Ella Enchanted (1997)

Love this book. Fairytale with excellent worldbuilding, characters, and story. Funny and emotional, would recommend for all ages. ( )

For my full, non-spoiler review: https://christianlovingbooks.blogspot.com/2020/02/ella-enchanted-review.html ( )

Loved this book. Still love the film. The plots are similar and different enough that I can love them separately. But boy did this book make me smile ( )

3.5 stars. The book was lovely and charming, and I really enjoyed it all the way up to the part at the end where the author made the exceedingly obvious statement that Ella did it (broke the curse) ALL BY HERSELF. I’m all for empowering young girls and celebrating princesses saving themselves and whatnot, and yes Ella was stubborn (in a good way) and creative and clever, but she certainly did not accomplish her goal all by herself, even if we’re just talking having the motivation to do it in the first place. The rottenness of her step-sisters, the love of her prince; these are just a couple of the things that drove her to seek after her freedom. She’d have never been able to do it without the kindness of the people who pointed her in the right direction or gave her a ride to the giants’ wedding or just loved and encouraged her along the way. I do think she realized this and there was a mention of it in the ending, but a small aside next to the gigantic-feeling pronouncement of the actual breaking of the spell being accomplished ALL BY HERSELF doesn’t seem very well balanced. ( )

A great version of Cinderalla with a funny, admirable and strong heroine. ( )