Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

ISBN-13: 9780307407993
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: March 2009
288pp

I am sure everyone have read or heard the story about Cinderella for the umpteenth times, but have you ever wondered about the fairy godmother and what she thinks or feels about her responsibility to Cinderella?

In Godmother, that fairy godmother is named Lil. But instead of getting Cinderella to the ball to unite with the Prince, she did something unthinkable and unforgivable: she began to feel the emotions of human beings and allow herself to be fallen in love with the Prince! For this deed, she is to leave her fairy sisters and friends, banished from her magical underwater world and have to live her life among humans (though her white feathery wings are still existing and are tucked and bound behind her back).

Fast forward to the modern day in Manhattan, Lil is an old woman and now her life revolves around a bookstore which she is working at. She has not many friends except George, who is the bookstore owner. Then one day, she meets Veronica, a cheerful and bubbly young lady when she stepped into the bookstore and handed her some books to sell. Lil felt connected to her, and she was sure Veronica must have sent to her for a purpose. Feeling exhilarated over the aspect of another chance for redemption, she decided to matchmake Veronica and George. But will Veronica and George fall in love with each other? After all, Veronica claimed she has been burned by love so many times so would she dare to take the chance, again?

I have to admit I am a sucker for any fairy tale retellings, which is why I have to read this book as soon as I bought it last week. I have always enjoyed reading Cinderella's story, right when I was a young girl and now my daughter seemed to have follow my steps too. Anyway, Godmother is a refreshing tale told from the fairy godmother's POV. Though there is a magical feel in this story, there is nothing fluffy about it as there are some dark elements (such as abusive punishment and suicide) so it might not seem appropriate for young children.

I love reading all the characters in this story, and I felt a terrible ache for Lil and Veronica as well. Another thing I liked is how the story alternates between the past and the present so the readers would get a glimpse of Lil's inner world and what had actually happened between then and now.

I have just checked Carolyn Turgeon's website and understand she is currently writing her third novel, which is a retelling of the mermaid story. You can bet I am going to get that book too once it is released in the near future!

Other reviews:

Booking Mama
Stephanie's Written Word
(Let me know if I have missed yours.)