Has anyone read much of Levine's work? I have read "Ella Enchanted" and "Fairest" and I thoroughly enjoyed them. The new take on old fairytales was so appealing to me! Has anyone read them? Are there any other books of Levine's that I should read? Also, has anyone seen the movie "Ella Enchanted"? What did you think? Discuss!

"The Two Princesses of Bamarre" and "Ella Enchanted" were awesome! I think that "The Two Princesses of Bamarre" was wonderfully crafted, and while I have not seen the movie of "Ella Enchanted", I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Both are decent (muchly appreciated ) and the action is really awesome. "The Two Princesses of Bamarre" actually inspired me.

I have also read Gail's book on writing, "Writing Magic". Don't be surprised, it is not about magic or anything, rather about the almost "magical" atmosphere of a true, talented writer. It [the book] has wonderful story-starters (such as "I have one blue eye and one green. The blue eye sees true, but the green eye sees much, much more" and so forth) that really do inspire you. (I particularly enjoyed the story-starter of the girl who finds a diamond necklace that can make you invisible on her school bus where I made her never find/use the necklace except when it was time to clean her room! )

Sorry for rambling/going down a looong bunny trail.

I've read a few of her books, though not all of them. I remember liking Ella Enchanted and The Two Princesses of Bamarre, but it's been a long time since I read them.

I've seen part of the movie Ella Enchanted and much prefer the book. I don't know that I saw enough to say "don't bother with the movie" but I suspect it's not worth the watch.

I loved Ella Enchanted! It was so different. Fairest was good too, if the premise turned a little strange. I love her princes. Two Princesses of Bamarre was good too. (although the fairies were a little... weird.) That was actually part of why I wrote Trice, and what introduced me to the whole poetry/legend backdrop premise thingy-doodle.

It looks like I better get the Princesses of Bamarre out then! It sounds good.

Yes Vanya! I loved the princes! Ella Enchanted the movie would have been much better if they had a different actress for Ella, in my opinion. However Char was perfect. I loved the humour in those two books, and the spunk the characters had.

@Elly: I've heard of Writing Magic! Those writing prompts sound awesome! I will have to get that book. *puts on waiting list*

Wow, there is so much I have not read! I will look these up on my Kindle! They sound like books I would enjoy reading.

Do, Elanor! I think you'd love them.

Ooooh, Gail Carson Levine? *hugs BushMaid for creating the thread* One of my favorites!! I've read her "Princess Tales" aloud to my younger siblings countless times. She combines humor, originality, creativity, wit, spunk, and traditional fairy tales in an amazing way. Ella Enchanted was my favorite, but The Two Princesses of Bamarre was also quite lovely. Unexpected and original. Fairest was good, but not my favorite of hers. Definitely must-reads!

Ela, do tell us what you think of her work! Her books are splendid.

I will do I promise It all depends on how much they are, if they are expensive I will have to wait before I buy one. But I will post when I have read them and let you guys know what I think!

Ah! I quite enjoy the books I've read by her. ^^ I've only been able to get my hands on Ella Enchanted, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Fairest, and Ever. Our library doesn't have her other books. (As far as I can tell.)

I like how her stories are more on the fairy tale side than general fantasy. That's the only way I can read it without feeling wary about magic. (Not that there's much magic, but still.)

~Calen

Oooh, Ever. I forgot about Ever.

I didn't like Ever, at all. Too much romance.

Her books are very fairytale like; which is part of why I like them so much. I'm very much a fairy tale lover and reader.

I saw Ever, but it didn't grab me, so I haven't read it. The whole 'gods' thing wasn't as appealing as the fairytales.

Oh! I forgot to read the descriptions before listing off what books I read. I'm with you Bushmaid, I didn't read Ever for the "gods" reason.

You're not missing anything, gods or not.

I usually like Greek mythology stuff, and I simply can't take the religion seriously (who could?) so that didn't keep me from reading it. It was lame though. C.S. Lewis redid mythology much better, IMO.

I loved the new take on Snow White in Fairest. How she wasn't really beautiful, I thought that was cleverly done. And I have this thing for mysterious mirrors, too. No idea why.

I enjoyed her books. I read Ella Enchanted, Fairest, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, as well as her really short twists on other fairytales. The Ella Enchanted movie was actually really good, in my opinion. Not close to the book at all, but it still made me laugh.

*must read these *

I just started reading her newest (very new) book, A Tale of Two Castles. So far, very good, though not quite so humorous as Ella Enchanted. I'll let y'all know the full scoop later.

I was rather disappointed in the movie Ella Enchanted. It was funny in it's own right, but it wasn't the book at all.

I saw the movie Ella Enchanted last night, but I didn't like it. Possibly not just my type of film, though. I haven't read the book yet.

You honestly can't judge the book by the movie. The book is a lot better than the movie. Firstly, the actress they picked for Ella was entirely mischosen. Secondly, the movie had a... hm... a plasticness to it that the book didn't.

Plasticness is a good way to describe it. It was sort of modern in a really strange way... almost like a Barbie movie, if that makes any sense. It was unique, but it was not like the book.

I found Tale of Two Castles entertaining but entirely too formulaic.

Ever... Well. The 'gods' aspect of things didn't bother me overly much. I don't mind a pantheon of lesser gods (and whether she meant them as such or not, they were most definitely lesser gods). The portrayal of the god Admat bothered me though - it was pretty clear that that one was supposed to be the representation of the Judeo-Christian God, and it's not exactly flattering. Silent, apathetic, nearly absent. I found myself sending up little prayers as I read, complaining to the Father that I didn't think the way she wrote about Him was at all fair.

'Ella Enchanted' is great, of course, but I refuse to read 'Ever'. I mean...a romance between...gods? *gags*

Her somewhat new book 'A Tale of Two Castles' is excellent, too.

I read 'The Wish' and was not impressed, though I enjoyed the idea behind it and certain aspects of the story.

'Fairest' is most excellent also.

Her Princess Tales are also good, I've read most of them. Her writing book is wonderful and I'll even admit to having read her Neverland takes. All in all, I love Levine as an author.

I never was inclined to read "Ever". I think Levine struck out with that book. Ella Enchanted and Fairest are my two favourites. I wish she would write more fairytale retellings; hers are really good.

What is "A Tale of Two Castles" like?

I agree that the movie was, as you put it so well 'plastic', but Anne Hathaway was decent as Ella, I thought.