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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
I loved this book. I have never really read, or watched beauty and the beast but I thought this was awesome. Definately going to see this movie. (Even if it is different than the book) Look forward to reading more by Alex Flinn.
It's a good thing this was short. And that those annoying web chats ended. They didn't add anything to the story other than make me think the author is considering retelling more fairy tales.
I usually find fairy tale retells interesting. And this one was being told from the opposite point of view (the Beast instead of Belle) Add in the ya genre and I thought it had possibility. Unfortunately that possibility never evolved into anything but sugary sweetness and cheese. I found the author's style, especially the dialogue to be juvenile. The characters were extremely stereotypical - the pretty, popular kids were all vapid and shallow and more concerned with the next party than anything else while the poor/scholarship kids were smart and homely looking all while being naive. And that's pretty much where the character development stopped, even for the main characters. I did like Will - he made Kyle/Adrian slightly more tolerable. Probably because in being more adult and less stilted, Kyle also became that way.
The end was what finally did me in. Everything in a nice neat bow. From Kyle instantly becoming human again without any pain or confusion unlike the initial transformation and Lindy didn't see a thing to Will getting his sight back and a spiffy new job to Kendra being all accepted back in her family that the reader didn't even know existed (terrible plot point) to Kyle and Lindy going back to Tuttle (why? is it the only school in NYC now?)
It's been a long time since I read Robin McKinley's Beauty (it's now on my re-read list), but from what I remember, I'd most definitely recommend it over Beastly.
I usually find fairy tale retells interesting. And this one was being told from the opposite point of view (the Beast instead of Belle) Add in the ya genre and I thought it had possibility. Unfortunately that possibility never evolved into anything but sugary sweetness and cheese. I found the author's style, especially the dialogue to be juvenile. The characters were extremely stereotypical - the pretty, popular kids were all vapid and shallow and more concerned with the next party than anything else while the poor/scholarship kids were smart and homely looking all while being naive. And that's pretty much where the character development stopped, even for the main characters. I did like Will - he made Kyle/Adrian slightly more tolerable. Probably because in being more adult and less stilted, Kyle also became that way.
The end was what finally did me in. Everything in a nice neat bow. From Kyle instantly becoming human again without any pain or confusion unlike the initial transformation and Lindy didn't see a thing to Will getting his sight back and a spiffy new job to Kendra being all accepted back in her family that the reader didn't even know existed (terrible plot point) to Kyle and Lindy going back to Tuttle (why? is it the only school in NYC now?)
It's been a long time since I read Robin McKinley's Beauty (it's now on my re-read list), but from what I remember, I'd most definitely recommend it over Beastly.
Let's face it; we already know how this story will end. After all, it is a "tale as old as time." But in this case, it is told from the Beast's perspective.
I began to read this book because of the film that is being released this weekend. The premise of the story is a nice one, albeit one that we all know about.
At its core, the story of "Beauty and the Beast" is one of redemption. This is especially true with this take on the tale. I enjoyed the progression of Kyle's change in attitude, and his realization of how empty and shallow his life really was before he was transformed. The first part of this book is excruciating. I cannot stand this guy, but then again, that is the story's aim.
The relationship between Linda (which in Spanish means "beautiful" as does Belle in French) and Kyle was done very nicely. I really appreciated the friendship that was developed over time. In most YA books, it seems that the teen characters fall in and out of love quite easily, so it was refreshing to see this author take her time in developing these emotions with time and thoughtfulness. Also, I greatly enjoyed the additions of Will and Magda. The take on the parents was also a welcomed change, and one which makes sense since this is a book which takes place in today's society, and such parents as those of Kyle and Linda are not exactly a commodity.
Some people will say that Kyle mostly lusted after Linda. I think, not. It's really hard to transcend the emotion of love through pages. Also, one must also remember these characters are young. Many times, lust and love are taken as one and the same. Plus, I think it added a much needed boost of passion that up until the point where Kyle starts to really "long" for Linda was quite necessary.
Overall, the story was nice, but as many have indicated here, not one that we are unfamiliar with. There was not much that was new, although. I appreciated the slight twist in the end with Kendra.
Frankly the only reason I did not give this book a five star rating, was that the pace was a bit slow for me, and considering that this story is one that has been rewritten many times before, I think Mrs. Flinn could have spruced things up a bit more and resolved them a bit quicker. Although I guess the evolution of Kyle into a "better" person would have been less believable. And also, the writing was a times poor and juvenile.
But overall, a nice quick read. But, I'm hoping the movie takes some liberties because I don't see how the original material can make a film.
I began to read this book because of the film that is being released this weekend. The premise of the story is a nice one, albeit one that we all know about.
At its core, the story of "Beauty and the Beast" is one of redemption. This is especially true with this take on the tale. I enjoyed the progression of Kyle's change in attitude, and his realization of how empty and shallow his life really was before he was transformed. The first part of this book is excruciating. I cannot stand this guy, but then again, that is the story's aim.
The relationship between Linda (which in Spanish means "beautiful" as does Belle in French) and Kyle was done very nicely. I really appreciated the friendship that was developed over time. In most YA books, it seems that the teen characters fall in and out of love quite easily, so it was refreshing to see this author take her time in developing these emotions with time and thoughtfulness. Also, I greatly enjoyed the additions of Will and Magda. The take on the parents was also a welcomed change, and one which makes sense since this is a book which takes place in today's society, and such parents as those of Kyle and Linda are not exactly a commodity.
Some people will say that Kyle mostly lusted after Linda. I think, not. It's really hard to transcend the emotion of love through pages. Also, one must also remember these characters are young. Many times, lust and love are taken as one and the same. Plus, I think it added a much needed boost of passion that up until the point where Kyle starts to really "long" for Linda was quite necessary.
Overall, the story was nice, but as many have indicated here, not one that we are unfamiliar with. There was not much that was new, although. I appreciated the slight twist in the end with Kendra.
Frankly the only reason I did not give this book a five star rating, was that the pace was a bit slow for me, and considering that this story is one that has been rewritten many times before, I think Mrs. Flinn could have spruced things up a bit more and resolved them a bit quicker. Although I guess the evolution of Kyle into a "better" person would have been less believable. And also, the writing was a times poor and juvenile.
But overall, a nice quick read. But, I'm hoping the movie takes some liberties because I don't see how the original material can make a film.
I loved this book, aside from the occasional curse word (which is hard to avoid when reading a mainstream fiction book these days). Just like most little girls in my time period, I grew up watching the Disney princesses, including Beauty and the Beast, but with the recent consumer trend of the Disney princesses have decided that Belle is probably my favorite because she was a brunette and she was a reader. Ha ha. Now this book makes me want to read other versions of the classic fairy tale. Excited about the movie, yay! Also, I loved the way this author made this version fit today's world...New York City with subways, druggies, fancy schools...she did a great job, in my opinion.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I watched the movie adaptation of this years ago probably around when it came out, and I remember thinking it would take a lot more to make Alex Pettyfer look ugly than just a bunch of tattoos and a shaved head. It is ironic that the book's whole point was about seeing past someone's looks and the movie adaptation was like "no we can't make him that ugly no one will want to watch!" In any case I thought the book was a perfectly fun little YA novel. Cliche and all but still I had fun.
It was ok. Good storytelling and the chat was nice, even though it raised some questions. But what I did not like was the age of the boy and girl. Also the reasoning why he chose to imprison her was weird too. I could have been a bit better. But I still enjoyed it.
I had pretty high expectations of what this book would deliver and although I enjoyed reading it overall I was disappointing with the execution. I love the concept of retelling Beauty and the Beast, but going into this I was a little skeptical about how the very fairy tale could be translated into the real world. Things like the Beast's curse and Belle's imprisonment are things that would fit better in an strong urban fantasy than something attempting to be a contemporary romance. In the end this is what caused the biggest issue for me. I felt like these things just didn't mesh and the fantasy elements weren't taken far enough for the rest of the story to work.
I think this is one of those instances where I enjoyed the book while I was reading it, but the more I think about it the less I enjoy it.
I think this is one of those instances where I enjoyed the book while I was reading it, but the more I think about it the less I enjoy it.
Peer pressured myself into reading it because the movie was coming out.
Enjoyed the Beauty & The Beast parallels.
Enjoyed the Beauty & The Beast parallels.
I enjoyed reading this book...Is definitely easy for me to get caught up in a romantic story…and what could it be more romantic than the classic of The Beauty and the Best? Add New York City a different kind of “Beast” and a different kind of “Beauty” and the results is this amazing story…At the end I just wished I had more to read about it…