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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
This is my favorite retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast. It's one of my passions -- to read fairy tale retellings (especially [b:Beauty and the Beast|41424|Beauty A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast|Robin McKinley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1169613617s/41424.jpg|2321285] and Cinderella).
I've wanted to read this book for years but now I finally have, I'm feeling a bit meh.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book, and got through it pretty fast.
The story was wonderful, and easily followed. I, for the most part, found the magic or whatever convincing.
There were a few criticisms I had--mostly just that the dialogue was pretty poorly written, and that a lot of the writing from Beauty's p.o.v. came across as irritatingly ambivalent, or self-debasing. I guess it's just that I didn't like her that much. I thought she was sort of silly.
Also, though often times classical references can help to enrich a story, this one was littered with them, and I didn't think they usually did much to add anything. Where a description would have done fine, she had to compare it to some long-lost Classical hero's journey or whatever. Though yeah, I get that one of Beauty's things is her love of books--she wielded that stick a little too much.
So, bottom line, good story, bad main character. And I have to like the main character.
The story was wonderful, and easily followed. I, for the most part, found the magic or whatever convincing.
There were a few criticisms I had--mostly just that the dialogue was pretty poorly written, and that a lot of the writing from Beauty's p.o.v. came across as irritatingly ambivalent, or self-debasing. I guess it's just that I didn't like her that much. I thought she was sort of silly.
Also, though often times classical references can help to enrich a story, this one was littered with them, and I didn't think they usually did much to add anything. Where a description would have done fine, she had to compare it to some long-lost Classical hero's journey or whatever. Though yeah, I get that one of Beauty's things is her love of books--she wielded that stick a little too much.
So, bottom line, good story, bad main character. And I have to like the main character.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Beautiful charming Beauty and the Beast retold with a little twist.
Really liked this, but the ending felt rather abrupt. I wanted more!
Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite fairytale. When first introduced to the Disney movie, I felt an affinity for the brunette girl who loved to read and wanted to do exciting things. She appealed to the five-year-old bookworm that was me at the time. When I read the original fairytale, sans dancing candelabra, I found it satisfying that the two got to know one another before falling in love, and that it is really Beauty who does the saving.
This was the first fairytale retelling I remember reading. All the things I loved about the movie and fairytale were there, and more. Beauty (real name Honour) is certainly not a typical fairytale heroine. She's not particularly beautiful, not refined, not sweet. She's tomboyish, a little rough, temperamental, and very intelligent and clever--everything 21st century girls want, and quite impressive for a book written in the 70s. She isn't fearless, but she is brave. She lacks some confidence, but is overall sure of herself. She loves and is loved by her family and her village, despite (and perhaps because of) what she thinks of as her oddities. No implausibly malevolent sisters here cause her trouble, but genuine loving regret at her return. It's her courage, open mind, and open heart that allow Beauty to break curses and win hearts--just as it should be.
This was the first fairytale retelling I remember reading. All the things I loved about the movie and fairytale were there, and more. Beauty (real name Honour) is certainly not a typical fairytale heroine. She's not particularly beautiful, not refined, not sweet. She's tomboyish, a little rough, temperamental, and very intelligent and clever--everything 21st century girls want, and quite impressive for a book written in the 70s. She isn't fearless, but she is brave. She lacks some confidence, but is overall sure of herself. She loves and is loved by her family and her village, despite (and perhaps because of) what she thinks of as her oddities. No implausibly malevolent sisters here cause her trouble, but genuine loving regret at her return. It's her courage, open mind, and open heart that allow Beauty to break curses and win hearts--just as it should be.