Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Ella Enchanted
Book Review: A Favorite!
Summary: 5 Stars
From the very first page, Ella Enchanted had be hooked. Just after her birth, Ella receives a "gift" from a well-intentioned fairy. The gift is the gift of obedience; if someone gives Ella a command, she HAS to comply, or she begins to feel ill.
Ella Enchanted is easily one of my favorite young adult novels, and one I quickly recommend.
Book Review: A True Fairy Tale... =D
Summary: 5 Stars
I think this book qualifies as a true fairy tale. It's definately up there with Little Red Riding Hood an The 3 Little Pigs. There is the traditional "handsome prince" but the twist is that instead of the princess being some ditsy, graceful, perfectly flawless girl ( no effence to the princesses out there ), she is an average girl who is beautiful on the inside. Isn't that how all princesses should be? I loved this book so much I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. Really. Ella Enchanted is a romantic comedy, fantasy, filled with magic, a curse, colourful characters- Just pick up the book. It was amazing from page 1.Book Review: A Wonderful Novel, Reminiscient of Jane Eyre
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember when I first read this novel many years ago. Immediately after finishing it I picked it up again and read it again, so marvelously enchanted was I by this enchanting novel. I read through the novel a sum total of seven times one after another before I was finally able to put it down. The characters and well-drawn and interesting, the dialogue authentic sounding and enjoyable. Ms. Levine suceeded in creating a thoroughly believable fantasy world. There are a few plot holes, but these failings are minor compared to her success in drawing such life-like and sympathetic characters. Ella is endlessly charming and sympathetic, and the prince is well-done as well. The sinister father is also perfectly delineated. Many of the scenes are quite beautiful and full of drama. In fact, the fact that this novel is based off the fairy tale of Cinderella is not something I noticed until many years after first reading the novel. This is something that only becomes apparent in the last few chapters where obvious props like the pumpkin carriage are introduced. I would argue that these token homages to the fairy tale detract more than the add to the story.
This is primarily because "Ella Enchanted" is not really based on Cinderella at all, as I have realized. The only connection to Cinderella are a few cheap props and plot points, as above noted. "Ella Enchanted" is in fact based on a literary work of more recent provenance. The work to which I refer is of course Charlotte Bronte's celebrated novel "Jane Eyre," truly the most powerful and haunting novel in our noble English language. Ms. Levine drops the Gothic setting, but she faithfully retains in Ella all of Jane's spirited, independent, and admirable character. She also retains in Mum Olga the hateful Aunt Reed, and in Hattie and Olive Jane's two wretched cousins. In "Ella Enchanted" we even have and episode at a boarding school, though one not so sinister as Lowood. Furthermore, just as the characters of Jane and Ella are alinged, so does Ms. Levine reproduce many of Charlotte Bronte's themes. Jane Eyre must struggle to break free of restrictive Victorian social codes that limit her freedom; Ella must break free from a fairy's curse. Finally, both of our noble heroines break their respective curses by refusing a marriage proposal the proposers fully expect them to accept. By refusing they assert their freedom defy the forces that had been restricting them. My only regret is that, this being a children's book, Ms. Levine was unable to reproduce in the prince the dark heart of the Byronic hero Mr. Rochester. But, being a children's book, that is the way it had to be.
Book Review: A classic within a classic
Summary: 5 Stars
What a wonderful book. I loved the creativity Levine put into this classic tale of Cinderella.
Ella is placed under a spell where she is forced to obey any direct command. But, with Ella's spunky personality, she may have to obey orders, but her defiant personality shines through in such a way that I was left laughing for joy. For example, her step sister orders her to give up her mother's necklace. By way of the spell, Ella must comply, but in the process, she stomps on the cruel girl's toe and twists her heel for additional effect. I particularly enjoyed the refinement school where Ella is sent to learn the proper behavior of a lady.
By the way, I like the book waaaaaay more than the movie. To me, there was no comparison. The book was so much more fun.
Book Review: A wonderful retelling of a old tale
Summary: 5 Stars
The spell that Ella was put under gave the book a nice twist, and this was a novel that I immensely enjoyed. Reading about Ella dealing with her gift/curse and the ways she found around was a delight. I stumbled across it in highschool, and reread it in college. The reading level is a bit under highschool level, but it was a enjoyable read nonetheless, and would be a great gift for a girl, and still a enjoyable however quick read for an adult.