Rating: 
Summary: A GREAT FOLLOWUP TO WICKED ...
Review: Where WICKED was a study of the true nature of evil, CONFESSIONS OF AN UGLY STEPSISTER examines societal concepts of beauty. Maguire is expert at demonstrating that things are not always as they appear and, many times, what may be considered ugly on the surface is the epitome of beauty underneath. And vice versa.My 4-star rating of this book is actually a compromise and slightly lower than my true rating of this work. Why? I liked WICKED so much more that, on principle, I couldn't give STEPSISTER 5 stars in homage to that other piece of pure, inspired genius. However, in it's own right STEPSISTER was superbly written, well-developed and a completely captivating second novel, following up on a now-familiar theme. The one weakness I would acknowledge with STEPSISTER is that it was a bit slow to develop in the beginning ... but surely, this is not a big deal. Since there's no such thing as a rating of 4 1/2 stars, I compromised and settled for 4 ... a disservice to Mr. Maguire and his most eloquent writing, for certain. Next time, Mr. Maguire, I'll round up!
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written, but not as good as the first....
Review: I've got to cut Maguire some slack. After the brilliance of his first novel, "Wicked", how could he be expected to surpass that? I think he is gently reminding us of this fact in "Confessions", when the painter in the tale makes repeated protestations regarding his masterpiece and how it is almost a curse that he can never live down. I want to say right here that "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" is a very good book. I read it upon immediately finishing the faster-paced world of "Wicked", so I had to downshift for this evenly paced tapestry of a book. I recommend it for any Maguire fan and I am looking forward to his next one.
Rating: 
Summary: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Review: (Sorry, I couldn't help myself) Well, after I read "Wicked" I said that I'd give Maguire a chance to redeem himself, and he did. "Confessions" has the one essential quality that "Wicked" did not-- three-dimensional characters that the reader could actually care about. Homely, clever, talented Iris is ever so much more interesting than homely, clever, talented Elphie ever managed to be, and all of the characters, both likable and not, are very real. "Confessions" is a simple story; there is no high-reaching political messages to be grasped, only a very original retelling of a classic story. I like how Maguire redefines the old "good vs. evil" roles into various shades of gray, and the end of (both!) stories came as a surprising twist. Maguire's language is as beautifully expressive as I have come to expect, and I eagerly await his next novel.
Rating:
Summary: Take it for what it is
Review: While "Wicked" seemed to pull you in after reading the first papagraph, this book took a little longer. Once it grabbed me, though, I was hooked. I didn't find the same faults with this book as I did with "Wicked", primarily that it reminded me overmuch of "The Lord of the Rings". This book is thoroughly enjoyable if the reader goes in looking for a different telling of a clasic fairytale. One has to be able to imagine and let themselves go to completely immerse themselves in this book. If you are willing to do that, it serves its purpose well.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I truly enjoyed seeing the story from the other side. The characters were deep and mysterious. Having background on these age-old characters brought an entirely new feel to the story.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: Wicked remains one of my favorite books of all time, but I have to agree with the readers who say that Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister does not live up to Gregory Maguire's first novel. It was a disappointment for me, and sad to say, I put the book down before I finished it about 3/4 of the way through. The tone of this novel is too false, too contrived. It has none of the surprise of Wicked, the sheer joy of discovery that Wicked had. Perhaps it's unfair to judge an author's book by the one that preceded it, but I suppose it's only human, especially when you have such high expectations. I will, however, attempt to finish the book (someday) and would take a chance on Mr. Maguire's writing again when he publishes another book.
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as "Wicked"
Review: I read Gregory Maguire's first adult fairy tale, "Wicked," and couldn't put it down until the story was finished. So, when I discovered he had published another, "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister," I ordered it as fast as I could hit the 1-Click button. While the writing was excellent and the story was interesting, I didn't feel the same excitement to find out what happened next as I did with "Wicked." Some parts of the story even seemed to drag a little. While "Wicked" was almost epic in following Elphaba's life from misunderstood child to brilliant college student to "wicked witch," "Confessions" seemed stuck in Haarlem, Holland, with no place to go.
Rating:
Summary: And they lived happily ever after ...
Review: The readers of this book, that is. Gregory McGuire has hit another one out of the park with "Confessions." Following up on "Wicked," the first of McGuire's expanded fairy tales, "Confessions ..." tells the story behind the story of Cinderella. Childhood fairy tales, true to their intended audiences, tell stories of black and white, good and evil. Once we all grow up, though, we realize that the world is many shades of gray. McGuire's stories reflect that adult knowledge. That is why this story is so fun to read. I voraciously read fairy tales as a child, and McGuire has allowed me to revisit the stories of my childhood while entrancing me as an adult. His are quick reads, which is somewhat disappointing, because the end always comes too soon. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and I will be waiting for my 'prince in shining armor' to write me another grown-up tale!
Rating:
Summary: The "other side" of the story
Review: Although it did not have the same dark feel as Wicked, Confessions was a wonderful twist on a common fairytale. The "other side" of the story told from the traditional villain's point of view, once again, fascinated me. It had a very "behind the scenes" feel to it. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A Story so smooth, like a Glass Slipper
Review: I read 'Wicked' last week and now 'Stepsister'. I enjoyed 'Stepsister' as all 'story' and 'Wicked' as a more fleshed out ambitious novel. The characters in 'Stepsister' are more one dimensional than in Wicked. The story is the thing. I enjoyed both books. For pure fun I would pick Stepsister over Wicked. For a more complex, riveting and engaging novel - I would chose 'Wicked' Everything wraps up in 'Stepsister' neat and tidy- 'Wicked' leaves you wanting more. Suggestions for Mr. Maguire's next outing: Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Rapunzel. Happy Reading.
|
