How to Download Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire in PDF EPUB Format

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel by Gregory Maguire

If you are looking for a fresh and original take on the classic fairy tale of Cinderella, you might want to check out Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire. This novel is not your typical happily-ever-after story, but rather a dark and complex exploration of beauty, identity, family and love.

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What is the book about?

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is a novel that reimagines the story of Cinderella from the point of view of one of her stepsisters, Iris. Iris is not ugly in the conventional sense, but rather plain and awkward, with a passion for painting and a keen eye for detail. She lives in Haarlem, a city in the Netherlands, during the seventeenth century, a time when art, commerce and religion are flourishing.

A retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of one of the stepsisters

The novel follows Iris and her family as they flee from England to escape religious persecution and find refuge in the household of a wealthy tulip merchant, Cornelius van den Meer. There, they encounter his beautiful but spoiled daughter, Clara, who is destined to become Iris's stepsister. Clara is so fair and delicate that she is kept hidden from the world, afraid of being harmed or cursed by anyone who sees her. She spends her days in the attic, surrounded by mirrors and dolls, dreaming of a prince who will rescue her.

Iris, on the other hand, is curious and adventurous, eager to explore the city and learn from the master painters who work there. She befriends Caspar, a young artist who becomes her mentor and love interest. She also develops a bond with Clara, despite their differences and rivalries. She tries to help her overcome her fears and insecurities, and to see the beauty in herself and in the world.

However, their lives are not as simple as they seem. There are secrets and mysteries that haunt them, such as the identity of Clara's real father, the fate of Cornelius's missing wife, and the reason behind Iris's mother's cruel and manipulative behavior. There are also dangers and threats that lurk in the shadows, such as the plague that ravages the city, the war that looms over the country, and the scheming of a mysterious imp who wants to use Clara for his own purposes.

As the story progresses, Iris and Clara find themselves caught up in a web of intrigue and deception that will test their loyalty, courage and love. They will have to face their own demons and make their own choices, even if they go against their fairy-tale destiny.

A historical fiction set in seventeenth-century Holland

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is not only a retelling of Cinderella, but also a historical fiction that depicts the culture and society of the Dutch Golden Age. The novel is rich in detail and accuracy, portraying the aspects of life, art, religion, politics and commerce that shaped the era.

The novel shows the contrast between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the oppressed, the pious and the sinful. It also shows the influence of the Protestant Reformation, the rise of capitalism, and the development of science and philosophy on the people and their beliefs. The novel also features real historical figures and events, such as the painter Johannes Vermeer, the philosopher Baruch Spinoza, and the tulip mania that caused an economic bubble and a social craze.

The novel also captures the beauty and diversity of the Dutch landscape, from the canals and windmills of Haarlem, to the fields and gardens of tulips, to the sea and the harbor of Amsterdam. The novel also pays homage to the Dutch masters of painting, such as Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Jan Steen, who inspired Maguire's own style and vision.

A story of beauty, betrayal, illusion and understanding

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is a story that explores the meaning and value of beauty, both physical and inner. It challenges the stereotypes and clichés of fairy tales, where beauty is equated with goodness and ugliness with evil. It shows that beauty can be a blessing or a curse, a gift or a burden, a source of joy or pain. It also shows that beauty can be subjective and relative, depending on who sees it and how they see it.

The novel also explores the themes of betrayal, illusion and understanding, both in personal and social levels. It shows how people can betray themselves and others, by lying, cheating, manipulating or abandoning. It also shows how people can create illusions for themselves and others, by hiding, pretending, deceiving or dreaming. It also shows how people can understand themselves and others, by learning, growing, forgiving or loving.

The novel ultimately shows that there is more to a person than meets the eye, that there is more to a story than what is told. It shows that everyone has their own confessions to make, their own secrets to reveal, their own truths to discover.

Why should you read this book?

There are many reasons why you should read this book, but here are some of them:

It challenges the stereotypes and clichés of fairy tales

If you are tired of the same old fairy tales that always have a happy ending, where the prince always saves the princess, where the good always triumphs over the evil, where everything is black or white, then you might enjoy this book. This book offers a different perspective on a familiar story, where nothing is as it seems, where everyone has shades of gray, where everything has consequences. This book makes you question your assumptions and expectations about fairy tales, and makes you think about their deeper meanings and implications.

It explores the themes of identity, family, art and love

If you are interested in stories that deal with complex and universal themes that relate to human nature and experience, then you might enjoy this book. This book delves into the issues of identity, family, art and love that affect everyone in different ways. It shows how people struggle to find their place in the world, to belong to a family or a community, to express themselves through art or creativity, to love or be loved by someone. It shows how people cope with their challenges and opportunities, their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows.

It has a rich and vivid description of the Dutch culture and society

If you are curious about history and culture that are different from your own, then you might enjoy this book. This book transports you to another time and place that are fascinating and intriguing. It shows you how people lived in seventeenth-century Holland, what they wore, what they ate, what they did for fun or work. It shows you how they thought about art, religion, politics and commerce. It shows you how they were affected by the events and changes that shaped their era. It shows you how they were similar or different from you.

How can you get this book?

If you are interested in reading this book, there are several ways you can get it. Here are some of them:

Download it as a PDF or EPUB file from OceanofPDF

If you want to read this book on your computer, tablet or smartphone, OceanofPDF, a website that offers free download of books in various formats. You can find the book by searching for its title or author, or by browsing through the genres and categories. You can also read a brief summary and review of the book before downloading it. To download the book, you just need to click on the download button and choose the format you prefer. You can then open the file on your device and enjoy reading it.

Read it online for free on Archive.org

If you want to read this book online without downloading anything, you can do so on Archive.org, a website that provides access to millions of books, movies, music and other digital content for free. You can find the book by searching for its title or author, or by browsing through the collections and topics. You can also read a description and some information about the book before reading it. To read the book, you just need to click on the preview button and choose the page you want to start from. You can then read the book on your browser and adjust the settings as you like.

Buy it as an ebook from Rakuten Kobo or Open Library

If you want to buy this book as an ebook and support the author and the publisher, you can do so from Rakuten Kobo or Open Library, two websites that sell ebooks in various formats and languages. You can find the book by searching for its title or author, or by browsing through the categories and recommendations. You can also read a synopsis and some reviews of the book before buying it. To buy the book, you need to create an account and pay with your credit card or PayPal. You can then download the book to your device or read it online using their apps or platforms.

Conclusion

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is a novel that offers a different and original perspective on the classic fairy tale of Cinderella. It is a story that challenges the stereotypes and clichés of fairy tales, explores the themes of identity, family, art and love, and depicts the culture and society of seventeenth-century Holland. It is a story that will make you think, feel and wonder about beauty, betrayal, illusion and understanding.

If you are looking for a fresh and captivating read that will transport you to another time and place, you should definitely give this book a try. You can get it as a PDF or EPUB file from OceanofPDF, read it online for free on Archive.org, or buy it as an ebook from Rakuten Kobo or Open Library. Whichever way you choose, you will not regret reading this book.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister:

Is this book a sequel or a prequel to Wicked?

No, this book is not related to Wicked, another novel by Gregory Maguire that retells the story of The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West. This book is a standalone novel that retells the story of Cinderella from the perspective of one of the stepsisters.

Is this book suitable for children?

This book is not suitable for young children, as it contains some scenes and themes that are dark, violent, sexual or mature. It is more suitable for teenagers and adults who can appreciate the complexity and depth of the story.

Is this book based on a true story?

No, this book is not based on a true story, but rather on a fictional one. However, it does incorporate some historical facts and figures that were relevant to the setting and period of the story.

Is this book available in other languages?

Yes, this book is available in several languages besides English, such as Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish and more. You can find them on various websites that sell ebooks in different languages.

Is this book going to be adapted into a movie or a TV show?

This book has already been adapted into a TV movie in 2002, starring Stockard Channing, Azura Skye, Emma Poole and Jonathan Pryce. It was directed by Gavin Millar and written by Gene Quintano. It was produced by Hallmark Entertainment and aired on ABC. You can watch it online or buy it on DVD. 71b2f0854b