One of my goals is to learn how to write good stories. One of my new favorite authors, Gregory Maguire, invigorates fairy tales with modern perspective and historical setting. Here's a Sparknotes* approach to reviewing a book:
Full Title-- Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
Author-- Gregory Maguire
Type of Work-- Novel
Genre-- Historic Fiction, Fairy Tale
Language-- English
Time and Place Written-- 1999; written at Blue Mountain Center (NY), the Hambridge Center (GA), and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts
Date of 1st Publication-- 1999
Publisher-- Harper-Collins
Narrator-- Ruth and a nonparticipating narrator
Point of View-- Ruth at the beginning and end; distant narrator
Tone-- past
Time-- 17th century
Place-- Haarlem, Holland and Amsterdam
Protagonist-- Iris van den Meer
Major Conflict--
The merging of two dissimilar households: Margarethe Fisher, a poor, hardworking woman, along with her unappealing daughters Ruth and Iris, marrying Cornelius Van der Meer, a family of wealth, good breeding and physical beauty.
margarethe, the head of the household, holds it together on the outside but her own selfish ambition and plans pull them assunder. complicated family dynamics: weak, absent father and dominating, destructive mother. 2 ugly and one beautiful. about trying to make it inspite of your own weaknesses.
Rising Action--
1. The day Margarethe, Ruth and Iris move in with the Van den Meers
2. The Master's commission to paint Clara
Climax--
1. Margarethe's marriage to Van den Meer
2. The ball
Falling Action--
1. The fire that destroys the Master's painting
2. Returning Clara's slipper
3. Clara's marriage to the Prince and later, her death in Amsterdam
Themes--
1. Prosperity is fickle
2. Tulips invading Holland
3. Protestant v. Catholic aesthetics
4. Love is blind
5. Love at first sight
6. Celebrating and recognizing beauty
7. Home life
8. Learning how to really see
9. Superstition (ie: Clara thinks she is a changeling)
Motifs--
1. Painting the range from humanity horror to glory (ie: the Gallery of God's Mistakes)
2. Sickness and death both in and out of the Van den Meer house
Symbols--
1. wildflowers; tulips (both to celebrate)
2. the mysterious household imp (revealed as Ruth)
3. the bubonic plague (paralyzes and isolates us socially, morally)
4. ashes in the fireplace (Clara's resting place)
5. Margarethe's sore eyes (inability to see)
6. fire (destruction, transformation, purging)
7. crows (spirits that changed Clara when she was stolen)
Foreshadowing--
1. encountering the dilapidated windmill on Clara's first outing in society since she was taken
2. black veil Clara wears to the ball
3. Master's secrecy over the portrait of Iris and ambivalence/regret over Clara's portrait (his greatest work)
*Sparknotes Format:
1. Context
2. Plot Overview
3. Character List
4. Analysis of Major Characters
5. Themes, Motifs and Symbols
6. Summary and Analysis
7. Chapters 1, 2, 3, ect...
8. Key Quotes Explained
9. Key Facts (the part I examined for this post)
10. Study Questions and Essay Topics
Also:
*theme: fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a book
*motif: reoccurring structures, contrasts and literary devices that develop and inform the text's major themes
*symbols: objects, figures and colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts
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