Review: LOVED IT!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 28, 2014
I chose this book because it appealed to my whimsical nature.  Snow White was the first Disney movie I ever saw, in the theater, for it's re-release.  I now have my own daughter, and she loves the Disney Princesses, although her fav is Belle.  Snow White was always my favorite princess until I discovered Princess Leia.  I do have to point out that I know absolutely nothing about where these fairy tales come from.  Outside of the sanitized Disney versions, I haven't read any literature about the origins of these stories.  Now I want to.Despite my very eclectic tastes in reading, I am always a sucker for the "happily ever after".  Always have, always will be.  But I understand that "happily ever after" can have different meanings.  That was one of the things that drew me to this book.There were so many things I like about this book.  First being the writing style.  Very fitting of a book about a fairy tale, the writing is very elegant and proper without being nauseating.The writing helps to transport the reader to the castle, to Snow White's side, through the visions she sees through the mirror.  The writing also helps define the depth to her suffering.I love the use of the magic mirror to prompt Snow White to examine her life.  This is usually what is done in therapy, but being that therapists weren't around in that time period and that cures for things pertaining to mental illness probably involved using leeches, I guess a magic mirror would have to do.Through the mirror, Snow White sees several events from her past, ranging from her stepmother's abuse to her life with Charming.  Some of the events are terribly traumatic.  Some of them are very tender and emotional.  All of them serve a purpose.That noted, there are elements of abuse, especially surrounding her stepmother's treatment of her.  It may trigger.  That was one thing I remember from all the Disney movies.  The absolute cruelty of the stepmothers featured.  I think that is why I refused to be referred to as a "stepmother" to this day.  I would rather my bonus son call me by my first name than his "stepmother".  Thanks, fairy tales!!This book is also not rated G.  It is not rated X either, but Snow White and Charming do get it on....in detail.  That was kind of refreshing.  For two reasons 1) it is a departure from the sanitized Disney versions of the fairy tales we have been force fed for the past 70 years. Yes, I know they are for children, but you rarely ever see the characters kiss...and in the next frame they get married?  And 2) these scenes were written by a man and they are very tender and not gratuitous.  Not something you associate with a man writing a sex scene.  Especially the one featuring the night of their wedding night.  Good job!!It is a very short read and is well worth the $1.99 it is going for right now on amazon.I really enjoyed this book.  Immensely.  It captured my imagination.  It spoke to that little girl in me who loved fairy tales but is now grown up and is now aware of the issues that face adults.  Excellent concept, excellent execution.  Highly recommended.