Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

Though not quite as amazing as Wicked (Maguire’s critically acclaimed novel turned Broadway musical) this was an engaging read. Mostly I appreciate the creativity inherent in this approach: telling a well-known tale from the “villain’s” perspective. In this novel we see the Ugly Stepsister’s perspective on the typical Cinderella story, including a great deal of background on the hardships she and her wicked stepmother endured. Essentially, Maguire uses the events and characters to make a commentary on beauty, its purpose, and its preservation. Favorite Quote: “Drawing is the only honesty. Don’t interpret. Merely observe. Don’t think about what you see. Merely see it.”