Customer Reviews

The Princess Who Believed in Fairy Tales: A Story for Modern Times

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While still fearful of "explosions" spewing forth my now "ex" Prince Charming, I prefer not to attach my name to this review. However, after calling the author to tell her how this book helped me re-claim my sanity and promising to share my epiphany with others, I hope Marcia Grad Powers recognizes my hometown and sees that I'm making good on that promise. For 26 years I thought it was me, that I had done something to precipitate the the verbal abuse and emotional blackmail. It wasn't until I saw it stated -- right there in black and white -- that I was the victim of a form of domestic violence that I accepted the truth in the situation. The Prince, indeed, was not a very nice fellow behind closed doors but had me convinced it wasn't his fault -- he was a victim of his upbringing. Well take a number buddy -- aren't we all? This book made me realize that as adults, we all have choices. I chose to stay for all the wrong reasons until one day I realized I needed help to find out why, and left. He chose to run from his problems, and straight to his addictions, without ever doing his homework to avoid repeating the same ill-advised pattern he'd turned to before. While I'm still in recovery trying to reclaim my self esteem and recognize the unhealthy NEED I had to be in a relationship, my heart hurts for what could have been. But truly, it never was. As the book so aptly illustrated, the Prince was broken long before I met him and there wasn't anything I could do to fix him. I almost lost myself trying, both physically and emotionally, but I've come to see that no one could have loved him enough to EVER make him happy -- not even the girlfriend who, as the author explains, is just not as far along in the evolutionary process as I am to see what she's in for. Some day, once my heart is fully healed, I'll probably thank him for setting me free from having to constantly walk upon all those egg shells for so many years. The energy that took also took a toll. I'm just now beginning to realize that life doesn't have to be so hard and that when someone tells you that you're too good for them....BELIEVE IT!!! Thank you Marcia Powers for helping me see I wasn't crazy, I was just living with "crazy making" behavior. After almost drowing in the sea of emotion, I have become re-aquainted with an old friend -- me! I told my therapist to order a hundred copies of this book and give one to every woman who comes in wondering what happened to the fairy tale. When you know there were enough versions of what you thought was soley "your" story to warrant someone writing a book about it, you can stop beating yourself up and get on with the healing process. What you were suffering from is actually called something, it's real, you're not imagining it, and it's not healthy. Get help. Get out. Get this book!

My therapist gave me this book to read. I ordered one for my adult daughters too. The delivery is much like a fairy tale, and the prince in the story turns out to not be such a nice person. The personal growth of the princess had an enormous impact on me - I was weeping as I read towards the end, with my (now ex) husband saying "what the heck is wrong" - it truly was that powerful (and I'm not normally a weeper).

For anyone who grew up in a verbally and physically abusive family, or ended up with someone who displayed the same traits, this book is wonderful!

This is an amazing book. Just finished it and am getting ready to start it again--with notepad and marker in hand! Beyond the easy-to-read fairly tale is a book of immense insight, with lessons that don't seem like lessons, for everyone who's ever considered being in love, loving someone or is waiting for his or her "prince". You can get as much or as little from the story as you choose or are ready for, and still be way ahead of where you were before you picked it up. Wherever you are on the Path of Truth, whether you're still in the Sea of Emotion, or still reading fairly tales This Book Is For You!!! I cannot recommend this book enough--and already have to just about everyone I meet! I don't imagine I will ever be without a copy of this book. Thank You, Marcia Grad!

Brings in to your life a deep inner shock when you confirm that even though perfection is impossible in a human being, you are a respectable and lovable one, with a great story to live, that could be starting TODAY. Shows you the way to get your self-esteem back, to be able to love and be loved and also explains how to stop blaming yourself for all attitudes and reactions of the loved one that you can not control and definitely are not your fault. We can only save ourselves it's our own responsibility to be better persons, you can support someone in the change but can not save them from themselves. Thanks to the author for the opportunity of finding out all these.

I could not put the book down. As crazy as it may seem this fary tale is in deed a story for modern times. I identified so much with the princess no matter how much she tried to be perfect and to please her prince she could never win. It is an eye opening experince specially for someone who has been through their own story. I personally am at the end of the story I know that there is happiness even without a prince. This book is great reading for someone who is meeting her prince or for someone who has left her prince. This book confirmed that I am where I need to be.

I am a single mother of a beautiful 5 year old daughter. I read this book, and now am reading it with my daughter. I wish my mother would have read me this book as a child - maybe then I wouldn't have chosen so many not-so-great paths in my life. I feel every female should read this book and gain whatever wisdom they can soak in - it's full of wonderful words of advise/common sense. Thank you Ms. Grad.

I can't tell you how much this helped to analyse why I seem to find myself with those type of men. You know the type I'm talking about, they are sweet when you meet then and as long as they are the center of your world. Once the novelty has worn off they become bitter and lash out.

The book helped me immensely.

A fairytale depicting women's traditional role as the `pleasing everyone' daughter, wife, woman. Her life changes dramatically as she becomes more and more independent and self supportive. For you if you choose to support yourself or the woman in your life in becoming more whole and happy.

This book has touched me in an amazing way. As a recovering co-dependent, I feel that this book was written with me in mind. The author has truly put into words the experiences that some of us have gone through. I could not put this book down!

Recently, while discussing being funded for my business, a woman whom I had previously thought was professional, who is in a network that I was going to join, responded to my discussions about getting funded for my business, saying, "Gee, don't you have a boyfriend who can get the money together for you?"

It's appalling when so many women have paved the way for us, only to end up with so many women still expecting other women to wait for a prince to come along - the prince has rust.

I recommend this book to all women and to men to read, because this is a great story about where our self-esteem begins, and how we struggle with the difference between our authentic selves and our socialized identities.

Read this book, and get a copy for one mother and daughter, who is interested in taking responsibility for their happiness.