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Cinderella is Dead
Cinderella is Dead
Kalynn Bayron | 2020 | LGBTQ+, Young Adult (YA)
5
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
11 of 230
Book
Cinderella is Dead
By Kalynn Bayron

It's 200 years since Cinderella found her prince, but the fairytale is over.

Sophia knows the story though, off by heart. Because every girl has to recite it daily, from when she's tiny until the night she's sent to the royal ball for choosing. And every girl knows that she has only one chance. For the lives of those not chosen by a man at the ball … are forfeit.

But Sophia doesn't want to be chosen – she's in love with her best friend, Erin, and hates the idea of being traded like cattle. And when Sophia's night at the ball goes horribly wrong, she must run for her life. Alone and terrified, she finds herself hiding in Cinderella's tomb. And there she meets someone who will show her that she has the power to remake her world …

An electrifying twist on the classic fairytale that will inspire girls to break out of limiting stereotypes and follow their dreams!

This book has torn me in two! One half of me didn’t like it I felt the all men are evil message for most of the book was unnecessary and a bit forceful I mean even coming down on her dad and the poor man offering them help! It wasn’t until we got to Livs dad a good word was really said. Ok so if I went on this alone my rating would be 1 maybe 2 stars at a push! Then the other half of me was so intrigued and needed to keep reading hence the reason it was read in 24 hours. So this second half wanted to see this story play out and was kinda enjoying the whole new version of a childhood classic I think yes it was a bit predictable towards the end but it still needs its happy ending doesn’t it?. I settled on a 3 star review for the whole reason I didn’t keep reading and it did get better towards the end. Im also intrigued by the book of tales that Constance produced. Hopefully someone else will find it a better read.
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated Queenie in Books

Feb 2, 2020  
Queenie
Queenie
Kimberley Chambers | 2020 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Gritty, engrossing and thoroughly entertaining
Kimberley Chambers isn't known as the "Queen of Gangland Crime Fiction" for nothing and here we have yet another masterpiece of story-telling ... the saga that is "Queenie".

This book tells the story of Queenie from her life as a young girl during World War II right up to the early 60's and what a life she leads! She is one heck of a character; one minute you absolutely adore her, the next she disappoints you, then she'll surprise you and then shock ... I felt like I was on a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish and I still don't know how I feel about her even now!

Queenie is not the only character however, this book is absolutely brimmed to the rim with fantastic personalities from the bit players to the main stars; some you'll love and some ... not so much. The setting in the east end of London felt perfect but it could equally have worked in any inner-city borough. For those of us who weren't around during the time span of this book, I felt it captured them well and it felt authentic and believable to me.

"Queenie" is a gritty, engrossing and thoroughly entertaining read and one I would definitely recommend even if you haven't read any of the other books in the "Butler" series; this can easily be read as a standalone as it is the prequel to the first book in the series "The Trap."

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
  
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Kelly (279 KP) rated Dumplin' (2018) in Movies

Dec 12, 2018  
Dumplin' (2018)
Dumplin' (2018)
2018 | Comedy, Drama
Great casting (1 more)
Strong female characters
A feel good movie
Contains spoilers, click to show
‘Dumplin’’ is an overweight teenager with a little bit of a Dolly Parton obsession - not your usual hero for a movie. She is overshadowed by her mother, a former beauty pageant winner, and current judge, played by Jennifer Aniston. The movie tells the story of Willowdean’s (Dumplin’), journey into discovering her own sense of worth after signing up to a beauty pageant planned by her mother, alongside a small group who are protesting against the standard perceived norms.

I really enjoyed the film, and felt that Jennifer Aniston in particular played a really good role, portraying a mother who really loves her daughter but can never foresee her in the pageant world- there is a really touching scene at the end where she tells Willowdean how proud she is of her, which was believable and brought a lump to my throat.

Danielle Macdonald, who played Willowdean did so masterfully, showing us what it would really be like to be an overweight teenager in a community obsessed with thin beauty queens.

I felt the introduction of the Dolly Parton drag queen acts were a touch of genius adding an element of lightheartedness to the movie. I personally would have liked to see more from this group, particularly around the preparation of our small group of pageant underdogs, and felt that their role in building the self esteem of the characters was very much underplayed.

I also enjoyed the fact that although the group were recognised within the pageant (one winning second place), they didn’t actually win overall. I think if this had of happened it would have made the film less realistic, as is often the case with Hollywood movies.

Overall, this was a very good film, and well worth the watch.