Ella Enchanted (Ella Enchanted, #1) in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Jun 01, 2015 Piepie | The Napping Bibliophile rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: page-and-screen, romantic-happy-endings, childrens, audiobooks, read-in-2015, read-for-work, read-in-2024

I read this book over and over when I was a kid! I loved the cover! Time passed, and I fell in love with the vastly-different film version, with Anne Hathaway as the cursed Ella. Even though I really like the movie, they totally botched it and there are few similarities between it and the novel.

I recently listened to the audiobook with a much-younger Eden Riegel narrating. I thought Riegel did a great job, and enjoyed many of the voices that she improvised for the fantasy characters. I also enjo ...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Brandi rated it really liked it

Shelves: juvenile, school, 2011, middle-grade

Some may dream of being bestowed with a fairy's gift. Ella does not need to dream of such things. As an infant, Ella was "blessed" with the gift of obedience by the extravagant fairy, Lucinda. Unfortunately, Lucinda's gift was a bit more specific than one would have liked. Throughout her entire life, Ella has been compelled to obey every command uttered whether it is a purposeful demand or a thoughtless instruction. Commanded by her mother to keep the curse a secret from others, with the excepti Some may dream of being bestowed with a fairy's gift. Ella does not need to dream of such things. As an infant, Ella was "blessed" with the gift of obedience by the extravagant fairy, Lucinda. Unfortunately, Lucinda's gift was a bit more specific than one would have liked. Throughout her entire life, Ella has been compelled to obey every command uttered whether it is a purposeful demand or a thoughtless instruction. Commanded by her mother to keep the curse a secret from others, with the exception of Mandy the cook, Ella must obey whatever charge is presented.

Ella's already difficult world takes a turn for the unbearable when her mother passes away. Her father being a merchant trademan, Ella never developed a close relationship with him. Ella turns to the only two people in the world who understand her; one who knows her secret, Mandy the cook who happens to be a fairy, and one who does not, Prince Charmont. Ella's father soon finds solace in the loss of his wife with a new woman, Dame Olga, who, along with her dreadful daughters Hattie and Olive find a permanent place in Ella's life. Things grow even more dire when the eldest daughter soon discovers Ella's secret and turns Ella into no more than a servant. Through secret correspondance, the prince reveals his true feelings for Ella which causes her to shirk away from him so that her curse cannot ruin his life as well. All the while, Ella seeks out the fairy who so carelessly brought this curse upon her in hopes that it can be lifted and her life improved.

When I looked over the list of 100 books to chose from, I realized that I had read quite a bit of the older novels, but not nearly enough of the more recent books. I love any kind of fairy tale retelling so Ella Enchanted caught my eye as the book for me. Levine has created a roundabout interpretation of "Cinderella" that has earned the numerous awards bestowed upon it. The greatest aspect of this novel is Ella's attitude. Even though she is cursed with something that in all rights so strip her of any minute remnant of individualism, Ella does whatever she can to stay strong and independant. I also thought it was interesting how intelligent Ella is. When I think about the character of Cinderella, I always imagine her as a kind, beautiful woman who puts up with a great deal of crap without standing up for herself. Levine's interpretation presents us with a quick-witted, smart Cinderella character who is still beautiful but also much more. I never did see the film based on the novel, but now I am curious to see this wonderful story brought to life. ...more

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