Another unusual tale from 'Wicked' Gregory Maguire, 'Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister' was a book I enjoyed very much. The premise is, of course, the classic Cinderella story, but Maguire's version of the tale takes more from the themes of beauty, ugliness, society, and even sexuality than merely reworking an already tired story. Set in the Dutch 17th century, the book paints a subtle, poignant picture of a woman coming to a new land looking to make a solid life for her two plain daughters. In the process her daughters get caught up in a life of art, money, and arguments over the true nature of beauty and hideousness. Supernatural beliefs in imps and the like are thrown in as well, creating a richly golden mood of dramatic fantasy. If you like any of Maguire's other writings, you'll like this, too; if you have yet to taste Maguire's distinct offerings, this is a great start.
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