Today, I finished reading one of those books that achieve the impossible.
You see... I am one of those people that sometimes can be completely overtaken by a book (sometimes even a movie). And in the last few days that was exactly what has happened to me.
Now, don't hate me or anything.... this is my first real review of a book, and that is because I felt really compelled to write about my feelings while reading it.
The book that I am talking about is CINDER & ELLA by Kelly Oram.
But lets start at the very beginning... in order to do that I need to state some facts:
You see... I am one of those people that sometimes can be completely overtaken by a book (sometimes even a movie). And in the last few days that was exactly what has happened to me.
Now, don't hate me or anything.... this is my first real review of a book, and that is because I felt really compelled to write about my feelings while reading it.
The book that I am talking about is CINDER & ELLA by Kelly Oram.
But lets start at the very beginning... in order to do that I need to state some facts:
1- I am a bookworm: I almost literally live reading books.
2- I am highly judgmental and very choosy of what I read. I can't pick up anything and read it. The summary has to trapped me first, no mater what.
3- I pretty much look down most of the classic's retellings that I encounter when browsing the web or the libraries for new stories to read. (don't misunderstand me, I love classics like Cinderella, the Beauty and the Beast and Snow White. But books with always the same kind of obstacles for the heroine, at least for me, given a little time, become boring).
4- In order for a book to be good has to make me want to keep reading it instead of going to sleep, even if I have to force my eyes to stay open.
So, when I came upon this book on Goodreads, I was a little skeptic. You know, being a retelling of Cinderella and everything. I though that this would be another story where you can find the poor girl, with the evil stepmother, the two evil stepsisters and what in my view is the most irritating thing of all: not knowing the identity of the man or woman (whichever maybe the case) that you will fall in love with.
Ha! I was so wrong!!! From the very beginning, this book entrapped me. I couldn't escape it, even if I wanted to. And there where times when I wanted to stop reading and think of something else, because at some point I felt so in tune with the main female character, that when she felt like crying I WAS CRYING.
Whenever she felt a lump in her throat, I felt it too. whenever she was depressed, I was too; and when she was finally happy I was too. I felt like I understood her completely, not something that happened to me with characters a lot.
Sometimes I wanted to stop, because I was crying while reading the book or laughing out loud in public. It was really embarrassing, it wasn't just a smile on the train from work, like always, but a laugh that all the passenger could hear. I AM BEING SERIOUS. HONEST TRUE EVER!!
Even though, I also have to say that being from two points of view was a turn down in some part of the book. Don't misunderstand me, both lead characters were complex, interesting and with their depth. But, when I was crying, so com-penetrate in Ella's story, the book changes chapters and lead me to Cinder's (Brian) Story were you can find the typical Hollywood problems: the fame, the struggle for power and what I always hated: the biatch that always tries everything to separate the two leads in love, turning some parts of the book in a big boring drama, and not in what for me generally was: a truth life drama. Those which are really worthy of your time.
But well, everything has its goods and bads.
Another point that believe that I should mention is that while enjoying so much the story, I was expecting a little more of the end. For me, it was a little to simple; I wanted more. Maybe it was my desire to keep myself inside Cinder and Ella's story. But.... you can't always get what you want....
Basically, you don't get anything like a Cinderella story or something like that. What you do get is a lot o family drama, getting to know one another and yourself. Coping with a lot of bulling, a life with scars and disabilities, and in the middle of all of that: knowing who your true friends are.
You don't have cliches in this story, just the ones that sadly are part of everyone real lives.
Summarizing, I loved it. I cried, laughed have lumps in my throat and grew with Ella, more than everything. This books was one that when reading it, I could feel it too.
Below you have the summary if you are interested:
It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new step family, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.…
Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.
Even though, I also have to say that being from two points of view was a turn down in some part of the book. Don't misunderstand me, both lead characters were complex, interesting and with their depth. But, when I was crying, so com-penetrate in Ella's story, the book changes chapters and lead me to Cinder's (Brian) Story were you can find the typical Hollywood problems: the fame, the struggle for power and what I always hated: the biatch that always tries everything to separate the two leads in love, turning some parts of the book in a big boring drama, and not in what for me generally was: a truth life drama. Those which are really worthy of your time.
But well, everything has its goods and bads.
Another point that believe that I should mention is that while enjoying so much the story, I was expecting a little more of the end. For me, it was a little to simple; I wanted more. Maybe it was my desire to keep myself inside Cinder and Ella's story. But.... you can't always get what you want....
Basically, you don't get anything like a Cinderella story or something like that. What you do get is a lot o family drama, getting to know one another and yourself. Coping with a lot of bulling, a life with scars and disabilities, and in the middle of all of that: knowing who your true friends are.
You don't have cliches in this story, just the ones that sadly are part of everyone real lives.
Summarizing, I loved it. I cried, laughed have lumps in my throat and grew with Ella, more than everything. This books was one that when reading it, I could feel it too.
Below you have the summary if you are interested:
It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new step family, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.…Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.