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sofiesbooked's review
1.0
I'm going to be very honest with this review. I was starting to like it at about the halfway point, however, the ending absolutely destroyed any positive emotion this Beauty & the Beast retelling gave me. I won't spoil anything, but I am just disappointed to have wasted my time reading it.
I normally love a "modern" fairy tale retelling, mainly since this one was set in the mid-90s in New England (where I grew up!). There were so many things I loved about the general idea - Alix's family having painted every generation of Lee's family going back for generations. They move forward with doing the same for Lee, however, he is essentially a hermit who does not want to be physically seen because of genetic defects that cause him to look and feel like a beast.
They build a relationship and become very close friends through their shared experiences, grief, trust and love. If it had ended about 3/4 of the way through, I probably would've given this a solid 3.5 - but no.
This is going straight into the donation pile.
I normally love a "modern" fairy tale retelling, mainly since this one was set in the mid-90s in New England (where I grew up!). There were so many things I loved about the general idea - Alix's family having painted every generation of Lee's family going back for generations. They move forward with doing the same for Lee, however, he is essentially a hermit who does not want to be physically seen because of genetic defects that cause him to look and feel like a beast.
They build a relationship and become very close friends through their shared experiences, grief, trust and love. If it had ended about 3/4 of the way through, I probably would've given this a solid 3.5 - but no.
This is going straight into the donation pile.
cuddlesome's review
DNF at page 54. I was initially intrigued by the premise of a BATB story with portraiture at its heart but at this point it’s become clear that this is just too dry for my taste. Scenes that I would think should be full of emotion are delivered in a matter of fact way.
I also just tend to get a bit of pause when I read books that borrow the language and motifs of BATB when applied to people with injuries/deformities (the latter, in this case, in the form of a genetic disease). I don’t know, I’m sure it can be done well but in my experience it comes off as cruel to frame polite, well-adjusted people who happen to be deformed as beasts in a way that calling surrealistic, mean, literal monsters that doesn’t. Arguably that’s the point, but…
I also just tend to get a bit of pause when I read books that borrow the language and motifs of BATB when applied to people with injuries/deformities (the latter, in this case, in the form of a genetic disease). I don’t know, I’m sure it can be done well but in my experience it comes off as cruel to frame polite, well-adjusted people who happen to be deformed as beasts in a way that calling surrealistic, mean, literal monsters that doesn’t. Arguably that’s the point, but…
catladylover94's review
5.0
its one of those stories u can't put down and u read it to the end, have tissues handy
morgan_haybook's review against another edition
3.0
Very close to the Fairy Tale of Beauty and the Beast in that the characters are learning what real beauty is. The other elements are not alike at all, but so far I'm loving it.
kairosdreaming's review against another edition
4.0
This is a wonderful book. I suppose one could technically classify it as a romance, but it is so much more than that. Its idea taken from the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, Beauty brings the story into the modern world and gives it a twist.
Alix Miller is an artist and has taken a job painting the portrait of reclusive Lee Crompton. For centuries, Miller's have been painting portraits of the Cromptons and this time it will be no different, except it will be Alix instead of her father. She arrives at the secluded home and doesn't get to meet her subject right away. Instead, there is a partially cold housekeeper/cook and a simple-minded caretaker. She doesn't meet Lee for a couple days and when she does, has a mild shock. Lee suffers from Acromegaly and has been hideously disfigured. This is the reason he has become a recluse and mainly hides himself from the world. He only invited Alix because it was a tradition in his family.
Alix grows fond of Lee but before she can finish the portrait, she has to go home as her father is failing fast from cancer. During this poignant time in her life she finds herself growing closer to Lee, and further from Mark, her handsome but career driven boyfriend. Lee is there for her as only the best of friends can be while Mark seems to have trouble making any time for Alix and her feelings. To make matters more complicated, Lee is afraid of allowing anyone too close as he can't believe anyone would truly love him with his deformity. To add even more into this, his housekeeper wants to protect him and circumstances seem to take him further and further away from Alix, despite what they both want.
The characters in this book are wonderful. Alix is bright and engaging and you can really feel her relish in her work and her happiness with creating art. Lee is aloof but really a gentle wonderful person and you can't help but like him. To further that, Wilson paints Mark as an unlikable character so it really is quite easy to cheer for Lee instead of him. The other characters, although their parts are small, also add quite a bit to the novel.
The writing is easy to read, although Wilson does tend to make it a bit flowery at times. There really isn't too much offensive in it aside from that fact that it is hard to read how Lee is treated at times. I do have to say (without giving too much away) that despite how well the ending was written, I was largely disappointed with it. Most of the book is written from Alix's perspective although the epilogue and the last part of the book are written from Lee's. This is kind of unusual because Lee is a writer in this novel and you would think he'd be the narrator because of this.
I do enjoy this book every time I read it and will make it a plan to read some of Wilson's other works. If they are as well written as this, they're sure to please.
Beauty
Copyright 1996
200 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2010
Alix Miller is an artist and has taken a job painting the portrait of reclusive Lee Crompton. For centuries, Miller's have been painting portraits of the Cromptons and this time it will be no different, except it will be Alix instead of her father. She arrives at the secluded home and doesn't get to meet her subject right away. Instead, there is a partially cold housekeeper/cook and a simple-minded caretaker. She doesn't meet Lee for a couple days and when she does, has a mild shock. Lee suffers from Acromegaly and has been hideously disfigured. This is the reason he has become a recluse and mainly hides himself from the world. He only invited Alix because it was a tradition in his family.
Alix grows fond of Lee but before she can finish the portrait, she has to go home as her father is failing fast from cancer. During this poignant time in her life she finds herself growing closer to Lee, and further from Mark, her handsome but career driven boyfriend. Lee is there for her as only the best of friends can be while Mark seems to have trouble making any time for Alix and her feelings. To make matters more complicated, Lee is afraid of allowing anyone too close as he can't believe anyone would truly love him with his deformity. To add even more into this, his housekeeper wants to protect him and circumstances seem to take him further and further away from Alix, despite what they both want.
The characters in this book are wonderful. Alix is bright and engaging and you can really feel her relish in her work and her happiness with creating art. Lee is aloof but really a gentle wonderful person and you can't help but like him. To further that, Wilson paints Mark as an unlikable character so it really is quite easy to cheer for Lee instead of him. The other characters, although their parts are small, also add quite a bit to the novel.
The writing is easy to read, although Wilson does tend to make it a bit flowery at times. There really isn't too much offensive in it aside from that fact that it is hard to read how Lee is treated at times. I do have to say (without giving too much away) that despite how well the ending was written, I was largely disappointed with it. Most of the book is written from Alix's perspective although the epilogue and the last part of the book are written from Lee's. This is kind of unusual because Lee is a writer in this novel and you would think he'd be the narrator because of this.
I do enjoy this book every time I read it and will make it a plan to read some of Wilson's other works. If they are as well written as this, they're sure to please.
Beauty
Copyright 1996
200 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2010
jayse's review
4.0
I loved the story, but the ending was quiet unneeded, it ended sadly for no reason..
bibliomaineiac's review
3.0
I wanted to really like this novel. And I did like it. Until near the end. The ending felt rushed. Somewhat of a "hurry up, we need to end this book." In my opinion, it had the potential to be so much more. Something of a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. An artist is hired to paint the portrait of a recluse with a deformity. I was quite enjoying it, until a certain point (no spoilers, I'm just leaving it at that). And then, as I said, it felt like the author had somewhere to be, and couldn't finish writing the novel later, so just hurried the story along to end it. This could have easily been a 4 star rating, but for that. Still, I'm not sad that I read it.
phenaia's review
3.0
I loved the story, the characters seem so real and have been handled with a lot of sensitivity. But I completely hated the book in the last few pages, when the story is about to end. That's maybe because I absolutely detest tragic endings particularly when hopes are built that everything is going to turn out to be a happy one. Leaves you feeling sad and heart broken.
eupomene's review against another edition
4.0
Very well-written and oh, so sad.
The story is indeed the "Beauty & the Beast" fairy tale in modern times, there is even a rose motif. It is the Beast - this time a man with gigantism -- who must realize his beauty and lovableness inside. His capacity to love is great, but he feels he cannot be loved. Alex, his Beauty, can scarcely teach him, but love and grief do win out in the end. Yes, grief - it's all part of the deal.
But oh, it left me SO sad - I remember reading it and then wandering about all afternoon in a gloom.
The story is indeed the "Beauty & the Beast" fairy tale in modern times, there is even a rose motif. It is the Beast - this time a man with gigantism -- who must realize his beauty and lovableness inside. His capacity to love is great, but he feels he cannot be loved. Alex, his Beauty, can scarcely teach him, but love and grief do win out in the end. Yes, grief - it's all part of the deal.
But oh, it left me SO sad - I remember reading it and then wandering about all afternoon in a gloom.