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mssgiinny's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I've only read some versions recollected in here, but Im planning on coming back to this book for more of the stories that are compilled.
I found Villeneuve's original story very interesting, even though I have to agree that the last part --the Faerie world explanation-- is quite slow and repetitive. But I understand that this was written in another time, and the language shows it. In any case, it's the version I most enjoyed among the ones I read, especially because it shows a really active heroine who has sexual desires; very feminist for the time, definetely.
Beaumont's version, which Im sure I've already read before in class and which I approached wary of its didactic tone and how it reduced Villeneuve's feminist message, I actually found it very nice. It's true it's not feminist in the same way, but I still think it discusses the female need to be with an equal partner, if only in more reductive ways and erasing the desire for sexual intercourse.
I read more stories, and I find that I like most of them. The ones I don't like that much, I think it has to do with cultural shock or time shock, since these are, after all, stories from many centuries ago in many cases. But that's the fun part of folklore: they ar every different and they are all enjoyable in some way.
I found Villeneuve's original story very interesting, even though I have to agree that the last part --the Faerie world explanation-- is quite slow and repetitive. But I understand that this was written in another time, and the language shows it. In any case, it's the version I most enjoyed among the ones I read, especially because it shows a really active heroine who has sexual desires; very feminist for the time, definetely.
Beaumont's version, which Im sure I've already read before in class and which I approached wary of its didactic tone and how it reduced Villeneuve's feminist message, I actually found it very nice. It's true it's not feminist in the same way, but I still think it discusses the female need to be with an equal partner, if only in more reductive ways and erasing the desire for sexual intercourse.
I read more stories, and I find that I like most of them. The ones I don't like that much, I think it has to do with cultural shock or time shock, since these are, after all, stories from many centuries ago in many cases. But that's the fun part of folklore: they ar every different and they are all enjoyable in some way.
abomine's review
4.0
2015 Reading Challenge:
---A Classic Romance, A Book Written By A Female Author, A Book More Than 100 Years Old
Beauty and the Beast is my all time favorite fairytale, so to have all of these different versions from all over the world in one volume is pretty fantastic. The racist stories are god-awful and definitely worth skipping, but having TWO important translations of Villeneuve's original novella is amazing and unheard of in an anthology like this.
Villeneuve's novella (specifically the Dowson translation) was what I chose for the reading challenge. While it does become rather convoluted towards the end with Beauty's origin story and the politics of the World of Faerie, it provides insight and detail that you just don't see in the more well-known 'fairytale' version by Madame de Beaumont. For instance, instead of Beast asking Beauty to marry him, he asks if he may sleep with her. And keep in mind that this isn't some majestic, princely lion-man or hot bald guy with scars and tattoos. Villeneuve is much more specific than the subsequent retellings regarding Beast's appearance (gigantic and reptilian with a long proboscis, or possibly tentacles), and he is by NO stretch of the imagination a "sexy beast". Quite a bit more of a challenge for Beauty, don't you think?
---A Classic Romance, A Book Written By A Female Author, A Book More Than 100 Years Old
Beauty and the Beast is my all time favorite fairytale, so to have all of these different versions from all over the world in one volume is pretty fantastic. The racist stories are god-awful and definitely worth skipping, but having TWO important translations of Villeneuve's original novella is amazing and unheard of in an anthology like this.
Villeneuve's novella (specifically the Dowson translation) was what I chose for the reading challenge. While it does become rather convoluted towards the end with Beauty's origin story and the politics of the World of Faerie, it provides insight and detail that you just don't see in the more well-known 'fairytale' version by Madame de Beaumont. For instance, instead of Beast asking Beauty to marry him, he asks if he may sleep with her. And keep in mind that this isn't some majestic, princely lion-man or hot bald guy with scars and tattoos. Villeneuve is much more specific than the subsequent retellings regarding Beast's appearance (gigantic and reptilian with a long proboscis, or possibly tentacles), and he is by NO stretch of the imagination a "sexy beast". Quite a bit more of a challenge for Beauty, don't you think?
sylvanas's review
4.0
A few of the (rather racist) stories made me cringe, but this is a fantastic collection and is so good to have so many variations in one place.
amanda1793's review
5.0
I wish my edition had the illustrations!
I loved this story and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Disney adaptation is rather close to the original fairytale. Much more so than some had lead me to believe.
This is truly a "tale as old as time"!
I loved this story and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Disney adaptation is rather close to the original fairytale. Much more so than some had lead me to believe.
This is truly a "tale as old as time"!
marinazala's review
3.0
** Books 131 - 2017 **
3 of 5 stars!
Beauty and the beast is one of my favorite disney animation and Belle and Mulan are the strong character woman that Disney ever had! Strong and smart!
There are a few differences scene between in books and movie though. However i think i am more into the disney animation is than the books :3
Thankyou Bookmate!
3 of 5 stars!
Beauty and the beast is one of my favorite disney animation and Belle and Mulan are the strong character woman that Disney ever had! Strong and smart!
There are a few differences scene between in books and movie though. However i think i am more into the disney animation is than the books :3
Thankyou Bookmate!
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