Cinderella

Absolutely, bar none my favorite fairy tale of all time.  Disney's version, Grimm's, whatever.  And there are so many different versions of this one fairy tale that each time it's portrayed is like a new story being told.  I finished reading "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" by Gregory MacGuire today.  It was as awesome as his other books (i.e. Wicked, Son of a Witch, etc.)  I love his take on things and the interweaving of tales that might not necessarily belong.  I really love that this book tells the Cinderella story from a completely different perspective without all of the "fairy" magic and "happily ever afters".  It's a story that, if I didn't already know was fictitious, I might take for a historical account of the life of a Dutch family.  It's written with such realism.  But don't let me fool you, there's still the air of magic and mythical creatures- they're just portrayed as they really are- ideas, imaginations run rampant.

Plus, and this is maybe my need to cheer for the underdog, I love that the step sisters aren't evil little witches treating their sweet step sister Cinerella with disdain.  They actually welcome their step sister who is the spoiled little "Daddy's princess" she really would have been (were the story true).  The step mother, I have renewed understanding for both having and being a step mother, is a woman trying to act in the best interest of herself and her two daughters.  What woman wouldn't do vile and evil things on behalf of her children if that is what is required of her?  (I particularly love that vile and evil are the same letters just rearranged.)

All in all, the book was not just another Cinderella story, but another all the same.  And I loved it.  I may never be able to watch Disney's Cinderella again without seeing every character quite differently.  Ok, maybe not Disney's version because it still is just simply too sweet to be anything close to the dark and revolting story the Grimm Brothers intended it to be.