Ella Enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine
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Read in November, 2000
Feminists often denounce traditional fairy tales because they perpetuate the ideals of a patriarchal society by encouraging girls to behave like proper princesses and wait for charming princes to take charge and save the day. In response to these traditional fairy tales, many authors have tried to reclaim the realm of fairy tales for girls. These retellings feature active protagonists who are not scared of taking charge and do not need princes to save them. One example of this new fairy tale gen...more
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Read in July, 2007
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine is a Fantasy book and is a fairytale story much like Cinderella. Ella, the main character when she was born Ella was given a gift by a fairy. To most people a fairy's gift would be fantastic though many people may not understand what these gifts mean. Ella's gift was to be obedient always. At first this sounded ok but through the story, Ella's gift seemed more like a curse. What is even worse is that, after her mother dies, her father marries the horrible...more
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Read in December, 2007
Having seen the movie version, I'd had the thought, "Hmm, this is okay, but there's probably a better movie in there somewhere." To that end, I decided to read the book to compare the film to the source material. Knowing that the movie relied heavily on Shrek-style pop culture references and, inexplicably, '70s Top 40 hits, it serves to reason that it differs dramatically from the book, and it does, with little beyond the premise and some characters making the transition. Whi...more
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Read in February, 2006
This is one of the great fairy tales alternative stories available out there, and this ones is based on the famous Cinderella tale with a twist. This is written in a post modern style of writing, making it easier to actually connect to the characters and much more enjoyable for the young adults to above ages to actually enjoy for what used to be just a children's fairy tale. The first time I'd picked this book up, I can't seem to put it down. It's humorous and a page turner.
The main characte...more
The main characte...more
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Read in April, 2008
My husband has been wanting me to read Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine now for about four years and I've been blowing him off. To make things right, I decided to read the book as my first selection for this year's Spring Reading Thing. Neither of us have seen the film so I won't be comparing the two.
As can be expected from the title, Ella Enchanted is based on the Cinderella fairy tale. In this version, Ella is short for Eleanor. The hook to this retelling is that Ella has been blessed ...more
As can be expected from the title, Ella Enchanted is based on the Cinderella fairy tale. In this version, Ella is short for Eleanor. The hook to this retelling is that Ella has been blessed ...more
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
Girls, Women, Females
I've always loved a good Cinderella story mainly because Cinderella is the quintessential princess but also because I had a boyfriend once who use to call me Cinderella, that was his nickname for me (sigh), it made me melt.
So, I ate up this book. It caused many sleepless nights (as in I stayed up late and didn't get much sleep because I was reading this book sleepless). I especially loved the idea of someone being cursed with obedience. What a clever idea. I caught myself analyzing every...more
So, I ate up this book. It caused many sleepless nights (as in I stayed up late and didn't get much sleep because I was reading this book sleepless). I especially loved the idea of someone being cursed with obedience. What a clever idea. I caught myself analyzing every...more
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8 comments
Ella Enchanted is a spunky, fun fairy tale for everyone to enjoy. It is set in the medieval times. With a sweet love story, and chilling adventure I could not put this book down.
Ella Enchanted is about a girl name Ella who lived with her mom, dad, and nanny who was a secretly a faerie. When Ella was born she was given a gift by her faerie god mother. This gift was the gift was obedience. Which, meant that every time Ella was told to do something no matter what is was s...more
Ella Enchanted is about a girl name Ella who lived with her mom, dad, and nanny who was a secretly a faerie. When Ella was born she was given a gift by her faerie god mother. This gift was the gift was obedience. Which, meant that every time Ella was told to do something no matter what is was s...more
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2 comments
Read in March, 2008
I decided to read this book because I thought the movie was fun, and heard that the movie had changed some things from the book. I don't recall any movies *more* different from the book. (Which is NOT to say there aren't any.) I think "inspired by" is a more apt description than "based on". Seriously- take the Cinderella scenario, the obedience curse, and a couple of the other characters (and mainly just their names, at that) and that's basically where the similarities end...more
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A creative twist on Cinderella. Ella is not only dealing with the trials of growing up, two step-sisters and a step-mother, and an uncaring father, but she must also learn to cope with a curse which makes her obey every command. Although she eventually learns to manipulate her own circumstances to keep herself out of trouble, she finds it affects her friendships and her eventual romance with Prince Char. Ella is intelligent, thoughtful, charming and witty. A great read. 5th - 8th grades.
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Well something I can say about this book is that it is one of the best books that I read in my life, and believe me that is not something I say often cause I don’t like to read a lot. This book is a mix of a typical Cinderella story with a new fairytale but with more amazing characters and more conflict. If you think that all the books have just one action scene in the entire whole book, you will get surprised because in every part of the book there’s always something surprising and amaz...more
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Read in March, 2008
A humorous and touching re-telling of Cinderella with a notable difference: Ella has been cursed with the gift of obedience. She's a strong and spirited girl grieving over the loss of her mother when she first meets Prince Char, and a friendship quickly forms. Packed off to finishing school by her often-absent father, Sir Peter, with the two odious daughters of Dame Olga, she learns the proper ways of being a lady by having to obey the commands of her teachers. Unfortunately, Hattie, the elder o...more
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A cute, funny rendition of the story of Cinderella (The Slipper and the Rose is still my favorite though. hehe!).
Here's a brief Synopsis:
At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way natural...more
Here's a brief Synopsis:
At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way natural...more
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Read in January, 2003
Very entertaining children's novel. The description sounds hokey, but give this book a chance:
It's a rewrite of the Cinderella story in answer to the question, why would Cinderella obey her oppressive wicked stepmother and stepsisters instead of just doing whatever she wanted? (Obviously there would be cultural and class reasons for that, but Levine takes a psychological approach to it.) She explains that Ella is under a curse so that she has to obey anything she is told to do, however ...more
It's a rewrite of the Cinderella story in answer to the question, why would Cinderella obey her oppressive wicked stepmother and stepsisters instead of just doing whatever she wanted? (Obviously there would be cultural and class reasons for that, but Levine takes a psychological approach to it.) She explains that Ella is under a curse so that she has to obey anything she is told to do, however ...more
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Please Please PLEASE read the book before you see the movie.
I've never seen a book so eviscerated by a movie in my life. Honestly, Anne Hathaway, I expected so much better from you.
Ella Enchanted was one of those books from my childhood. I probably read it for the first time in sixth or seventh grade, and then somewhere along the way I lost my copy and I haven't read it since (I refuse to buy a movie cover).
And, since it's been nearly ten years since I read this, please indulge me if...more
I've never seen a book so eviscerated by a movie in my life. Honestly, Anne Hathaway, I expected so much better from you.
Ella Enchanted was one of those books from my childhood. I probably read it for the first time in sixth or seventh grade, and then somewhere along the way I lost my copy and I haven't read it since (I refuse to buy a movie cover).
And, since it's been nearly ten years since I read this, please indulge me if...more
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Read in January, 2006
This book was utterly delightful; I loved it! I’m always a sucker for “princess” stories. It belongs right on the shelf with other childhood favorites like The Secret Garden and A Little Princess. In fact, it is not as dark and a lot more fun in some respects. Levine really outdid herself with the minute details of clothing, food, furnishings, castles, and fantastical creations. Ogres, elves, fairies, dragons, centaurs, unbreakable glass slippers, miniature porcelain castles with clothesli...more
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Read in March, 2008
***warning- there might be some spoilers in my review of Ella Enchanted***
Ella Enchanted was ok. The story was good. But I get bothered by historical fiction and fiction that is a spin-off of other stories. Ella Enchanted is a spin-off of Cinderella. I get bothered by spin-offs because I'm not that smart and get confused between the original story and the spin-off (just as I do with historical fiction- what's history and what's fiction?). Realistic fiction (Thousand Splendid Suns, etc) is a di...more
Ella Enchanted was ok. The story was good. But I get bothered by historical fiction and fiction that is a spin-off of other stories. Ella Enchanted is a spin-off of Cinderella. I get bothered by spin-offs because I'm not that smart and get confused between the original story and the spin-off (just as I do with historical fiction- what's history and what's fiction?). Realistic fiction (Thousand Splendid Suns, etc) is a di...more
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Read in March, 2008
Well. I have never seen a movie AND then read a book that was SO different from the movie EVER!!!! In reading this, I had the movie in mind and was really confused as I was reading! The only thing from this book that was in the movie---ok, there are three things: 1. Ella has to obey, 2. her father travels (but in the movie they are close unlike the book), and 3. he marries someone YUCKY. Otherwise, it is ALL different. OH, and she does travel around looking for Lucinda (who is beautiful in the m...more
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Read in January, 1998
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2000
recommends it for:
any one who likes fairytales with a twist
This still stands as one of my favorite books. The fantasy elements are clever and not too over the top. Ella is witty and pretty clever herself, not to mention strong and determined and resourceful. Mandy is just your everyday, ordinary, regular old cook/fairy. Char is, appropriately, charming. The stepsisters are deliciously evil. Lucinda is completely batty.
I like that none of the women in the book are doormats. Good or evil, protagonist or minor background character, they have an ...more
I like that none of the women in the book are doormats. Good or evil, protagonist or minor background character, they have an ...more
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A retelling of Cinderella featuring a spunky, independent, and very memorable heroine. At birth, Ella was cursed by a fairy with eternal obedience, and now she must find a way to break the curse or risk losing her chance at happiness forever. This Newberry Honor winner will be beloved by girls who will recognize themselves in Ella's quest to claim her independence."
CIP: "In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to ...more
CIP: "In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to ...more
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