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caitctus's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to read the original tale that the Disney film was based on, but the Villeneuve version was not available, so I went for the retelling. Although the morale is more or less the same as in the films, I think that the writing didn't age well, and everything goes so fast. The true love isn't felt at all, it feels completely forced
kcrawfish's review against another edition
4.0
Classics are classics for a reason. The writing was lovely, but plot-wise I think I prefer the Disney animated movie. In this tale it's straightforward that Beauty must overcome the Beast's appearance. He is always polite, sweet, princely and kind.
In the animated version, they're more like real people. There's initial spark and fire like we see in Pride and Prejudice - we're given more bickering to laugh at and the kindness is sweeter for it. Say what you want, but I don't believe Beauty and the Beast a 'la Disney has Stockholm syndrome. I won't make my argument here, suffice to say this video convinced me.
What I prefer in this written version, besides quality writing, is the backstory for Beauty. Her father's a merchant, her family goes from riches to rags, and she's tight with her siblings (mostly her brothers). I enjoyed the added story and family dynamic, and wish it translated into the movie. Imagine a musical number where her brothers are messing with her and her sisters are trying to look at what she's reading. I want more of that, and even with a family, she can still not belong. It would solidify the fact that she's an outsider if her own family, people that love her, still don't quite understand her. It gives her some happiness to move away from for a more legitimate choice when she goes back to be with Beast.
Overall, it is still an excellent classic.
In the animated version, they're more like real people. There's initial spark and fire like we see in Pride and Prejudice - we're given more bickering to laugh at and the kindness is sweeter for it. Say what you want, but I don't believe Beauty and the Beast a 'la Disney has Stockholm syndrome. I won't make my argument here, suffice to say this video convinced me.
What I prefer in this written version, besides quality writing, is the backstory for Beauty. Her father's a merchant, her family goes from riches to rags, and she's tight with her siblings (mostly her brothers). I enjoyed the added story and family dynamic, and wish it translated into the movie. Imagine a musical number where her brothers are messing with her and her sisters are trying to look at what she's reading. I want more of that, and even with a family, she can still not belong. It would solidify the fact that she's an outsider if her own family, people that love her, still don't quite understand her. It gives her some happiness to move away from for a more legitimate choice when she goes back to be with Beast.
Overall, it is still an excellent classic.
honey_stardust_13's review against another edition
4.0
It was small, but good. It's about a half hour read and it is worth reading at least once in your life. It is nice to know the undisneyfied version of the story.
mwest808's review against another edition
Was reading with child and she chose another book to start.
icarussfalls's review against another edition
3.0
Very short and very much different from the Disney movie. I liked that it has more of a moral other than the beast finding love.
pattyfgd's review against another edition
5.0
Beauty and the Beast
by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
Narrated by Gunnar Qualen & Jenna St Claire
All my life, since I was a little girl, Beauty and the Beast has been my favorite fairy tale. Is it because when I was 5 I loved the ugly, mean, underdog? No, my grandparents had a record player(yes, I am that old) and every time I visited, I would play the record with this story over and over. No, I never turned it over, I was enthralled with the magic of the story. Beauty is selfless, willing to give herself over the life of her father. She understands there is more than appearance to a person. And she doesn't need Mrs. Potts to cook for her like in the movies! Beast is broken, just waiting to find the one, and if not knowing his fate. But when together, these two find their way and are rewarded for their love. I do love the adaptations, and tend to gravitate to those kind of stories, but the original is timeless story and one I will never tire of it.
Gunnar Qualen and Jenna St Claire give a fantastic, emotional, duet narration to this tale, and it's mesmerizing. Each part of the story is given the emphasis of the time with Qualen becoming Beast. He is broken and angry and in need of someone who can see him. Each emotion is raw. St Claire is Beauty, and though unable to see him at first, she never falters from her commitment and growing feelings. St Claire uses her inflections to give off Beauty's emotions and it's a perfect pairing. I loved their telling of this story!
#ALC #fairytales #darkfairtytales #audiofairytales #gunnarqualan #jennastclaire # JeanneMarieLeprincedeBeaumont
by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
Narrated by Gunnar Qualen & Jenna St Claire
All my life, since I was a little girl, Beauty and the Beast has been my favorite fairy tale. Is it because when I was 5 I loved the ugly, mean, underdog? No, my grandparents had a record player(yes, I am that old) and every time I visited, I would play the record with this story over and over. No, I never turned it over, I was enthralled with the magic of the story. Beauty is selfless, willing to give herself over the life of her father. She understands there is more than appearance to a person. And she doesn't need Mrs. Potts to cook for her like in the movies! Beast is broken, just waiting to find the one, and if not knowing his fate. But when together, these two find their way and are rewarded for their love. I do love the adaptations, and tend to gravitate to those kind of stories, but the original is timeless story and one I will never tire of it.
Gunnar Qualen and Jenna St Claire give a fantastic, emotional, duet narration to this tale, and it's mesmerizing. Each part of the story is given the emphasis of the time with Qualen becoming Beast. He is broken and angry and in need of someone who can see him. Each emotion is raw. St Claire is Beauty, and though unable to see him at first, she never falters from her commitment and growing feelings. St Claire uses her inflections to give off Beauty's emotions and it's a perfect pairing. I loved their telling of this story!
#ALC #fairytales #darkfairtytales #audiofairytales #gunnarqualan #jennastclaire # JeanneMarieLeprincedeBeaumont
nikshelby's review against another edition
3.0
I am a lifelong fan of fairy tales and fables. I love them. I love reading the different versions. I love the whacked out comic book spin-offs. I love the Disney feel-good musicals.
I usually just try to read them and be entertained...not spend time analyzing and interpreting.
This time, I found myself highly annoyed with the whole story:
> following a snow storm and wolf attack, the beast + co admirably provided shelter and food for the father. good. then, he wants a flower and that's cause for incarceration and subsequent capture of the daughter? not good.
> beast gives the father an ultimatum: he stay as prisoner, or his daughter does. the father reluctantly lets the daughter. really? her father, and several brothers, just all go "oh well...sucks to be belle". not good.
> belle goes to the castle as prisoner. after a short amount of time, she falls in love with beast because of his good heart and kindness. really? he talks with her over dinner and that outweighs the fact that she is a prisoner and is removed from her family? not good.
there is more...but, i think that's enough annoyance spillage for now.
I usually just try to read them and be entertained...not spend time analyzing and interpreting.
This time, I found myself highly annoyed with the whole story:
> following a snow storm and wolf attack, the beast + co admirably provided shelter and food for the father. good. then, he wants a flower and that's cause for incarceration and subsequent capture of the daughter? not good.
> beast gives the father an ultimatum: he stay as prisoner, or his daughter does. the father reluctantly lets the daughter. really? her father, and several brothers, just all go "oh well...sucks to be belle". not good.
> belle goes to the castle as prisoner. after a short amount of time, she falls in love with beast because of his good heart and kindness. really? he talks with her over dinner and that outweighs the fact that she is a prisoner and is removed from her family? not good.
there is more...but, i think that's enough annoyance spillage for now.
naphthalene's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
<b>*3 étoiles*</b>
Le conte de "<u>La Belle et la Bête</u>" réécrit par Madame de Beaumont est une histoire sympathique qui souffre, malheureusement, des défauts et clichés de son époque -et du conte original. C'est-à-dire que bien que l'histoire soit agréable à lire dans son ensemble, il est difficile de faire abstraction du sexisme omniprésent.
La narration et ses personnages rappellent sans cesse aux lecteurs que l'entourage féminin de La Belle est capricieux, égoïste, jaloux et vénal. La Belle est quant à elle docile, modeste et altruiste. Elle représente la femme "parfaite" de l'époque : belle et soumise. Les personnages féminins sont constamment comparés à elle.
Le personnage de La Belle est si "bien élevée" qu'elle accepte même d'épouser La Bête pour la remercier de sa "bonté"...
J'aimerai aussi ajouter que la famille de La Belle est une famille d'incapables. Certes ils sont tombés dans la misère du jour au lendemain, mais comment se fait-il que seul la plus jeune enfant de la fratrie a pris les choses en main? À en croire la narration, elle est la seule à travailler activement pour la survie de sa famille. Ses frères travaillent un peu dans la ferme familiale, mais jamais ils ne cherchent à se marier ou à trouver une autre source de revenus (ou à s'occuper du foyer). Les sœurs, quant à elles, sont les boucs-émissaires de la famille parce qu'elles ne se sont pas marier <b>avant</b> que la famille ne tombe dans la disgrâce, et qu'elles ne sont pas La Belle.
Honnêtement, le père est le vrai fautif dans l'histoire .
Je sais que les contes servent avant tout à transmettre et expliquer la morale de l'histoire, mais je ne peux m'empêcher de questionner celle de "<u>La Belle et la Bête</u>".
En bref, l'adaptation de Disney a su faire les bon choix!
Le conte de "<u>La Belle et la Bête</u>" réécrit par Madame de Beaumont est une histoire sympathique qui souffre, malheureusement, des défauts et clichés de son époque -et du conte original. C'est-à-dire que bien que l'histoire soit agréable à lire dans son ensemble, il est difficile de faire abstraction du sexisme omniprésent.
La narration et ses personnages rappellent sans cesse aux lecteurs que l'entourage féminin de La Belle est capricieux, égoïste, jaloux et vénal. La Belle est quant à elle docile, modeste et altruiste. Elle représente la femme "parfaite" de l'époque : belle et soumise. Les personnages féminins sont constamment comparés à elle.
Le personnage de La Belle est si "bien élevée" qu'elle accepte même d'épouser La Bête pour la remercier de sa "bonté"...
J'aimerai aussi ajouter que la famille de La Belle est une famille d'incapables. Certes ils sont tombés dans la misère du jour au lendemain, mais comment se fait-il que seul la plus jeune enfant de la fratrie a pris les choses en main? À en croire la narration, elle est la seule à travailler activement pour la survie de sa famille. Ses frères travaillent un peu dans la ferme familiale, mais jamais ils ne cherchent à se marier ou à trouver une autre source de revenus (ou à s'occuper du foyer). Les sœurs, quant à elles, sont les boucs-émissaires de la famille parce qu'elles ne se sont pas marier <b>avant</b> que la famille ne tombe dans la disgrâce, et qu'elles ne sont pas La Belle.
Honnêtement, le père est le vrai fautif dans l'histoire .
Je sais que les contes servent avant tout à transmettre et expliquer la morale de l'histoire, mais je ne peux m'empêcher de questionner celle de "<u>La Belle et la Bête</u>".
En bref, l'adaptation de Disney a su faire les bon choix!