Cinderella Didn't Live Happily Ever After Book Review & Book Tour Giveaway

I remember analyzing the effects of Disney Princesses for a college English paper when my oldest daughter was around two years old. Princesses and fairy tales are so popular in so many families that the fairy tale messages (good and bad) are introduced to little ones (especially girls) as babies and toddlers. I recently discovered a book that takes a look at fairy tales and their "impacts".  Check out Cinderella Didn't Live Happily Ever After, learn about the book and author Anne E. Beall, Ph.D, read my thoughts on the book and enter the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.

Book Title:  Cinderella Didn't Live Happily Ever After: The Hidden Messages in Fairy Tales by Anne E. Beall
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+),  126 pages
Genre: Feminist, Fairy Tales, Literary Criticism
Publisher:  Independent Publishing
Release date:  November 17, 2018
Content Rating:  PG + M. Some fairy tales are a bit gruesome but there is no bad language or explicit sex. 

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.
Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an affiliate partner.  

 

 

About the Book

​Did Cinderella live happily ever after? You might think so until you look more closely at the hidden messages in beloved fairy tales. In this book, fairy tales are analyzed in terms of the underlying messages about marriage, agency, power, suffering, and good versus evil, with a focus on how male and female characters differ in each of these areas. The analysis is a data-driven approach that provides clear evidence for the hidden messages in these beloved tales. The end conclusion is not whether fairy tales are good or bad but rather what messages they deliver about life, even if unintentionally.

 

My Review

​

Cinderella Didn't Live Happily Ever After Offers Interesting Insights into Fairy Tale Messages. The author certainly takes a feminist view as she analyzes fairy tales and their messages. In an academic style, she shares her thoughts on various ideas, like marrying up, beauty, age, good vs. evil, and the ways gender is portrayed relatively across multiple fairy tales. From analyzing engagement, marriage, and long-term happiness to gender-specific qualities and characteristics that fairy tales represent as "good" and "evil,"--the author offers readers a lot to consider.

 

Fairy Tales are Not "Good or Bad"--But... As parents, we must recognize that the messages and ideas that bombard our little ones have some impact on their perceptions of themselves and their worlds. The author looks at several fairy tale scenarios and discusses the dated ideas and representations that play out in many as well. I was never a fan of the fairy tale girl needing saving by a brave, charming Prince--but the author brings up some hidden messages that I hadn't really considered. Beauty is good. Ugly is evil. Strong, powerful women are often evil-doers in fairy tales. Happily ever after has a meaning different from forever. While fairy tales are not presented as good or bad--they are presented as influential in ways that we may not realize.

 

Would I Recommend Cinderella Didn't Live Happily Ever After? If you are looking for an interesting look at gender bias and relationships in fairy tales--especially as a parent or caregiver of young girls--this book is interesting and insightful. This book is indeed written to support a feminist view--but it is well written and researched to do so. I enjoyed the book and its ideas and would recommend it to those interested in popular culture and a study of gender-related messaging.

       

 

Buy the Book

 Amazon
add to Goodreads

 

Meet the Author

 

​A leader in the field of market research and one of the few female CEOs in the industry, Anne E. Beall is the author of 10 books in business, gender studies, and mindfulness, including Cinderella Didn’t Live Happily Ever After: The Hidden Messages in Fairy Tales and The Psychology of Gender. Her book Heartfelt Connections was named one of the top 100 Notable Indie books in 2016 by Shelf Unbound, and she has published nearly a dozen business articles in noted journals. Her books have been featured in People Magazine, Toronto Sun, Hers Magazine, and Ms. Career Girl, and she has been interviewed by NBC, NPR, and WGN. Having received her PhD in social psychology from Yale University, Anne resides in Evanston, Illinois and is the founder of the market consultancy company Beall Research.

connect with the author:   website ~ facebook ~ twitter ~ goodreads

---

Follow the Book Tour

Visit the iRead Book Tours Page for More Tour Stops!

 

Enter the Giveaway

CINDERELLA DID NOT LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER Book Tour Giveaway