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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Very much worth the read to experience the original story of The Beauty and the Beast, as it is very different from the Disney story. A fairly easy read, although I suggest having a dictionary near-by as old English contains words less used in the current day.
Very interesting I enjoyed reading the original beauty and the beast even if it was hard to follow at times due to the older style of writing not to mention fairy tales of the time. We're kind of nonsensical and hard to follow even at the best of times lol still very enjoyable
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.3/5 ⭐️
I started reading this during Valentine’s week hoping for a nostalgic and beautiful story.
I absolutely loved the pretty writing and the atmosphere. The pacing for me is what probably needed a bit more work because despite being a short book, there were chapters that were super slow while other ones were way more captivating and easier to get through.
The comparison with the Disney is something I had in mind while reading it too and I like both but for different reasons and characters.
Beauty in the book is far more timid, naive, introverted, altruistic and artistic more in a general sense (play/theatre lover who also likes reading and flowers) than the movie where she is more of a romantic, with a bit more presence and spark and specifically a bookworm. The beauty of the book disappointed me in the sense that she is more shallow than the movie version and never actually loves the monster in his cursed form but rather feels gratitude for enriching her family and sparing her life and only likes him after being turned into a prince even after her perceptions are challenged, which I didn’t like very much and makes me want to prefer the movie version as I think her character is much more worthy of being a role model to little girls.
The monster on the other hand surprised me the most out of all characters because he is far more human than the movie version in his temperament and is more of a victim here although he is forced to induce Beauty to be in the awful situation he was put into to get rid of his curse, which caused me some mixed feelings during the reading experience. I do I think I prefer his book version despite of it because it is far kinder.
As far as plot goes, the beginning was absolutely my favourite part because the beautiful writing and atmosphere really made it immersive and endearing. The plot resolution was more political and fantastical than I was expecting and a bit elaborate. Although I actually liked that aspect and it was a positive element of surprise reading this book, I did not really like how the plot twists and the broader political-fantastical scope of the story was revealed in long monologue storytelling style as I would find it better if I was done through action or at least another literary device that allowed it to be sprinkled and not forced in big chunks to the reader.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I’m happy to have read the original works of one of my favourite childhood princesses and I would recommend it even though it did not blow me away and just enhanced a few of my cold afternoons.
I started reading this during Valentine’s week hoping for a nostalgic and beautiful story.
I absolutely loved the pretty writing and the atmosphere. The pacing for me is what probably needed a bit more work because despite being a short book, there were chapters that were super slow while other ones were way more captivating and easier to get through.
The comparison with the Disney is something I had in mind while reading it too and I like both but for different reasons and characters.
Beauty in the book is far more timid, naive, introverted, altruistic and artistic more in a general sense (play/theatre lover who also likes reading and flowers) than the movie where she is more of a romantic, with a bit more presence and spark and specifically a bookworm. The beauty of the book disappointed me in the sense that she is more shallow than the movie version and never actually loves the monster in his cursed form but rather feels gratitude for enriching her family and sparing her life and only likes him after being turned into a prince even after her perceptions are challenged, which I didn’t like very much and makes me want to prefer the movie version as I think her character is much more worthy of being a role model to little girls.
The monster on the other hand surprised me the most out of all characters because he is far more human than the movie version in his temperament and is more of a victim here although he is forced to induce Beauty to be in the awful situation he was put into to get rid of his curse, which caused me some mixed feelings during the reading experience. I do I think I prefer his book version despite of it because it is far kinder.
As far as plot goes, the beginning was absolutely my favourite part because the beautiful writing and atmosphere really made it immersive and endearing. The plot resolution was more political and fantastical than I was expecting and a bit elaborate. Although I actually liked that aspect and it was a positive element of surprise reading this book, I did not really like how the plot twists and the broader political-fantastical scope of the story was revealed in long monologue storytelling style as I would find it better if I was done through action or at least another literary device that allowed it to be sprinkled and not forced in big chunks to the reader.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I’m happy to have read the original works of one of my favourite childhood princesses and I would recommend it even though it did not blow me away and just enhanced a few of my cold afternoons.
Have never actually read the original story but got it for Christmas. Definitely very different from the Disney version most of us know and love but still a good read and it's nice to know hoe the story originated!
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A