornfield Hall is what most people remember of Jane Eyre today. "Vampyres" and fires are pivotal points in this story and they are so well written. Just... *chefs kiss * it's so well done. 

I have no problems with this book. It was well written. The writing, though older and potentially longwinded, is elegant and only give to the story. It is written in a "more modern" tone as opposed to even Jane Austen which was written 30 years previously which made it considerably easier to dive into. 

I'm extremely interested in finding the many depictions of this story that have been produced. I know plays have been done and I own a movie, but I have a need for more. 

I love it. I love it. I love it. 

In finding a cover of Jane Eyre for this post, I was in awe of how many beautiful (sometimes funny) covers were published. Here are some of my favorite ones. 

Some of these covers, though, make no sense whatsoever or are just completely inaccurate.

He looks really creepy here.... Um... Excuse you, dude! 

I mean, what is this? It definitely screams 1840s Gothic Classic to me... right... 

Beauty and the Clockwork Beast

 A steampunk  proper romance of Beauty and the Beast. Instead of 3.5 I'd probably give it a 4. It was descent enough but not a favorite. 

Lucy is a botanist of the Botanical Aide Society and is on a little trip to visit her sick cousin, Kate, at the shrouded Blackwell Manor. Kate is married to the Earl's brother and the Earl is mysterious, scary, scarred, and not a people person though he's in high society. There has also been talk of vampire attacks, ghosts, and troublesome automatons sabotaging their wards. Why is Kate sick and is this Earl as scary as rumor has it? 

This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, so we know how it's going to end otherwise the readers would be disappointed. While it is a retelling, it is different enough to enjoy the story and be engaged in the differences and want to know what is going to happen next. The supernatural elements, especially the ghosts that made their presence known, were fun and brought the needed flare for this ever present and popular story. It also gave it that edge at the ending to give the climax a "realistic" feel. 

I do wish that re surrounding cast had more differences so then I could actually tell them apart. This could be do to the fact that I was listening to it while doing other things and some of the people and names got mushed together, but there were a few men in particular that I couldn't keep straight so I kind of gave up. 

It is a proper romance, so it is clean and Propriety was important and not sullying one's reputation is high on the importance scale. However, there were many times when Propriety was not held up (my lit. historian is showing) and sandal should have ensued. So much 'non-walking' time alone and in bedrooms and things. Brings tension, I guess, because they are keeping it clean, but it was kind of odd especially because they did bring up propriety and reputation often. But no one else beside Lucy and Miles brings it up. I do kind of wish there was more conversation between others and the two love interests more than the "Gaston" character. 

It was pretty well written too. I'd probably read through it again eventually and will be listening to the next book. 

Peter Pan

 

Peter Pan is an old classic.

The Darlings' children get visited by the boy who never grows up and teaches them to fly. Off to Neverland they go which is the place of their fantasies, pirates, mermaids, Indians, and adventures galore. 

It is a fine book. One that can touch the lives of many people who are wanting to escape the bounds of growing up and knowing that we all need a mother--biological or "make-believe." This one will probably be one I'll read to my son because it's a fun, simple adventure. 

Reading it myself, though, wasn't as fun as I remember. The narrator in it was funny, in an odd way. Like an adult trying to be childlike, as opposed a child like say Wendy telling the story. It could be the fact that the audiobook was narrated by an older man, but it shouldn't make that much of a difference. The tone and fake childishness of the story put me off enough that I couldn't give it four stars. 

I've seen the play. I've seen the movies. The story is a good one. I like the emphasis and explanation we get for Mr. and Mrs. Darling. It makes them far more alive than even some of the movies give us. I also really like the implication that maybe, just maybe, when Mrs. Darling was younger, she too spent time with Peter. Maybe not off to Neverland with him, but stories and potential glances of him out her own window as a girl. 

I'd read it again for someone else, but for me I think I'll stick to the movies if I need a Peter Pan fix. 

Stepsister

Stepsister is a story of what happens after Cinderella and her prince glide away to their castle and "live happily ever after."

Isabelle cut off her toes to try and fit into that slipper, her sister Octavia cut off her heel. Now they are known as the ugly stepsisters and are somehow supposed to still function in their village society. Not only do they have those repercussions, but there is now a war going on that is infiltrating their part of France and Fate and Chance are fighting for her life, and on top of it all, Isabelle wants to change. She wants to be better and the whole world is literally crashing down on her. Can Ella's fairy godmother help even an ugly stepsister like her?

This is a big time "girl power" book. For people who like Tamora Pierce, you will like this. This book contains many themes and morals to the story all trying to empower women and empower self in general. Finding yourself and being okay with yourself, especially when it may go against what tradition or society dictates. I'm sure many young women and young adults enjoy this book and can feel motivated to do more by reading it.

I very much enjoyed the characters and how different they developed. Though, now that I think of it, it seems like the only people who really changed except for Isabelle... So that was lacking a little. But over all they were fun characters to read about. Chance is probably one of my favorites. Jennifer Donnelly could have a lot of fun with the Grimm Fairy Tales with Chance and the Fates. And because of how well this one was written, I'd read them too.

I thought it was well done. Read well. I don't have really any problems with it, except that some might think that it was too preachy to the "girl power" side. But because it had basic self-empowerment, I can let it slide and happily enjoy the book.

Entwined

I picked this book up years ago and after reading through the first couple of pages gave it back to my local library (go support your libraries, ladies and gents. It's worth it!). I knew I wanted to read it again or at least give it a try, but when my library was "weeding" the books they were going to get rid of this one. So for $0.50 I snagged it, hoping I'd get to it eventually. Well, I got to it eventually, lol.

This is a fairytale retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Azalea is the eldest of eleven princesses whom she loves and takes care of while their mother is deathly ill. Their mother is pregnant and sick and on the night the youngest is born she dies. The girls and the King grieve in different ways, but all are subjected to mourning for a year. Merry Christmas, everyone. The thing that the girls love most is dancing and because of mourning they are denied this. They get scolded and reprimanded for sneakily doing it in defiance of their father, knowing "Mother would have let us do it." The castle they live in is a magic one and they find an enchanted room in their fireplace where a man with magic has been imprisoned by the same magic he uses. He invites them all down every night to dance and enjoy themselves. They greedily take the opportunity. Between arguments with their father, grieving over their mother, being forced to be alone in mourning, and the occasional "political business" where gentlemen would strut around trying to entice the princess into political marriages, they dance.

I really enjoyed the ending of this book. The beginning was a bit cheesy, which is why I didn't get very far the first time, and the middle was a little elongated more than it really needed to be, but the ending was very well done. Highly intriguing and engaging where I finished the last 200 pages in a day--where as I somewhat struggled picking it up in the middle. It was worth it in the end. I'll definitely be keeping this book on my shelf and will probably read through it again later.

The driving force of this book was more to do with Father/Daughter relationships more than "I love this boy" which is different than most YA books out there. Yes, there is romance, but moral of the story is family. They learn to grieve together and it's not something that happens over night. That build up of Parent/Child relations is what took the middle of the book so long. It was needed and important for the end, so I'm glad it was there, but it might drag a bit for some. Family is first. Loving family first where boys and potatinal marriages are second. Different and good.

There is a struggle some authors have in keeping different character (especially lots of different characters) separate and distinct. Heather Dixon does a good job with this. All the girls are flower names, but they are all in alphabetical order so then we as the reader can at least guess as to where they land in age. Azalea is 17 or so all the way down to baby Lilly. We can keep them in order because of their names. There are also a lot of gentlemen who come and go throughout the story and, through their names as well, we are able to keep them separated as well as given a bit of their personalities. Lord Teddie is rambunctious, Lord Bradford is practical and a good political while still being kind, Lord Fairweather is constant and stiff. Names and personalities here were well straightened out for the most part, which is hard to do with so many people.

The setting was fun, and the magic in the world was simple, yet different. The large portion of magic at the end, the climax and resolution of it all, was set up well enough but there was one part I had a problem with due do lack of explanation--which gave its excuse of it possibly being "Old Magic" therefore mysterious. Slight cop out, but I guess it works.

The only thing that I can complain about is the slight cheesiness of the dancing toward the beginning. It got better as it went on and it might have to do with the fact that I'm not a dancer, really, and don't get the fascination so much. Good for them if they do, but it was kind of cheesy to me. The reader can get over it and it's not so bad, just push on and it gets to be better.

In the end, it's a really good book. Heather Dixon did a really good job at portraying this story which often gets over looked for other "princess classics." Read it and enjoy.

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting was a book I originally read in my 5th grade class and in all actuality is probably the first chapter book to read in class that I actually enjoyed. I haven't read it for years but I found that I still loved it.

Winnie Foster is a girl who is stuck in the moment of sameness. Nothing changes for her in her life, with no friends because she is to proper, to clean, and practically confined to her yard. The only conversation she gets is from a toad that sticks around her yard. So not much conversation, until a man in a yellow suit comes by and asks about a peculiar family that she doesn't know. One day at the top of summer where it is the most hot and nature stands still from heat exhaustion, she decides to run away. She gains the courage to step outside her fenced yard and starts traveling through the woods her family owns when she stumbles upon a boy drinking from spring near the base of a tree. What she is about to find out is that he's part of a family who can't die. She gets taken away to have the situation explained to her, but wait... did she just get kidnapped.

It's a sweet book about kind people who have found the meaning of death, in a not gory or creepy way. I very much enjoyed the book, even as an adult.

I love the way Natalie Babbitt used cycles and circles to convey the metaphors, morals, and themes throughout her story. They were well done and well thought out. I also very much love the characters and they are all so human. Setting was well done especially for the fact that this books takes place, for the most part, in two days. It was set up well.

I honestly don't have any faults in this story. Any major disheartening or dislikes or major troubles.

It's a good book that deserved its rewards. It also has two movie adaptations (one in 1981 and the other in 2002). I very much enjoyed the portrayal of the book done in 2002, though there are differences for exaggeration, but they were fun concepts that were played with. I'm gonna be watchin' it soon.

Please, read it. Enjoy it. You could probably finish it in a day.

Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass  is a book I've heard nothing but praises for and, after having read it, I completely agree.

The best assassin was previously captured and put into a mining camp to pretty much die. But because she had the will to stay alive, she is invited to the palace of the man who imprisoned her in the first place. Live in a palace and find a way to escape while going through a competition against other villainous peoples to be the "King's Champion" (AKA personal assassin) with a chance of freedom or die in the mines... the decision was easy. In becoming the Crowned Prince's champion in this competition, Celaena is watched over by not only the Crowned Prince (who is a handsome, charming, reputation-holding man who doesn't like the King/his father), but also the Captain of the Guard (a shy, glaring, but kind guy) is keeping an eye on her so then she won't assassinate anyone while she is residing in the palace.

While she is the best assassin in the land, she is also an 18 year old girl. She still acts like an 18 year old girl. There is a slight love triangle that happens, but it's not super heavy so I overlooked it. (Except at the cute parts anyway.) There were a few Cinderella moments (which the author makes reference too in the commentary at the end) where she goes to a masquerade ball where she gets to dance with the prince. But she's also an assassin and doesn't take crap from anyone.

At the same time of the competition to be the King's Champion, there are ghosts and murders among the competitors. Not only are they getting kicked out of the competition but they are also getting murdered and eaten by something that is haunting the palace. There is magic, fairies (referenced, but not so much in the book), assassins, fighting, love, deep backstories, etc. Setting was well thought out and beautiful, different. Characters were entertaining, with witty bantering and simple conversation. There was one part where a Princess of a conquered land makes an appearance and she has a conversation with Celaena in another language while most everyone else didn't know what was being said. Being completely honest about situations and people, while those people around around, and they can't understand you... It was must funny.

My only problem with it would probably be that it was a bit predictable. I could tell who the bad guy was going to be from about the middle on, but I still very much enjoyed it. How things happened were surprises to me. It's an action book, not really a murder mystery. But I am eagerly awaiting the next book that I'm in queue for at my local library.

Support your libraries. They have many hidden gems.

Winter

Winter is the last book in Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles. I think one of the best parts of this book is the depiction of how Winter is crazy. Because Winter has chosen not to use her Lunar Gift she legitimately is going insane. She sees blood dripping down walls, thinks she's a wolf, becomes ice and is about to shatter... Her episodes may have to grow on you, but Winter is amazing.

For the climax of the series, Cinder and the crew must sneak onto Luna (the moon), find Scarlet who is somewhere held captive inside the palace, raise an army, and take the crown from Levana.

But of course nothing can be so simple as their plan was. The moment they step foot onto Luna the chase begins and they are separated. Cinder's group heads to the mines where friends may be found, others are hidden inside the palace do to Jacin and Winter's help. Scarlet is being held in the menagerie as Winter's pet, so then she wouldn't be executed.

Constantly when things start going right, everything gets flipped on it's head. Jacin is ordered by Levana to kill Winter because Levana knows he loves her. Cinder and Wolf are captured. Wolf gets changed into more of a brute and begins to forget Scarlet. Cinder is brought before Levana and Kai who just got married and is to be executed. Iko constantly is getting shot at, which is kind of funny. Everything constantly goes awry and the we, as the reader, have to constantly remind ourselves that this has a Happily Ever After, right? Meyer isn't going to wrench in our Happily Ever After is she? She's messed with all of these stories soooo much, she wouldn't take the Happy Ending away! Right?

Oh, it's such a good book. Although there are 830 or so pages in the book, it reads fast and like all the rest of the series (Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress) such a joy to read. This series, next to some of my Brandon Sanderson Favorites, these are my favorite books. I work at a library and constantly tell the patrons who are looking for a good book to read these. They aren't your normal fairy tale, but I love them just as much.

Read and Enjoy!

The Kingdom of Little Wounds

I was sorely disappointed in this book.

The writing was beautiful. The idea was very interesting and new--a fairy tale about syphilis in Scandinavia, how fresh. The cover is gorgeous. And the copy of the book I got my hands on had red all along the sides making the book stand out beautifully against the other books on the library shelf.

HOWEVER! it was extremely graphic. Both in the sickness and sores that constitute syphilis and in intimate encounters. Describing bodily functions and whatever else have you. It was "gross," as one reader on the Goodreads mentioned, and grotesque.

I only read about sixty or so pages before I became hesitant and went to encounter the comments on Goodreads to know if I should continue reading. Many people gave it five stars for it's beautiful use of language but the rest of the people who gave it lower remarks called it that because of the skanky and perverse scenes.

Originally I found it in the young adult section of my library and, because I work there, was quickly able to suggest to the cataloger to change it to adult. I think this is part of the "New Young Adult" section that is popping up in libraries/book stores, but I don't think that this should be in the YA section of libraries. I would not recommend this to anyone, adult or YA, because although the language is beautiful it is still so very skanky.

If Susann Cokal but I don't think I'll read anything else by you.

Belle

Eh, I have read other Retellings of Beauty and the Beast that I've enjoyed much more. This one had many things lacking for my taste.

This story is similar to the "Belle et la Bete" (the original French story) in that it gives more background to the characters that are there, but Cameron Dokey spends more than half of the book in background and setting up for the venture to the castle of the "monster" than Belle does in the castle with the "monster."

There is a lot more discussion as to what is Beauty vs. beauty in the beginning (that's what takes so much of the space in this small book). Belle, or Annabelle Evangeline, is the most un-beautiful of the three daughters--or so she thinks. Her sisters, Celeste and April, have opposite features are are still considered two of the most beautiful girls in the book. But aside from one being bossy and the other in love with one of her father's sailors there isn't much of a difference in the girls.

Dokey tried to make Belle different from the two sisters in giving her brown hair and she likes to carve wood (very unlike any of the other retellings I've read). For the character of Belle, yes she is headstrong and caring, but she acted like a lady of her age. This Annabelle doesn't seem much like the character I've come to love and that has made me dislike this book more than I would otherwise.

Also, I don't necessarily care for the way that it was written. The tone seemed very childish to me at many parts of the beginning, then when her father was retelling his story of the first encounter with the "monster at the heart of the Woods" the tone shifted to "this is an old story and I'm going to speak to you in an old language" kind of way. For example at the beginning she is describing her oldest sister Celeste by saying "As I'm sure I don't need to point out, Celestial Heavens  is quite a mouthful. "This doesn't fit the era of the novel at all and like I said seems very childish. Not to mention, very telling instead of showing--which is what most writers are trying to do. Then during the shift of tone: "'That settles that,' I thought. Forward I went, and I did not look back again." Who says "forward I went"? First we were going for modern, hip/youthful language, then we are back in old England speaking with Shakespeare or something. These are the types of shifts that I didn't care for throughout the story.

There were some scenes that I thought were good and that I was drawn into, but others that seemed very childish. It was almost like she didn't trust her reader to get it and make connections. Dialogue was choppy at parts that really drew me out of the story. Specifically dialogue between the sisters, which was a lot of the book actually.

So, yeah, this won't be a reread but I may try another of Dokey's books just to make sure it's the narrator's voice that is what I don't care for instead of the author.

UPDATE:
I tried to read Wild Orchid by Dokey and I only got 60 pages in. It seemed to have many of the same qualities that Belle did. A big similarity between the retelling of the Epic of Mulan and the retelling of Beauty and the Beast was that these girls were extremely unlady like especially for their time and place. I will give this to Mulan to a point. She was in a war and mascarading as a boy. But that doesn't mean being a girl is bad.

 There is this feeling I get from this Mulan retelling that being a girl is all hard work, boring work at that, and that boys get all the fun. The only way to have fun is by being a boy. I think this is very false. Dokey give very little to no reason why being feminine is okay. Both Belle and Mulan prefer the masculan arts over anything feminine and that really bugs me.

Like I said, I only got 60 pages in because it took forever to get anywhere in these stories. Most of the book is all preface to everything that is actually in the original story.

In my opinion, Dokey has much to be wanting in these retellings. I don't plan on reading anymore of her books.

Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is another fantastic read.

In the first of a four part Lunar Chronicles series (the fourth, Winter coming out on November 15, 2015), Cinder is the story of a cyborg Cinderella. Now before you get turned off to the book thinking: "Cyborg? Why would I want to read that? And Cinderella? How could she pull that off?" Give the awesomeness that is Cinder a chance.

This book is very different from the original Grimm story and even the Disney movie from the 1950's. Cinder starts out her journey in a futuristic New Beijing, China not rural France. She is a mechanic instead of maid, an android friend instead of mice, and not all of her stepsisters are nasty. There is a plague that has killed many on this futuristic Earth and people live on the moon. The Moon Queen is a piece of work with almost fairy like powers--pixie too the max. Our Prince Charming is none other than Prince Kai who is caring and sweet and is trying to figure out how to save his country.

Cinder is far more of a real person in my opinion than in almost all of the renditions of Cinderella, besides the 2015 version that Disney came out with. Her character development isn't necessarily the biggest in this novel but in later books she grows tremendously and it's fun to see how she grows.

I tell everyone to read this book because it's fun, although predictable in some places. She is Cinderella-but-better after all.

If you are also a fan of audio books, the reader--I believe it is Rebecca Soler--has a great voice and brings the characters to life and has fun with it.